Political Science and International Relations [MJD-POLSC] : Handbook 2023 : The University of Western Australia

Major Overview

Description

Societies can only continue to exist if they solve the problem of internal order and are able to protect themselves from external threats. Political Science and International Relations studies how societies govern themselves and the collective decisions, or public policies, they need, or choose, to make. Attention is given to the different ways government is organised; values such as liberty, participation, majority rule and minority rights which inform political institutions and public policy; and ideologies such as conservatism, liberalism, socialism, feminism and environmentalism which have motivated much political action in modern societies. International relations focuses on the ways in which states and peoples interact with other states, regional or global political organisations, and social movements in an increasingly interdependent world.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) Demonstrate advanced knowledge about the nature of politics and the functions of diverse political ideas, theories, actors, institutions and systems; (2) Critically evaluate key political and policy dynamics at local, national, transnational, regional and international levels; (3) Creatively apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to independently and collaboratively address challenges, crises and change in the political world; (4) Competently apply basic Political Science and International Relations methods and skills to designing and executing social research; and (5) Effectively communicate political knowledge, ideas, analyses and arguments in different formats..

Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Courses

Political Science and International Relations can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plan

MJD-POLSC - Bachelor of Arts (Political Science and International Relations) [docx]

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:

S1: Semester 1
S2: Semester 2
N/A: not available in 2023 – may be available in 2024 or 2025
NS: non-standard teaching period

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Availability	Unit code	Unit name	unit requirements
S1	POLS1101	Understanding Politics and Policy	None
S2	POLS1102	Understanding Global Politics	None

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 18 points:

Availability	Unit code	Unit name	unit requirements
S1	IREL2001	Foundations of Foreign Policy	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 1 Incompatibility POLS2214 Foundations of Foreign Policy
S1	POLS2201	Foundations of Public Policy	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 1 Incompatibility POLS3301 Public Policy
S2	POLS2202	Foundations of Comparative Politics	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 1
S2	POLS2220	Foundations of Global Political Economy	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 1 Incompatibility POLS3320 International Political Economy

Level 3

Take units to the value of 18 points from Group A and B (maximum value of 6 points from Group B).

Degree-specific major units

Group A—take units to the value of 18 points from Group A and B.

Availability	Unit code	Unit name	unit requirements
S2	POLS3204	The Politics of Gender	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Science and/or Humanities study at level 2
N/A	POLS3231	Politics of the Mass Media	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Science and/or Humanities study at level 2 Incompatibility POLS2231/POLS3331 Politics of the Mass Media
S1	POLS3302	South Asia and the Middle East: Foreign Relations and Politics	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 2
N/A	POLS3308	Greater China: Politics and International Relations	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 2 Incompatibility POLS2208 Politics in Greater China
N/A	POLS3324	Islam and World Politics	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 2 Incompatibility POLS2224 Islam and World Politics
N/A	POLS3334	The International Politics of Africa	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 2
N/A	POLS3335	Social Movements and the Politics of Change	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 2
S2	POLS3342	Global Environmental Politics	Prerequisites 12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 2 Incompatibility POLS2229 States, Welfare and Environmental Policy

Degree-specific major units

Group B—take units to the value of 18 points from Group A and B (maximum value of 6 points from Group B).

Availability	Unit code	Unit name	unit requirements
S2	PARL3399	WA Parliamentary Research Program	Prerequisites Completion of 96 points or Faculty approval. Acceptance is also subject to Faculty placement and prior approval of availability in student study plans for this unit
S2	POLS3304	Policy and Diplomacy in Practice	Prerequisites Successful completion of POLS1101 Understanding Politics and Policy and POLS1102 Understanding Global Politics and 18 points chosen from IREL2001 Foundations of Foreign Policy or POLS2201 Foundations of Public Policy or POLS2202 Foundations of Comparative Politics POLS2220 Foundations of Global Political Economy Incompatibility PARL3339, and WILG3001
NS, S1, S2	WILG3001	Professional Experience Practicum	Prerequisites Successful completion of 48 points in your chosen degree and approval of the unit coordinator and Enrolment in Major(s) MJD-ECNPF Professional Economics or MJD-LINGO Linguistics or MJD-POLSC Political Science and International Relations or MJD-BMGMT Business Management or MJD-ENTIN Enterprise and Innovation or MJD-GLBUS Global Business or MJD-FINEC Financial Economics or MJD-CRMDM Criminology and Criminal Justice or MJD-BUSAN Business Analytics or Minor(s) MNR-CRWRS Creative Writing Studies Incompatibility BUSN3348 Business Practicum or HUMA2901 Arts Practicum or POLS3326 Political Science Internship or WILG2201 Professional Experience Practicum or PARL3399 WA Parliamentary Research Program.

UWA Handbook 2023