Students
POIR905 – Foundations in Politics, International Relations and Public Policy
2017 – S2 External
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Steve Wood
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
4
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to GradCertIntRel or GradCertPP
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit explores some key concepts in Politics and International Relations. It enables a broad understanding of these contested concepts, which have decisively influenced political and human development through history to the present.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical knowledge of influential political concepts
- Ability to Integrate political, philosophical, legal, social and economic reasoning
- Comprehend how ideational, cultural and personal factors can interact to influence national and/or world affairs
- Effectively communicate understanding of connections between concepts, and between concepts and practices
- Capacity to research and compose an advanced-level scholarly essay
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50% | No | 26 October, 4pm |
| Test | 50% | No | 30 October (in week of) |
Essay
Due: 26 October, 4pm
Weighting: 50%
Research essay of 2500 words = 50%
Choose one of the questions listed below. It is advisable to work on this from the start of semester. Don’t leave it until near the due date. Research effort and ability is part of the evaluation. Do not change the wording of the questions or invent new questions. Due date: 26 October, 4pm.
Essay Questions
1) Is the state the predominant political form? If it is, how long will it be so? If not, what is?
2) What causes political violence?
3) How is international politics different to politics in one country?
4) What gives a political actor legitimacy?
5) What is the most powerful force in politics?
6) Is a global political culture or system possible – why or why not?
7) Is the world becoming more or less ‘democratic’?
8) Can security be guaranteed or at least greatly enhanced? How?
9) What is public policy and who decides what will be implemented?
10) Which theory of International Relations is most convincing and why?
11) What is globalization?
12) Which contemporary public policy issue is most important and why?
13) Are justice and freedom compatible? Are they the same thing?
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical knowledge of influential political concepts
- Ability to Integrate political, philosophical, legal, social and economic reasoning
- Comprehend how ideational, cultural and personal factors can interact to influence national and/or world affairs
- Effectively communicate understanding of connections between concepts, and between concepts and practices
- Capacity to research and compose an advanced-level scholarly essay
Test
Due: 30 October (in week of)
Weighting: 50%
Test based on material drawn from the topics and literature through the unit.
Students have 3 hours and 10 minutes to respond to questions and submit the test document
If drawing on other material, please reference properly, including use of quote marks. Do not base all of all your answers on the work of others (i.e. by paraphrasing or direct quoting). Try to include your own observations where possible.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical knowledge of influential political concepts
- Ability to Integrate political, philosophical, legal, social and economic reasoning
- Comprehend how ideational, cultural and personal factors can interact to influence national and/or world affairs
- Effectively communicate understanding of connections between concepts, and between concepts and practices
Delivery and Resources
In person lectures also audio recorded
Unit Schedule
See the 'detailed unit guide' on the iLearn site
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html
Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Graduate Capabilities
PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate a critical knowledge of influential political concepts
- Ability to Integrate political, philosophical, legal, social and economic reasoning
- Comprehend how ideational, cultural and personal factors can interact to influence national and/or world affairs
- Effectively communicate understanding of connections between concepts, and between concepts and practices
- Capacity to research and compose an advanced-level scholarly essay
Assessment tasks
- Essay
- Test
PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate a critical knowledge of influential political concepts
- Ability to Integrate political, philosophical, legal, social and economic reasoning
- Comprehend how ideational, cultural and personal factors can interact to influence national and/or world affairs
- Effectively communicate understanding of connections between concepts, and between concepts and practices
- Capacity to research and compose an advanced-level scholarly essay
Assessment tasks
- Essay
- Test
PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate a critical knowledge of influential political concepts
- Ability to Integrate political, philosophical, legal, social and economic reasoning
- Comprehend how ideational, cultural and personal factors can interact to influence national and/or world affairs
- Effectively communicate understanding of connections between concepts, and between concepts and practices
- Capacity to research and compose an advanced-level scholarly essay
Assessment task
- Test
PG - Effective Communication
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate a critical knowledge of influential political concepts
- Ability to Integrate political, philosophical, legal, social and economic reasoning
- Comprehend how ideational, cultural and personal factors can interact to influence national and/or world affairs
- Effectively communicate understanding of connections between concepts, and between concepts and practices
- Capacity to research and compose an advanced-level scholarly essay
Assessment tasks
- Essay
- Test
unit description
This unit explores some key themes and concepts in Politics, International Relations and Public Policy. It enables a broad understanding of these, which have decisively influenced human development through history to the present. The unit is not especially difficult, however, it is at Masters coursework level and presumes that students have completed an undergraduate degree and are able to compose pieces of academic writing at a reasonable standard. Convenor: Steve Wood steve.wood@mq.edu.au
The unit is mandated by the AQF/ASQC. Due to its small enrolment numbers it is only offered in external student mode. Because the Faculty is moving to another (interim) building, and there is uncertainty about required technology, no specific times when audio lectures will first be available on the unit iLearn can presently be given. However, audio lectures, hopefully with screen capture of slides, will be available some time in each week in accordance with the schedule below. It may be from late on each Monday afternoon.
Weekly readings are available on the unit iLearn site. Initiative to locate others is welcomed.
A unit discussion board will be available for students to engage with each week’s indicative questions. The discussion board is not for asking questions about unit organization or assessment.