HPSC20009 Sociology and Philosophy of AI
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- No final exam: all coursework
- About 3 class hours a week
Is HPSC20009 hard?
HPSC20009: About average. Makes it easier: No final exam. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
The social, ethical and philosophical sides of AI and technology, and how they blur the line between people and machines.
After it you can
- Explain key ideas from science and technology studies
- Analyse social effects of AI on work and life
- Assess ethical debates about new technology
What you need first
None
How it’s assessed
Reports and essays 100%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 3 students on StudentVIP (2017–2024)
- Essentially a philosophy subject with lots of reading and essay writing.
- An Arts student in 2024 found the marking reasonable and the workshops interesting, while a 2023 science student said it hurt their WAM and advised non-Arts students to think twice.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate HPSC20009
Quick answers
- When is HPSC20009 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking HPSC20009?
- No prerequisites.
- Does HPSC20009 have a final exam?
- No, there is no final exam. Assessment: Reports and essays 100%.
- Is HPSC20009 hard?
- From 3 student reviews on StudentVIP: Essentially a philosophy subject with lots of reading and essay writing.
- What do students say about HPSC20009?
- Essentially a philosophy subject with lots of reading and essay writing. An Arts student in 2024 found the marking reasonable and the workshops interesting, while a 2023 science student said it hurt their WAM and advised non-Arts students to think twice.
- How many class hours a week does HPSC20009 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take HPSC20009 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- Can I rate HPSC20009?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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