1996 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

AS402 Urban Policy
3 hours per week Hawthorn Prerequisite: nil
Assessment: continuous
A subject in the Graduate Diploma in Urban Research and
Policy
Objectives and Content
This subject is concerned with an examination of national,
state, and local policies that pertain to urban areas. Crucial
issues covered include consideration of what constitutes
urban problems and policies, the significance of ideology to
policy, formulating policy, putting ideas into operation,
evaluation and analysis of policy, and the significance of
political structure. Particular topics such as housing, landuse,
infra-structure will be used to exemplify issues, and
experts in various policy areas participate in the course.
AS403 Research Report
3 houn per week Hawthorn Prerequisite: nil
Assessnaent: continuous
A subject in the Graduate Diploma in Urban Research and
Policv
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-. Objectives and Content
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This subject provides students with the opportunity to gain
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research experience by carrying out a research study under
2 staff supervision and presenting the results of the study in
the form of a report. The report is one of the major
requirements of the graduate diploma course.
AS404 Advanced Urban Research
3 hours per week Hawthorn Prerequisite: nil
Assessment: continuous
A subject in the Graduate Diploma in Urban Research and
Policy
Objectives and Content
This subject offers more intensive first-hand training in
research methods than that offered in AS411. Students
undertake a group research program which involves taking a
research issue through from conception to completion of a
final report. The research program will involve students in
survey, design, data collection, interviewing, coding,
computing, and research analysis. For students undertaking
an empirical analysis in their research projects or for
students seeking employment as research officers, this
subject provides necessary additional training in urban
research.
AS41 1 Urban Research
3 hours per week Hawthorn Prerequisite: nil
Assessment: continuous
A subject in the Graduate Diploma in Urban Research and
Policy
Objectives and Content
This subject has three broad objectives: first, to introduce
students to the range of subject areas and methodologies
covered in contemporary urban research; secondly, to
familiarise students with information sources for Australian
urban research and methods of data acquisition; and thirdly,
to develop a limited competence in basic research
techniques. This involves introductory statistical procedures
relevant to urban research, use of Swinburne's computer
facilities, and an introduction to the software packages for
social research.
AS413 Applied Social Planning
3 hours per week Hawthorn Prerequisite: nil
Assessment: continuous
A subject in the Graduate Diploma in Urban Research and
Policy
Objectives and Content
In this subject the role of the social scientist in the social
planning process is examined. While emphasising the
important role of the social scientist in critically examining
the values and assumptions underpinning the planning
process, this subject is predominantly skills oriented.
Particular attention is paid to the techniques of needs
surveys, evaluation, secondary data analysis, and social
impact analysis.
AS465 Urban and Regional Economics
3 hours per week Hawthorn Prerequisite: nil
Assessment: continuous
A subject in the Graduate Diploma in Urban Research and
Policy
Objectives and Content
This subject is designed to introduce students to the
principles of economic analysis as they apply to the city.
Particular attention is given to techniques of economic
analysis such as cost benefit analysis, program budgeting,
investment analysis and demand forecasting. Topics to
which these principles and techniques are applied include
housing, transport, and local government.
AT1 13 Writing Fiction
3 hours per week Hawthorn Prerequisite: nil
Assessment: continuous
A subject in the Bachelor of Arts
Objectives and Content
This subject will introduce students to the range of skills
required by the professional writer of fiction. A series of
workshop exercises will develop skills in creating character,
dialogue and dramatic tension. Point of view, voice, form,
style, plot, tone, and description and their place in building a
story will be explored. The importance of revision, listening
to criticism and developing a self-critical stance will be
stressed, together with techniques for developing these
personal skills.
An introduction to techniques of critical and creative
thinking will be provided; e.g. plugging into both rational
and irrational processes; the role of conjectural thinking,