Foundation Studies Program (Standard) - Arts (X0F:1) (0100808) + Diploma of Arts - Sociology (A1A) (0100746)

Program Description Foundation Studies Program (Standard) - Arts (X0F:1) (0100808): The Foundation Studies program is a direct academic pathway to first-year undergraduate degree study, or an equivalent. The program acts as a bridging course for international students who wish to study a university undergraduate degree course but who don’t yet meet academic requirements and/or have the English language skills for tertiary study.

To successfully complete the program, students must achieve a 50% pass in all units, including English.

Upon successful completion of the course, graduates can enter one of the University of Tasmania’s undergraduate degree courses.

Diploma of Arts - Sociology (A1A): The Diploma of Arts provides students with opportunities to interpret human culture and behaviour from different perspectives and periods. Their studies will explore today’s big questions. They will learn how to support the social and economic development of the human race and/or to be immersed in creativity, performance and innovation.

This award is designed to allow students to choose their path: it can be the first year of Bachelor of Arts study, or they may enroll in this degree to pursue their passion and undertake one of the majors in the Bachelor of Arts. The Diploma of Arts gives students the flexibility to choose from a wide range of subjects with over twenty named majors and minors, they can select subjects to build their knowledge, and electives to enhance skills.

By studying sociology, students will come to appreciate how the world around influences the way they think, feel and act while acquiring a better understanding of themselves and their role in this world. This is what sociology does. It makes sense of the many challenges that human societies face in the modern world and the ways in which people and societies confront those challenges. Studying Sociology will provide students with the knowledge to understand how these challenges have emerged, the skills to analyse the complexities of how those challenges effect different social groups, and the capacity to evaluate options for creating more sustainable and socially just societies.

Sociology questions the established, taken-for-granted views of reality, to provide clearer and more complex understandings of social life. This major offers an exciting range of social topics to engage with including how globalisation and global issues influence everyday life, the significance of cities and urbanisation in the early 21st century, the role of social divisions, inequality and power in shaping our life chances, and the diverse ways in which gender, sexuality, ethnicity and race contribute to the construction of our identity. Students will start with an introduction to sociological theory and foundational issues before advancing into the intermediate core units on diverse social theory and social research methods. By the third year, they will be able to utilise their sociological theory and social research approaches to engage with critical issues facing right now.

Sociology equips students with the skills to think critically about the world around them and the ability to apply different perspectives in their decision-making and planning. This is an essential requirement in any career needing cultural awareness and research expertise.