SOCI4095

Capstone project in sociology

Offer semester
1st semester

Course description

The Capstone Project is a six-credit compulsory course for major students in a sociological subject to be offered in the final year of study. It aims to provide students with the opportunity to integrate their sociological knowledge and skills through a series of workshop, class discussion, student presentations, portfolio work and experiential learning. The Capstone Project should normally be undertaken in a small group of two or three students. Students will be allocated a supervisor who will help them identify a topic of interest that is relevant to the core discipline. All projects should contain an element of public engagement.

Students should take this course in Semester 1, however those with exceptional reasons (e.g. study abroad) may apply to the Department for special approval to complete the course in Semester 2.

Related courses

Course learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students are expected to have the ability to:
a) demonstrate their sociological knowledge;
b) analyse a topic of study with critical and reflexive perspectives;
c) articulate their learning experience into a written paper, other forms of creative output or community activities;
d) communicate the outcome of their study and their sociologically informed views to a public audience;
e) participate in group environment as well as in a larger community.

Assessment

TasksWeighting
Project proposal10%
Work plan & process records30%
Final Work20%
Capstone archive5%
Public engagement (at capstone fair)35%

Required reading

Becker, Howard S. 1986. Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article, with a chapter by Pamela Richards. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Becker, Howard S. 2007. Telling About Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Harper, Douglas. 1988. “Visual Sociology: Expanding Sociological Vision.” The American Sociologist, Volume 19, Issue 1, pp.54-70.

Turner, Victor W., and Edward M. Bruner. 1986. The Anthropology of Experience. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.

Course co-ordinator and teachers