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Key Debates in Political Science 1 (POLS40024)
HonoursPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This is an Honours reading seminar that examines key theoretical and methodological texts in political science. The subject is designed to provide preparation for writing an Honours thesis while also enabling the consolidation, broadening and enhancement of students’ knowledge of the discipline. Key texts across the sub-disciplines of political science are critically examined in relation to theory, method, current political debates, case studies and empirical scholarship.
Alongside its companion subject, Key Debates in Political Science 2, this subject will reflect the breadth of the discipline of political science, with a focus on identifying, distinguishing and relating key sub-disciplines and trans-disciplinary theoretical debates in politics and international studies. This iteration focuses on the foundational question: What is Politics? This sets up a larger debate about the proper subject and scope of political analysis, something examined through several major ways of trying to identify and examine politics.
The second half of the subject then examines how these issues play out in one of the core sub-disciplines of political science: political theory. Looking at the difference between liberal, critical and poststructuralist approaches to political theorizing, it illustrates how these foundation issues inform differing approaches to several major debates. Students completing the subject will have a robust understanding of what characterises the contemporary scholarly terrain of the discipline, and where their own research interests are located.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject students should:
- Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of the broad set of foundational questions in the discipline of Politics and International Studies
- Be able to relate and compare the major approaches to understanding politics
- Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of the shape of one of the major sub disciplines of political science: contemporary political theory
- Be able to relate and compare liberal from critical approaches to political theory
- Understand the various challenges contemporary conditions of pluralism bring through debates around democracy, Feminism, Multiculturalism and Postcolonialism
- Demonstrate an independent approach to knowledge that can identify different methods of inquiry and research in academic scholarship and evaluate their intellectual and ethical merits
- Be able to communicate coherently, concisely and effectively in writing.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into the Politics and International Studies specialisation (formal) in the BH-ARTS Bachelor of Arts (Degree with Honours), Politics and International Studies specialisation (formal) in the GDA-ARTS Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced)
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Research Essay 1
| Mid semester | 50% |
Research Essay 2
| During the examination period | 50% |
Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Clayton Chin Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total of 24 contact hours: A 2 hour seminar per week for 12 weeks. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2024 to 26 May 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024 Census date 3 April 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 May 2024 Assessment period ends 21 June 2024 Semester 1 contact information
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
Last updated: 31 January 2024