Honours Overview

Description

Honours in Political Science and International Relations provides an opportunity to study political science and international relations in both greater depth and greater scope than is possible in earlier undergraduate years. It is designed to develop an enhanced knowledge base in the discipline, together with analytical and research skills appropriate to the advanced study of politics. If you wish to have the option of postgraduate research, an honours degree (or its equivalent) is essential. Honours is academically rather than vocationally oriented, yet many students have found this degree to be useful in their subsequent careers. Employers are increasingly aware that an honours degree signifies a higher level of attainment than a three-year degree. For those of our recent graduates who have gone to work for Commonwealth and State public services, parliament or members of parliament, non-governmental organisations, public relations agencies and media organisations, the degree has proven of direct vocational use.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate coherent and advanced knowledge of key theories and methods in political science and international relations; (2) have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of empirical and theoretical concepts in political science and international relations; (3) demonstrate ability to critically review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge with with intellectual independence to provide understanding of complex problems and issues in political science and international relations; (4) identify, plan and implement an original research project in political science and international relations, including appropriate ethical issues; and (5) produce high-level oral and written communication appropriate to the discipline.

Entry requirements

The equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 70 per cent in the Level 3 units of the Political Science and International Relations major.

Intake periods

Beginning of year only

Courses

Honours in Political Science and International Relations can be taken as a specialisation in the following degrees:

No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
NS
non-standard teaching period

See the School of Social Sciences Honours Handbook for details on semester study patterns.

Take all units (36 points)::
AvailabilityUnit codeUnit nameUnit requirements
NSANTH4103Knowing Social Realities: Theoretical Foundations
Incompatibility
ANTH7483 Honours Seminar 3 (Anthropology)
NSSOCS4100Social Sciences Research Skills
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
any Honours Programme
or a Masters dissertation project.
Incompatibility
COMM4101 Concepts in Communication, COMM7481 Honours Seminar 1 (Communication Studies)
S1SOCS4140Honours Dissertation 1None
S2SOCS4141Honours Dissertation 2
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
SOCS4140 Honours Dissertation 1
Group A—take 6 points from Group A.
AvailabilityUnit codeUnit nameUnit requirements
NSPOLS5501The Politics of Public Policy
Incompatibility
LAWS5214 Public Policy
NSPOLS5661International Relations: Theory and Practice
Incompatibility
POLS8606 Theory and Method in International Relations.
POLS5661 Theory in International Relations A: Contending Approaches.
POLS5662 Theory in International Relations B: Explanation and Understanding
NSSOCS5672Global Development Debates
Incompatibility
POLS5672 Global Development Debates
Group B—take 6 points from Group B.
AvailabilityUnit codeUnit nameUnit requirements
NSPOLS5505Regulation and GovernanceNone
NSPOLS5611Religion, Global Identities and World Politics
Incompatibility
POLS8601 Identities in Global Politics: Nationalism, Ethnicity and Religion
NSPOLS5651Global Political Economy
Incompatibility
POLS8605 States and International Political Economy.
POLS5652 International Political Economy: Dynamics of Crises
NSPOLS5681Governance in the International SystemNone
NSPOLS5684China and the WorldNone
NSPOLS5686International Norms, Ethics and Human RightsNone