Units

---

Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The Justice degree is about producing competent justice professionals. In order to achieve this purpose, this degree combines knowledge of the criminal justice system with an understanding and appreciation of the complexities of social justice. The purpose of this unit is to introduce students to the structural parameters of social justice.

Aims

The aim of this unit is threefold. First, the unit aims to introduce you to the social construction of ideas and, more specifically, the notion of structural inequality through a critique of the more popular yet individualistic concept of individual achievement. Second, to introduce the social divisions of class, gender, race, ethnicity and age as they impact on life chances. Third, to discuss the relationship between structural inequality, life chances and social justice.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Understand the principle of structural inequality and its relationship to the social divisions of class, gender, race, ethnicity and age, and demonstrate the graduate attribute of critical awareness.
2. Appreciate the relationship between structural inequality and life chances and demonstrate the graduate attribute of a social justice orientation.
3. Discuss the complexity of social justice as well as apply such theoretical knowledge to practical situations and demonstrate the graduate attribute of critical thinking.
4. Understand the relationship between social concepts (race, class, gender) and legal concepts (human rights, justice, citizenship) and demonstrate the graduate attribute of Indigenous perspectives.
5. Relate issues of social justice to issues of criminal justice in Australia and demonstrate the graduate attribute of reflective practice.

Content

Section 1: Justice

Week 1: Justice and injustice
Week 2: Thinking differently about society
Week 3: Challenging the myth of the ¿fair go¿

Section 2: Social Justice

Week 4: sexuality, imagination and justice. Case study: homophobia
Week 5: gender, socialisation and justice. Case study: violent offending women
Week 6: class, inequality and justice. Case study: homelessness
Week 7: race, invisibility and justice. Case study: Indigenous policing
Week 8: age, responsibility and justice. Case study: age of consent

Section 3: Criminal Justice

Week 9: Courts, sentencing and justice. Case study: Magistrates court
Week 10: Punishment, treatment and justice. Case study: mental illness and addictions
Week 11: human rights, universality and justice. Case study: sex trafficking .
Week 12: citizenship, inclusion and justice. Case study: asylum seekers
Week 13: Justice and Injustice

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

For internal students - This unit is organised around problem solving workshops and tutorials of 90 minutes each in length. The workshops will introduce students to the basic information as well as introduce video and other media for viewing and consideration. The tutorials will be the forum for reflecting on and clarifying the issues raised in the workshop.

For external students - The Study Guide will provide content and activities to mirror the internal learning experience, where possible. External students are advised to make use of the OLT site where appropriate and to access the print media and other visual learning tools (especially videos) through their library.

For many students this unit will challenge preconceived ideas about the ways in which Australian society functions and their own position within such a society. Given the nature of the professional work and clientele with which justice studies students will be engaging, it is imperative that they understand society from positions other than their own. This unit will make extensive use of the popular media to encourage discussion and debate about controversial issues which impact upon people from different cultures and classes.

Assessment

This unit comprises of formative and summative assessment.

Assessment name: Take Home Exam
Description: Take Home Exam. This test will be a series of short answer and essay questions from the entire 13 weeks of the unit. These questions will be made available online via the Blackboard site and in hard copy in tutorials on the Monday of Week 12.

This assessment is to demonstrate understanding, thought and reflection in answers. The majority will require factual responses gleaned from the set readings, the Study Guide and activities. A small minority will require reflection beyond factual knowledge.
Relates to objectives: This assessment relates to objectives 1, 2 ,3, 4 and 5.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 14

Assessment name: Online Workbook
Description: A series of three workbooks will be completed throughout the semester. Each will be made available via the blackboard site under Assessment. You will have two weeks to work on worksheets 1 and 2, and three weeks to work on worksheet 3. These will be technical and reflective. Both internal and external students will also have the option of completing these worksheets individually or as a group.
Relates to objectives: This assessment relates to objectives 1, 2 and 3.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Weeks 4, 8, 12

Assessment name: Online Discussion Forum
Description: Over the semester, a series of online discussions, in small study groups of external students will be required. These will be in response to a video, news article or short reading. You will be required to engage with both the stimulus to the discussion as well as your peers responses. The groups will be organised prior to the first week.
Relates to objectives: This assessment relates to objectives 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 3, 6, 9, 12

Assessment name: Discussion Forum
Description: Over the semester, internal students are expected to engage with a range of materials provided during the lecture as well as accessed via the Blackboard site which will contribute to their discussion during hourly tutorials.
Relates to objectives: This assessment relates to objectives 1,2,3, and 4.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 2-13

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

The set text for this unit is: Carpenter, B. and M. Ball. 2013. Justice in Society. Federation Press: Australia. This is available in the QUT bookshop.

Students are also advised to make use of a wide variety of resources available on the CMD (Course Materials Database) available on the unit Blackboard site, or via the QUT Library homepage.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 29-Oct-2012