Politics - POLSF24045
Stream Summary
Faculty: ARTSC - Faculty of Arts&Social Science
School: School of Social Sciences
Contact: School of Social Sciences
Program: 4045 - Social Work (Honours) / Arts
Award(s):
Bachelor of Arts (Minor)
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 minor stream in Politics will provide a basic understanding of political issues and the apparatus of government, as well as an overview of contemporary methodological, theoretical and conceptual debates. A minor stream in Politics pairs well with a major stream in International Relations, History, Philosophy, 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 minor stream in Politics will provide a basic understanding of political issues and the apparatus of government, as well as an overview of contemporary methodological, theoretical and conceptual debates. A minor stream in Politics pairs well with a major stream in International Relations, History, Philosophy, 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 minor stream in Politics you must complete 24 units of credit including at least 6 UOC at Level 1, at least 6 UOC at Level 2 and at least 6 UOC at Level 3.
Level 1
You must complete at least 6 UOC at Level 1:
Level 2
You must complete at least 6 UOC at Level 2:
The following courses from other subject areas can also be counted towards the Politics minor stream:
- ARTS2811 International Law (6 UOC)
- ATSI2014 Indigenous People and Policy (6 UOC)
- SRAP2002 Policy Analysis (6 UOC)
Level 3
You must complete at least 6 UOC at Level 3:
The following courses from other subject areas can also be counted towards the Politics minor stream:
- ARTS3788 European Governance (6 UOC)
- ARTS3814 Australian Foreign Policy (6 UOC)
- ARTS3816 US, China and Intl Law (6 UOC)
