Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

~ ~ 3 0 8 Migration and Ethnicity
No. of hours per week: three hours
Prerequisites: two stage two sociology subjects
including AS204 (or two sociology subjects and
AP207 for students majoring in Australian
Studies)
Assessment: continuous
Subject aims and description
International migration pressures in Western societies are
widespread and growing, as are tensions over settlement and
integration. This subject examines social and political factors
shaping these processes with examples drawn from Australia,
North America, France and Germany. It analyses theories that
attempt to explain the international movement of people and
theories focused on the development of ethnicity.
References
Freeman, G. and Jupp, J. (eds.) Nations of Immigrants: Australia, the
United States and lnternational Migration. Melbourne, Oxford
University Press, 1992
Glazer, N. and Moynihan, D. (eds.) Ethnicity: Theory and Experience.
Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University, 1975
Simcox, D. (ed.) U.S. Immigration in the 1980s: Reappraisaland
Reform. Boulder, Colorado, Westview Press, 1988.
AS~OO Urban Social Theory
Subject aims and description
This subject is designed to introduce students to the major
theoretical perspectives used by social scientists to analyse
urban development, to examine the nature of the
urbanisation process and related urban problems, and to
develop an understanding of the role of the State in urban
society.
~ ~ 4 0 2 Urban Policy
Subject aims and description
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, land-use,
infra-structure will be used to exemplify issues, and experts in
various policy areas participate in the course.
~ ~ 4 0 3 Research Report
Subject aims and description
This subject provides students with the opportunity to gain
research experience by carrying out a research study under
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.
~ ~ 4 0 4 Advanced Urban Research
Subject aims and description
This subject offers more intensive first-hand training in
research methods than that offered in AS41 1. 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
Subject aims and description
This subject has three broad objectives: first, to introduce
students to the range of subject areas and methodologies
covered in contemporary urban research; secondly, tofamiliarise
students with information sources for Australian
urban research and methods of data acquisition; and thirdly,
to develop a limited competence in basic research
techniaues. This involves introductorv statistical ~rocedures
relevant to urban research, use of Swinburne's iomputer
facilities, and an introduction to the software packages for
social research.
AS413
Applied Social Planning
Subject aims and description
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.
~5465 Urban and Regional Economics
Subject aims and description
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.
ATI 13
Writing Fiction
No. of hours per week: three hours
Prerequisites: nil
Assessment: continuous
Subject aims and description
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
stow will be explored. The im~ortance of revision, listening to
critiiism and developing a seh-critical stance will be stressed,
together with techniques for developing these personal skills.
An introduction to techniques of critical and creative
thhinking will be provided; e.g. plugging into both rational
and irrational processes; the role of conjectural thinking,
intuition and luck; the use of analogies, metaphor, and
associative thinking; perceiving and creating relationships.
Emphasis is placed on the participant as writer and critic.