Bachelors in Political Science in Australia

The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (BPPE) is an innovative degree that equips you with the intellectual and practical skills necessary to comprehend and navigate the changing world in the 21st century. You will finish your BPPE having mastered the main ideas shaping an understanding of the social world. You will move beyond existing frameworks by studying at the creative intersections between politics, philosophy and economics. This interdisciplinary grounding will culminate in practical, skills-based applications of the conceptual tools provided by the BPPE to ensure you are ready for the challenges and possibilities of the century ahead.

Arts Global Immersion Guarantee – a guaranteed* funded overseas experience to China, India, Italy, Indonesia or Malaysia available to all first year Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and economics and related double degree students. A new benchmark in globally-focused education, you will have the opportunity to spend two weeks studying overseas, with airfares and accommodation all covered as part of the degree.

*Eligibility requirements apply: First year Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Global Studies, Bachelor of Criminology, Bachelor of Media and Communications, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Politics Philosophy and Economics (and related double degree) students in good academic standing, who have undertaken 24 points of credit (including a minimum of 12 points Arts) and have passed all their Arts units.

Lead the way to a better world.

Politics, philosophy and economics degrees have produced political and community leaders who have shaped our world, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, journalist and film activist Tariq Ali, and former Australian Prime Ministers Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke.

The world needs creative leaders to respond to society’s greatest challenges, including the global effects of the climate crisis and the social impacts of inequalities in resources, opportunity and power.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics gives you a multi-disciplinary perspective on the political and economic systems that shape the world. Develop the skills to respond to urgent problems and make a positive social impact

Through the study of politics, you'll enhance your knowledge of political institutions and their history. Analyse who is disadvantaged by existing institutions, and identify what opportunities exist for creative policy development.

Take subjects in philosophy that explore the debates around human rights and justice. Refine your critical thinking and logical reasoning skills and consider how our conceptions of self are informed by society.

Through the study of economics, you'll learn how the economy works in a world of globalised and interdependent markets, examining the relationships between economic systems, institutions, and policy.

Explore how governments can manage their economies to achieve important social objectives. Investigate competing theories of political economy, including institutional, feminist, post-Keynesian, behavioural, and ecological economics.

Equipped with these disciplinary skills, you'll discover the interconnections between philosophical thinking, the study of politics, and economics. From there, you'll apply these interdisciplinary insights to a range of policy contexts.

Tailor your degree to your interests and passions. Choose from five majors, including political economy, politics, economics, political philosophy, and philosophy. Depending on your major, you'll be able to build specialist knowledge in inequality, global institutions, climate change, human rights, political processes and behavioural science.

In your third year, you'll have the option of gaining practical experience and expanding your professional network through a work-based learning placement. Previous graduates have enjoyed internships in the public service and with the Victorian Parliament, as well as a range of non-government organisations and businesses, including Trades Hall, the Grattan Institute, and charitable organisations.

Graduate ready to tackle real-world problems, including climate change, the need for sustainable innovation, and the unequal distribution of wealth, opportunity, and power.

You'll Learn:

• Critical thinking and philosophy
  • Improve your ability to reason, both critically and empathetically, and develop human skills that will be sought after in the workplaces of tomorrow.*
• Political institutions and processes
  • Build your knowledge of political systems, how countries are governed, and the forces and players that influence policy.
• Economics and political economy
  • Explore economic concepts and principles from a variety of theoretical approaches and apply these to real-world problems, including climate change, sustainable innovation, and economic marginalisation.

The Bachelor of Philosophy/Bachelor of Laws has been designed to produce graduates who are well-trained in legal theory and practice, knowledgeable in philosophical and ethical issues related to the law, and skilled in textual analysis, argumentation and communication. As a graduate, you can aspire to a range of professional careers in an increasingly global environment.

While undertaking your legal studies, you will also be undertaking core and elective studies in various areas of philosophy, such as ethics, epistemology (theory of knowledge), jurisprudence (philosophy of law), theories of human nature, social and political philosophy, logic, and the history of philosophy. In this way, you will develop keen insight into the broader context within which the law operates, an enhanced awareness of the complexities of legal theory and practice, as well as the kinds of analytical skills needed in contemporary legal practice contexts. Should you wish to do so, there is also provision within the flexible program to undertake studies in other areas of the humanities