Students

SSCX1001 – Introduction to Social Sciences

2026 – Session 1, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Norbert Ebert
norbert.ebert@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

How do people and systems interact in order to influence social change? Using distinctive toolkits and approaches, the social sciences help explain how different societies and the people within them operate, in terms of power, hierarchies, beliefs, identities, governance mechanisms, politics, environments, land use and resources. This unit introduces the key concepts, theories and methods of social sciences through a multi-disciplinary approach. Students will explore the emergence of social sciences and the key disciplines involved. Topics include changes and enduring questions over time related to people, environments, societies, power, agency, structures, and social change. The unit will present key theories and concepts used to understand 'the social' and how these apply in the world. The student will be introduced to the tools and techniques (the sciences) which social scientists use to create useable knowledge in robust and ethical ways. On completion of this unit, students will be prepared to further explore, practise and demonstrate mastery of the core concepts and applied tools of the social sciences.

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: Trace and summarise the historical development of the key disciplines that have shaped the contemporary social sciences.
  • ULO2: Identify the systems, structures and concerns which underpin social scientific explorations and analyses.
  • ULO3: Define the role of the contemporary social scientist in navigating interdisciplinary and diverse perspectives on complex societal issues.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate a foundational understanding of the role that key concepts, theories and methodologies play in the social sciences.
  • ULO5: Describe how social science theories and related tools are used to ask questions, analyse problems and phenomena, and generate solutions for different social phenomena.

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 written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to non-time sensitive assessment (incl. essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, 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 Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI assisted?
Skills log book 30% No ongoing Individual No Open AI
Short answer questions 30% No week 6, 02/04/2026 Individual No Open AI
Analysis 40% No week 12, 29/05/2026 Individual No Open AI

Skills log book

Assessment Type 1: Problem-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: ongoing
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open AI

Collation of skills based activities.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Trace and summarise the historical development of the key disciplines that have shaped the contemporary social sciences.
  • Identify the systems, structures and concerns which underpin social scientific explorations and analyses.

Short answer questions

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: week 6, 02/04/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open AI

Writing task about social change. 600 words.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Trace and summarise the historical development of the key disciplines that have shaped the contemporary social sciences.
  • Define the role of the contemporary social scientist in navigating interdisciplinary and diverse perspectives on complex societal issues.
  • Describe how social science theories and related tools are used to ask questions, analyse problems and phenomena, and generate solutions for different social phenomena.

Analysis

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: week 12, 29/05/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open AI

Analysis of a social science issue. 1500 words
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Trace and summarise the historical development of the key disciplines that have shaped the contemporary social sciences.
  • Identify the systems, structures and concerns which underpin social scientific explorations and analyses.
  • Define the role of the contemporary social scientist in navigating interdisciplinary and diverse perspectives on complex societal issues.
  • Demonstrate a foundational understanding of the role that key concepts, theories and methodologies play in the social sciences.
  • Describe how social science theories and related tools are used to ask questions, analyse problems and phenomena, and generate solutions for different social phenomena.

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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

All study materials for this unit will be made available via iLearn.

Unit Schedule

Week

Date (Tue)

Notes

1

24/02/2026

Welcome and Introduction

2

03/03/2026

Lecture

3

10/03/2026

Lecture

4

17/03/2026

Lecture

5

24/03/2026

Lecture

6

31/03/2026

Lecture & no tutorials 3/4/2026
 

02/04/2026

Short answer question due
 

07/04/2026

Mid-session break
 

14/04/2026

Mid-session break

7

21/04/2026

Lecture

8

28/04/2026

Lecture

9

05/05/2026

Lecture

10

12/05/2026

Lecture

11

19/05/2026

Lecture

12

26/05/2026

Lecture
 

29/05/2026

Analysis due

13

02/06/2026

Conclusion

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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.

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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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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. 

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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 2026.02 of the Handbook