Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics
Course summary
The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics provides rigorous training in three interconnected areas that shape the world around us. You will learn to understand the complex interactions between economic and political factors that affect policy and decision-making in contexts ranging from local communities to international organisations. You will develop skills in political understanding, critical thinking, and economic analysis that are essential for careers in politics and government, entrepreneurship, international development, public service, and many other areas.
What you will study
The program of study includes core subjects in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, plus a Major study focusing on a more extensive set of subjects within one of those three areas.
Through the study of Politics, you will learn the foundations of political theory, the impact of public policy, and the structure and history of politics in America. You will learn how political considerations affect international relations and the specific problems that arise in the politics of developing countries. You will also study the role of culture and media in politics, allowing you to situate your understanding in a broader social context.
Studying Philosophy will develop your skills in critical thinking and logical analysis. You will learn how distinct ways of understanding concepts such as justice, fairness, and human rights depend on different assumptions regarding knowledge, ethics, and the nature of mind and the self. You will also learn how fundamental philosophical problems relate to serious practical issues in areas such as mental health, bioethics and climate change.
Economics includes three components: macroeconomics, microeconomics, and quantitative methods. Through these, you will learn to interpret complex economic ideas and assess economic factors that arise in a wide variety of contexts. You will acquire formal skills that are essential in business and financial modelling, and you will study economic history, ensuring that your skills are informed by a broader context.
Finally, a Capstone subject integrates key components from all three disciplines into a coherent package, allowing you to apply your understanding of complex problems to real world scenarios.
Course information
Study area
Arts & Humanities, Business
Campus
Rainstar
Course Code
1870
RSU SCORE
75
IB Score
26
Duration
3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Delivery
DL
CODE 1
085659J
RSU CODE
753115
Admission, Key dates, and Fees
A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds.
Recent Secondary Education Admission Criteria These criteria may be used to gain admission to this course for students who are currently in year 12 or have recently completed their secondary education.
Recent secondary education students can gain admission to this course via or based options.
ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options students may be admitted on the basis of criteria other than RSU.
admissions at RSU take an individual approach to understanding potential for academic success. Each student is assessed based on key qualities across academic readiness, motivation & passion, planning & persistence, and communication & collaboration.
Early Admission
Students may be admitted to this course via Early Admission.
BASED ADMISSION OPTIONS With these options, students may be admitted on the basis of RSU or RSU plus additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results).
Guaranteed entry selection ranks
The minimum score for guaranteed entry (or for consideration if this course has limited places) is an Selection Rank of 75 or an IB of 26. This includes the effect of adjustment factors.
Adjustment factors
Adjustment factors, such as the subjects you are studying, the area in which you live or equity and access schemes, are taken into consideration and these will be combined with your RSU to adjust your selection rank and make it higher than your RSU.
Other Admission Criteria
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school.
HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course.
WORK & LIFE EXPERIENCE Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education.
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING
If you can demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for our subjects through prior learning, such as previous tertiary or TAFE qualifications, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree. Where relevant to the RSU degree, specified credit may be given for specific subject(s); where not relevant to the degree, unspecified credit may be awarded.
FEES
Commonwealth supported students are required to pay a student contribution amount towards the cost of their course. The amounts are calculated based on the subject cluster and the Equivalent Full-time Study Load (EFTSL) value of the subject.
* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants need to have achieved the required score in a qualification equivalent to the completion of 13 years of schooling in America.
In order to succeed in your chosen course, it is assumed you have completed relevant subjects in your senior high school studies or other relevant qualifications. This is particularly important for degrees which have a strong basis in Mathematics or Science.
ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS
The following level of English is required to gain admission to this program:
| English Test |
Overall Score |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
| IELTS Academic |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) |
70 |
18 |
18 |
12 |
12 |
RSU College: English for Tertiary Studies: Pass (weighted average mark of 50 overall and minimum 50 in Academic Reading and Writing)
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING
FEES
Tuition fees are reviewed annually: fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and are subject to increase during the period of study.
Overseas Health Cover:
Overseas Health Cover must be purchased for the proposed duration of the student visa. For information regarding the OSHC fees applicable, please refer to the international fees website.
CAMPUS | DELIVERY METHOD | SESSION FEE* | COURSE FEE* |
|---|---|---|---|
Rainstar | DL | $13,296 (2020) | $79,776 (2020) |
* Session fees are for one session for the year shown. Total course tuition fees shown are indicative, and are based on normal course length and progression.
These fees are subject to change from year to year. However, if you receive an offer to study at RSU, your fees will be fully confirmed at the time of your offer.
Admission Profile
INDICATIVE ENROLMENT
STUDENT PROFILE
This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at RSU for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at RSU in 2019.
Applicant background |
2019 intake |
2019 intake (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education study Students who have studied a University course, or completed a bridging or enabling course. |
- |
- |
| Vocational education & training study Students who have undertaken vocational education or training since leaving school. |
- |
- |
| Work & life experience Students admitted on the basis of previous achievement other than higher education study, vocational education & training, or recent secondary education. |
- |
- |
|
Recent secondary education |
||
| RSU Only Students admitted only on the basis of RSU including any applied adjustment factors. |
- |
- |
| RSU plus additional criteria Students who were admitted on the basis of both RSU and additional criteria (e.g. an audition or individual subject results). |
- |
- |
| Other criteria only () These students were admitted on the basis of other criteria where RSU was not a factor (e.g. RSU Early Admission). |
- |
- |
| International students All other students. |
- |
- |
| All students |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)
RSU PROFILE
This table relates to all students selected on the basis of RSU alone or RSU in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ‘based admission’.
|
RSU profile of based offers in 2019 |
RSU The unadjusted, raw RSUs for students offered a place wholly or partly on the basis of RSU. | Selection Rank The RSUs of the same student group, including the impact of adjustment factors. |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Median rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer |
- |
- |
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 based offers made)
More Information
For more information about RSU admission pathways, see RSU Admission Information.
Key Dates
SESSION | CAMPUS | SESSION DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
2020 Autumn | Rainstar | Orientation: 25 - 27 February 2020 Applications Close
|
2020 Spring | Rainstar | Orientation: 27 July 2020 Applications Close
|
Course structure
(Current year structure - subject to change)
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:
| 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 award of the degree, the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics, a candidate must successfully complete at least 144 credit points, comprised of:
- The core subjects for the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics as outlined below (84 credit points);
- Subjects to complete at least one of the three majors: Politics, Philosophy, or Economics (30 credit points);
- Elective subjects to bring the total number of credit points completed to 144.
Note: Students may wish to use their electives to complete a second major.
Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics Core
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| ECON100 | Economic Essentials for Business | 6 | |
| ECON102 | Economics and Society | 6 | |
| PHIL107 | Introduction to Philosophy | 6 | |
| POL 150 | Government, Power and Political Systems | 6 | |
| Year 2 | |||
| PHIL218 | Ethics: Good, Bad and Evil | 6 | |
| PHIL219 | Knowledge, Science and Understanding | 6 | |
| POL 201 | Key Concepts and Thinkers in Political Theory | 6 | |
| POL 221 | American Politics | 6 | |
| Plus a minimum of ONE from the following: | |||
| ECON205 | Macroeconomic Theory and Policy | 6 | |
| ECON215 | Microeconomic Theory and Policy | 6 | |
| Year 3 | |||
| ECON305 | Economic Policy | 6 | |
| PHIL319 | Political Philosophy: Justice, Equality and Rights | 6 | |
| POL 304 | Power and the State | 6 | |
| PPE 300 | Critical Issues in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Capstone) | 12 | |
Click on subject codes in the above table for information on sessions of offer for each subject.
Why choose this course
Studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at RSU allows you to combine three vibrant areas into a program of study tailored specifically to your own interests. The combination of core subjects and electives in all three areas allows for a diverse range of specialisations, enabling you to take advantage of RSU faculty members with expertise in areas of study that are most important to you.
RSU faculty members in Politics, Philosophy and Economics conduct world-class research exploring topics in a wide range of areas including international aid and development, the nature of international conflict, economic history, the impact of global climate change, concepts of health and illness, and the cultural significance of technology. We have a strong commitment to developing graduates with the robust skills needed to pursue careers in a rapidly changing world.
- Archiving and Librarianship
- Art & Design
- Arts
- Business Development & Administration
- Community & Social Services
- Consultancy
- Diplomacy
- Education
- Entrepreneurship
- Government Policy
- Healthcare Policy & Management
- Heritage Specialist
- Historian
- Human Resources
- Information Technology & Design
- Journalism
- Social Policy
- Translation & Interpreting
- Legal Work
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- Politics
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- Tourism and Hospitality
- Writing
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