2018 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 | 2018

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

*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 & Credit Arrangements

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to demonstrate:

CLO Description
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 

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points
Core
COMM121 Statistics for Business 6
PPE 300 Politics, Philosophy and Economics Applied Research Project 12
Politics Core Requirements:
POL 150 Government, Power and Political Systems 6
POL 201 Key Concepts and Thinkers in Political Theory 6
POL 221 Australian Politics 6
POL 304 Power and the State 6
Philosophy Core Requirements:
PHIL107 Introduction to Philosophy 6
PHIL319 Political Philosophy: Justice, Equality and Rights 6
Plus TWO from the following:
PHIL226 Global Ethics 6
PHIL219 Knowledge, Science and Understanding 6
PHIL228 Theories of Emotion and Imagination 6
PHIL304 Great Thinkers 6
PHIL318 Narratives in Mind, Self and Psychosis 6
Economics Core Requirements:
ECON100 Economic Essentials for Business 6
ECON102 Economics and Society 6
ECON305 Economic Policy 6
Plus ONE from the following:
ECON205 Macroeconomic Theory and Policy 6
ECON215 Microeconomic Theory and Policy 6

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
Politics Electives
POL 202 Politics in the USA 6
POL 204 Politics and the Media 6
POL 345 Politics Internship 6
POL 346 Australian National Internship Program 12
POL 347 UNI-Capitol Washington Internship Program 12
POL 306 Complex Peace Operations 6
POL 308 The Politics of Asian Development 6
POL 309 Global Political Economy 6
POL 310 Twentieth Century Dictatorships 6
POL 311 Politics of the Middle East 6
POL 326 Global Inequality 6
POL 327 Culture and Politics 6
POL 328 Special Topics in Politics 6
Students may include a maximum of TWO electives from the following:
INTS121 Global Politics and Power 6
INTS200 Model United Nations 6
INTS204 Global Aid and Development: Challenges and Prospects 6
INTS207 Conflict, Peace & Security 6
STS 302 Climate Change Policy, Possible Futures 6

 

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
Philosophy Electives
PHIL218 Ethics: Good, Bad and Evil 6
PHIL227 The Meaning of Life: Absurdity and Existence 6
PHIL234 Mind, Body and World 6
PHIL235 International Studies in Philosophy 6
PHIL256 Environmental Philosophy: Animals, Nature and Ethics 6
PHIL320 Philosophy of Health and Happiness 6
PHIL326 Bioethics 6

 

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
Choose ONE from the following (not already taken):
ECON205 Macroeconomic Theory and Policy 6
ECON215 Microeconomic Theory and Policy 6
Plus ONE from the following:
ECON222 Mathematics for Business 6
ECON339 Applied Financial Modelling 6
Plus ONE from the following:
ECON316 History of Economic Thought 6
ECON304 The Historical Foundations of the Modern Australian Economy 6
Plus a further 6cp 300-level Economics subject

Timetables

Click on subject codes in the above course structure for information on sessions of offer for each subject.

To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials, and classes, visit the Timetable page.

Work Integrated Learning

Undertaking a work integrated learning (WIL) experience during your university education is now a significant contributor to being competitive in securing employment in your field of choice when you graduate from UOW.

Students in the Politics Major can apply to the Discipline Leader to complete an Internship under the subjects POL 345, POL 346, or POL 347 .

POL 345, Politics Internship, enables students to undertake internships in relevant political offices in the Illawarra or Sydney attached to the office of an elected politician, or working within a part of government bureaucracy. Students will undertake duties as directed by their supervisor in that institution.

POL 346, Australian National Internship Program (ANIP), is highly competitive and by application to the ANU. If selected students will undertake two months or more full-time work in as a parliamentary intern based in the offices of Members of Parliament and Senators and engaging with a range of activities that shape national policy-making. Placements in the Public Service or other agencies are also possible. Enrolment in POL346 is conditional on being selected for the ANIP.

POL 347, Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program (UCWIP), provides interns with a unique perspective of the US political system and institutions over a two-month placement. In-office experiences will vary widely according to the needs of the congressional hosts but will typically include administrative functions, constituent liaison and legislative research and support. Interns are encouraged to attend hearings, briefings and press conferences both on and off Capitol Hill in addition to the UCWIP-organised briefings at the US State Department and the Australian Embassy.

For students in other majors, The Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts internship program provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their degree in a workplace setting.

Students are also encouraged to consider CRLP200 (6cp). CRLP200 includes a quality assured workplace internship or industry project to give you that competitive edge by developing your professional skills through authentic learning in a real world context. You will focus on your career goals and receive career direction guidance, strengthen your resume and gain skills to navigate the rapidly changing world of work, develop your communication skills and begin to build a professional network.

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. 

Honours

See Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Honours). For Honours in Economics please see the Discipline Leader, Economics, by the end of your second year.

 

Other Information

Further information is available via email: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 6 February, 2018