Introduction to Politics (9548.1)

This is a survey unit that will assist students advance into the political science discipline, such as politics, comparative politics, international politics, or political theory. This unit will survey the different ways in which political scientists study the phenomena of politics and will deepen student understanding of political life as both a thinker and a citizen. The goal of this unit is to introduce students to the discipline's concepts, terminology, and methods and to explore instances of applied political science through real world examples.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Describe and evaluate the concepts of power, legitimacy, and authority;
2. Distinguish between traditional and behavioural approaches to the study of politics;
3. Discuss general approaches to the study of politics, such as political philosophy, political systems theory, and political economy;
4. Examine the nature of political participation from a comparative perspective;
5. Identify the role and functions of political parties and the different types of party systems from a comparative perspective;
6. Identify and evaluate the principles of authoritarian and totalitarian governments;
7. Discuss and explain the origins and principles of Democratic Capitalism, Democratic Socialism, Marxist Socialism, National Socialism, Fascism, and third world ideologies;
8. Describe and analyse the causes of international conflict; and
9. Analyse current critical issues in international relationships.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Skills development

Introduction to Political Studies has nine Learning Outcomes (LOs). Students successful in achieving these LOs will contribute to their development of five distinct Graduate Attributes (GAs). 

This first year unit, offered online, has three assessments - each supported by criteria and rubrics that have been mapped to the LOs and GAs. Introduction to Political Studies can, in this way, demonstrate the validity of its assessment design.

Further to this, each assessment addresses at least one of the Personal Attributes (PAs) that the University of Canberra requires students to develop. 

Details of how each assessment addresses LOs, GAs, and PAs can be found under Assessments in this Unit Outline.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

675 Politics and Democracy

Equivalent units

675 Politics and Democracy

Assumed knowledge

None.