Citizens, States and Societies provides students with an overview of the ways social forces shape political phenomena. Students will learn to recognise the ways in which various social identities and groups intersect with and influence political institutions. Students taking this subject will identify, analyse and evaluate key debates in politics and sociology including the changing definitions of politics and power, identity and citizenship, the nation state and the ways in which technological changes and globalisation are shifting traditional boundaries. Approaching political and social phenomena from the perspective of political sociology allows for a nuanced understanding of many contemporary issues.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Describe and explain key theories underpinning contemporary political sociology and apply these to the analyses of current issues;
2. Evaluate the efficacy of competing approaches to understanding global phenomena (immigration, citizenship and state power) and discern the implications of using different analytical lenses;
3. Apply political and social theories to real world scenarios in order to interrogate and explain the ways in which politics and sociology overlap;
4. Conduct, analyse and evaluate research and communicate the results effectively in writing; and
5. Reflect upon their unit experience, including theories, discussions and feedback, and how it relates to the goals set out in their professional portfolio.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Prerequisites

11235 Introduction to Politics and Government.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.