The VCE Sociology Study Design has been accredited for the period 2006-2011.
This is a new study which has significant overlap with VCE Contemporary Australian Society. Much of the content is the same but the method and approach is sociological. The rationale and aims have been developed to reflect a sociological perspective. The concepts, knowledge and skills of sociology have been included in the units. Sociology as a discipline includes reflexive practices and encourages active participation. Students ask the questions ‘What do I assume?’ and ‘Why do I assume it?’ The study addresses contemporary issues facing Australian society and includes a strong futures component and includes sociological perspectives and questions. Key skills in each of the units now emphasise the ability to ‘think critically’ about the issues under investigation.
The title of this unit and the titles and number of areas of study remain the same as in the current Contemporary Australian Society. Area of Study 1 remains focused on an exploration of youth as a social category. The key knowledge is the same with small word changes. Outcome 2 remains the same asking students ‘to explain the changes influencing the experience of being young’ but a third key knowledge dot point has been included focusing on the ‘changes due to new cultural formations such as dress music, media’. Outcome three has been extended to emphasise the democratic participation of youth and the strategies used to govern them. Examples used in the area of study have been updated.
Unit 2 has a new title Social Institutions: Family, education and the workplace which reflects its broadened focus from the study of the family to include education and the workplace as well and the interaction between these three social institutions. The title and focus of Area of Study 1 is still the family but Outcome 1 includes some of the key knowledge dot points from Outcome 2 of Unit 2 Contemporary Australian Society. The second area of study Education and the workplace is new. It focuses on the social impact of the changes that have taken place in the workforce and educational institutions since the 1970s.
The title of this unit and both areas of study remain the same as in VCE Contemporary Australian Society. There is one outcome for each area of study. Area of Study 1 Community and society in a globalising world has included a small introduction to sociologists’ understanding of community. Outcome 1 and 2 are exactly the same as Outcome 1 and 3 in Contemporary Australian Society. The key knowledge for Outcome 1 has included some new dot points from Outcome 2 of the previous unit.
The title of the unit and both areas of study remain the same as in VCE Contemporary Australian Society. There is one outcome for each area of study. Both outcomes and key knowledge are the same as in Unit 4 of Contemporary Australian Society. The key skills of both outcomes have an added emphasis on the ability to ‘be reflective and think critically’ about the ideas investigated in the area of study.
The list of assessment tasks from which teachers can choose for Units 1 and 2 remains the same as for VCE Contemporary Australian Society.
In Units 3 and 4 of VCE Sociology teachers will choose one or more assessment tasks from the list to assess the student’s performance on each outcome.
Enquiries about the content of the study design can be directed to:
Patricia Hincks, Curriculum Manager, Humanities
Telephone: (03) 9651 4439
Email: hincks.patricia.m@edumail.vic.gov.au