Students

SOCI2050 – Work, Self and Society

2020 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer and convenor
Charlotte Overgaard
Guest Lecturer
Norbert Ebert
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Work is core to our sense of self and identity. It provides us with status, self-esteem and recognition. As individuals, however, we are not always in control of the way work is organised. The growing gap between the rich and the poor, rising job insecurity and the emergence of the digital economy all affect how we work. This unit unpacks the relationship between work, self and society. First, we examine the role work played in pre-industrial societies. Second, we investigate the impacts on the self and society of large-scale changes occurring in industrial and post-industrial societies such as automation, and the increasing demand for workplace diversity and inclusion. Finally, we contemplate what a fairer, more equal organisation of work in the future looks like by considering ideas such as a shorter working week, gender quotas or a universal basic income. This unit suits students from all disciplines.

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:

  • ULO1: identify the characteristics of work and employment and their consequences for individual, organisational and social wellbeing.
  • ULO2: recognise the main social and economic processes and logics defining the world of work and how they influence other major parts of life.
  • ULO3: distinguish the main drivers and mechanisms that shape the culture of workplaces and work societies.
  • ULO4: recognise the meaning of work and employment in an increasingly globalised world where local work processes are shaped by global dynamics.
  • ULO5: express specific social and economic ideas in writing and verbally.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Short Written Answers 20% No Sunday week 4
Quiz 20% No Weekly from week 2 to 11
Participation 20% No Weekly
Written Task 40% No Tuesday of week 14

Short Written Answers

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Sunday week 4
Weighting: 20%

 

All students have to answer questions that cover contents from the course.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify the characteristics of work and employment and their consequences for individual, organisational and social wellbeing.
  • recognise the main social and economic processes and logics defining the world of work and how they influence other major parts of life.

Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Weekly from week 2 to 11
Weighting: 20%

 

On the basis of the provided course contents student undertake a weekly quiz to cover basic knowledge from the course.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify the characteristics of work and employment and their consequences for individual, organisational and social wellbeing.
  • recognise the main social and economic processes and logics defining the world of work and how they influence other major parts of life.

Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%

 

On the basis of the provided specific course contents including readings and employment data, students are expected to actively engage in discussions and answer specific questions as per adviced.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify the characteristics of work and employment and their consequences for individual, organisational and social wellbeing.
  • recognise the main social and economic processes and logics defining the world of work and how they influence other major parts of life.
  • distinguish the main drivers and mechanisms that shape the culture of workplaces and work societies.
  • recognise the meaning of work and employment in an increasingly globalised world where local work processes are shaped by global dynamics.
  • express specific social and economic ideas in writing and verbally.

Written Task

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Tuesday of week 14
Weighting: 40%

 

Based on the course contents student write an in-depth reflection and analysis on topics in the area of work and employment based on readings, lectures, own work experience or specifically provided data. The expectation is to apply the specific knowledge gained in the course to concrete scenarios.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • identify the characteristics of work and employment and their consequences for individual, organisational and social wellbeing.
  • recognise the main social and economic processes and logics defining the world of work and how they influence other major parts of life.
  • distinguish the main drivers and mechanisms that shape the culture of workplaces and work societies.
  • recognise the meaning of work and employment in an increasingly globalised world where local work processes are shaped by global dynamics.
  • express specific social and economic ideas in writing and verbally.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

This unit has no text book. 

All readings are available through Leganto. 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.