Students

SOCI3070 – Social Inequality

2024 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer
Dylan Sullivan
dylan.sullivan@mq.edu.au
Convener
Ben Spies-Butcher
ben.spies-butcher@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
The organisational and institutional dynamics of modern societies are powerful generators of social inequality and yet they equally generate resources through which inequalities can be identified and challenged. This unit explores the social mechanisms that drive inequalities and surveys the impact of socio-economic inequality on a wide range of areas of social life (gender, culture, employment, and the economy). The unit considers how sociological theory can explain the emergence and persistence of social inequalities, the normative conflicts and struggles that inequalities produce, and the ways social institutions overcome, respond or merely adapt to inequality. We conclude the unit by looking at whether democratic societies can survive widening socio-economic inequalities and how we might explain the improvement in some types of inequality and discrimination and the curious persistence of others.

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: demonstrate an advanced understanding of the foundations, generative mechanisms and multi-dimensional nature of social inequality
  • ULO2: demonstrate an understanding of the technical and sociological measurement of inequality
  • ULO3: demonstrate an ability to interpret debates and policy, political and social-movement responses to inequality

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all non-timed written assessments (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc) is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams/quizzes, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Weekly participation (on-campus) 10% No Weekly
Assignment 30% No Sunday, Week 8
Take home exam 60% No Week 13

Weekly participation (on-campus)

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%

 

Participation in at least 8 weeks of lectures and tutorials across the Semester.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate an advanced understanding of the foundations, generative mechanisms and multi-dimensional nature of social inequality
  • demonstrate an understanding of the technical and sociological measurement of inequality
  • demonstrate an ability to interpret debates and policy, political and social-movement responses to inequality

Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 55 hours
Due: Sunday, Week 8
Weighting: 30%

 

Responses to six questions about interesting readings and problems in the field of social inequality.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate an advanced understanding of the foundations, generative mechanisms and multi-dimensional nature of social inequality
  • demonstrate an understanding of the technical and sociological measurement of inequality
  • demonstrate an ability to interpret debates and policy, political and social-movement responses to inequality

Take home exam

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 60%

 

Final examination at the end of Semester

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate an advanced understanding of the foundations, generative mechanisms and multi-dimensional nature of social inequality
  • demonstrate an understanding of the technical and sociological measurement of inequality
  • demonstrate an ability to interpret debates and policy, political and social-movement responses to inequality

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

SOCI3070 lectures go for 2 hours on Monday mornings from 9am to 11am. They are held in 25WW A209. 

There is no tutorial in the first week of classes, so the first tutorials start in Week 2.

There is an I-Learn page with readings and a guide to the tutorials.

Unit Schedule

The full schedule of classes will be available on i-Learn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook