2017 Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics | 2017

This information is for students commencing their course in 2017. Students follow the rules and requirements for the year they commenced their course. Please refer to the Archives link in the menu for years prior to 2017.

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics

Abbreviation:

BPPE

UOW Course Code:

1870

CRICOS Code:

085659J

Total Credit Points:

144

Duration:

3 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Home Faculty:

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts

Intake Session(s):

Autumn/Spring*

Delivery Mode:

On-campus (Face-to-face)

Delivery Campus / UAC Code:

Wollongong / 753115

Additional Information:

Course Finder

*Students eligible for credit transfer may begin in Summer Session if appropriate subjects are available.

Overview

The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (BPPE) is specifically designed to provide high level training and skills necessary for a successful career in the public service or politics.

A cross-disciplinary degree, the BPPE affords students an appreciation of the political, ethical and economic perspectives needed to make a contribution to solving a range of problems confronting contemporary society. In particular, students will learn to interpret and apply complex economic ideas and data, understand political organisations and policy making processes, and develop a broader philosophical lens for understanding systems of government, popular movements and alternative forms of political organisation and behaviour.

Students will develop a broad knowledge base across all three discipline areas by studying core and elective subjects.  They will deepen their knowledge in at least one of these areas through a major field of study. A BPPE capstone subject allows students to bring the key concepts from all three disciplines together into a coherent whole through in-depth exploration of contemporary political and social scenarios.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics will be able to:

  1. Identify and evaluate key methods and concepts in the academic disciplines of Politics, Philosophy and Economics;
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the relationships between the disciplines of Politics, Philosophy and Economics and the points at which their key methods and concepts diverge;
  3. Apply the theories of each discipline to analysis of practical questions and problems;
  4. Communicate ideas and arguments related to Politics, Philosophy and Economics with diverse audiences and communities;
  5. Understand, interpret and apply qualitative and quantitative social science research methods in the investigation of political, philosophical and economics issues. 

Course Structure

To qualify for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics a student must complete a total of at least 144 credit points from subjects listed in the Course Structure for the degree and other subjects as approved by the Faculty as outlined in the table below.

Students must complete: Credit Points
The core requirements of the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (outlined below) 90
Subjects to complete at least one of the three majors in this degree: Politics, Philosophy or Economics (outlined below) 24
Additional credit points of electives from the general schedule to bring the total number of credit points completed to 144 30
Total 144

Core Requirements of the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics 

Note:

A number of 300 level subjects have “First offered 2018”recorded in the session of offer. This note means that these 300 level subjects have been reviewed and that the first time these new versions may be offered is 2018 for 300 level.

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Core
COMM121Statistics for Business6Autumn, Spring, Summer 2017/2018
PPE 300Politics, Philosophy and Economics Applied Research Project12Spring
Politics Core Requirements:
POL 150Government, Power and Political Systems6Autumn
POL 201Key Concepts and Thinkers in Political Theory6Autumn
POL 221Australian Politics6Spring
POL 304Power and the State6Not offered in this year
Philosophy Core Requirements:
PHIL107Introduction to Philosophy6Autumn
PHIL319Political Philosophy: Justice, Equality and Rights6Not offered in this year
Plus TWO from the following:
PHIL226Global Ethics6Spring
PHIL219Knowledge, Science and Understanding6Spring
PHIL228Theories of Emotion and Imagination6Not offered in this year
PHIL304Great Thinkers6Not offered in this year
PHIL318Narratives in Mind, Self and Psychosis6Not offered in this year
Economics Core Requirements:
ECON100Economic Essentials for Business6Autumn, Spring
ECON102Economics and Society6Autumn, Spring
ECON305Economic Policy6Spring
Plus ONE from the following:
ECON205Macroeconomic Theory and Policy6Autumn, Spring
ECON215Microeconomic Theory and Policy6Autumn

Politics

The discipline of Politics is an exciting, vibrant and constantly changing body of ideas, approaches and methods. The Politics program offers subjects in international relations, Australian politics, political theory, comparative politics, the politics of developing countries, public policy, culture and media. Students are advised to study as broadly as possible across the areas offered by the discipline.

The purpose of the major is to acquaint students with key areas of Politics as a discipline. Political study involves examining the origins and nature of consent, authority, and consensus, which underpin social order. Many factors are covered in this examination; political institutions, political economy, culture, class, gender and ethnicity. Politics can and does occur at many levels, from international relations to the nation state, from local communities to the individual. The study of politics is not just to do with politics in the here and now, but concerns itself with both the past and the future. Whether it is a country being studied, relations between countries, or a body of political ideas, politics engages us with choices about how to live life and how best to contribute to society.

Major Study

To qualify for a major study in Politics, students must complete the core requirements for Politics (24 credit points) within the BPPE and then a further 24 credit points of 200 and 300 level subjects. Subjects are to be selected from the list below, with a minimum of 12 credit points at 300 level.

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Politics Electives
POL 202Politics in the USA6Autumn
POL 204Politics and the Media6Spring
POL 305Politics Internship12Not offered in this year
POL 306Complex Peace Operations6Not offered in this year
POL 309Global Political Economy6Not offered in this year
POL 311Politics of the Middle East6Not offered in this year
POL 308The Politics of Asian Development6Not offered in this year
POL 310Twentieth Century Dictatorships6Not offered in this year
POL 326Global Inequality6Not offered in this year
POL 327Culture and Politics6Not offered in this year
POL 328Special Topics in Politics6Not offered in this year
Students may include a maximum of TWO electives from the following:
INTS121Global Politics and Power6Spring
INTS207Conflict, Peace & Security6Autumn
INTS200Model United Nations6Autumn
INTS204Global Aid and Development: Challenges and Prospects6Spring
STS 302Climate Change Policy, Possible Futures6Not offered in this year
STS 303Social Policy, Innovation & Politics6Not offered in this year

Philosophy

Philosophy engages with the most fundamental questions, and puts you into dialogue with the greatest thinkers who have ever tried to answer them. It asks: What is the good life? Is Happiness the main goal of life? How should we treat others and the environment? What makes an action morally good? How should we understand human existence? Do our lives have meaning? How does consciousness fit in nature? What is knowledge? Can we know anything with certainty? Does science aim at truth? What is life? Is artificial life possible? What is social justice? Which rights matter in a fair society? Should the rich help the poor?

By studying philosophy you will improve your analytic reasoning skills, broaden and deepen your understanding of foundational topics, and learn how to respect and value diverse points of view.  You will acquire skills in independent thinking and gain experience in analysing and carefully assessing arguments and ideas.  These are highly marketable graduate qualities, sought after by employers.

Major areas of study at UOW include: ethics; phenomenology and existentialism; metaphysics; philosophy of mind; philosophy of language; philosophy of science; political philosophy and theory of knowledge.

Major Study

For a major study in Philosophy, students must complete the core requirements for Philosophy (24 credit points) plus an additional 24 credit points of 200 and 300 level subjects. Subjects are to be selected from the table below, and the following conditions are to be met.

Conditions:

Students electing to do a major in Philosophy must complete PHIL107 (Introduction to Philosophy), PHIL218 (Ethics: Good, Bad and Evil), PHIL219 (Knowledge, Science and Understanding) and PHIL304 (Great Thinkers).

Students may have completed PHIL219 (Knowledge, Science and Understanding) and/or PHIL304 (Great Thinkers) under the core requirements for BPPE for Philosophy. Students who have not completed either or both of these subjects under the core requirements for BPPE for Philosophy will need to complete the subject(s) they have not yet undertaken as part of their major.

To meet major requirements, students must complete 24 credit points at 300 level.

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Philosophy Electives
PHIL218Ethics: Good, Bad and Evil6Autumn
PHIL235International Studies in Philosophy6Autumn, Spring
PHIL227The Meaning of Life: Absurdity and Existence6Spring
PHIL256Environmental Philosophy: Animals, Nature and Ethics6Spring
PHIL234Mind, Body and World6Autumn
PHIL320Philosophy of Health and Happiness6Not offered in this year
PHIL326Bioethics6Not offered in this year

Economics

Economics provides an understanding of the operation of the economy at macro and micro levels. These include modern business, health care, the environment, the labour market, national economic policy and international monetary issues. You will learn general principles and tools which can be applied to a wide range of issues affecting the national and international economy. You will discuss the big issues including unemployment, the level of national debt, the existence of poverty and the problems confronting developing countries. You will study the three major components of Economics:

Macroeconomics, which focuses on the way the whole economy functions, examining issues such as economic growth, unemployment and interest rates.

Microeconomics, which focuses on the behaviour of individual components of the whole economy, such as consumers, companies, trade unions, employers' associations and the various levels of government.

Quantitative Methods, which focuses on quantitative and mathematical techniques and their application to business economics.

Major Study

Students electing to do a major in Economics must complete ECON205 (Macroeconomic Theory and Policy) and ECON215 (Microeconomic Theory and Policy). Students will have completed either ECON205 or ECON215 as part of the core requirements for BPPE for Economics. As a requirement of the major, they will need to complete the subject they have not yet undertaken.

Students must complete a further 24 credit points of 200 and 300 level Economics subjects as listed below.

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Choose ONE from the following (not already taken):
ECON205Macroeconomic Theory and Policy6Autumn, Spring
ECON215Microeconomic Theory and Policy6Autumn
Plus ONE from the following:
ECON222Mathematics for Business6Autumn, Spring
ECON339Applied Financial Modelling6Spring
Plus ONE from the following:
ECON316History of Economic Thought6Spring
ECON304The Historical Foundations of the Modern Australian Economy6Autumn
Plus a further 6cp 300-level Economics subject

Dean's Scholar Degree

In January of each year, the Faculty invites applications from high achieving students to apply to transfer into the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Dean's Scholar) Degree.

Selection Criteria

To be eligible to apply for a place in the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Dean's Scholar) Degree, applicants would normally meet the following criteria:

  • Currently enrolled in the BPPE, BA (Course Code 702) or any other degree;
  • Full-time student;
  • Have successfully completed two full sessions of study or 8 subjects;
  • Have a WAM (weighted average mark) of at least 82.

 For more information including the full list of Dean's Scholar Degrees and how to apply online, visit the LHA Dean's Scholar website.

Credit Arrangements

Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 2 November, 2016