Program Overview

---

Introduction to SOC308 Community Analysis

The subject SOC308 Community Analysis examines community as a means of addressing social, environmental, and economic problems in a globalising world. It applies sociological tools to community capacity, considering social capital, interaction, organization, inequality, conflict, and power relationships within and beyond the community.

Subject Outlines

The subject outlines are available for recent sessions, and it is noted that these outlines and assessment tasks are updated each session.

Availability

The subject is available in the following sessions:

• Session 1 (30)
  • Online
  • Wagga Wagga Campus
• Session 2 (60)
  • Online
  • Wagga Wagga Campus
• Session 3 (90)
  • Online
  • Wagga Wagga Campus

Subject Information

Grading System

The grading system for this subject is HD/FL.

Duration

The duration of the subject is one session.

School

The subject is part of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Enrolment Restrictions

This subject is not available to students who have successfully completed SOC3033 or SOC-3084.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Understand sociological ways of describing and investigating communities
• Understand sociological theories developed to help understand the variety of forms of community
• Explain sociological research about communities clearly in writing
• Think critically about community
• Apply sociological theory and concepts to real-world cases of issues that occur in communities

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

Part 1 - Introduction

• Topic 1: Introduction to community analysis, questioning the definition of community and what constitutes a community
• Topic 2: Methodologies in community analysis, examining ways in which communities have been examined using quantitative and qualitative research strategies

Part 2 - Sociological Theory of Community

• Topic 3: Government and governance
• Topic 4: Inequality and the paradox of community
• Topic 5: Communion and cohesion
• Topic 6: Social capital
• Topic 7: Community participation and social change
• Topic 8: Growth machines and economic development

Part 3 - Case Studies and Application of Theory

• Topic 9: Rural communities
• Topic 10: Environment and communities
• Topic 11: Work in and for communities
• Topic 12: Virtual community - the influence of technology and the online age