• Offered by School of Politics and International Relations
  • ANU College ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
  • Course subject Political Science
  • Areas of interest Political Sciences
  • Academic career UGRD
  • Course convener
    • Prof John Uhr
  • Mode of delivery In Person
  • Offered in Second Semester 2021
    See Future Offerings

This course examines 'great masters' of contemporary political theory. The primary task is close reading and textual interpretation with the lectures guiding students in various interpretative methods which they can use in their written assignment and in the final written examination. The course is framed at beginning and end by a political theory methodology advocated by prominent Australian political philosopher, Peter Singer. The course reviews selected examples of influential political theories from Nietzsche, Weber, Strauss, Arendt, Oakeshott, Skinner, Rawls, Habermas, Foucault and Young. In weekly lectures and tutorials, students will examine many competing theories about the nature of contemporary politics and of methods of political theory.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. demonstrate an ability to understand, and critically assess, arguments made in political theory;
  2. demonstrate an ability to coherently formulate arguments about politics;
  3. demonstrate an ability to anticipate, formulate, and effectively respond to counterarguments; and
  4. demonstrate an ability to gather and critically organize a variety of scholarly sources in ways that engage relevant literature.

Indicative Assessment

  1. Essay, 2500 words (45) [LO 1,2,3,4]
  2. Exam, 2 hours (45) [LO 1,2,3,4]
  3. Tutorial work (10) [LO 1,2]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

130 hours of total student learning time made up from:

a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures, and 12 hours of tutorials; and,

b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.

Inherent Requirements

Not applicable

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must have completed 12 units of 1000 level Political Science (POLS) or Philosophy (PHIL) courses, or with permission of the convenor.

Prescribed Texts

Readings will be provided.

Assumed Knowledge

It is recommended that students first take POLS2119 Ideas in Politics.

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees

Student Contribution Band:
14
Unit value:
6 units

If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee
2021 $3900
International fee paying students
Year Fee
2021 $5580
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

Second Semester

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
7181 26 Jul 2021 02 Aug 2021 14 Sep 2021 29 Oct 2021 In Person View

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