Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Social Science School
Society, Challenges and Solutions is a multidisciplinary social science course with an applied approach to the study of human society. This course examines diverse aspects of social life from multiple perspectives, incorporating analytical and methodological strengths in a wide range of social science disciplines, including sociology, anthropology, political science, public policy, psychology and human geography. Through real cases of contemporary issues and social problems, students will explore a wide range of topics that shape both Australia and the world today - the changing nature of work and education, the environment and health, community and development. Using a blend of text, video, and online materials, students will learn the skills for independent study and collaborative investigation. Upon the successful completion of this course, students will gain critical knowledge on Australian and global social issues, relevant policies, and possible solutions. Through engaged peer learning, students will learn to think about and reflect on social issues based on evidence, develop proposals for action, and practice effective oral and written communication.
How can we encourage healthier behaviours? How do societies create effective and resilient strategies in response to natural disasters and climate change? How do we create more just societies that reduce gaps between privileged and less privileged individuals? Why do so many female workers still earn less than male workers? How is settler colonialism linked to social inequalities in Australia and beyond? These are among some of the most pressing questions our society faces today, which cannot be addressed by science or resolved by technologies alone. These are social science questions that require a deeper understanding of human actions, ethics, politics, and changing social relations. As our society becomes increasingly complex, there is a growing demand for advanced understanding of the human condition in order to address global challenges. The social sciences provide critical conceptual and empirical tools for us to systematically identify and analyse important social issues, so we can act individually and collectively towards future solutions.
This course offers an introduction to the social sciences from a multidisciplinary and critical perspective. Incorporating real case studies of contemporary social issues, as well as diverse perspectives,ﾠthis course aims to open spheres of inquiry to a broad range of topics including family and work, coloniality and territoriality, health and the environment, policy and security. Students will work individually and collaboratively to investigate different topics using diverse theoretical and methodological tools introduced in this course. Students will also develop conceptual, research, and communication skills using tools arising from several social science disciplines. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with a strong understanding and deep appreciation of what the social sciences have to offer in working towards a more socially just world for all.
Course requirements
Assumed background
No direct background is assumed.
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Course contact
School enquiries
Student Enquiries School of Social Science
Level 3, Michie Building (09), St Lucia campus, The University of Queensland.
Monday-Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-4:00pm.
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Zoe Staines
Professor Kristen Lyons
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
The main aims of SOSC1000 are to provide students with foundational knowledge about the social sciences and what social sciences can offer to address significant global issues in our world today. With a multidisciplinary perspective, this course examines contemporary social issues by incorporating key theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches. This course is designed to centre on real events that encourage students to work both independently and collaboratively to develop evidence-based analyses and to formulate possible solutions. A moduleﾭ-based learning approach will be used to familiarise students with diverse analytical and research strategies in response to real-life issues and challenges. Through peer-learning tasks and individual assessments, students will improve their conceptual and practical skills by thinking critically, working collaboratively, and communicating effectively. This course enables students to develop a deeper awareness of local societies and global challenges, to treat diverse social issues as complex and interconnected, and to think creatively about strategies and solutions that benefit the broader society.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand and apply major ideas, concepts, methods, values and beliefs employed by social scientists to study individuals, cultures, and societies.
LO2.
Understand and critically analyse how social structure influences individual and collective experiences and practices.
LO3.
Analyse human actions, problems, and situations from cross-cultural and global perspectives.
LO4.
Locate and critically evaluate scholarly social science sources.
LO5.
Understand the role of evidence in social science inquiries and the application of systematic empirical inquiry based on evidence.
LO6.
Communicate effectively through peer collaboration, active learning, oral presentation, and the incorporation of textual and visual materials in academic writing.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflection | Short answer reflections | 20% 600 words (2 x 300 word reflections) |
Part A (reflection 1) - due week 4 21/03/2025 2:00 pm Part B (reflection 2) - due week 5 28/03/2025 2:00 pm
Due in two parts (by 14:00 Friday of weeks 4 & 5) |
| Essay/ Critique | Rewrite (and reframe) the headlines | 40% 1500 words |
17/04/2025 2:00 pm
Thursday of week 8 |
| Essay/ Critique, Presentation, Reflection |
'Know where you are': group presentation & essay
|
40% 1500 word group essay / 8-10 min group presentation |
30/05/2025 2:00 pm
Written submission: Friday of week 13 (by 2pm) Oral presentation component: Students will present during the seminars in weeks 10-13 (a roster will be released early in the semester). |
Assessment details
Short answer reflections
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 20% 600 words (2 x 300 word reflections)
- Due date
Part A (reflection 1) - due week 4 21/03/2025 2:00 pm
Part B (reflection 2) - due week 5 28/03/2025 2:00 pm
Due in two parts (by 14:00 Friday of weeks 4 & 5)
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L06
Task description
This first assignment consists of two short-answer reflection submissions due in weeks 4 and 5. Overall (including parts A and B), this assignment is worth 20% of students' overall grade.
Part A - short answer reflection 1: ~300 words, worth 10% (graded), due in week 4
Students are asked to respond to one of a series of short-answer reflection prompts provided in the Assignment 1 folder in Blackboard. This will be in the form of a ~300 word critical, reflective response, which will be submitted via Turnitin for grading. This first part of the assignment (part A) is due on the Friday of Week 4 and is worth 10% (graded).
Part B - short answer reflection 2: ~300 words, worth 10% (graded), due in week 5
Students are asked to respond to one of a series of short-answer reflection prompts provided in the Assignment 1 folder in Blackboard. This will be in the form of a ~300 word critical, reflective response, which will be submitted via Turnitin for grading. This second part of the assignment (part B) is due on the Friday of Week 5 and is worth 10% (graded).
Students' grades from Parts A and B will add, cumulatively, to an overall grade for Assignment 1 (i.e., out of 20% overall).
Note regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): This assessment task evaluates student’s abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of AI. Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
All late submissions (without approved extensions) will receive a 10% of maximum mark penalty for each calendar day late. Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Rewrite (and reframe) the headlines
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40% 1500 words
- Due date
17/04/2025 2:00 pm
Thursday of week 8
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
The Australian Journalists Code of Ethics states, “Journalists describe society to itself”. But it is also true that news headlines deeply affect our interpretations and understandings of social issues and are, therefore, active in creating social meaning. Australian journalist, Jane Gilmore, began a ‘Fixed It’ campaign to rewrite what she saw as unfair and partial news headlines about violence against women. For this assignment, students are asked to take a similar approach to Gilmore, using Carol Bacchi's 'What's the Problem Represented to Be' ('WPR') framework to guide their analysis. They will be provided with a series of newspaper headlines concerning a variety of social issues. They must choose one headline to focus on for their assignment and draw upon their sociological imaginations to consider:
- how the headline frames the social issue(s) at hand (what is the 'problem' represented to be)?
- who is portrayed as good/bad in the framing (what assumptions underlie this framing)?
- what is missing from this framing (what are the 'silences'; what is left 'unproblematic')?
- what effects are produced by this representation of the 'problem'?
- what might an alternative framing look like (can the 'problem' be thought about differently)?
Students are asked to:
- rewrite the headline to reflect a ‘fairer’ and ‘fuller’ framing of the social issue at hand, and
- write a 1,500-word short essay to accompany their rewritten headline; the short essay must present their analysis of the previous headline, as well as explain and justify their revised headline (with support of at least 10 x scholarly research references).
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI):
- Students are encouraged to use generative AI to assist in redrafting their newspaper headlines. However, students are expected to engage critically with drafts produced via generative AI, and to - themselves - redraft/recraft any AI-generated headlines to ensure these are suitable final products that meet the criteria for this assignment.
- The short-essay component of this task evaluates students' abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of AI. Students are advised that the use of generative AI technologies to develop their short-essays is strictly prohibited, and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
You must submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension. Your request should be submitted no later than the assessment item's due date and time.
The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation corroborating the reason for the request. A list of acceptable reasons for an extension and the evidence you must provide can be found here. Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension. The student submitting the request is fully responsible for all supporting documentation that is provided with the request and should ensure all documents are authentic.
In the School of Social Science, extensions on the basis of an approved Student Access Plan (SAP) or an Extension Verification Letter (EVL) can be approved for a maximum period of 7 calendar days. Subsequent extensions for a piece of assessment will require additional supporting documentation (e.g., a medical certificate or other supporting evidence listed on my.UQ).
Extension requests exceeding the maximum extension period stated for a piece of assessment will only be considered under exceptional circumstances (circumstances outside of your control) with additional supporting documentation.
Late applications must include evidence of the reasons for the late request, detailing why you were unable to apply for an extension by the due date and time. The School of Social Science will not accept personal statements.
Students may be asked to supply the work they have completed to date on the assessment piece. This is to establish what efforts have already been made to complete the assessment, and whether the proposed work plan is feasible. Extension requests are processed and managed by the School of Social Science Administration Team.
Extensions in your final semester of study could delay your graduation by up to one semester.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
All late submissions (without approved extensions) will receive a 10% of maximum mark penalty for each calendar day late. Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
'Know where you are': group presentation & essay
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Presentation, Reflection
- Weight
- 40% 1500 word group essay / 8-10 min group presentation
- Due date
30/05/2025 2:00 pm
Written submission: Friday of week 13 (by 2pm)
Oral presentation component: Students will present during the seminars in weeks 10-13 (a roster will be released early in the semester).
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
Acknowledgement: This assignment was developed collaboratively by a previous SOSC1000 Student Staff Partnerships (SSP) team, which consisted of former SOSC1000 students Lillian Dullat, Ned Binnie, Nejmere Cody, Sarah Donaldson, and UQ staff, Dr Zoe Staines and A/Prof Gerhard Hoffstaedter. Particular thanks go to Lillian Dullat, whose idea and provocation for students to ‘know where they’re standing’ provided the catalyst for this assignment.
Summary: This assignment will be undertaken in groups, and consists of two components:
- Part A – Oral presentation component, and
- Part B – Written essay component.
Each student group will deliver one oral presentation and one essay (collaboratively drafted).
Due day/time:
- Part A - Oral presentation component: Student groups will deliver their presentations in the module 3 lectures (which run during the final seminars in semester weeks 10-13). A presentation schedule will be provided to students at the start of semester, so that each group is clear about when they will need to present.
- Part B - Written essay component: Due by 2pm, Friday 30 May (week 13)
Length:
- Part A – Oral presentation component: 8-10 minutes per group presentation
- Part B – Written essay component: 1500 words (+/-10%) - Excluding headings, reference list, and appendix; in-text references are included.
Weighting: 40% overall (10% for presentation; 30% for written component)
Topic description: Space (geographical location and features) and place (social and cultural features) are important concepts in the social sciences. We often frequent locations without thinking too deeply about their geographies, histories, social, and cultural features. This assignment asks you to think more deeply about these aspects of a space/place of your choice, drawing on key concepts from the social sciences learned in SOSC1000.
In doing so, the assignment aims to:
- increase your familiarity with, and ability to apply, social science thinking and theorising around space and place to a chosen real scenario,
- encourage you to position yourself within space/place, and understand/reflect on how this influences/impacts you, and vice versa,
- understand your positionality in relation to ‘ownership’ and use of space/place, including the unceded sovereignty of First Nations Traditional Owners,
- draw on concepts and theories covered in SOSC1000 to critically reflect on a chosen social issue in relation to your identified space/place (e.g., homelessness, poverty, inequality, racism, sexism, safety, etc.),
- practice your oral presentation skills,
- practice writing critically and reflexively, while also practicing creativity in your use of multimedia to support your reflective/critical writing, and
- encourage the creation of a peer-to-peer community of practice through group work and peer feedback/support in the lead up to assignment submission.
Mode: Group mode; each group will collectively deliver an oral presentation and one collaboratively written essay component.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI):
- Students are welcome to engage with generative AI to assist in developing creative ideas for formatting and delivering their group presentations (Part A).
- However, the written essay component of this task (Part B) evaluates students' abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of AI. Students are advised that the use of generative AI technologies to develop their written essays is strictly prohibited, and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your assignment electronically by the due time, on the due date.
Your assignment must be submitted via Turnitin on blackboard. To submit your assignment electronically log in to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra with your UQ username and password, then click on Course Code>>Assessment>>Assignments, and use the appropriate assignment submission link for each piece of assessment. No e-mailed submissions of assessments will be accepted.
By uploading your assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that the work you submit is your own work except where correctly attributed to another source. Do not submit your assignment if it contains any work that is not your own.
You are required to retain proof of submission of your assessment. Your Digital Receipt is available for download from your Assignment Dashboard. If you cannot see your submission and download your digital receipt, your assessment has not been successfully submitted; please submit again.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Blackboard, please contact the ITS Support Team.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Because this is a groupwork assignment, individual extensions are not available. Any groups that are struggling to meet the assignment deadlines (for Parts A & B) should discuss this with the Unit Coordinator.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
All late submissions (without approved extensions) will receive a 10% of maximum mark penalty for each calendar day late. Work will not be accepted if it is more than one week (7 calendar days) late without prior approval.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Supplementary assessment is an additional opportunity to demonstrate that the learning requirements for an eligible course have been satisfied and that the graduate attributes for the course have been attained. Supplementary assessment may only be granted where Supplementary Assessment – procedures allow. A passing grade of 4 (or P) is the highest grade that can be awarded in a course where supplementary assessment has been granted. For further information on supplementary assessment please see my.UQ.
Additional assessment information
https://www.uq.edu.au/integrity/
School Guide for Written Assessments: School of Social Science Guide for Written Assessments
Release of Marks: The marks and feedback for assessments will be released to students in a timely manner, prior to the due date of the next assessment piece for the course. This is with the exception of the final piece of assessment. The marks and feedback for the final assessment item will only be made available to the student on the Finalisation of Grades date at the end of semester.
Assessment Re-mark: For information on requesting an assessment re-mark, please view the following page on my.UQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/querying-result
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Please refer to unit Blackboard site for other learning resources and information.ﾠ
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Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 5 |
Seminar |
Module 1: Introducing the social sciences The first module of this course runs from weeks 1-5. During this module, we introduce fundamental social science concepts and methods, building towards the submission of our first assessment items, and setting a strong foundation for students' success in the rest of the course. After completing this module, students will have a strong understanding of: i) what the social sciences are; ii) key differences between 'traditional' Western and non-Western approaches; iii) how social scientists understand and respond to social issues; iv) social science values and ethics; and v) social science contributions in an ever-changing world. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Multiple weeks From Week 6 To Week 7 |
Seminar |
Module 2: Understanding social institutions The second module of this course runs from weeks 6-7. This module will build on the first part of the course by introducing key social institutions. We take a critical and decolonial perspective to understanding the roles of these key institutions in shaping social norms, including how these have changed over time. After completing this module, students will have a strong understanding of: i) the key characteristics of social institutions, including how these change over time; ii) how social institutions shape social norms; and iii) how we can take a critical perspective to understanding how social institutions can create and perpetuate social inequalities on the basis of gender, race, class, ability, and much more. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Multiple weeks From Week 10 To Week 13 |
Seminar |
Module 3: Social science majors The third module of this course runs from weeks 10-13. The core purpose of this module is to provide students with an overview of the three majors on offer in the Bachelor of Social Science -- i) Development, ii) Environment and Society, and iii) Health and Social Policy. We invite guest lecturers to give students a 'taste' of these different fields of study through a problem-based learning approach. We then complete the module in our final lecture by discussing some key principles to guide students on their journeys through their social science studies and future work. After completing this module, students will: i) have a strong understanding of the majors available in the Bachelor of Social Science, thereby informing future study choices; and ii) be able to reflect on what they have learned during the semester, including how it might influence their critical engagement with the world around them, as well as provide a basis for their future studies and careers. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.