Graduate Certificate in Arts (Politics and International Studies)
Objectives* Demonstrate an independent approach to knowledge that uses rigorous methods of inquiry and appropriate theories and methodologies that are applied with intellectual honesty and a respect for ethical values. * Apply critical and analytical skills and methods to the identification and resolution of problems within complex changing social contexts. * Act as informed and critically discriminating participants within the community of scholars, as citizens and in the work force. * Communicate effectively. * Commit to continuous learning. * Be proficient in the use of appropriate modern technologies, such as the computer and other information technology systems, for the acquisition, processing and interpretation of data.
Academic titleGraduate Certificate in Arts (Politics and International Studies)
Course descriptionSpecialisation Requirements:
* one Level 1 subject (12.5 points)
* three elective subjects (37.5 points), with no more than one first-year subject
Compulsory subject
Subject Semester Credit Points
166-301 Political Analysis: Ideas and Strategies
This subject focuses on the ideas, methods and strategies which contribute to political analysis to outline a variety of ways of thinking politically and engaging in political research. It examines the major ideas and concepts which underpin differen... Semester 2 12.50
Level 1 Elective subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
166-101 Australian Politics
This subject is an introduction to Australia's political institutions including the Constitution, the High Court, Parliament, Cabinet and the Prime Minister, the bureaucracy and the Federal system. We will examine Australia's major politica... Semester 1 12.50
166-103 International Politics
This subject provides students with an introduction to the actors, institutions, dynamics and key debates that make up international politics. It equips students to ‘go behind the news’ of world affairs and understand the deep... Semester 1 12.50
166-108 Introduction to Political Ideas
An accessible survey of the most important ideas in Western political thinking since Plato and Aristotle, with emphasis on the major schools of thought since the eighteenth century ‘Enlightenment’, especially those that have h... Semester 2 12.50
Level 2 Elective subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
166-274 Comparative Politics
This subject introduces students to comparative politics. There are many different aspects of and approaches to comparative politics, but all agree that this involves comparing at least two - and often many more - units of political analysis (e.g. co... Semester 1 12.50
191-004 Social Science Research Methods
This subject aims to provide 2nd year students with a critical appreciation of different ways of approaching, undertaking and assessing research in criminology, sociology and political science, and the humanities generally. It emphasises the importan... Semester 1 12.50
166-275 International Relations: Key Questions
Global politics is one fundamental way of talking about human life on earth. This subject asks, and seeks systematically to answer, a wide range of related questions like: Who governs? Who provides? Who am 'I'? Who owns all this stuff? Who ... Semester 2 12.50
166-022 Public Policy Making
Who makes the public decisions that impact on all aspects of society? How do they make them? Is our society better off for the policies that result? These are the sorts of questions public policy analysts (government policy advisers, NGOs, and academ... Semester 2 12.50
166-032 Sexual Politics
This subject introduces ideas developed in feminist theory about the social and political construction of areas of experience relating to the body, gender and sexuality. Issues analysed in the subject include transsexualism, reproduction, eating diso... Semester 1 12.50
166-216 Terrorism: Shifting Paradigms
This subject examines the various dimensions of ‘terrorism’ and its manifestations in various parts of the world. The various theoretical perspectives on terrorism are examined with particular reference to the historical, psyc... Semester 2 12.50
166-020 Contemporary Political Theory
This subject examines the development of political theory in the last thirty years. It focuses on the emergence of key theoretical paradigms such as contemporary liberalism, communitarianism, multiculturalism, radical pluralism, post-structuralism an... Semester 1 12.50
166-277 Media, Politics and Society
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
Level 3 Elective subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
166-391 Global Movements: Protest and the Planet
This subject explores ideologies and actions associated with contemporary social movements that operate on a global scale and have attracted international attention: indigenous, labour, green, animal rights, radical Islam, anti-trafficking, women&... Semester 2 12.50
672-365 Change & Conflict in Australian Society
An introduction to the study of social movements and the general issues raised by the problem of social change and political conflict. How and why do political changes occur? If social movements did not exist, would societies need to invent them? The... Semester 1 12.50
672-369 Chinese Politics and Society
This is a broad, historically-based survey course of Chinese politics. It is designed to offer an overview of and background to, contemporary Mainland Chinese politics and society. It is more historically oriented than many of the other survey course... Semester 1 12.50
672-373 International Gender Politics
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
672-376 European Integration: Politics of the EU
This subject aims to provide students with an in-depth analysis of the politics of the European Union (EU). It analyses the policy-making of the EU and examines the tensions of sovereignty and Europeanism in the attitudes of the member states and oth... Semester 2 12.50
672-377 Australian Foreign Relations
This subject forms an introduction to Australian foreign relations, with reference to both global and regional issues affecting Australia. Topics will normally include the domestic politics of Australian foreign relations; Australia and the US; Austr... Semester 1 12.50
672-386 Global Environmental Politics
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
672-390 Democracy, Terrorism and Violence
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
672-385 Political Communication
This subject examines the role of communication systems in the constitution of contemporary political and social life. It pays particular attention to the new modes and means of political communication given the developments in information technologi... Semester 2 12.50
672-366 Political Economy
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50