JSB171 Justice and Society
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | JSB171 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | JSB131, JSB011, JSB101 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $2,124 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $996 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,204 |
| International unit fee | $4,572 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | JSB171 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | JSB131, JSB011, JSB101 |
| Coordinator: | Matthew Ball | mj.ball@qut.edu.au |
Overview
An understanding and appreciation of the complexities of social justice, and particularly their impact on criminal justice outcomes in our society, is a key skill for competent justice professionals. This unit provides the foundational sociological and criminological knowledge that is necessary to understanding justice in a social context, and which is essential for ensuring justice professionals act in socially just and ethical ways.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the key theoretical concepts and legal instruments within the fields of social and criminal justice. (CLO 1.1, 1.2, 2.4)
- Apply theoretical concepts to explain how social justice or injustice has been variously experienced by different groups within Australian contexts and impacts on their interactions with the criminal justice system. (CLO 2.2, 2.3, 4.2)
- Use reflection to evaluate and recommend evidence-based approaches and legal instruments which could redress structural inequality and social injustice for specific groups (CLO 2.3, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1).
- Demonstrate effective communication skills for professional and academic purposes in written and/or oral modes (CLO 3.1, 3.3)
Content
Module 1: Thinking About Justice
Justice and Injustice
Space, Place, and Time
Class, Race, and Sex
Module 2: Social and Criminal Justice
Poverty
Indigenous Australians
Women
Transgender People
Sexuality
Module 3: Achieving Justice
Criminal Justice
Human Rights and Citizenship
Learning Approaches
This unit incorporates a variety of different learning and teaching approaches, including both online and face-to-face modes. There is a one-hour lecture every week throughout the semester for all students. The lectures will introduce students to the basic information as well as introduce video and other media for viewing and consideration. The overall approach taken is that of blended learning, featuring a range of online and other learning experiences. The blended approach effects integration of different modes of delivery, models of teaching and styles of learning, and draws on modes of web-based technology, self-paced instruction, collaborative learning, streaming audio, video, text and so on. It also combines instructional technology with actual job tasks to create a harmonious blend of learning and authentic work tasks in keeping with the ethos of the course as applied.
The lectures will be supplemented by one-hour tutorials (for all internal students) or frequent online discussion forums and chat sessions (for all online students), where students will be encouraged to reflect on and clarify the issues raised in the unit content and lectures. These will be supplemented by structured learning activities posted on the Canvas site every week for all students to complete at their own pace, offering opportunities for more in-depth explorations of the material for each week.
For many students, this unit will challenge preconceived ideas about the ways in which Australian society functions and their own position within such a society. Given the nature of the professional work and clientele with which justice graduates will be engaging, it is imperative that they understand society from positions other than their own. This forms the basis of developing inter-cultural competence. This unit will make extensive use of the popular media to encourage discussion and debate about controversial issues that impact upon people from different cultures and classes.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- formal: in writing, eg criteria sheets, written commentary
- direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- indirect: to the whole class.
Assessment
Overview
This unit comprises of formative and summative assessment.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Discussion Activities
This task will assess your engagement with unit materials and learning activities as demonstrated through class discussions (for internal students) or online (for external students) through the whole semester. Key to this task is critical engagement with the main concepts of the unit through a variety of tutorial discussions. (You will be given formative learning activities in class, particularly early in the semester, in order to provide feedback and assess your own engagement with the unit concepts.)
Assessment: Report
You are required to choose one of the key groups explored in module 2 and must compile a brief report offering a broad snapshot of the kinds of disadvantage and injustice that this group experiences in Australian society, and the barriers that are placed on the achievement of equality for this group. This kind of report mirrors the kinds of reports that you will be asked to complete in a range of professional contexts. This is a structured task, and you will be given guidance as to the kinds of information that you need to include and the key points you need to consider.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Essay
You are required to choose one of the key approaches to achieving justice explored in module 3 and write an essay in which you critically discuss that approach from the 'perspective' of the key group that chose to analyse this in the previous assessment. You must explore why that approach to achieving justice is important for the group you are looking at, discuss your group's experiences of this approach to achieving justice (including barriers to access), and make suggestions as to how this approach might be altered to ensure that justice is achieved. (This is an opportunity for students to think critically and write in an essay format as opposed to the more descriptive approach taken in the report.)
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Students are advised to make use of a wide variety of resources on QUT Readings, available on the unit Canvas site, or via the QUT Library homepage.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Carpenter, B and Ball, M (2018) Justice in Society. Federation Press: Australia. 2nd Edition This is available in the QUT bookshop.
Risk Assessment Statement
Students are advised that some content in justice units may be confronting. If you are concerned that the content of a unit may impact your completion of the course, please see the unit coordinator. You can also access free student counselling through QUT Counselling via the QUT Student Homepage.
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Online
| Unit code: | JSB171 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | JSB131, JSB011, JSB101 |
Overview
An understanding and appreciation of the complexities of social justice, and particularly their impact on criminal justice outcomes in our society, is a key skill for competent justice professionals. This unit provides the foundational sociological and criminological knowledge that is necessary to understanding justice in a social context, and which is essential for ensuring justice professionals act in socially just and ethical ways.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the key theoretical concepts and legal instruments within the fields of social and criminal justice. (CLO 1.1, 1.2, 2.4)
- Apply theoretical concepts to explain how social justice or injustice has been variously experienced by different groups within Australian contexts and impacts on their interactions with the criminal justice system. (CLO 2.2, 2.3, 4.2)
- Use reflection to evaluate and recommend evidence-based approaches and legal instruments which could redress structural inequality and social injustice for specific groups (CLO 2.3, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1).
- Demonstrate effective communication skills for professional and academic purposes in written and/or oral modes (CLO 3.1, 3.3)
Content
Module 1: Thinking About Justice
Justice and Injustice
Space, Place, and Time
Class, Race, and Sex
Module 2: Social and Criminal Justice
Poverty
Indigenous Australians
Women
Transgender People
Sexuality
Module 3: Achieving Justice
Criminal Justice
Human Rights and Citizenship
Learning Approaches
This unit incorporates a variety of different learning and teaching approaches, including both online and face-to-face modes. There is a one-hour lecture every week throughout the semester for all students. The lectures will introduce students to the basic information as well as introduce video and other media for viewing and consideration. The overall approach taken is that of blended learning, featuring a range of online and other learning experiences. The blended approach effects integration of different modes of delivery, models of teaching and styles of learning, and draws on modes of web-based technology, self-paced instruction, collaborative learning, streaming audio, video, text and so on. It also combines instructional technology with actual job tasks to create a harmonious blend of learning and authentic work tasks in keeping with the ethos of the course as applied.
The lectures will be supplemented by one-hour tutorials (for all internal students) or frequent online discussion forums and chat sessions (for all online students), where students will be encouraged to reflect on and clarify the issues raised in the unit content and lectures. These will be supplemented by structured learning activities posted on the Canvas site every week for all students to complete at their own pace, offering opportunities for more in-depth explorations of the material for each week.
For many students, this unit will challenge preconceived ideas about the ways in which Australian society functions and their own position within such a society. Given the nature of the professional work and clientele with which justice graduates will be engaging, it is imperative that they understand society from positions other than their own. This forms the basis of developing inter-cultural competence. This unit will make extensive use of the popular media to encourage discussion and debate about controversial issues that impact upon people from different cultures and classes.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
- formal: in writing, eg criteria sheets, written commentary
- direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- indirect: to the whole class.
Assessment
Overview
This unit comprises of formative and summative assessment.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Discussion Activities
This task will assess your engagement with unit materials and learning activities as demonstrated through class discussions (for internal students) or online (for external students) through the whole semester. Key to this task is critical engagement with the main concepts of the unit through a variety of tutorial discussions. (You will be given formative learning activities in class, particularly early in the semester, in order to provide feedback and assess your own engagement with the unit concepts.)
Assessment: Report
You are required to choose one of the key groups explored in module 2 and must compile a brief report offering a broad snapshot of the kinds of disadvantage and injustice that this group experiences in Australian society, and the barriers that are placed on the achievement of equality for this group. This kind of report mirrors the kinds of reports that you will be asked to complete in a range of professional contexts. This is a structured task, and you will be given guidance as to the kinds of information that you need to include and the key points you need to consider.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Essay
You are required to choose one of the key approaches to achieving justice explored in module 3 and write an essay in which you critically discuss that approach from the 'perspective' of the key group that chose to analyse this in the previous assessment. You must explore why that approach to achieving justice is important for the group you are looking at, discuss your group's experiences of this approach to achieving justice (including barriers to access), and make suggestions as to how this approach might be altered to ensure that justice is achieved. (This is an opportunity for students to think critically and write in an essay format as opposed to the more descriptive approach taken in the report.)
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Students are advised to make use of a wide variety of resources on QUT Readings, available on the unit Canvas site, or via the QUT Library homepage.
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
Carpenter, B and Ball, M (2018) Justice in Society. Federation Press: Australia. 2nd Edition This is available in the QUT bookshop.
Risk Assessment Statement
Students are advised that some content in justice units may be confronting. If you are concerned that the content of a unit may impact your completion of the course, please see the unit coordinator. You can also access free student counselling through QUT Counselling via the QUT Student Homepage.