The Graduate Diploma in Sociology is a 36-unit program offered by the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. The course is normally completed in two semesters full-time or six semesters part-time.
It articulates with the Master of Arts (Sociology), and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the two awards.
Admission requirements
Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.
Credit may be granted, on application, for comparable prior studies.
Course aims
The aims of the Graduate Diploma in Sociology are to:
- apply sociological reasoning in understanding social life
- comprehend core concepts and theories within sociology
- examine the relationships between individuals, groups and society
- appreciate the social processes associated with social change, social inequality and social conflict
- analyse a range of social evidence acknowledging the appropriateness of different research collection methods
- understand the ethical requirements involved in conducting social research
- identify the relevance of sociological knowledge for informing social and public policy.
Learning outcomes
Following successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Sociology students will be able to:
- identify key structural factors that shape the social world
- comprehend social change through classical and contemporary sociological approaches
- place personal and local issues in a larger societal context, in particular understanding the influence of social class, ethnicity, gender, capitalism, individualisation, nationalism and globalisation
- explain how social problems are created and appreciate how social order is maintained and challenged
- develop a research question around a subject of interest and conduct an analysis of relevant data
- understand professional ethical norms and debates about conducting social research and safeguarding human subjects from harm
- argue for the role of sociology and social research in addressing social problems.
Program of study
To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Sociology, a student must complete 36 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study below.
Not all topics necessarily are available in a given year.
Students must complete 9 units of core topics and 27 units of elective topics.
Core - Year 1 topics
SOCI8005 Theorising the Social World: Classical and Contemporary Debates in Social Theory (4.5 units)
SOCI8010 Sociological Research: Design, Methods and Ethics (4.5 units)
Elective - Year 1 topics
Select 27 units from the following:
SOCI8006 Introduction to Sociology (4.5 units)
SOCI8007 Media Culture and Society (4.5 units)
SOCI8009 Love, Death and Power: An Introduction to Social Theory (4.5 units)
SOCI8011 Sociology of Work (4.5 units)
SOCI8012 Sociology of Nature and the Environment (4.5 units)
SOCI8013 Metropolitan Life (4.5 units)
SOCI8015 Sociology of Deviance (4.5 units)
SOCI8017 Culture and Society (4.5 units)
SOCI8018 The Challenges of Globalisation (4.5 units)
SOCI8020 Racism, Recognition and Identity (4.5 units)
SOCI8022 Gender and Sexuality (4.5 units)
SOCI8023 Sociology of Intimacy (4.5 units)
SOCI8024 Criminology (4.5 units)
