Political Science
Political Science at Waikato offers a broad spectrum of political knowledge on both national and international issues. You'll seek answers to some of the most difficult political issues of today and gain skills for many potential career paths.
The Political Science programme will ask you why some crises lead to armed conflict while others resolve peacefully - why democracy thrives in some countries while it dies in others. We challenge you to learn lessons from international politics and to consider political solutions to international crises. We push you to consider tough questions like those involving equality and freedom - must one be sacrificed for the other to flourish?
Political Science is a highly flexible programme and will give you job opportunities from local to national government, media, education, industry, business, labour organisations and social services. We also offer minors in Public Policy and in International Relations and Security Studies which further allows you to investigate relevant contemporary issues.
Political Science at Waikato not only gives you a well-rounded perspective on political issues but also provides a versatile base of knowledge and skills to enter many fields.
Key information
| Study Locations: | Hamilton, Tauranga, Online Papers offered differ by location. The Catalogue of Papers has full location info. |
|---|---|
| Area of Study: |
Study Political Science in these qualifications
Study Political Science as a specialisation of
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Climate Change
- Bachelor of Communication
- Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science (Technology)
- Bachelor of Social Sciences
- Certificate
- Diploma
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Master of Arts
- Master of Arts (Applied)
- Master of Management Studies
- Master of Philosophy
- Master of Science
- Master of Science (Research)
- Master of Science (Technology)
- Master of Social Sciences
- Postgraduate Certificate
- Postgraduate Diploma
Career opportunities
- Advocate
- Central and Local Government Officer
- Foreign Affairs and Trade Worker
- Māori Development Policy Adviser
- Media Analyst
- Policy Analyst
Study in Tauranga
In Tauranga, Political Science is available as a major subject in these degrees:
Papers
Available Political Science papers
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRSST103 | Introduction to International Relations | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga) |
| This paper provides an introduction to the study of international relations in an era of globalisation. It covers the historical background, key concepts and theories, case studies, and contemporary developments in the study of world politics. | |||
| POLSC102 | New Zealand Politics and Policy | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga) |
| This paper provides a foundation for the study of political science and public policy, with a particular focus on the study of government, politics and policy in New Zealand. | |||
| POLSC103 | Introduction to Political Psychology | 15.0 | 24A (Online) & 24A (Tauranga) |
| Politics affects every aspect of our lives. This paper is an introduction to understanding political behaviour, helping you become more critically aware of your own role as citizen. | |||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRSST206 | International Relations: The Security Agenda | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to International Relations' dynamic and evolving security agenda and covers some of the most urgent contemporary security concerns. | |||
| PHILO215 | Moral and Political Philosophy: A Historical Introduction | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to central issues in Moral and Political Philosophy, using texts from historical figures in philosophy to study questions about virtue, happiness, justice, liberty, democracy, tyranny, feminism, art, censorship, and moral education. | |||
| POLCY212 | Public Policy Analysis | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to public policy analysis. Students focus on the role of politics, public participation and policy in addressing society's big problems, how they are framed and defined, and how solutions are developed and implemented within the context of the policy process. | |||
| POLSC200 | Politics and the Media | 15.0 | 24A (Online) & 24A (Tauranga) |
| This course provides an introduction to the complex relationships between mass media, politics, and democratic society. It examines the power of the media in influencing political processes, policies, behaviour, and perceptions. | |||
| POLSC201 | Modern Political Thinkers | 15.0 | 24A (Online) |
| This course examines the ideas of a number of modern political thinkers such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, and Marx. | |||
| POLSC204 | Communicating Climate Change | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga) |
| Through a mix of theory and practical applications, students learn how to communicate climate change impacts and solutions in engaging ways. | |||
| POLSC211 | Political Systems around the World | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online) |
| The paper introduces the comparative study of political institutions, the study of the politics of a number of countries, their similarities and differences, from established democracies to authoritarian regimes. | |||
| POLSC224 | Terrorism, Violence and the State | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| Terrorism is an increasingly prominent global phenomenon. We will clarify it conceptually and situate it historically with theory and case studies in situating it in comparative political and International Relations analysis. | |||
| POLSC229 | US Politics | 15.0 | 24B (Online) & 24B (Tauranga) |
| Students in this course explore the foundational elements of the United States, its governing institutions, the extent of public influence within the system, and major contemporary policy issues that the country faces. | |||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALPSS390 | Directed Study | 15.0 | 24X (Hamilton) |
| This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology, and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their major or minor under the guidance of academic staff. | |||
| GNSEX303 | Intersectionalities: Identities and Inequalities | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper provides a comprehensive review of the historical context for understanding contemporary issues of race, gender, sexuality, and social class. It investigates micro and macro level experiences and the social construction of identities. In doing so, this paper looks at how power is distributed in society, the theories that... | |||
| IRSST301 | International Relations: The Context, Theory and Practice of New Zealand Foreign Policy | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This course delivers a comprehensive historical overview of New Zealand foreign policy from the beginning of the 20th century, and considers the role government departments play in the creation and implementation of policy. | |||
| IRSST315 | International Politics of Asia | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| It provides an introduction to, and analysis of, critical issues in Asia. Issues may include some, or all, of the Kashmir dispute; the situation on the Korean Peninsula; the South China Sea disputes; and tensions across the Taiwan Strait. | |||
| IRSST331 | Cyber Security and the Global Politics of the Internet | 15.0 | 24B (Online) |
| This course explores the global politics of cyber security and the internet. It covers the major political/strategic/theoretical debates around enhancing the security of computer systems and how states and non-state actors are responding. | |||
| POLCY318 | Global Environmental Politics and Policy | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper explores contemporary debates on environmental politics, sustainability, justice, and environmental governance. It examines the political processes underpinning the search for cooperative solutions to environmental dilemmas, including climate change. | |||
| POLSC301 | Visual Communication: Politics, Propaganda, Protest | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to the power of visual communication. The theoretical knowledge gained is applicable to politics and beyond. | |||
500 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALPSS500 | Academic & Professional Research & Writing | 30.0 | 24A (Online), 24B (Online) & 24C (Online) |
| In this course, students will gain the skills and confidence to seamlessly transition from study to work. This course works to enhance the 'skills for the future' identified by the World Economic Forum (2020), in order to produce resilient, creative students with strong analytic and critical thinking skills. | |||
| ALPSS590 | Directed Study | 30.0 | 24X (Hamilton) |
| This paper allows students from the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences to undertake research on a specific topic related to their major under the guidance of academic staff. | |||
| ALPSS591 | Research Project | 30.0 | 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga) |
| A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 12,500 words maximum). | |||
| ALPSS592 | Dissertation | 60.0 | 24X (Hamilton) & 24X (Tauranga) |
| A research report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical or practice-led investigation (up to 25,000 words maximum). | |||
| IRSST502 | Security Issues in South East Asia | 30.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| After a brief conceptual and historical introduction to security in the region, the paper goes on to consider a range of contemporary security issues. These include ethnic conflict, militant Islam, maritime security, and relations with the major extra-regional powers. | |||
| IRSST506 | International Relations and Global Security | 30.0 | 24B (Hamilton) |
| This paper teaches and utilises major international relations theories to consider pressing global issues. This includes the causes of war and peace, globalisation, the Cold War, the widening security agenda, terrorism, the environment, inequality, new technologies, and international institutions. | |||
| IRSST507 | Cyber Security and Cyber Warfare | 15.0 | 24B (Online) |
| This course examines the political, strategic, legal and economic debates around cyber security and cyber warfare. Particular emphasis is placed on how militaries, national security agencies, and law enforcement are adapting to online threats and incorporating cyber in their strategic planning. | |||
| POLSC501 | Policy Analysis: Theory and Practice | 30.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to the fundamentals of policy analysis, and develops skills for higher-level research in public policy. A key focus is developing critical awareness of policy processes, of the drivers of change, and of the role of both 'evidence' and public participation in policy-making, in the pursuit of inclusive ... | |||
| POLSC537 | Environmental Politics and Public Policy | 30.0 | 24A (Hamilton) |
| This paper introduces students to the complexities and challenges of environmental policy processes, and develops skills in scholarly research on environmental policy making. A significant focus of the paper is on analysing and understanding the complex intersections of institutions, culture, science and technology, and systems of ... | |||
| POLSC593 | Political Science Thesis | 90.0 | 24X (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | |||
800 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLSC800 | Political Science MPhil Thesis | 120.0 | 24X (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | |||
900 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| POLSC900 | Political Science PhD Thesis | 120.0 | 24I (Hamilton), 24J (Hamilton), 24K (Hamilton) & 24X (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | |||
Subject requirements
For more information about subject requirements please refer to the catalogue of papers for the most up to date information.
For more information about subject requirements please refer to the catalogue of papers for the most up to date information. If you have any questions and need more advice contact one of our friendly student advisors phone:
Please note: For all graduate subject requirements check the information provided in the papers section above.
Scholarships and prizes
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Subject links
Contacts
School of Social Sciences
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4702
General Enquiries: [email protected]