Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Honours)

at University of Wollongong - Wollongong Campus Australia

A major in Global Sustainable Development explores ethical issues surrounding global challenges and the interaction between human and environmental security. With 2.4 billion people on the planet living on less than US$2 a day, poverty and inequality remain two of the biggest challenges of our time. Equally, environmental change is a major concern that will affect human activity for the foreseeable future.

The Bachelor of International Studies examines the relationships of politics, society, culture, language, and history in a range of countries. You will analyse national and global issues, focusing on the way global forces and interactions increasingly influence domestic politics. You will also be encouraged to study abroad or undertake a study tour.

What you will study
Core subjects will teach you the key theories, approaches and practices for promoting human development for the future. You can elect to do subjects that specialise in environmental issues from a range of different disciplinary perspectives, or you can focus on issues of development from economic, social and political perspectives.

Studying arts and physics will teach you an understanding of the world, ourselves and the universe in which we live, following an approach based on evidence. You will also learn foundational knowledge in many traditional areas of study including history, literature, languages and philosophy and the disciplines of social sciences: cultural studies, sociology and politics.

The Bachelor of Science (Physics) – Bachelor of Arts combines the practical, numeracy and computer skills of science with the critical and creative thinking skills and effective communication and problem solving skills learned from studying the arts and humanities. It will teach you a diverse skill set and equip you with all of which are required for high achievement in a range careers.

This degree
You will choose one major in the Bachelor of Arts degree: Archaeology and Ancient History, English Literatures, Environmental Humanities, French, History, Indigenous Studies, Japanese, Legal Studies, Mandarin (Non-Chinese Background Students), Mandarin (Character Background Students), Philosophy, Photography, Politics, International Relations, Sociology, Spanish, Creative Writing, or Writing and English Literatures, as well as a minor from the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

Studying Sociology at UOW will prepare and enable you to understand, question and analyse human life and society, social processes, cultural and social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behaviour. You will develop an understanding of our diverse and rapidly changing world and identify the roots of and solutions to social problems. In an increasingly dynamic world, where divisions and inequalities are becoming more prevalent, this discipline provides invaluable analytical, research and intellectual skills and an in-depth understanding of our diverse societies and cultures.

The Sociology program at UOW organises specific study areas thematically, allowing you to find your own path through the curriculum, and consolidate in areas of interest over the course of the degree.

What you will study
Specific areas of study include: power and stratification; employment, work futures, and social policy; globalisation, migration, and urban/family life; sexualities, genders and intersectionality; social movements, subcultures and networks; and bodies, biotechnology, emotions and affect.

Environmental science is the study of the interaction between living and non-living elements of the environment, and how humans impact on these elements. Environmental scientists use a multi-disciplinary knowledge base to assess, research, and manage a wide range of environmental issues.

The Bachelor of Science major in Environment is a multi-disciplinary degree that draws together concepts from geosciences, biological sciences, chemistry, and physics. This degree develops wide-ranging capabilities involving fieldwork, mapping, computing and laboratory skills. The superb local marine and coastal habitats, amidst fresh-water and terrestrial ecosystems means Wollongong is ideally located for unique field experiences to enhance studies of the environment.

This course is ideal if you would like to complete a science-based environmental degree with career paths in environmental assessment, monitoring and management, or to consider trending jobs related to environmental sustainability, renewable energy, transitions from rural to urban landscapes, and urban greenspaces.

The Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Arts combines practical, numeracy and computer skills with the critical and creative thinking skills, effective communication and problem solving skills learned from studying the arts and humanities. Studies in science allow you to research problems, interpret data and propose solutions. Studies in arts will give you the skills to develop arguments, communicate with audiences and influence decision-making. When combined, the skills and knowledge from these two fields can place you in a key position to work with the complex challenges we will face in the future.

The major areas of study in Science include: Ecology and Conservation Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Environment and Physical Geography.

You will also choose one of the majors in the Bachelor of Arts degree; Archaeology and Ancient History, English Literatures, Environmental Humanities, French, History, Indigenous Studies, Japanese, Legal Studies, Mandarin (Non-Chinese Background Students), Mandarin (Character Background Students), Philosophy, Photography, Politics, International Relations, Sociology, Spanish, Creative Writing, or Writing and English Literatures. In addition to the arts major you will choose a minor or a second major from the Bachelor of Arts offerings.

Studying engineering and arts will teach you to create solutions for everyday life, from the large scale to the nano-level. You will gain knowledge in many traditional areas of study including history, literature, languages and philosophy and the disciplines of social sciences; cultural studies, sociology and politics.

Engineering is vital to solving the world’s big challenges: supporting communities by designing and building livable sustainable cities; creating transport and housing systems; and designing and building telecommunications networks, the internet and computers.

Engineers design systems to ensure ample clean water for the world’s population, to find non-polluting energy sources, to create ways to assist healthy living and ageing and to advance medical and health technologies.

Engineers are team players and many become CEOs and entrepreneurs; engineering graduates run over 30 percent of the world’s biggest international companies, nearly double the next largest discipline. Learn the fundamentals of engineering, both the technical and interpersonal skills, and apply your knowledge in real situations to prepare you for engineering the future with an internationally accredited UOW engineering degree.

This degree

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Bachelor of Arts combines professional engineering skills, including management, teamwork and problem solving, with the critical and creative thinking skills learned from studying the arts and humanities. It will teach you a diverse skill set required for high achievement in a range of careers.

A Bachelor of Mathematics – Bachelor of Laws from UOW equips you with a comprehensive legal education: a world-class degree that provides a thorough grounding in the law, as well as a real-world focus on the essential practical skills and the social and ethical context in which the law operates.

Combining Law with Mathematics will help you gain a competitive edge, teaching you to identify patterns, analyse complex information, develop an ability to interpret data, predict consequential actions, and be acutely aware of legal considerations and the context in which they arise.

We believe that practical experience is a vital part of your legal training. We are the only law school in New South Wales that requires you to complete a legal internship, providing highly valued industry experience.  We are committed to social justice and providing a legal education that engages with the complexities of law's intersection with society.

This double degree delivers a practical and contextual legal education that prepares graduates not only for traditional careers in the legal profession but also for a wide range of careers in government, business and community organisations – as leaders, innovators and problem solvers.

What you will study

The Bachelor of Mathematics – Bachelor of Laws covers the prescribed areas of knowledge for future admission to the profession as well as including a choice of electives. Additionally, an integrated skills program equips graduates with experience in areas such as legal research, interviewing, legal drafting, advocacy and negotiation. Opportunities also exist to undertake subjects through an international exchange program. In mathematics you will learn highly transferable skills in problem solving, data analysis, probability and variability, mathematical modelling, logistics and logic. You can choose a major in Applied Statistics, Mathematics or Mathematics and Statistics.

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance is an introductory course designed to provide a general understanding of areas in Applied Finance such as financial statement analysis, managerial finance, statistics and corporate governance.

Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance, you may enrol in a Master of Applied Finance and be eligible for credit for the four subjects completed within the Graduate Certificate. Progression with credit to other Masters programs, including the MBA, may also be possible.

We value the importance of prior learning and work experience in this course and understand that not all mature age working professionals have completed an undergraduate degree. If you fit this profile, still apply for the course, as we will assess your other relevant tertiary qualifications or substantial relevant professional or managerial experience.

If you are doing, or have done particularly well in your Bachelor of International Studies degree, you should consider an Honours year. This normally involves one additional year of study following the successful completion of a three-year undergraduate degree. Your Bachelor of International Studies degree would have introduced you to a wide range of topics and problems, and an Honours project enables you to explore one in much greater depth. Honours research topics are various and negotiable—if you are really interested in a topic and want to find answers, you'll be encouraged and supported by our expert staff.

From a potential employer's perspective, whatever your topic, being able to demonstrate the ability to achieve a complex goal, meet deadlines, investigate independently, use resources effectively and write coherently, are all highly desirable qualities.

The Honours year has two functions at UOW: as an in-depth project at the end of undergraduate study, and as a bridge between undergraduate study and advanced research. Studying Honours is about:

• Learning research skills, navigation skills and information systems (archives, the Library, databases, electronic research networks);
• The opportunity to practise articulating complex ideas orally and in writing. It provides the experience of working closely with a supervisor on a project and in preparing a major project to meet a deadline;
• Experiences in devising, researching and writing up an individual topic of study in an extended argument/thesis of 15,000 words.

What you will study
The Bachelor of International Studies (Honours) consists of 50% coursework and 50% research work.  The research component of this degree takes the form of a research thesis under the supervision of an academic employed in the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

This one-year Honours degree is for graduates of a three-year psychology degree who need a fourth year of study to apply for provisional registration as a practising psychologist. It is also a pathway for graduates of a three-year degree who wish to move into postgraduate research in psychology.

This degree
The Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) is a fourth year of study accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. It is a route to postgraduate coursework or research degrees in Psychology and also a qualification for eligibility for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. An Honours year of study provides students with a competitive advantage when they enter the workforce.

What you will study
You will produce advanced written work that demonstrates your ability to analyse and synthesise information, solve complex problems, and orally present this information in various formats. You will show an advanced ability to apply research methods to address psychological questions related to behaviour and mental processes.