Politics

The discipline of Politics is an exciting, vibrant and constantly changing body of ideas, approaches and methods. The Politics program offers subjects in Australian politics, political theory, international relations, comparative politics, the politics of developing countries, public policy, the post communist world and cultural studies across a broad range of countries from advanced industrial nations to developing and less developed countries. Students majoring in Politics are advised to study as broadly as possible across the areas offered by the discipline.

Political study involves examining the origins and nature of consent, authority and consensus, which underpin social order and without which all other human endeavours would become impossible. As a result political study inevitably involves morality and values but requires a sound knowledge of the political institutions, political economy, cultures, classes, genders, ethnicities and forces for change in the countries under analysis. Politics can occur at many levels from international relations to the nation state, public discourse and social relations, to personal and family relations.

Political studies at the University of Wollongong place considerable emphasis on developing strong theoretical foundations to equip students to analyse the continuing challenges of a Globalising world and their role within it. The discipline places a great deal of importance on the roles of culture and policy in both the developed and developing world.

Major Study

A major in Politics consists of 52 credit points, including at least 24 credit points at 300-level in Politics subjects. Graduates with a Politics major will normally have included at least one subject from each of the following areas in their program: (1) Australian Politics, (2) Political Theory and (3) the Politics of a country other than Australia or Comparative Politics or International Relations.

The following subjects, although they do not have a politics prefix, can be counted as part of the politics major: HIST210, HIST336 and HIST361. Students majoring in Politics may also count up to 16 cp from the following subjects: PHIL232, PHIL 270, PHIL 390, SOC 221, SOC 308. Note: students enrolled in a double major may only cross-count one subject.

Note: Certain Politics subjects can count towards a major in Communication Studies, History or Philosophy. Others are well suited to programs containing a major in Resource and Environmental Studies.

If you are uncertain about any aspect of the above, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Politics staff.

History And Politics Joint Major

The School of History and Politics also offers a Joint Major for students with an interest in both disciplines. The Major offers students the opportunity to explore two disciplines without the need to complete two separate majors (sometimes known as a Double Major), and it offers students the opportunity to combine the specialist areas offered by the History and Politics Programs. The Joint Major consists of a minimum of 76 credit points. A minimum of 38 credit points must be taken from History subjects and a minimum of 38 credit points must be taken from Politics subjects. Students taking the Joint Major must have completed at least one 100-level subject, one 200-level subject and one 300-level subject drawn from History subjects and at least one 100-level subject, one 200-level subject and one 300-level subject drawn from Politics subjects. The balance can be made up from any subjects from 100- to 300-level, providing pre-requisites have been met for the subjects chosen, or the waiving of pre-requisites has been approved by the Convenor of Program. At 300-level, students must have at least 24 cp of subjects from the History and Politics Majors.