Politics - POLSF13961
Stream Summary
Faculty: ARTSC - Faculty of Arts&Social Science
School: School of Social Sciences
Contact: School of Social Sciences
Program: 3961 - Engineering (Honours) / Arts
Award(s):
Bachelor of Arts (Major)
View stream information for previous years
Stream Outline
THIS STREAM IS FOR STUDENTS COMMENCING FROM 2016.
The word ‘politics’ often causes people to think of politicians. Certainly they are important as we live in a democracy which is run by political elites. Elites, however, operate within a constitutional framework of institutions such as political parties, legislatures, courts and bureaucracies. And in a democracy political elites are elected by citizens, who can mobilize through social movements and protests and whose voices feed and resonate through the media, including digital media. Since the 1960s a range of new actors and issues have arisen, such as women, indigenes, ethnic and religious minorities, and libertarian groups. All of these actors compete over principles and policies that are articulated through ideas such as legitimacy, authority, obligation, freedom, equality, multiculturalism, human rights, justice, and democracy itself. In turn, political power is always engaged with other forms of power, from economic power to the power of governance structures.
Furthermore, politics doesn’t stop at our border. Australia is connected to the world and to globalization such that what happens in other countries directly affects what happens here. For that reason politics also needs to be studied in comparative and cosmopolitan perspectives. A major stream in Politics will provide an advanced understanding of significant political issues, the apparatus of government, and contemporary methodological, theoretical and conceptual debates. A major stream in Politics pairs well with a minor stream in International Relations, Philosophy, History, Development Studies, or Sociology & Anthropology.
The word ‘politics’ often causes people to think of politicians. Certainly they are important as we live in a democracy which is run by political elites. Elites, however, operate within a constitutional framework of institutions such as political parties, legislatures, courts and bureaucracies. And in a democracy political elites are elected by citizens, who can mobilize through social movements and protests and whose voices feed and resonate through the media, including digital media. Since the 1960s a range of new actors and issues have arisen, such as women, indigenes, ethnic and religious minorities, and libertarian groups. All of these actors compete over principles and policies that are articulated through ideas such as legitimacy, authority, obligation, freedom, equality, multiculturalism, human rights, justice, and democracy itself. In turn, political power is always engaged with other forms of power, from economic power to the power of governance structures.
Furthermore, politics doesn’t stop at our border. Australia is connected to the world and to globalization such that what happens in other countries directly affects what happens here. For that reason politics also needs to be studied in comparative and cosmopolitan perspectives. A major stream in Politics will provide an advanced understanding of significant political issues, the apparatus of government, and contemporary methodological, theoretical and conceptual debates. A major stream in Politics pairs well with a minor stream in International Relations, Philosophy, History, Development Studies, or Sociology & Anthropology.
Learning Outcomes for Politics
Upon successful completion of Politics stream, you will be able to:
- place questions of political order, political values, and political decision-making at the centre of analysis
- explain and apply the key concepts, main approaches and alternative methods employed in the study of politics
- demonstrate an understanding of what political knowledge is and how it is acquired
- analyse the contested nature and the problematic character of political inquiry.
Stream Structure
If you wish to gain a major stream in Politics you must obtain 60 units of credit including 12 UOC of core courses at Level 1, at least 18 UOC at Level 2 including a 6 UOC Level 2 core course and at least 18 UOC at Level 3 including a 6 UOC Level 3 core course.
Level 1
You must complete the following Level 1 core courses:
Level 2
You must complete the following Level 2 core course:
And at least 12 UOC from the following:
The following courses from other subject areas can also be counted towards the Politics major stream:
- ARTS2811 International Law (6 UOC)
- ATSI2014 Indigenous People and Policy (6 UOC)
- SRAP2002 Policy Analysis (6 UOC)
Level 3
You must complete the following Level 3 core course:
- ARTS3841 Politics Capstone (6 UOC)
And at least 12 UOC from the following:
The following courses from other subject areas can also be counted towards the Politics major stream:
- ARTS3788 European Governance (6 UOC)
- ARTS3814 Australian Foreign Policy (6 UOC)
- ARTS3816 US, China and Intl Law (6 UOC)
