Students

ANTH106 – Drugs Across Cultures

2016 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Associate Professor Lisa Wynn
lisa.wynn@mq.edu.au
Contact via 02 9850 8095
W6A 606
Fridays 2-3 pm, 4-5 pm, and by appointment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Using anthropological and ethnographic studies, this unit focuses mainly on the social and cultural contexts of drug use, both legal and illegal. This includes the economic and political factors influencing the production and distribution of drugs and the way in which these processes are enmeshed in a global economy. This unit also examines psychological theories of addiction and the neurology of drug use. Topics include: the international traffic in opium/heroin and cocaine in the Golden Triangle of mainland South–East Asia and in South America and the way this traffic intermeshes with regional politics and local tribal, peasant and commercial systems of production and exchange; the social history of drugs in the USA, UK and Australia; youth culture and drugs in the West; AIDS and intravenous drug use; addiction and treatment; drugs and the law; the global political economy of pharmaceuticals, particularly contraceptives, erectile dysfunction drugs, and antiretrovirals in the age of AIDS; and the placebo effect.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Weekly Quizzes (weeks1 to 12) 30% See course outline
Critical Essay 1 25% 4 April, 5:00pm
Critical Essay 2 35% 6th June, 5:00 pm
Quizzes 12 and 13 10% See course outline

Weekly Quizzes (weeks1 to 12)

Due: See course outline
Weighting: 30%

Weekly quizzes, starting in Week 2 (but based on material from week 1), are open-book and will help you keep up to date with lectures. After each week’s lecture you will have to complete a 5-question online quiz on iLearn. These quizzes are based on lecture materials and weekly readings from the week before. 

These are open-note quizzes, so if you take the time to listen to lectures and do the readings, you’ll be able to ace them.  You will have 5 consecutive hours to finish the quiz, which will give you plenty of time to listen to the lecture again, if necessary, and consult the weekly readings. You can take the quiz any time during the week, but only within that week. Once the new quiz is up, the link to take the previous quiz will be closed and you will miss your chance.

 

The marks from the 10 quizzes based on weeks 1-12 will make up 30% of your final grade. 

Week

Quiz Name

Based on

Open Date and Time

Close Date and Time

Number of questions

Time to complete it

Worth (percentage of your final grade)

 

2

Quiz on Week 1

Week 1 lecture and readings

Friday 11 March, 10:00 pm

Thursday 17 March, 10:00 pm

5

5 consecutive hours

3%

3

Quiz  on Week 2

Week 2 lecture and readings

Friday 18 March, 10:00 pm

Thursday 24 March, 10:00 pm

5

5 consecutive hours

3%

4

NO QUIZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Quiz  on Week 3

Week 3 lecture and readings

Friday 1 April, 10:00 pm

Thursday 7 April, 10:00 pm

5

5 consecutive hours

3%

6

Quiz  on Week 5

Week 5 lecture and readings

Friday 8 April, 10:00 pm

Thursday 14 April, 10:00 pm

5

5 consecutive hours

3%

7

Quiz  on Week 6

Week 6 lecture and readings

Friday 29 April, 10:00 pm

Thursday 5 May, 10:00 pm

5

5 consecutive hours

3%

8

Quiz  on Week 7

Week 7 lecture and readings

Friday 6 May, 10:00 pm

Thursday 12 May, 10:00 pm

5

5 consecutive hours

3%

9

Quiz  on Week 8

Week 8 lecture and readings

Friday 13 May, 10:00 pm

Thursday 19 May, 10:00 pm

5

5 consecutive hours

3%

10

Quiz  on Week 9

Week 9 lecture and readings

Friday 20 May, 10:00 pm

Thursday 26 May, 10:00 pm

5

5 consecutive hours

3%

11

Quiz  on Week 10

Week 10 lecture and readings

Friday 27 May, 10:00 pm

Thursday 2 June, 10:00 pm

5

5 consecutive hours

3%

12

Quiz  on Week 11

Week 11 lecture and readings

Friday 3 June, 10:00 pm

Thursday 9 June, 10:00pm

5

5 consecutive hours

3%

               

 

 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Critical Essay 1

Due: 4 April, 5:00pm
Weighting: 25%

For full instructions see the supporting documentation on iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Critical Essay 2

Due: 6th June, 5:00 pm
Weighting: 35%

For full instructions see the supporting documentation on iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Quizzes 12 and 13

Due: See course outline
Weighting: 10%

The quizzes based on weeks 12 AND 13 are different from the rest of the quizzes. They test your cumulative knowledge through the semester, not just the lecture material from that week; they will be made up of 10 questions instead of 5; and together they will count as 10% of your final mark (i.e. each quiz in Weeks 12 and 13 is worth 5% of your final grade). In ANTH106, there is no final exam during exam week, but you can regard the last two quizzes as constituting a final exam as they assess cumulative knowledge. These quizzes are also open-note quizzes. They will be open for 6 consecutive hours each.

Week

Quiz Name

Based on

Open Date and Time

Close Date and Time

Number of questions

Time to complete it

Worth (percentage of your final grade)

 

13

Quiz on Week 12

Week 12 and cumulative knowledge

Friday 10 June, 10:00 pm

Thursday 16 June, 10:00 pm

10

6 consecutive hours

5%

Study Week

Quiz on Week 13

Week 13 and cumulative knowledge

Friday 17 June, 10:00 pm

Thursday 23 June, 10:00 pm

10

6 consecutive hours

5%
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Delivery and Resources

External students have the same lectures and assignments as internal students. You must keep up with lectures via iLearn, you need to complete the quizzes each week and the assignments by their due date. You can also join the study groups if you wish to do so. 

Lectures:

Fridays: 12-2 pm in W2.4A Macquarie Theatre, and

               3-4 pm W6D Lotus Theatre

Repeat Lectures:

Fridays: 6-9 pm W2.4A Macquarie Theatre

NOTE: All lectures are recorded on Echo (formerly iLecture) and can be accessed via iLearn. There are no tutorials in this unit. There are 3 (mandatory) hours of lecture each week.

UNIT WEB PAGE

The Unit Homepage can be accessed through iLearn. The iLearn page for this unit should be your first source of information about this unit. It is ESSENTIAL that you regularly check the iLearn page, forums and announcements, as these will be the main means of communication between you and your convener.

Any information given in lectures, even if it is not on this course outline or on iLearn, is also essential.

Assignments will be posted and submitted via iLearn, questions can be asked via the forum and additional resources will be uploaded throughout the semester.

NOTE: REGULAR INTERNET ACCESS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THIS UNIT.  IT is YOUR responsibility to procure a reliable and accessible Internet connection throughout the semester. This will be essential for you to complete weekly quizzes, submit assignments and obtain your readings. Lack of Internet access or an unreliable Internet connection will not be a valid excuse for incomplete assessments.

WEEKLY READINGS: You will need to complete a set of readings for each lecture. All of these readings are available electronically online through eReserve (https://www.library.mq.edu.au/reserve/).

TEXTBOOKS: There is one required text and four recommended books for this course

Required: Suzanne Fraser and David Moore (eds), 2011.  The Drug Effect: Health, Crime and Society.  Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.

Recommended:

  1. Marc Lewis, 2013. Memoirs of an Addicted Brain: A Neuroscientist Examines His Former Life on Drugs. New York: PublicAffairs.
  2. Alison Ritter, Trevor King, and Margaret Hamilton (eds), 2013.  Drug Use in Australian Society.  Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
  3. Jacob Sullum, 2004.  Saying Yes: In Defense of Drug Use.  New York: Tarcher / Penguin.
  4. Kuhn, Swartzwelder, & Wilson (eds), 2008.  Buzzed: The straight facts about the most used and abused drugs, from Alcohol to Ecstasy. 3rd edition. John Wiley & Sons Australia.

All of these books are available at the Co-op Bookstore on campus.

In fact, many books can be found cheaper through online booksellers so you may want to comparison shop before you buy. (Try Book Depository UK and BetterWorldBooks). 

The first and second books (Fraser and Moore, The Drug Effect, and Lewis, Memoirs of an Addicted Brain) will be the basis of your essay assignments.  If you don’t wish to buy the books yourself, the MQ library keeps multiple copies of each on special reserve where they can be checked out for 3-hour periods. 

E-Reserve: Additional lecture references are available in the Special Reserve section of the Library in hard copy (in the case of books) and online as e-Readings (in the case of most journal articles and some book chapters). See the e-Reserve icon on the ANTH106 iLearn website.   

Lectures: If you are an external student, you will be expected to listen to all lectures on iLecture.  These are made available on the iLecture website (there is a link on the unit’s iLearn page) usually within 24 hours of the lecture being recorded.  Powerpoint or Word presentations that accompany the lecture will also be uploaded to iLearn after the lecture (or sometimes, if the lecturers are exceedingly conscientious, before lecture!).  Both of these resources are available to both internal and external students.

Are you enrolled externally but want to attend class in person?  You’re welcome to attend lecture even if you’re enrolled externally, providing that there are available seats.  There are usually seats available in the Friday night 6-9pm repeat lectures in the Lotus Theatre, so feel free to come along if you couldn’t enrol internally but enjoy interacting with the lecturers in person.  Contact the convenor to know if there are seats available in the Friday afternoon lectures.

Essay: The essays should be submitted the same way that internal students submit these (i.e. through Turnitin, which can be accessed through the ANTH106 iLearn page).

Films: Most of the films shown in class are available online (search Google / YouTube).  All of them are available to check out from special reserve from the Macquarie Library.  But, because we know some of our external students are taking this unit from quite far away and can’t come to campus all semester, the quizzes will not test you on films that are not available online -- with one exception: we may test you on things that lecturers say about the films in their (recorded) lectures.

Unit Schedule

Lecture Schedule and Key Dates (detailed lecture program p.17)

Week      Date                                     Topic                                                              Lecturer             

                                             I.  Drug symbolism

1            Fri 4 March             Drugs, Pharmaceuticals and Anthropology                   L. Wynn

                                             Hallucinogens                                                                L. Wynn

2            Fri 11 March           Film: Psychedelic Science

                                             Cannabis                                                                        L. Wynn

3            Fri 18 March           Ethnographies of Drug Use                                           L. Wynn 

                                             Essay-Writing Workshop                                               L. Wynn         

                                             Drug Symbolism                                                            Paul Cohen

4            Fri 25 March       Good Friday – NO CLASSES

                                             II. Addiction and the Brain

5            Fri 1 April                Drug Pharmacology and Addiction                                N. Kraushaar

                                              Neuropharmacology                                                      N. Kraushaar

Monday 4th April, First Critical Essay Due 5:00pm

6            Fri 8 April                Tears of Hope: A Family Perspective on Drugs             T. Trimingham

                                              Film: Ben: Diary of a Heroin Addict

Mid-Semester Break Saturday 9th April – Monday 25th April (ANZAC day)

                                             III. Drugs and the Law     

7            Fri 29 April               Drug Law Reform                                                          A. Wodak

                                              Meth and Community Approaches to Drugs                  M. Noffs

                                              Film: Louis Theroux: The City Addicted to Crystal Meth         

8            Fri 6 May                A Law Enforcement Perspective on Drugs                   J. Smith

                                             Drugs on the Digital Frontier                                         J. Martin (video)

                                             Film: The War on Kids, followed by video call with J. Martin

                                             IV. Political Economy of Drugs

9.           Fri 13 May              Cocaine                                                                          L. Wynn

                                             Film: Coca Mama         

                                             War on Drugs                                                                 L. Wynn

10.         Fri 20 May              Opiates: Political Economy                                            P. Cohen

                                             Film: Raw Opium                                                          

                                             Opiates: Demand Reduction                                          P. Cohen

                                             V. Legal Highs and Pharmaceuticals

11.         Fri 27 May              Political Economy of Tobacco                                        R. MacKenzie

                                             Film: Tobacco Wars                             

                                             Tobacco and Shamanism                                                L. Wynn

12.         Fri 3 June               Emergency Contraception                                             L. Wynn

                                             Erectile Dysfunction Drugs                                           L. Wynn

                                             Steroids                                                                          G. Downey

Monday 6th June, Second Critical Essay Due 5:00pm

13.         Fri 10 June             Placebo Effect                                                                L. Wynn

                                             Ethics and Drug Trials                                                   L. Wynn

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/

Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Extensions: Because each quiz is available to take for 6 days, we will not grant make-up quizzes (via a Disruption of Studies request) without documentation that you were incapacitated for 3 or more days during that period (in line with MQ's disruption to studies policy). So don’t leave the quiz until the last minute, in case you get sick on the last day it’s available! 

Late penalties:

Late submissions of the essay assignments will incur a penalty of 2 percentage points per day, unless the unit convenor has granted an extension due to certified medical problems or to 'unavoidable disruption' (see Undergraduate Student Handbook).

What disruption to studies / special consideration may not be used for:

While special consideration may be used to request a deadline extension, special consideration may NOT be used to raise your grade on an assessment task or to get out of completing an assessment task in the unit.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Critical Essay 1
  • Critical Essay 2

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Critical Essay 1
  • Critical Essay 2

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly Quizzes (weeks1 to 12)
  • Critical Essay 1
  • Critical Essay 2
  • Quizzes 12 and 13

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly Quizzes (weeks1 to 12)
  • Critical Essay 1
  • Critical Essay 2
  • Quizzes 12 and 13

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly Quizzes (weeks1 to 12)
  • Critical Essay 1
  • Critical Essay 2
  • Quizzes 12 and 13

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly Quizzes (weeks1 to 12)
  • Critical Essay 1
  • Critical Essay 2
  • Quizzes 12 and 13

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Critical Essay 1
  • Critical Essay 2

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Critical Essay 1
  • Critical Essay 2

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Discipline-Based Learning Outcomes: Through the course of this unit, we hope that you will: 1.1 acquire a basic understanding of the pharmacology of legal and illicit drugs and the physical, psychological and social aspects of addiction; 1.2 gain familiarity with ethnographic approaches to drug use i.e., drug use in small group / community settings, including the ritual and symbolic aspects of drug use; 1.3 understand the impact of broad social, political and economic forces on drug use and on social perceptions of drugs, including the influence of gender, class and race on public images of drugs and on legislation as well as the influence of local, regional and global factors on drug production and distribution; 1.4 clarify your own position on drugs and to make informed and responsible decisions about social policies and strategies relating to drug use; 1.5 apply and adapt anthropological knowledge to real world issues
  • Generic Skills: In addition to the specific unit learning objectives, this unit offers an opportunity to develop your generic skills in the following areas: 2.1 research skills through active reading, analysis, and contextualisation of scholarly materials; 2.2 essay-writing skills, enabling you to organise points and arguments in a scholarly writing manner with appropriate citation; 2.3 critical analysis and creative thinking skills through the research assignment; 2.4 computer skills through the unit's extensive use of on-line resources; 2.5 enhance organisational and time management skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Critical Essay 1
  • Critical Essay 2

Changes since First Published

Date Description
27/02/2016 Three of the quiz dates were incorrect. This has now been fixed (28 Feb 2016).
26/02/2016 Students alerted me to the fact that there were two different due dates listed for the essay assignments in the 2016 unit guide. This version of the unit guide fixes the discrepancy with the correct dates.