• Offered by School of Sociology
  • ANU College ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
  • Course subject Sociology
  • Areas of interest Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, Sociology, Communications, Digital Humanities

This course examines the implications of media and communications technologies for personal, interpersonal, public and political life. The course begins with theoretical perspectives from sociology, science and technology studies (STS) and media/communications studies. These are used to explore how existing social structures have been, and continue to be, altered and reinforced by innovations and revolutions in media and communications technologies. It also examines how such technologies have developed within, and changed in response to, social changes. The content spans issues of power, publics, economic systems, regulation, political structures, media institutions, interpersonal relationships, and identity processes.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. explain how media technologies reflect and shape social life;
  2. evaluate the role of sociology in explaining the effects of media technologies;
  3. identify the ways media technologies affect diverse populations;
  4. compare major theoretical debates about media technologies from sociology and other disciplines; and
  5. discuss the ways their own lives are marked by engagement with media technologies.

Indicative Assessment

  1. 10 x Weekly reading summaries (100 words each for a total 1000 words) (10) [LO 1,5]
  2. Tutorial participation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
  3. Academic interview or annotated bibliography (1500 words) (25) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
  4. Extended Literature Review Group Project oral presentation (15 minutes) (15) [LO 1,2,3,4]
  5. Extended Literature Review Group Project individual essay (2500 words) (40) [LO 1,2,3,4]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 35 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures, and 11 hours of tutorials; and
b) 95 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.

Inherent Requirements

Not applicable

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must have completed 12 units of Sociology (SOCY) courses, or with permission of the convenor. You are not able to enrol in this course if you have previously completed SOCY6170.

Prescribed Texts

None

Minors

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees

Student Contribution Band:
14
Unit value:
6 units

If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee
2021 $3180
International fee paying students
Year Fee
2021 $4890
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

Second Semester

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
6832 25 Jul 2022 01 Aug 2022 31 Aug 2022 28 Oct 2022 Online or In Person View

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