Module: Power, Self & Society

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Power, Self & Society
Module Code	CUS1006 (ITS: LC115)
Faculty	SALIS	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to important sociological and psychological theories relating to identity, intragroup, and intergroup relations. The module also focuses on developing students' personal agency through the fostering personal leadership attributes. In the module students will focus on different forms of identity, including culture, nationality, gender, language and social class. Students will also study discrimination, stereotyping and prejudice as a form of identity abuse. The module provides a foundation for many of the optional modules students may choose, and requires that students reflect in depth on the idea of identity. In conjunction with specific discipline-specific knowledge, students will also develop key transferable competencies relating to critical thinking, research acumen, presentation skills, time management, motivation, and goal-setting.

Learning Outcomes

1. Learn, engage with and draw upon relevant sociological theories
2. Reflect upon one's own personal identity, as well as that of others, through the lens of relevant theoretical constructs in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of this topic.
3. Analyse specific cases and demonstrate an awareness and provide examples of how identity is shaped by diverse external forces within society.
4. Identify and analyse specific examples of how discrimination and other forms of identity abuse emerge and develop within and across social groups.
5. Display a solid understanding of key concepts covered in the module and be able to articulate these in their own words
6. Employ the DCU library facilities and digital resources, in order to conduct rigorous academic research
7. Demonstrate an ability to produce a quality academic essay with appropriate structure, cohesive devices, language register and critical appraisal
8. Discern the difference between plagiarised texts and texts which have been correctly cited and referenced
9. Develop important personal leadership attributes, such as a critical thinking, time management, presentation skills, motivation, ethical thinking and project management

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lectures
Independent Study	100	No Description
Tutorial	9	No Description
Assignment Completion	40	No Description
Directed learning	40	No Description
Online activity	37	No Description
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	10312	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	David O'Mullane	Module Teacher	Agnes Maillot, Tamara Kolaric

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Reflective journal	At the start of the module, students will be required to complete a short personal reflection piece relating to their decision to come to university	10%	Week 2
Loop Quiz	This Loop Quiz will follow training relating to the use of the DCU Library's digital resources. It will test students on how to uses these resources and also require them to demonstrate an understanding of citing and referencing	10%	Week 6
Loop Quiz	This Loop Quiz will test students on their knowledge of the key sociological concepts which underpin this module	30%	Sem 1 End
Assignment	Students will be given a specific concept relating to the module and be required to prepare a concise, cogent summary of this concept.	20%	n/a
Project	Students will be required to choose from a list of questions and write about their choice of questions, demonstrating knowledge, analysis, application and reflection.	30%	Sem 1 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None