Political Science is the study of human relationships and institutions that involve power, rule, or authority. The Political Science major enables students to:
- Study the identities and values that underpin political attitudes and behaviour;
- Understand and compare the institutions and political systems of Australia and other countries,
- Acquire and apply a range of analytical skills to the examination of political phenomena; and
- Focus on specific areas of interest, such as Australian politics, comparative politics, international relations, methods, political theory, and public policy.
This flexible major also enables students to include internships and other options in their study; and/or to take a second major or minor in another field including International Relations.
Learning Outcomes
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the key areas of interest to political scientists, including citizen ideas/interests/attitudes/behaviour, policy actors and outcomes, and political systems and institutions;
- apply political science theories and concepts to the the study of political phenomena of relevance to scholars and policymakers; reflect on the utility and explanatory power of those theories and concepts;
- apply political science analytical tools to the evaluation of political phenomena of relevance to scholars and policymakers; and
- communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a wide variety of media.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
The Political Science major requires the completion of 48 units, of which:
A maximum of 18 units may come from the completion of 1000-level courses;
A minimum of 18 units must come from the completion of 3000-level courses
The 48 units must consist of:
12 units from the completion of the following compulsory courses:
POLS1002 Introduction to Politics
POLS1009 Introduction to Data and Methods for Political Science and International Relations
A minimum of 6 units and a maximum of 12 units from the completion of courses from the following Australian and Comparative politics list, of which a minimum of 6 units must come from the completion of POLS-coded courses:
POLS2010 Comparative Politics
POLS2114 Australian Politics
HIST2022 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History
HIST2227 Australian Political History
A minimum of 6 units and a maximum of 12 units from the completion of courses from the following Political Science sub-fields list:
DEMO1001 Global Population Challenges
POLS2002 Public Policy: Theory and Practice
POLS2044 Quantitative Methods in Political Science and International Relations
POLS2045 Qualitative Methods in Political Science and International Relations Research
POLS2102 Political Belief and Deceit
POLS2119 Ideas in Politics
POLS2130 Public Choice
POLS2137 Meaning in Politics: Interpretation, Method and Critique
Or any other 2000 level POLS course with permission
A minimum of 12 units and a maximum of 18 units from the completion of any 3000-level POLS course, of which at least 12 units must come from the completion of courses from the following Political Science Depth List:
POLS3002 Comparative European Politics
POLS3029 Comparative Federalism
POLS3043 Pressure Groups and Political Lobbying
POLS3095 Politics in Latin America
POLS3111 Elections, Political Behaviour and Public Opinion in Australia
POLS3113 Human Rights
POLS3125 Game Theory and Social Sciences
POLS3126 Democracy and Dictatorship
POLS3134 The Politics of Gender, Race, and Identity
A maximum of 6 units from the completion of courses from the following Social Science Depth list:
ANIP3003 Australian National Internships Program
MEAS3005 Modern Iraq: State, Politics and Society
MEAS3007 Syria in the Levant: State, Society, and the Current Turmoil
MEAS3008 Egypt: Social and Political Dynamics
MEAS3009 Modern Arabian Peninsula: Society, Politics and Security
PASI3001 Politics and Development in the Contemporary Pacific
PASI3013 Environment and Development in the Pacific
SOCR3001 Data for Decision Making
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