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Unit of study_

SCLG2000: Global Social Problems

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit takes a multidisciplinary approach to the study of major global problems. Lectures, readings, and activities will examine these problems through the multiple lenses of comparative sociology, systems engineering, climate science, humans rights discourses, world history, and literature.

Unit details and rules

Unit code SCLG2000
Academic unit
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level in Sociology or 12 credit points at 1000 level in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Salvatore Babones, salvatore.babones@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Mathew Toll, mathew.toll@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Final policy paper
Detailed examination of a global social problem in a particular country
40% Formal exam period 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Assignment Comparative research report
Professional report on a global social problem across multiple countries
40% Week 08 1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO3 LO2
Presentation Panel presentation (1000 word equivalent)
Individual presentation research-based + participation in panel discussion
20% Week 09 5 min presentation + 10 min discussion
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO6 LO5

Assessment summary

  • 1x1500wd Comparative research report (40%)
  • 1x1000wd equivalent Team activity (20%)
  • 1x2hr Final exam (40%)

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: Homelessness in global perspective; the Heckman policy framework Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Homelessness policy discussion Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 02 Anti-vaccine activism: Vaccines, autism, and the origins of the anti-vaccine movement; Beck's risk society framework Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Risk society discussion Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Anti-vaccine activism and the coronavirus pandemic; how to access professional data; social movements: political opportunity theory and resource mobilization theory Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Anti-vaccine activism discussion Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 04 Social policy for vaccine acceptance; assessing the credibility of sources; assignment of comparative research report Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Vaccination policy discussion Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Truth and post-truth: Assessing the validity of truth claims; introduction to Plato, James, Popper, and postmodernism Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Discussion on the role of evidence in social policy formation Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Lived experience as "truth": Historical child abuse, #MeToo, and BLM; critical race theory Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Discussion of race and racism in comparative perspective Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 07 The politics of truth: Class bias, stylized facts, and fact-checking; the critical thinking school and Bourdieu on fields Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Discussion on the role of expertise in democracy Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 08 Income and income inequality: Introduction to concepts, measurement, and data; assignment of panel presentations Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Inequality discussion Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Poverty: Introduction to concepts, measurement, and data Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Panel presentations; discussion of absolute versus relative poverty Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Employment, jobs, and the informal sector Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Panel presentations; discussion of informal sector employment Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Refugee policy: The Holocaust and the origins of the United Nations' refugee framework; the tension between individualism and communitarianism; assignment of final policy paper Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Panel presentations; discussion on the responsibility to protect Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Major refugee and IDP crises in the world today Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Panel presentations; discussion of the proper Australian and world responses to IDP crises Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 "Stop the boats" or "room to spare"? Australia's refugee policy options Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Make-up presentations; discussion of Australian refugee policy Tutorial (1 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Academic readings will be set in advance of each lecture. Students will also be assigned to seek out and discover appropriate online readings throughout the semester as part of the tutorial program.  The first four lectures (Weeks 1-4) will focus on helping students learn how to evaluate the reliability of online sources.  Starting with the Week 04 tutorials, students will be expected to bring their own (reliable!) readings to class in preparation for class discussion.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate non-academic professional report writing of the kind you might be expected to undertake in post-university careers
  • LO2. demonstrate a practical understanding of how multiple knowledge systems intersect in addressing social problems
  • LO3. demonstrate comparative-historical theoreical framework for understanding the structure of global problems
  • LO4. demonstrate deep knowledge of the social problems faced by one particular country
  • LO5. demonstrate a curiosity and concern about global social problems into concrete plans for policy action.
  • LO6. form independent, critical, well-informed views on the basis of biased information and reports

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Topics have been updated based on student feedback in 2021.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.