Politics and International Studies

The Honours program is an advanced level of study designed to allow students to specialise their knowledge across one area of study (pure Honours) or two (combined Honours). Students accepted into the program undertake fourth-year level subjects and a short research thesis and must achieve honours-level grades, minimum H3 (65%), for each component of assessment in order to qualify for the award.

The opportunity to specialise provides a strong foundation for the future direction of graduates, whether as a means of progressing to higher degree research in Arts at the Masters or PhD level, or improving the scope of employment options and professional advancement. Students with Honours from The University of Melbourne (Arts) record high rates of satisfaction with the professional and academic directions they pursue beyond graduation.

The prerequisites for entry to fourth-year honours in Politics and International Studies are completion of all the requirements for the BA, completion of a major in Politics and International Studies and an average of at least H2A (75%) in second and third-year subjects within the major, or equivalent.

On successful completion of this Honours specialisation, students will be able to:

• demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of selected fields of study in Politics and International Studies; and
• access and appreciate national and international debates in Politics and International Studies; and
• 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; and
• apply critical and analytical skills and methods to the identification and resolution of problems within complex changing social contexts; and
• act as informed and critically discriminating participants within the community of scholars, as citizens and in the work force; and
• communicate effectively; and
• qualify for employment in a wide range of occupations; and
• commit to continuous learning.

Students undertaking pure honours in Politics and International Studies complete:

• A 15,000 word thesis: POLS40020 Politics & International Studies Thesis (50 points);
• POLS40013 Social Science Research Seminar (12.5 points);
• Three Politics and International Studies Honours elective subjects (37.5 points)

Students undertaking combined honours in Politics and International Studies complete:

• POLS40020 Politics & International Studies Thesis (50 points);
• POLS40013 Social Science Research Seminar (12.5 points);
• Coursework subjects from the combining discipline (37.5 points)

or

• Honours thesis in the combining program (50 points);
• Coursework subject from the combining discipline (12.5 points);
• Three Politics and International Studies Honours elective subjects (37.5 points)

Total: 100 points

Students enrolled in the Politics and International Studies Honours program must complete the following compulsory subjects. Please note, the thesis must be taken over 2 consecutive semesters.

Compulsory Subjects

Students enrolled in the Politics and International Studies Honours program must complete the following compulsory subjects. Please note, the thesis must be taken over 2 consecutive semesters.

62.5 points

Elective Subjects

37.5 points