Sociology of Social Control
Credit points
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
Online Real Time
Prerequisites
Co-requisites
(Corequisite units must be studied concurrently with this unit)
Overview
This unit is interested in the regulation of normal and ‘deviant’ citizens, including corporate citizens, in contemporary Western societies. Interrogating the claim that both normality and deviance are 'managed', students are introduced to the ways in which deviance and normality has been thought about, identified and acted upon. Students are introduced to sociological analyses of deviance, and to questions concerning the contribution of sociological investigation to the work of social regulation. Broad topic areas explore normality and deviance in popular culture, and through medicalisation and crime and justice.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Analyse processes through which individuals and groups are constructed as 'deviant'.
- Appraise key sociological approaches to the study of deviance and social control.
- Critically reflect upon sociological approaches to deviance by relating these to contemporary examples.
Assessment
For Melbourne campuses
Assessment type: Test | Grade: 20%
Key theories and concepts
Assessment type: Essay | Grade: 50%
Contemporary case studies and sociological approaches
Assessment type: Portfolio | Grade: 30%
Written summary map and short presentation.
Required reading
Readings and class material for the unit available via VUCollaborate.
As part of a course
This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.