SS1010 - Australian People: An Introduction to the Social Sciences

Credit points:	03
Year:	2010
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	School of Arts & Social Sciences

This subject introduces students to the relevance and importance of the social sciences through an interdisciplinary analysis of Australian people. Topics explored include the ongoing significance of Australian Indigenous cultures, processes of settlement and colonisation, multiculturalism, and the diverse foundations of contemporary Australian identities. Themed lectures introduce key interdisciplinary areas in the social sciences; environment and heritage, governance and development, social and criminal justice, and tropical health and society. The subject prepares students for further study in the arts and social sciences and establishes foundations for productive careers in contemporary workplaces.

Learning Outcomes

• engage with social scientific methods and disciplinary approaches via an analysis of past and contemporary Australian societies;
• explore Australian prehistory, colonisation, and multiculturalism;
• develop awareness of Indigenous perspectives of key issues in Australian society;
• understand key interdisciplinary research fields in the social sciences and their relevance to contemporary Australian life;
• develop research and communication skills appropriate for positions in a diverse range of professional workplaces.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• An understanding of the economic, legal, ethical, social and cultural issues involved in the use of information;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively;
• The ability to work with people of different gender, age, ethnicity, culture, religion and political persuasion.

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 25-Mar-2010
Coordinator:	Dr Anita Lundberg
Lecturers:	Ms Agnes Hannan, Dr Anita Lundberg.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 12 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (% - 35%); tutorial attendance and participation (% - 20%); assignments (% - 45%).
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 25-Mar-2010
Coord/Lect:	Dr Susan McIntyre-Tamwoy.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 12 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (35%); tutorial attendance and participation (20%); assignments (45%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.