Politics and Policy

"Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean that politics will not take an interest in you" (Pericles of Athens, c. 430 BCE)

The study of politics is about why things are as they are (or were or might be). As one famous political scientist (Professor Harold Lasswell 1902-78) once wrote: "Politics is about who gets what, when and how". Hence the study of politics involves gaining an understanding of:

• Governments and their organizational structures
• The distribution of power and resources
• Key political ideas, ideologies and issues (past and present)
• Relations between governments and nations
• Public policy and public administration

What will I study?

You will explore many questions arising from a consideration of the key areas listed above:

• What is an ideology? Which political ideologies are and have been influential in shaping modern political identities?
• What are the dominant political concepts that shape our political understandings?
• How do different systems of government arrange the distribution of power?
• What is the nature of the state and what forms might it take? How might we understand the nature of the relationships between states?
• How do governments determine key policy decisions and whose voices are heard within the various arenas of political decision-making?
• How have feminist, environmentalist and other challenging social movements refocused the understanding and practices of political processes?

Politics and Policy is available at both Newcastle and Central Coast campuses through the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Social Science (B SocSc).

For further information contact the Politics and Policy convenor Dr John Tate  (Head of the Discipline of Politics).

Honours

If you achieve a credit average in Politics and Policy (or in relevant other courses) you will have the option of undertaking a fourth year Honours program. This is an opportunity to study topics of particular interest in greater depth and to develop and demonstrate higher level research and writing skills

Gaining an Honours degree  with First or Second Class Honours (Division A) will also enable you to apply for admission to post-graduate academic study and post-graduate Scholarships. An Honours degree will appeal to employers looking for evidence of excellence and stand-out research skills.

The Honours program in Politics consists of :

• Coursework: POLI4001 and POLI4002 involving a combination of research methods and two topic-specific areas of study. POLI4001 and POLI4002 are taught in combination during Semester 1 in a seminar format.
• A thesis POLI4003 and POLI4004 in which you will pursue an area of extended research under the guidance of a member of the Discipline of Politics & International Relations

For more information about the Honours program please contact  the Convenor of Politics Honours Program, Associate Professor Jim Jose (Newcastle Business School, Callaghan Campus),

Academic Staff in Politics and Policy

To view more information about a staff member, including research interests, please select the "web" option to visit that staff member's profile.