CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102203

Coordinator Irena Veljanova Opens in new window

Description Focused upon professional practice this unit will provide Social Sciences students with an opportunity to improve their career readiness. Using a combination of practical and theoretical teaching framework, this unit will teach students how to translate their social science knowledge to professional, career relevant knowledge. In doing so, it will also provide students an opportunity to engage with contemporary social issues related, for example, to diversity, work and employment, place, sustainability, violence and alternative to violence, health and cyberworld and cyber-experiences.

School Social Sciences

Discipline Society and Culture, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 3 subject

Equivalent Subjects CULT 3005 - Contemporary Debates in Social Sciences

Restrictions Students must have successfully completed 80 credit points. Students enrolled in 1734 Bachelor of Policing must have successfully completed the following subjects before enrolling in this subject. 102314 Policing Practices, 101557 The Individual in Society, 102170 People, Place and Social Difference, 102250 Ethical Leadership and 400337 Social Research Methods. Students enrolled in 1665 Bachelor of Community Welfare must have successfully completed the following subjects before enrolling in this subject. 101551 Understanding Society or 101557 The Individual in Society and 101555 Ethics in the Social Sciences, 102170 People, Place and Social Difference, 400337 Social Research Methods. Students enrolled in all other programs must have successfully completed the following subjects before enrolling in this subject. 101551 Understanding Society or 101557 The Individual in Society, And; 101555 Ethics in the Social Sciences, 101900 Working with Communities, 102170 People, Place and Social Difference, 400337 Social Research Methods.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
  1. Integrate advanced theoretical and empirical knowledge in dealing with discipline specific real-world social issues;
  2. Critically evaluate, interpret and apply knowledge derived from social science relevant published research to solve complex and novel social problems;
  3. Exercise critical thinking, reflective, technical and basic professional skills to make informed decisions in the professional and applied context;
  4. Demonstrate practical employability skills that can be useful for professional career development;
  5. Demonstrate understanding of debate as a process of inquiry and advocacy and ability to apply it in applied context.

Subject Content

There will be two main themes covered in this subject:[1] Introduction to professional practice and [2] Application of professional practice to real-life social issues.
Theme one: Introduction to professional practice:
Applied Social Sciences and professional practice
Mapping the professional domain: Using Social Science in the profession
From degree to Profession: Developing employability skills
Introducing debate: Applied debate in professional context
Hierarchies of knowledge
Power and decision making
Theme two: Application of professional practice to Real-life Social Issues (such as social issues related to diversity, work and employment, place, sustainability, violence & alternatives to violence, health and cyberworld and cyber-experiences).
Two main themes are covered in this subject:
[1] Introduction to professional practice, and
[2] Application of professional practice to real-life social issues.
-Applied Social Sciences and professional practice
-Mapping the professional domain: Using Social Science in the profession
-From degree to Profession: Developing employability skills
-Introducing debate: Applied debate in professional context
-Hierarchies of knowledge
-Power and decision making
Theme two: Application of professional practice to Real-life Social Issues:
-Social issues related to diversity
-Work and employment
-Place
-Sustainability
-Violence & alternatives to violence
- Health
- Cyberworld and cyber-experiences
Students may source their own internship or work placement as a means to integrate social science theory as it applies to professional practice.

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Item Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
1. Professional Task 1500 words 30 N Individual
2a. Presentation 500 (per group) 20 N Group
2b. e-Portfolio 150 words 10 N Individual
3a. Quiz 5 questions (online) 5 N Individual
3b. Report 1700 words 35 N Individual

Teaching Periods

Summer A

Liverpool

Day

Subject Contact Kamel Taoum Opens in new window

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WSU Online TRI-2

Wsu Online

Online

Subject Contact David-Jack Fletcher Opens in new window

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Sydney City Campus - Term 2

Sydney City

Day

Subject Contact Andrey Zheluk Opens in new window

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Spring

Penrith (Kingswood)

Day

Subject Contact Irena Veljanova Opens in new window

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Liverpool

Day

Subject Contact Irena Veljanova Opens in new window

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Parramatta - Victoria Rd

Day

Subject Contact Irena Veljanova Opens in new window

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