ATS1366 Big ideas for better futures

In an era of rapid transformation, environmental change, global mobility, economic transitions, and shifting political dynamics, sociological inquiry enables critical reflection on how individuals and communities can respond constructively to these challenges. Sociology also provides the tools to both understand and influence the social world in pursuit of better futures.

So – if the future is not always certain, how can it be ours to shape? This raises questions such as: how do our imagined futures shape the present? What can we learn from social movements in the past? What kinds of futures do we want, can we imagine, or are even possible? How do we navigate the social world to take action that will make a difference?

This unit examines how societies have historically navigated big ideas about the world, periods of profound change, and how these experiences inform contemporary social change in a diverse and interconnected Australia. By engaging with key sociological theories, concepts, and case studies, students will develop the capacity to think critically about complex social issues, communicate complex ideas and theories in an effectively way across a range of contexts, and apply sociological insights and theory to inform brave ideas and better futures.