Theorising Societies
UndergraduateMAQ-SOCX20102025
Previously MAQ-SOCX222
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Identify key characteristics of modern societies. See how capitalism, industrialism and individualism instruct social development. Get to know the writings of thinkers like Marx, Foucault and Nietzsche. Consider their insights and their shortcomings
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 16 Feb 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $2,160
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Theorising Societies
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject, you be able to:
- identify the distinguishing figures, topics and texts of Social Theory and Sociology as a field of study and investigate its points of connection and disconnection in contemporary society
- explain the origin, characteristics and complexity of modern societies
- articulate a coherent, developed account of what it means to live in modern societies
- analyse and critically assess a variety of primary texts within their historical, social and discursive contexts
- A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials.
This subject was previously known as SGYX222, SOCX222 Sociological Theories of Modernity.
Sociological theorising is about understanding and explaining the meaning of social phenomena. Usually that evolves drawing on existing concepts, or constructing our own, as prisms through which we interpret the range of human actions, behaviours and attitudes. In this unit we will discuss the role of sociological theory today. We will explore how major social thinkers have attempted to understand and explain social change, especially in the context of the deep uncertainties that characterise modernity. We will discuss original texts by Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Simmel and other more recent theorists whose works are examples of ‘the sociological imagination’ and its usefulness to thinking about social change.
- Short essay (30%)
- Essay 2 (50%)
- Online participation (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- 10
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 10
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
MAQ-SGYX222 (Not currently available)
MAQ-SOCX222 (Not currently available)
Others
NCCW (pre-2020 units) SGYX222, SOC222, SOC232, SOCX222
Pre-requisite 40cp at 1000 level or above
NCCW (2020 and onwards)
SOCI2010 Theories of Modernity
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateMAQ-ART-DEG
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