Politics and International Relations
Semester 2 2020 unit of study availability
Some Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences units of study originally intended to run in Semester 2, 2020 are no longer available.
A full and up-to-date list of units of study available in Semester 2, 2020 from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, can be found on this webpage.
Politics and International Relations
Advanced coursework
Advanced Coursework requires completion of a minimum of 24 credit points, including:
(i) a research, community, industry or entrepreneurship project of at least 12 and up to 36 credit points.
Advanced Coursework units of study
SSPS4101 Social Sciences and Social Change
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x1hr lecture/week, 1x1hr workshop/week, 1x1hr curated online discussion forum/week Prerequisites: ANTH3998 or ANTH3999 or CRIM3998 or CRIM3999 or ECOP3998 or ECOP3999 or GOVT3898 or GOVT3900 or SCLG3998 or SCLG3999 or SLSS3998 or SLSS3999 Assumed knowledge: 36 credits points towards a major in a relevant subject area in the social sciences or humanities Assessment: 1x1000wd project outline (short answer questions) (25%), 1x1000wd online discussion contribution (25%), 1x2500wd change proposal (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Life today is characterised by mounting concerns over inequality, oppression and environmental sustainability. Following Karl Marx's insistence that "The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it", the unit engages with exploring other possible ways of organising the world in which we live. Social scientists are well placed to diagnose and propose responses to the biggest challenges we face. Students will apply a social science lens to persistent problems in our economy, society and environment. The unit evaluates prevailing and alternative policy models in the context of the forces shaping and contesting states and economies.
SSPS4102 Data Analytics in the Social Sciences
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: 1x3hr workshop/week Prerequisites: ANTH3998 or ANTH3999 or CRIM3998 or CRIM3999 or ECOP3998 or ECOP3999 or GOVT3898 or GOVT3900 or SCLG3998 or SCLG3999 or SLSS3998 or SLSS3999 Assumed knowledge: 36 credits points towards a major in a relevant subject area in the social sciences or humanities Assessment: 1x1000wd Short essay (20%), 1x1500wd Data visualization and communication exercise (40%), 1x2000wd Big data analysis exercise (40%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Our lives are increasingly shaped by data, not only from official government agencies but from diverse sources in our social world. As the sources, form and content of data diversify so must the social science techniques for analysing and using that data. This unit of study focuses on the world of big data. It equips students with an understanding of how the emergence of big data has expanded the power and scope of the social sciences and of how to make use of big data for social science purposes. It introduces some key techniques for analysing, presenting and communicating big data, including data scraping, record linkage, data storage and data visualization.
Advanced Coursework project units of study
SSPS4111 The Future of Work
Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1x2hr seminars/week, 1x2hr workshop/week Prerequisites: ANTH3998 or ANTH3999 or CRIM3998 or CRIM3999 or ECOP3998 or ECOP3999 or GOVT3898 or GOVT3900 or SCLG3998 or SCLG3999 or SLSS3998 or SLSS3999 Assumed knowledge: 36 credits points towards a major in a relevant subject area in the social sciences or humanities Assessment: 1x2500wd Literature Review (20%), 3x500wd equivalent Quiz (15%), 4x500wd equivalent Research Minutes (Group) (15%), 1x6000wd Research Report (Group) (50%) Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Technological disruption, demographic change, globalisation and economic transformation are having a profound impact on the quantity and quality of jobs, how and by whom work is undertaken as well as the distribution of income and well-being. Such changes make the future of work challenging for all societies in the 21st Century. This project unit offers students the opportunity to explore the historical, contemporary and potential future(s) of the role of 'work' in the national and international context. Students will engage in primary and secondary research, with research experts within and external to the University, and apply social science expertise to contemporary public debate.