SOCIOL 709 : Special Topic: Sociology of Universities
Arts
2024 Semester Two (1245) (30 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course is designed to critically engage with the university as a site of study. Students will reflect on their experiences in university and engage in talanoa/critical conversations about what the purpose of a university is, how the university delivers on its own agenda and what we imagine a future university to be. In this course, students will engage in critical texts on university teaching, racism and the university, neoliberalism and the university, and finally, texts on the purpose of a university. Students will be asked to critically apply these ideas to their own experiences and consider different ways of change-making to create the university they are both promised and deserve.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
Learning Outcomes
- Critically evaluate sociology of knowledge and university studies literature (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
- Demonstrate the application of critical university studies (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 6)
- Communicate critical university studies ideas and practices (Capability 1, 5, 6 and 7)
- Develop your own vision for universities (Capability 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Manifesto | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Reflection | 40% | Individual Coursework |
| Presentation | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Reflection | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
Workload Expectations
This course is a 30-point course.
For this course, you can expect a 3-hour seminar each week, 8-10 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5-7 hours of work on assignments.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities to complete components of the course.
Seminars will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Overall feedback on this course is positive, and students find engaging in the university as a site of study interesting.
Changes:
- Previous students suggested Paulo Freire Pedagogy of the Oppressed for the first reading to help understand the approach to teaching being taken in the classroom, which is different from other university classes.
"The way in which the assignments were segmented into smaller, bite–sized projects spread out across the semester made the course more manageable. The learning material chosen for the course was also very engaging, which made it more enjoyable to learn overall."
"The conversations that were held in seminars were always the most helpful. They furthered my understanding of the concepts that we read about in the given readings as well as linked the many existing ideas that floated around the room into one thread. So every time I left a seminar, my understanding of a topic or idea became broadened and I started to view the university and its decisions in a more critical manner. The conversations always left me with thoughts and questions that I would search up and be eager to answer. Overall, it was a great class. If I were to be able to take it again, I would."
"This course is not a classic type of teaching but is characterized by creativity and critical thinking.'
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.