The Art of Political Science - POLS3056

 
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
 
 
School:  School of Social Sciences and International Studies
 
 
Course Outline: http://www.arts.unsw.edu.au/politics/
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: 12 units of credit at the POLS2000 level
 
 
Fee Band: 1 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description


Is political science like the natural sciences in terms of its aims and methods? Or is it more like journalism or perhaps interpreting a text? Examines debates in political science over its subject matter and mission, and over what political knowledge is and how it is acquired. The focus is on 'landmark' studies in political science and influential works in the philosophy of science. Topics include the nature of political phenomena and political explanation; different approaches to political research; and how contending theories and knowledge claims may be evaluated.