Course coordinator
Dr Michael Gavin
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 4
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Politic Sc & Internat Studies
This course introduces students to the key ideas, issues, and modes of critical thought for study in political science and international studies. We provide the foundational content necessary for the study of governance and public policy, international relations, development, and peace and conflict studies through seminar discussions and individual and group projects. Topics to be examined include the problems of war, the economy, the rise of populism, inequality, and other pressing global and local problems using a variety of lenses drawn from international relations, governance and public policy, and peace and conflict studies.
This course introduces students to the key ideas, issues, and modes of critical thought for study in political science and international studies. We provide the foundational content necessary for the study of governance and public policy, international relations, development, and peace and conflict studies through seminar discussions and individual and group projects. Topics to be examined include the problems of war, the economy, the environment, inequality, and other pressing global and local problems using a variety of lenses drawn from international relations, governance and public policy, and peace and conflict studies.
There is no assumed background for completing this course.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This is a foundational course and we do not require or assume prior knowledge.ﾠ
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
POLS7012, POLS7013, POLS7100, POLS7258, POLS7551
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Michael Gavin
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
This course consists of twelve, 2-hour seminars, commencing in Week 1. These will be on Tuesdays, 12pm-2pm in room 207 - Richards Building.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to introduce students to the ideas, issues and modes of critical thought relevant to Governance and Public Policy, International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, and Development. Upon completing POLS7002, students should demonstrate the type of understanding and knowledge necessary to complete more advanced courses in the field of politics.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate a well-founded knowledge of the key ideas and issues in the field of politics.
LO2.
Demonstrate acquired conceptual and analytical capacities, along with an ability to apply these skills to understand concrete social, political and historical processes in politics.
LO3.
Develop intellectual tools and skills that will make you more competitive in your future professional activities in a variety of fields and positions.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Seminar participation
|
12% |
4/03/2025 - 27/05/2025 |
| Essay/ Critique |
Essay
|
40% |
30/05/2025 5:00 pm |
| Quiz |
In class quizes (weeks 6, 9, & 13)
|
24% Each quiz is worth 8% of your final grade. |
1/04/2025 29/04/2025 27/05/2025 |
| Presentation, Poster | Poster presentation (week 11) | 24% |
13/05/2025 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Seminar participation
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 12%
- Due date
4/03/2025 - 27/05/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Participation is about sharing ideas, asking questions, and contributing to a productive classroom discussion.
Each seminar is worth up to 1 mark.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Essay
- Hurdle
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
30/05/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Students will write a 3,000 word essay on a topic of their choice. It is expected that students will make some sort of original research contribution. This is not as difficult as it sounds! Further details will be provided in class.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Students will meet online with Dr. Gavin for a 5-minute discussion regarding their essay. The intent is to judge how well the student understands their own essay. Students must receive a pass in the hurdle assessment to pass this course. Students who do not receive a pass for hurdle assessment can only receive an overall grade of 3 or less for the course. Students who receive an overall score of 3 in the Course are eligible to apply for a supplementary assessment.Submission guidelines
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
In class quizes (weeks 6, 9, & 13)
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 24% Each quiz is worth 8% of your final grade.
- Due date
1/04/2025
29/04/2025
27/05/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Quizzes (written in class, on paper) will be completed at the end of the seminar during the appropriate week. Quizzes in weeks 6, 9, and 13 will be on material from weeks 2-6, 7-9, and 10-13, respectively. Quizzes will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions. Unless due to exceptional circumstances, if a student misses a quiz, they will receive a grade of 0 for that quiz.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Poster presentation (week 11)
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation, Poster
- Weight
- 24%
- Due date
13/05/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
In week 11, students will participate in a poster session presenting their essay. In addition to being stationed at your poster discussing your research and answering questions, students will have the opportunity to mingle and learn about other students’ research.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student does notﾠaddress the question, shows no evidence of reading and minimal comprehension of the issues at hand. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠaddresses the question poorly and showsﾠvery little evidence of reading. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The student makes an effort to establish a single major argument for the essay andﾠemploys some research which is correlated with the argument. Makes a visible effort to achieve adequate grammar, spelling and punctuation. Evidence of attempting to achieve a recognisable narrative flowﾠappears throughout the assignment. The studentﾠaddresses the question and shows evidence of required research and a basic grasp of the issues at hand. However,ﾠfalls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student makes a reasonable effort to provide evidence to support a visible argument andﾠemploys an adequate research base to support the argument. Achieves a reasonable, if not completely coherent standard of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A recognisable narrative flow is sustained throughout the essay. The studentﾠanswers the question and shows evidence of adequate research and a degree of understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠprovides suitable evidence to support an argument andﾠemploys a comprehensive research base that directly relates to the topic, though it may not completely support the argument. Achieves decent levels of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The studentﾠanswers the question in a direct, well supported fashion and shows evidence of some wide reading and a reasonable understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠdemonstrates a very good grasp of the chosen topic andﾠprovides a considerable amount of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The studentﾠemploys a reasonably extensive and well-organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and achieves a high level of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The studentﾠanswers the question in a direct, reasonably sophisticated fashion, employs wide research and shows a sound understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The studentﾠdemonstrates a highly sophisticated grasp of the topic andﾠsucceeds in addressing the question by providing a high level of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The studentﾠemploys an extensive and well organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument andﾠachieves impeccable levels of grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The studentﾠanswers the question in a direct and elegant fashion, employs significant research and shows a deep understanding of the issues at hand. |
Additional course grading information
1.ﾠFailﾠ 1 - 19%
2. Failﾠ 20 - 44%
3. Failﾠ 45 - 49%
4. Passﾠ 50 - 64 %
5. Creditﾠ 65 - 74 %
6. Distinctionﾠ 75 - 84 %
7. High Distinctionﾠ 85 - 100 %
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Word Length Penalty
Unless otherwise indicated, in the case of written submissions with a specified word count, you are given a +10% leeway on the upper word limit. If your written submission is over this leeway limit, it will attract a 10 percentage point penalty. For example, if your essay is 3000 words, you may write up to 3300 before attracting a word count penalty. If your essay exceeds the upper word limit, it will attract a 10% word count penalty. Therefore, if your essay is worth 40 marks, you will lose 4 marks from your allotted grade. Unless specified, penalties only apply to exceeding the word length, not for failure to write a sufficient amount.
Students should note:
• The Author-date in-text referencing system will count toward the word length;
• References in the Footnote referencing system will not count toward the word length. If you are using footnotes, any content included in footnotes beyond the specific text reference will count towards the word length.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Essay Guide
The School of Political Science and International Studies Essay Guide can be downloaded from the School’s Student Support webpage.
The Guide sets out guidelines you should follow in preparing written assignments.
Essay Writing Assistance
The School of Political Science and International Studies schedules regular “drop-in” sessions designed to provide one-on-one advice and assistance in essay planning and writing.
There is no need to make an appointment and you are encouraged to bring your essay with you.
The day and time of these sessions will be finalized at the beginning of each semester and published on the Student Support webpage.
Student Services
Student services offer a variety of short courses during the semester which will help you improve your study, research and writing skills and thus your academic performance in this course.
Library Resources
UQ Library offers training in software, assignment writing, research skills, and publishing and research management.
The University’s library holdings for Political Science and International Studies are primarily located in the Central Library.
There is a help desk in the Library. Students are also welcome to contact the BEL/HASS Librarians for assistance.
Email: librarians@library.uq.edu.au
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Seminar |
Introduction Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Seminar |
Realism The next four seminars will examine four traditions/schools of thought in International Relations. This week we will introduce Realism and the role that anarchy plays in the thinking of Realist scholars in International Relations. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Seminar |
Cancelled Class cancelled due to university closure. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Seminar |
Liberalism Next, we will examine Liberalism and how it emerged from a critique of how Realist scholars theorize anarchy. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Seminar |
Constructivism This seminar will examine Constructivism and how social constructions can structure security and economic relations. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Seminar |
Migration We analyze migration’s economic and political drivers, ethical dilemmas, and governance challenges in a globalized world. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Seminar |
Environmental politics We will examine international climate politics and the distributive conflicts shaping climate policies. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Seminar |
Development We explore why some countries are wealthier than others, globalization’s impact, and the role of state policies in economic development. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-semester break No class this week Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Seminar |
Domestic politics We begin by examining the seminal text Exit, Voice, and Loyalty and examine if non-violent civil resistance can be effective. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Seminar |
Gender and inequality This week highlights how gender and economic inequality intersect with political systems and global governance. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Seminar |
Poster presentation Students will participate in a poster session for their research projects. No participation mark will be given for this poster presentation session. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Seminar |
Contemporary conflicts We analyze recent conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, and their broader geopolitical and security implications. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Seminar |
TBD Our final week's topic will be chosen by students. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.