EDUC 1012 - Preparation for the Study of Social Sciences

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025

This course will introduce students to the Social Sciences, a very broad and diverse area of study, enabling them to focus on an inquiry that most interests related to topics covered. Beginning by exploring what Social Sciences are, the course will then focus on systems, histories and impacts across a variety of disciplines and fields. Students will engage with issues and debates that typify academic studies in these areas, and reflect on their own identities and societal positions as well as critiquing and analyzing media texts that pervade popular culture.

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Course Details

Course Code	EDUC 1012
Course	Preparation for the Study of Social Sciences
Coordinating Unit	School of Education
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Restrictions	Available to University Preparatory Program or Wirltu Yarlu UPP students only
Assessment	Quiz, minor task, major essay

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Ms Amy Robinson

Lecturer/Tutor: Mrs Aleisha Caddy

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

This course aims to prepare students for undergraduate study in the Social Sciences in an inclusive manner recognizing social diversity.

At the successful completion of this course, students should be able to achieve the following outcomes in the following areas:

Knowledge

1. Identify a range of disciplines within the Social Sciences and participate in some discipline-specific discussions.
2. Discuss various topics from Social Sciences and apply them to specific examples from real life.
3. Identify particular issues in political and historical events.

Problem Solving Skills, Critical and Creative Thinking

4. Reflect on modern day relevance of topics covered when critically analysing sources.
5. Connect relevant disciplines to wider cultural and social factors.

Working Alone and Collaboratively

6. Work collaboratively and in groups more comfortably and confidently than before.
7. Work individually at an undergraduate level more comfortably and confidently than before.

Communication
8. Discuss cultural, societal and political factors relavative to weekly topics in an academic setting.
9. Communicate both verbally and in written form.
10. Critically analyse historical sources and academic arguments.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1-10
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	2, 4, 5, 8, 10
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	6, 8, 9
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	6
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	1, 2, 3, 8
Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.	3, 4, 5, 8
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	10
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	1, 2, 3, 7

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Weekly readings will be available via MyUni

Recommended Resources

While there are no wider readings, it is important to become proficient in using the university library to find appropriate texts for a range of subjects in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Please use the Library online tutorials for assistance with this: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/help/tutorials/.

Online Learning

Substantial activity will be undertaken through the online environment. Due to a very early timetable for lectures, some lectures may be delivered via narrated Powerpoint files and will available via MyUni. There is a blog assignment that requires summary and analysis of a reading throughout the semester, and comments on others' blogs to enhance online discussion. It is essential that you are familiar with MyUni and engage with it regularly toperform well in this course.

Learning & Teaching Modes

Students are required to attend a one-hour lecture (or engage with it online if delivered in this way) and they must attend the two-hour tutorial for this course.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

1 x 1-hour lecture per week
1 x 2-hour tutorial per week
10 hours of independent study per week

Total: 156 hours

Learning Activities Summary

Week	Topic
1	Introduction to the Social Sciences
2	Introduction to Geography
3	Climate Change
4	Globalisation
5	International Development
6	LEDC/MEDC
7	Inequalities in Australia
8	Gender Studies
	MID-SEMESTER BREAK
9	Gender Studies 2
10	Gender Studies 3
11	Philosophy 1
12	Philosophy 2

Topics subject to change depending on tutor or student requirements.

Specific Course Requirements

To pass this course, students must attend at least 75% of tutorials; in cases of absence for medical or compassionate reasons, documentation must be provided and students must still attend at least 50% of classes. If students fail to attend the minimum required number of tutorials, they will be considered to have not completed an assignment (see below).

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Due	Weighting
Quiz	Week 4	20%
Minor Report	Week 8	35%
Multimodal Report	Week 13	45%
Participation Activity	Ongoing	TBC

Assessment Related Requirements

Students must attempt all assessment tasks to pass this course. Since the University Preparatory Program is designed to prepare students for success at University, completing and submitting all assignments is central to the intended learning outcomes of the program and each course within it. Often, at least attempting and submitting assignments in the face of difficulty or adversity is enough for success at University and the UPP encourages this resilience by employing this policy in select courses. Please note that the absolute last date for the submission of assignments in Semester 1 is the end of Swot Vac week, which is one week after the final assignment is due.

If a student fails to submit all assessment tasks and would otherwise have received a grade greater than 45, they will be given a nominal grade of 45 (Fail) for that course in that semester. This will permit them to undertake additional assessment (formerly called academic supplementaryassessment) at the Course Coordinator’s discretion, as per policy at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/supps.html

It is not necessary to apply for additional assessment; this assessment will usually consist of the missed pieces of assessment, but the course coordinator may require more. As per policy, if the student passes the additional assessment to the Course Coordinator’s satisfaction, the maximum grade they can get for the course is 50 (Pass). If a student’s raw grade is below 45, regardless of whether all tasks have been attempted, this score will stand unless exceptional, documented circumstances apply as per the University’s Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/mod_arrange.html

Substantial non-engagement in this course (evidenced by repeated non-attendance at tutorials and failure to submit assessments) may result in students being withdrawn from the University Preparatory Program and being required to apply for reinstatement if they wish to continue.

Assessment Detail

Annotated Bibliography
An annotated bibliography is a list of citations (books, articles, and documents). Each citation is followed by a brief descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the 'annotation'. These annotations will revolve around sources from the Social Sciences, and the purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited. More information will be provided in class.

Major Essay
Students will be required to write an essay incorporating a range of sources; and will encompass question from topics throughout the semester. More details will be provided in class.

Minor Essay
Students will be required to write a short essay concerning the first four weeks of the semester. More details will be provided in class.

Quiz Participation
Participation will be graded via quizzes, with students given a formative grade mid-semester. The quizzes will focus on both Lecture and Tutorial information.

Submission

All assignments will be electronically submitted via MyUni, except (obviously) for Participation.

Students may be granted extensions to assignments on medical or compassionate grounds; documentation to support these ground will be required. Requests for extension must be made before the due date; requests for extension submitted after the due date will not be considered. All extension requests must be submitted to the Course Coordinator (Amy Kay Robinson: a my.kay.robinson@adelaide.edu.au); any extensions granted by the lecturer or tutor will not be considered valid.
All extension requests will be administered according to the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303/

For a concise information sheet on this policy, please visit http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/pdfs/maca_medical_compassionate_info.pdf

Penalties for Late Submission

Unless the Course Outline states otherwise when an assessment is submitted after the due date, and without an extension, 5% of the total mark possible will be deducted for every 24 hours or part thereof that it is late, including each day on a weekend. For example, an essay that is submitted after the due date and time but within the first 24 hour period, and that has been graded at 63%, will have 5% deducted, for a final grade of 58%. An essay that is more than 24 hours late will lose 10%, etc. Hard copy submissions made after 5.00pm on a Friday will be assumed to have been submitted on the next business day and will be penalised 5% per day for every day including weekend days and public holidays. This penalty may be increased where the assignment is to be completed ina period of less than a week.

This course aims to return assessed work within 2 weeks of its submission, although this cannot be guaranteed. The resubmission of assignments is not possible for this course, except in exceptional circumstances as approved by the Course Coordinator.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator