Politics and International Studies (B-ARTS_MAJOR_25)

Overview

The Major in Politics and International Studies enables students to develop an understanding of the main political issues, institutions, ideas, policies and actors that dominate local, national and international agendas. It includes the study of identity and community, power and how it is exercised and contested, democracy, the state and state system, governance beyond and below the state, public policy, political movements, war and conflict and conflict-resolution. The Major offers subjects on these themes from a variety of perspectives in political science, including international relations, public policy, political theory, political economy, comparative politics, Australian politics, indigenous studies, regional studies and feminism and gender studies, as well as subjects on research methods.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this major, students should be able to:

demonstrate a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of diverse concepts, theories and forms of knowledge in the field of political science and the political, cultural and socio-economic contexts in which they operate; and
critically apply concepts and theories used in the study of political science to the analysis of political behaviour, interests, ideas and institutions in changing contexts; and
develop an understanding of debates in domestic and international politics and an ability to evaluate different interpretations of political phenomena; and
demonstrate an understanding of research processes in the social sciences including design, methodology and methods, critical analysis and interpretation, and the diversity of approaches to research; and
recognise the importance of ethical standards of conduct in the research and analysis of social and political phenomena; and
work productively in groups; and
communicate effectively in oral and written formats; and
develop an ability to work with independence, self-reflection and engage in problem solving.

Last updated: 2 October 2024

Structure

100 credit points

This major requires the completion of:

25 credit points of Level 1 subjects, comprising of either:
12.5 credit points of Level 1 electives and 12.5 credit points of Arts Discovery (for a single major)

OR

25 credit points of Level 1 electives (for a double major)
12.5 credit points of Level 2 core subjects
25 credit points of Level 2 electives
12.5 credit points of Level 3 Capstone subjects
25 credit points of Level 3 electives

The subjects MULT20003 is compulsory in the Criminology, Politics and International Studies, and Sociology majors. Students who are completing two majors in any two of these disciplines can only count MULT20003 towards one major. One additional Level 2 subject must be completed for the other major.

*Notes:

Students must undertake the Arts Discovery subject as part of the course requirements and the Arts Discovery can be counted in one major only. For this major, you will need to complete two Level 1 subjects.

If you are completing a single major the correct enrolment for this major at level 1 is: The Arts Discovery subject and One Level 1 elective subject.

If you are completing a double major the correct enrolment for this major at level 1 is: The Arts Discovery subject and One Level 1 Elective subject OR Two Level 1 Elective subjects.

Level 1 electives

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
POLS10001	Australian Politics	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
INTS10001	International Politics	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS10003	Introduction to Political Ideas	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 2 core subject

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
MULT20003	Critical Analytical Skills	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 2 electives

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
MULT20008	Australian Indigenous Politics	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS20006	Contemporary Political Theory	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS20008	Public Policy Making	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS20011	The Politics of Sex	Not available in 2024	12.5
POLS20023	Comparative Politics	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS20025	International Relations: Key Concepts	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS20026	Politics and the Media	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS20031	Political Economy	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 3 Capstone subject

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
POLS30037	Applied Political Science Project	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 3 electives

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
ISLM30018	Diplomacy: Middle East and South Asia	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
MULT30017	Australian Indigenous Public Policy	Not available in 2024	12.5
POLS30001	Parliamentary Internship	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	25
POLS30003	Public Affairs Internship	Semester 1 (Off Campus) Semester 2 (Off Campus)	25
POLS30007	Australian Politics in the Long Run	Not available in 2024	12.5
POLS30011	Chinese Politics and Society	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS30015	International Gender Politics	Not available in 2024	12.5
POLS30018	European Integration: Politics of the EU	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS30019	Australian Foreign Policy	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS30022	Global Environmental Politics	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS30028	On Country Learning: Indigenous Studies	April (Off Campus)	12.5
POLS30030	American Politics	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS30032	Campaigns and Elections	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS30033	Democracy and its Dilemmas	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS30034	Political Psychology	September (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
POLS30035	Policy Design: From Theory to Practice	Not available in 2024	12.5
POLS30036	Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism	Not available in 2024	12.5

Links

http://ssps.unimelb.edu.au/study-areas/political-science