Political Science and International Relations major (MJD-POLSC)

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.

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

Overview of unit sequence

Political Science and International Relations is a degree-specific single major comprising:

  • two Level 1 units
  • three Level 2 units
  • three Level 3 units
Key to availability of units:
S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; N/A = not available in 2022; NS = non-standard teaching period

Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2023 or 2024.

Level 1

Degree-specific major units
Take all units (12 points):
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 POLS1101 Understanding Politics and Policy
Prerequisites:
Nil.
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
S2 POLS1102 Understanding Global Politics
Prerequisites:
Nil.
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.

Level 2

Degree-specific major units
Take unit(s) to the value of 18 points:
Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 POLS2201 Foundations of Public Policy
Prerequisites:
12 points of Social Sciences and/
or
Humanities study at level 1
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
POLS3301 Public Policy
S2 POLS2202 Foundations of Comparative Politics
Prerequisites:
12 points of Social Sciences and/
or
Humanities study at level 1
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 POLS2214 Foundations of Foreign Policy
Prerequisites:
12 points of Social Sciences and/
or
Humanities study at level 1
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
S2 POLS2220 Foundations of Global Political Economy
Prerequisites:
12 points of Social Sciences and/
or
Humanities study at level 1
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
POLS3320 International Political Economy

Level 3

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
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
N/A POLS3231 Politics of the Mass Media
Prerequisites:
12 points of Social Science and/
or
Humanities study at level 2
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
POLS2231/POLS3331 Politics of the Mass Media
N/A POLS3302 South Asia and the Middle East: Foreign Relations and Politics
Prerequisites:
12 points of Social Sciences and/
or
Humanities study at level 2
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
Nil.
S2 POLS3308 Greater China: Politics and International Relations
Prerequisites:
12 points of Social Sciences and/
or
Humanities study at level 2
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
POLS2208 Politics in Greater China
S1 POLS3324 Islam and World Politics
Prerequisites:
12 points of Social Sciences and/
or
Humanities study at level 2
Co-requisites:
Nil.
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
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S1 POLS3335 Social Movements and the Politics of Change
Prerequisites:
12 points of Social Sciences and/
or
Humanities study at level 2
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
N/A POLS3342 Global Environmental Politics
Prerequisites:
12 points of Social Sciences and/
or
Humanities study at level 2
Co-requisites:
Nil.
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
N/A 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
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
Nil
S2 POLS3304 Policy and Diplomacy in Practice
Prerequisites:
2 x POLS L1 and 3 x POLS L2 units. POLS1101 Understanding Politics and Policy POLS1102 Understanding Global Politics POLS2201 Foundations of Public Policy POLS2202 Foundations of Comparative Politics POLS2214 Foundations of Foreign Policy POLS2220 Foundations of Global Political Economy
Co-requisites:
Nil
Incompatibility:
PARL3339,
and
WILG3001
NS, S1, S2 WILG3001 Professional Experience Practicum
Prerequisites:
Enrolment in Major(s) MJD-ECNPF Professional Economics
Co-requisites:
Nil.
Incompatibility:
BUSN3348 Business Practicum
or
HUMA2901 Arts Practicum
or
POLS3326 Political Science Internship
or
WILG2201 Professional Experience Practicum
or
PARL3399 WA Parliamentary Research Program.

Choosing your degree-specific major

General degrees

You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.

To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .

To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.

The following example illustrates how the Political Science and International Relations degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Arts course.

Example Study Plan

There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .

Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music

You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.

Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.

Choosing a second major

You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.

For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .