Critical Disaster Studies

This course focuses on an introduction to the sociological study of disasters and their impact on society. Disasters are triggered by both natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes, floods, wildfires) and human-induced hazards (e.g., oil spills, terrorism, nuclear accidents, COVID-19 pandemic) and cause widespread community disruption, displacement, economic loss, property/infrastructure damage, death and injury, and psychological suffering. There has been a significant increase in the frequency and magnitude of disasters, and the economic costs, damage to the built and natural environments, and human consequences have been increasingly severe. In this course, much of the focus will be on how social, political and economic conditions influence how people and communities experience, manage, prepare for, recover from and mitigate disasters. Through Critical Disaster Studies (CDS) perspectives, case studies of major disasters in Aotearoa New Zealand and the world (including the COVID-19 pandemic) are used to explore topics such as the impact of sex/gender, class, race/ethnicity, colonization, age and social capital on social vulnerability and resilience to disasters.

30 points

Any 30 points at 200 level from ANTH or SOCI, OR any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA.

Investigating Social Worlds

The course provides students with 'hands on' experiential learning in conducting, and participating in, life stories and focus group research. Students will gain skills in one-to-one interviewing, focus group interviews, research ethics, transcript analysis and reflexive research practice.

30 points

Any 30 points at 200 level from ANTH or SOCI, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA.

SOCI340, SOCI341

Sexualities, Gender and Relationalities

This course explores the changing landscape of sexuality and gender categories and identities, as well as new forms and understandings of intimacy and relationality. It considers how various identities, representations and practices disrupt and/or reproduce gendered, sexual and non-sexual intimacies and relationship normativities in a range of sites. These include mediated intimacies, polyamory and other non-consensual non-monogamies, asexualities, incels and PUAs (‘pick up artists’), ‘sexting’ and dating apps.

30 points

Any 30 points at 200 level from ANTH or SOCI, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA.

The Politics of Need: Globalisation, Poverty and Welfare Provision

An advanced study of globalisation that examines how our new world of risk (including global financial risk) shapes our experiences of wealth, poverty and belonging. As well as using case studies from around the world, it covers groundbreaking theorisations of globalisation and an interrogation of New Zealand's place in a global world.

30 points

30 points of SOCI including 15 points at 200 level; OR 30 points of SOCI or ANTH at 200 level; OR 60 points in related subjects including 30 points at 200 level with the approval of the Head of Department.

SOCI268, SOCI348 (prior to 2006), HSRV205