Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

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

Rationale

A thorough understanding of various forms of marginalisation, their historical development, their cultural and social context, and the power relations and forms of government that sustain them is necessary if justice professionals are to fully address such injustice. Justice professionals must possess the capacity to critically reflect on the various elements that work together to produce inequality if social policies are to be directed towards achieving greater justice.

This unit will provide students with rigorous, sophisticated, and innovative theoretical and analytical tools through which various kinds of marginalisation can be understood. It also offers students, as future justice professionals, the opportunity to use these conceptual tools to formulate new and original approaches to addressing marginalisation and injustice in our society, thus enabling them to contribute to public policy debates.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you with the theoretical, analytical, and conceptual tools with which to analyse and respond to various forms of marginalisation in our society. You will develop an understanding of these tools, and an ability to apply them, through a range of learning activities and assessment tasks. This will ensure that you are equipped to engage with, and respond to, issues of justice and injustice in sophisticated ways.

Objectives

1. Evidence of understanding policy, theoretical and practice perspectives relative to justice systems in national and global settings
2. Evidence of policy knowledge and practices relative to marginalised groups in Australia
3. Evidence of awareness of variations in social perspectives across cultures, genders and income groups
4. Evidence of the ability to resolve problems using rational decision making models reliant upon real world context and policy
5. Evidence of ability to work individually or as part of a team to produce timely outcomes
6. Evidence of ability to express ideas and communicate in verbal and written formats in a professional manner

Content

Module 1 Marginalisation, power and government
Module 2 Rethinking marginalisation, power and government
Module 3 Responding to marginalisation: political change and achieving justice

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be offered to both internal and external students. Internal students will participate in a weekly two-hour lectorial and one-hour online activity. External students will be able to access podcasts of the lecturials as well as participate online through Blackboard Collaborate. External students will also have access to an online discussion forum and blog tool.

The lectorial will introduce students to the theory, context and key concepts for each topic, allowing for discussion and learning activities to clarify and reflect on materials presented. Assessment items will provide students with an opportunity to develop key skills that will be required for pursuing a career in this field

Assessment

There are two pieces of assessment in this unit: a reflective journal/blog to be completed progressively through each module and an essay. Assessment will cover all aspects of the unit materials covered in class, and will draw on weekly readings and resources available on the Course Materials Database.Students will be provided with formative feedback through grading and comments on their reflective journals/blogs as well as through discussion in class. Summative feedback will be provided in the form of comments on their essay assessment.

Assessment name: Reflective Journal/Blog
Description: You are required to keep a reflective journal for each module in the unit, responding to the material presented in the unit and drawing on current events/justice-related policies and programmes as reported in news articles, government reports and other contemporary media. This reflection is also an opportunity to apply the concepts discussed in the unit material to everyday life. You will be able to access a blogging tool in order to submit this.
Relates to objectives: This assessment item addresses learning Outcomes 1 though 6.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Ongoing

Assessment name: Essay
Description: You are required to research and write a 2000 word essay, consisting of a critical analysis of a governmental programme that seeks to act upon marginalisation. This analysis should draw on the theoretical and conceptual tools discussed in the unit, apply them to the programme analysed, and offer a critique of that policy.
Relates to objectives: This assessment item addresses learning Outcomes 1 though 6.
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 10

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

There is no set text for this unit
All readings and resources will be provided on the Course Materials Database
A Unit Information and Study Guide are provided on the Blackboard Site for this unit.
A Discussion forum and blog tool will be provided to students through the Blackboard site for this unit.

Risk assessment statement

There are no unusual 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: 22-Feb-2013