Skills and Strategies for Social Change
Overview
This unit helps students develop the knowledge and skills needed to understand the nature of complex crises and problems; to identify opportunities for change; and to develop practical strategies and pathways for action. Students will be introduced to a range of conceptual frameworks used for understanding, analysing and structuring problems and crises. Integrated case studies, scenario-based problem solving exercises, and seminars with practitioners will be used to explore real-world examples where activists have successfully (and unsuccessfully) sought to shake the status-quo.
Requisites
AND
37.5 Credit Points
Equivalent
ART20001 Grand Challenges: Skills and Strategies for Social Change
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Apply key theoretical frameworks used to classify and explain the nature of complex problems
- Critically analyse and evaluate the framing of problems and how such framing impacts upon agenda-setting and solution formation processes
- Evaluate a range of different strategies and tools used by activists seeking to instigate social and political change
- Apply analytical and communications skills to develop practical change-oriented strategies
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On-campus Class | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Specified Activities Various | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 7.50 | 12 weeks | 90 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem Solving | Group | 20% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Specialist Module | Individual | 30% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Tutorial Paper | Individual | 50% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Evidence-based advocacy
- Problem-framing
- Communications strategies and agenda-setting
- Public ethics
- Strategic thinking and coalition-building
- In partnership with external NGOs, students will develop strategies and campaign proposals to address contemporary real-world issues and effect change.
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.