The Social Life of Technology

Undergraduate | 2027

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Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
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Area/Catalogue
SOCI 3007
Course ID icon
Course ID
209546
Campus icon
Campus
Adelaide City Campus East, Adelaide City Campus West, Magill
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Society and Culture
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Course level
3
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes

Course overview

This course explores the social life of technology through the interdisciplinary field of Science and Technology Studies (STS). Drawing on critical theory and case studies including AI, digital platforms, and human enhancement technologies, the course examines how societies shape technologies and how technologies reshape social life. Students will analyse the relationships between technological innovation, social inequality, and power asymmetries, while developing the skills to critically evaluate the ethical implications of technological change. Importantly, the course encourages reflection on what it means to be human in an era of rapid technological transformation. 

  • Technology and Society
  • Cyborgs, Materialities, and Ethical Entanglements
  • Posthuman Possibilities

Course learning outcomes

  • Comprehend and critically engage with the key concepts, theories, and methodologies of Science and Technology Studies (STS) to explain how technologies shape—and are shaped by—the social world.
  • Assess the ethical implications of technology use and development, with attention to power, inequality, and social context.
  • Construct and communicate a critical appraisal of contemporary technology and its social implications.

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

  • Must not have completed POLI3005 The Social Life of Technology

Availability

Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 05/03/2027
Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 26/03/2027
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 09/04/2027
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 07/05/2027

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Group 1

Class number
Class number 28980
Section
Section SE02
Size
Size 38
Available
Available 37
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
6 May - 27 May Thursday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East SANTOS, G04
25 Feb - 15 Apr Thursday 11:10am - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East SANTOS, G04

Fee calculator

To display course fees for 2027, select your status and program below:

Study Abroad student tuition fees are available here.

Only some Postgraduate Coursework programs are available as Commonwealth Supported. Please check your program for specific fee information.

If you are studying in a Professional Pathway Psychology, Clinical Psychology or Social Work program, please refer to the Student Contributions amounts published here.

The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.