7949 (v.6) Sociology 224 - Sociology of Human Futures, Society and Technological Change

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Area:	Department of Social Sciences
Credits:	25.0
Contact Hours:	3.0
Lecture:	1 x 3 Hours Weekly
Anti Requisite(s):	9843 (v.6) Sociology 324 - Sociology of Human Futures, Society and Technological Change
Prerequisite(s):	7365 (v.4) Sociology 111 - Social Construction of Identity - Introduction to Doing Sociology or any previous version AND 7366 (v.4) Sociology 112 - Australian Society in the Global Economy or any previous version
Syllabus:	Human futures and technological change. Technology and social change - modern society. Relationship between technical change and capitalist development. Invention and innovation. Technological determinism. Theories of technocracy. Technology and production focusing on gender, globalisation, the future of work, biotechnology. Theories and impact of information society.
Unit Outcomes:	On successful completion of this unit, students will have- An awareness of the major theories of the relationship between technology, industrialisation and social change. An understanding of current issues relating to technology and society, for example biotechnology and the Human Genome Project, ideas of information society and cyber society. A familiarity with current debates about the impact of technological change on the labour process, employment and the future of work, and the relationship between technology and gender on the workplace. Some ability to think about issues of technology and social change in the context of globalisation and its impact upon Australian society.
Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.
Unit References:	Braverman, Harry. (1974), Labaour and Monopoly Capital: The Degradation of Work in the Twentieth Century. New York, Monthly Review Press. Landes, David. (1969). The unbound Prometheus: Technological Change and Industrialisation Development in Western Europe form 1750 to the Present. Cambridge University Press. Ch 2, pp.41-123. Lewontin, R. C. (1992), "The Dream of the Human Genome" in R. C. Lewontin, Biology as Ideology: The Doctrine of DNA. New York, Harper Collins. Marx, Karl. (1977), Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, Vol 1. Harmondsworth, Penguin Books. Cas 13 and 14, pp.439-491. -->Rifkin, Jeremy. (1996) The End of Work: The Global Labour Force and the Dawn of the Post-Market Era Robins, Kevin and Webster, Frank. (1999), Times of the Technoculture, London, Routledge. Smith, Merritt Roe and Marx, Leo. (1994), Does Technology Drive History? The Dilemma of Technological Determinism. Massachusetts, MIT Press. Webster, Frank. (1995), Theories of The Information Society. London, Routledge.
Unit Texts:	MacKenzie, Donald. and Wajcman, Judy. (eds). (1999), The Social Shaping of Technology (second edition). Buckingham, Open University Press.
Unit Assessment Breakdown:	Option 1- Book Review: Book review 20%, Exam 40%, Tutorial Journal (ongoing) 20%, Tutorial presentation and Participation 20%. OR Option 2- Essay: Essay 30%, Exam 30%, Tutorial Journal (ongoing) 20%, Tutorial presentation and Participation 20%. OR Option 3- Exam 60%, Tutorial Journal (ongoing) 20%, Tutorial presentation and Participation 20%. This is by grade/mark assessment.