Political Science is the study of human relationships and institutions that involve power, rule, or authority. It is about how societies govern themselves and how societies ought to be governed. It is about the political behaviour of individuals and groups that occurs in all societies. It is about those who have political power in society and those who do not.
Political Science is a broadly-based discipline offering courses that span a number of sub-fields. The major in Political Science introduces students to core concepts and methods and exposes them to four key areas of the discipline:
- Political thought and political theory or ideas,
- Australian government and public policy,
- Comparative politics and comparative public policy including the study of particular countries or regions, and
- International Politics/International Relations.
Students who wish to complete additional work in Politics beyond the required courses for the major may take a second major in International Relations, a minor in Asia-Pacific Politics, Contemporary Europe, Australian Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations or Political Theory, or select individual POLS courses as electives within their degree.
Learning Outcomes
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the nature and significance of politics and governance;
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of differences in political systems and the contexts in which they operate;
- apply concepts and theories used in the study of political science to the analysis of interests, ideas, institutions and behaviour and to the evaluation of political phenomena; and
- demonstrate knowledge of the different research methods used to investigate political phenomena and the ability to apply these methods.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:
24 units from the completion of the following course(s):
POLS1002 - Introduction to Politics (6 units)
POLS1009 - Research and Writing in Political Science (6 units)
POLS2044 - Contemporary Political Analysis (6 units)
POLS2119 - Ideas in Politics (6 units)
A minimum of 6 and a maximum of 18 units from the completion of the following:
EURO3002 - Comparative European Politics (6 units)
POLS3029 - Sharing Power: Federalism in Comparative Perspective (6 units)
POLS3031 - Comparative Judicial Politics (6 units)
POLS3033 - Environment, Human Security and Conflict (6 units)
POLS3035 - The Politics of International Law (6 units)
POLS3036 - International Terrorism (6 units)
POLS3038 - Media and Politics (6 units)
POLS3039 - Political Leadership and Executive Government (6 units)
A minimum of 6 and a maximum of 18 units from the completion of the following:
HIST2227 - Australian Political History (6 units)
POLS2009 - Bureaucracy, Politics and Power (6 units)
POLS2043 - Pressure Groups and Political Lobbying (6 units)
POLS2111 - Elections, Political Behaviour and Public Opinion in Australia (6 units)
POLS2114 - Australian Political Institutions (6 units)
A maximum of 12 units from the completion of the following list:
PHIL2020 - Theories of Social Justice (6 units)
POLS2063 - Contemporary Political Theory (6 units)
POLS2102 - Political Belief and Deceit (6 units)
POLS2125 - Game Theory and Social Sciences (6 units)
POLS2126 - Democracy and Dictatorship (6 units)
SOCY2043 - Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods (6 units)
A maximum of 12 units from the completion of the following list:
ANIP3003 - Australian National Internships Program A (6 units)
ANIP3005 - Australian National Internships Program B (12 units)
ASIA2026 - The Politics of China (6 units)
ASIA2031 - Japanese Politics (6 units)
ASIA2049 - Politics and Society in Contemporary Korea (6 units)
ASIA2060 - Southeast Asian Security (6 units)
ASIA2070 - Democracy in Southeast Asia (6 units)
ASIA2081 - Human Rights in Asia (6 units)
ASIA2516 - Indonesia: Politics, Society and Development (6 units)
ECON3056 - PPE Integration 3: Classic Literature in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (6 units)
EURO2012 - Uniting Europe: History, Politics, Theory (6 units)
MEAS2001 - New States of Eurasia: Emerging Issues in Politics and Security (6 units)
MEAS2105 - The Political Economy of the Middle East (6 units)
PHIL2116 - PPE Integration 2 (6 units)
PHIL2122 - Philosophy and Public Policy (6 units)
POLS2011 - Development and Change (6 units)
POLS2031 - Politics in the Middle East (6 units)
POLS2055 - Pacific Politics (6 units)
POLS2069 - Politics in Russia (6 units)
POLS2094 - Issues in International Political Economy (6 units)
POLS2095 - Politics in Latin America (6 units)
POLS2101 - Refugee Politics: Displacement and Exclusion in the 20th and 21st Centuries (6 units)
POLS2113 - Human Rights (6 units)
POLS2123 - Peace and Conflict Studies (6 units)
POLS2127 - U.S. Politics (6 units)
POLS2130 - Public Choice and Politics (6 units)
POLS2134 - Gender and Politics (6 units)
POLS2135 - Race, Ethnicity and Representation (6 units)
POLS2136 - Power and Influence in World Politics (6 units)
POLS3001 - Foreign Policy Analysis (6 units)
POLS3017 - International Relations Theory (6 units)
POLS3022 - Washington DC Internship (12 units)
POLS3040 - Conflict and Change in Sub-Saharan Africa (6 units)
POLS3041 - Applied Policy Project (6 units)
POLS3070 - Politics in Central Asia (6 units)
SOCY2030 - Social Inequalities and Development (6 units)
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