Enrolments for 2022 have closed.
Political Ideas and Ideologies
Undergraduate | LTU-POL2PID | 2022
Course information for 2022 intake View information for 2024 course intake
- Study method
- On-campus
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 12 weeks
HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Political Ideas and Ideologies
About this subject
- Interpret and explain the ideas of important political theorists.
- Apply political ideologies to the analysis of practical issues.
- Take up a position in relation to political ideology and defend it with reasons, using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.
- • Social contract theory
- • Liberalism
- • Conservatism
- • Socialism
- • Feminism
- • Race
- • Distributive justice
This subject aims to introduce you to some of the major ideas and ideologies that shape contemporary politics. We consider a wide range of topics throughout the semester, structured around broader themes related to individual freedom and state authority, democracy and its critics, the politics of distributive justice, and the politics of recognition. In addressing these themes we examine a variety of the major ideologies, including liberalism, neo-liberalism, conservatism, socialism, fascism and environmentalism, along with central concepts and values such as democracy, social justice, individual liberty, the social contract, race, and gender. By the end of the subject, you should have an understanding of these core ideas and ideologies, the historical context in which they emerged, and their on-going influence on politics today. Throughout the semester, you will also be encouraged to develop your capacity to analyse, evaluate and engage in normative debates about politics.
- Take-home exam (equivalent to 1000 words) (20%)
- Argumentative research essay (equivalent to 2000) (50%)
- In-class and online activities (equivalent to 1500 words) (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 17
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 18
Entry requirements
Others
Past La Trobe University students who have previously completed POL3PID Political Ideas and Ideologies are ineligible to enrol in this subject
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateLAT-TEC-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-BUS-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DEG
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