Faculty of Arts
1. Time commitment to study
2. Prerequisites
3. Diploma in Arts (Political Science)
4. Attendance requirements
5. Requirements for a major
6. Honours entry
7. Honours requirements
7.1. Pure honours
7.2. Combined honours
7.3. Part-time honours
8. International studies
9. Further study
10. Career opportunities
11. For more information
Subject Lists
First-year subjects
Second/third-year subjects
Additional second/third-year subjects (maximum of two)
Third-year subjects
Fourth-year subjects
Fourth-year and postgraduate subjects
The political science program at the University of Melbourne is a large and diverse teaching program offering subjects in theoretical and applied areas of inquiry. It offers a range of popular internship schemes in the Victorian Parliament and public, community and private sector agencies.
The political science program concentrates on providing practical experience and teaching the range of skills and theoretical approaches adopted in political analysis. Heightened personal awareness, self-confidence and a firm grasp of specific knowledge are some of the principal benefits available to students of politics. The School of Political Science, Criminology and Sociology has a strong research profile and students will work with nationally and internationally recognised teaching staff. Students have the opportunity to spend semesters at European, American and Asian universities and are provided with an articulated structure of higher degree study options to further their interests and knowledge in the discipline. A variety of career pathways are available to students of political science that draw on the analytical and research knowledge gained in this area of study.
The study of political science helps in gaining an understanding of the major social and political issues that dominate the local and international agenda. Political science is the study of how individuals and groups exercise or resist forces of power and influence. It deals with phenomena ranging from the construction of political self-identity and political allegiance to how local, national and international communities deal with cooperation, conflict and dissent.
As well as scheduled contact hours for lectures, tutorial and seminars a considerable additional time commitment is needed to complete the academic requirements of each subject.
A subject-specific time commitment to study will be provided by your lecturer or tutor at the beginning of semester to help you schedule your workload and successfully manage your time during the semester. In addition, general estimates of the total time commitment required to study a 12.5-point single semester subject in the Faculty of Arts can be found on Time commitment to study.
There are no prerequisites for first-year subjects in political science.
The prerequisite for a second/third-year political science subject is one first-year subject in political science (12.5 points). Students who have done suitable alternative subjects may apply to the second/third-year coordinator for permission to enrol. Exemptions may also be granted where second/third-year politics subjects are taken as part of an approved interdisciplinary program with its own entry requirements.
The Diploma in Arts (Political Science) is only available to students who are currently enrolled in a degree course at the University of Melbourne. It consists of a three-year sequence of study, and adds one year to the duration of your degree.
Students must complete 12.5 points of first-year political science subjects and 87.5 points of second/third-year political science subjects. Alternatively, students who have completed appropriate background studies at first year may complete 100 points of second/third-year political science subjects.
A threshold requirement for the acceptance of work for evaluation is satisfactory attendance at tutorials. This constitutes a minimum of 75 per cent attendance at first year level, and 70 per cent attendance at second/third year level, unless a higher attendance has been stipulated by the lecturer in charge.
A major in political science usually consist of eight 12.5-point subjects, totalling 100 points. It comprises:
one first-year subject in political science (12.5 points); and
seven second/third-year subjects in political science (87.5 points).
The prerequisites for entry to fourth-year honours in political science are:
completion of all the requirements for the BA; and
completion of a major in political science with an average grade of H2A or higher over the second/third-year subjects within the major.
For information on how to apply see Applying for Honours.
Students undertaking pure honours in political science complete:
166-510 Political Science Thesis (37.5 points); and
five honours subjects in political science (totalling 62.5 points), including 166-410 Approaches to Political & Social Inquiry.
Students undertaking combined honours in political science complete:
166-510 Political Science Thesis (37.5 points); and
two honours subjects in political science (totalling 25 points), including 166-410 Approaches to Political & Social Inquiry; and
three honours subjects in the combining program (totalling 37.5 points).
or
honours thesis in the combining program (37.5 points); and
two honours subjects in the combining program (totalling 25 points); and
three honours subjects in political science (totalling 37.5 points).
Students given special permission to complete fourth-year honours part-time over (a maximum of) two years would usually undertake their coursework in the first year and their thesis in the second year.
The School of Political Science, Criminology and Sociology offers a major, an honours program and a Diploma of Arts in international studies.
The Diploma of Arts (International Studies) is available to students who are currently enrolled in a degree course at the University of Melbourne. A major in international studies may be completed within the Bachelor of Arts or a combined Bachelor of Arts degree, see International Studies.
The major in international studies consists of 12.5 points of first-year subjects and 87.5 points of second/third-year subjects selected from the lists of subjects offered within the Diploma of Arts (International Studies), see International Studies.
Graduate studies in political science at the University of Melbourne is well established with over 100 postgraduate students pursuing PhDs, MAs, postgraduate diplomas and graduate diplomas. The School also offers three coursework masters programs: Master of Public Policy and Management, Master of Social Policy, and Master of International Politics. Further enquiries about postgraduate courses should be directed to the School of Political Science. Criminology and Sociology.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts who have majored in political science are highly sought after by employers and find that they are on the threshold of many interesting career paths. For example, you may go on to choose a career as a journalist, a diplomat, a policy analyst, a public servant, a management consultant, research consultant, or any job which involves critical analysis and writing skills such as an academic, film-maker, educational researcher, politician, media worker, research advisor to parliamentarians and trade unions, school teacher or a range of professional careers in private industry including banking, business or management (especially in the export industries). Those considering working in government, the law, for welfare agencies or lobby groups, in the creative arts, in public relations and the public service will find the study of politics especially valuable. You will find that international opportunities are opened up by the study of politics, such as posts in the United Nations or its specialised agencies, non-government organisations, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and many more.
School of Political Science, Criminology and Sociology
Fourth Floor, John Medley Building
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel. +61 3 8344 6565
Fax +61 3 8344 7906
Web: http://www.politics.unimelb.edu.au
166-101 Australian Politics
166-103 Global Politics
166-107 Media, Politics and Society
166-108 Contemporary Ideologies & Movements
166-111 Australian Society
166-120 Indigenous People and the State
166-004 Change & Conflict in Australian Society
166-012 Australian Political Economy
166-014 Asia Pacific International Politics
166-016 American Politics and Society
166-017 West European Politics
166-018 Chinese Politics and Society
166-020 Modern Political Thought
166-021 International Relations and its Others
166-022 Public Policy Making
166-024 International Gender Politics
166-029 Global Politics: Key Questions
166-030 Transitions in Central & Eastern Europe
166-032 Sexual Politics
166-033 European Integration: Politics of the EU
166-035 Australian Foreign Relations
166-038 Indigenous Rights: Land and Heritage
166-081 Quantitative Social Research
166-083 Sociology of Youth & Youth Policy
166-085 Global Movements: Emerging Paradigms
166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies
166-090 Love, Family and Sexuality
166-091 Medicine, Health and Illness
166-205 Europe: Identities and Citizenship
166-207 Political Theory & Institutional Design
166-210 Political Communication
166-212 Global Environmental Politics
166-214 US Scandals from Watergate
166-215 Rights and the Law
166-216 Terrorism: Shifting Paradigms
166-217 Gender and Politics in Southeast Asia
166-218 Colonial/Postcolonial S.E.Asian Politics
166-219 Democracy: Theories and Concepts
166-230 On Country Learning: Indigenous Studies
102-210 From Mateship to Mardi Gras
102-211 Migrant Nation: Culture and Identity
161-012 Classics of Political Thought
161-013 Contemporary Political Philosophy
166-013 Parliamentary Internship
166-039 Public Affairs Internship (Int.Students)
166-043 Public Affairs Internship
166-044 Parliamentary Internship (Int.Students)
166-301 Political Analysis: Ideas and Strategies
166-510 Political Science Thesis
166-410 Approaches to Political & Social Inquiry
166-407 Contemporary Political and Social Theory
166-411 Australian Politics:Democracy & Justice
166-413 Network Society
166-416 Justice, Democracy and Difference
166-418 Corruption in Today's World
166-420 Multiple Modernities
166-421 Politics 4A
166-422 Politics 4B
166-427 Governance and Complexity
166-429 Dilemmas of European Unity
166-442 Law, Ethics and Public Policy
166-444 The Emerging World (Dis)Order
166-480 Parliamentary Research Project
166-511 US Foreign Policy
166-512 Asia-Pacific: Zone of Conflict or Peace?
166-534 Women in Global Politics
166-540 The Changing Nature of War
166-541 Aspects of Post-Communism
166-543 A Postcolonial International Relations?
166-544 The EU and Globalisation
166-549 Business and Government
166-550 Human Rights and 'the Political'
166-551 Governance & International Institutions
102-512 From Cosmopolitanism to Transnationalism
110-553 Human Rights in Southeast Asia
131-415 Middle Eastern Wars: Jihad & Resistance
131-471 Postcolonial and Indigenous Histories
166-546 Trade Policy and Politics
166-547 Politics and Business in post-Mao China
166-548 International Political Economy
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