Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2023 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2023 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2023. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2023. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Online	Yes
Duration	3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	111784F Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Deakin course code	A336
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.
Students enrolled at Waurn Ponds (Geelong) campus may be required to undertake units of study at both Waurn Ponds (Geelong) and Waterfront (Geelong).

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Are you interested in finding out how power and ethics influence real-world decisions? Study Deakin’s Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics and learn how power, ethics, sustainability and economics converge to shape our lives. Built by leading academics and researchers, this course is designed for deep and creative thinkers looking to make an impact on society.

Enhance your career prospects via exciting real-world experiences, including internships, volunteer placements and study tours. Plus, there’s the opportunity to collaborate on team-based industry and community projects, and to take part in our global experiential learning programs.

You’ll understand the nature of public decision-making, explore resource management issues, and get the skills to analyse business problems in line with social justice. This course balances the big picture view of public problems while developing your professional and work skills.

Do you want to examine society as it is and question how it could be?

As a student of politics, philosophy and economics, you’ll focus on three distinct yet complementary disciplines to understand how societies govern and determine values.

Politics

Develop written and online communication skills.
Explore systems and different forms of government.
Examine relationships between countries and cultures.
Articulate solutions for real-world political problems.

Philosophy

Develop critical thinking and logical rigor skills.
Learn how to question assumptions.
Explore ethics, justice and moral challenges.

Economics

Learn how business, government and consumers shape society.
and ask questions about issues from inequality to environmental sustainability.

You’ll graduate job-ready with the knowledge, expertise and practical skills to succeed in a range of roles in government policy, strategy, consulting or business management.

This course is offered both on campus and online in a fully supported and flexible study environment, so you can get ahead with your career journey while also maintaining work, study and personal commitments.

Career opportunities

Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics graduates can confidently enter roles in private enterprise, government and not-for-profit organisations, in a variety of professional roles:

media advisor
community leader
policy officer
political advisor
engagement officer
research assistant
government administrator
manager
project coordinator.

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

Pathways

The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics will appeal to students with interests across the disciplines involved (BA/BCom/BBus), but who would prefer not to do a combined degree. The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics model offers students a way to complete an interdisciplinary degree with a similar “job-ready” focus to the revised BA, yet with the addition of vocationally focussed economic policy content. A compulsory three credit point Employability sequence, embedded within the Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics course across each year level.

The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics will serve as a standard Bachelor-level platform for pathways to more advanced degrees such as Honours, Masters, or PhD.

Alternative exits

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply a broad and coherent knowledge in the Politics, Philosophy and Economics disciplines in academic and professional settings drawing on depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more of PPE disciplines.
Communication	Employ highly developed skills in oral, written and electronic communication to communicate the outcomes of Politics, Philosophy and Economics problem solving and research in academic and professional contexts.
Digital literacy	Utilize a range of digital technologies in both academic and professional settings to research, analyse, synthesise and disseminate information to diverse audiences in the field of Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
Critical thinking	Use critical and analytical thinking and judgment in selecting and applying theories and methodologies to evaluate major political, philosophical and economic issues confronting society.
Problem solving	Utilize cognitive, technical, and creative skills to generate solutions to real-world political, philosophical and economic problems through drawing on methodologies from multiple disciplines.
Self-management	Act with autonomy, responsibility and accountability for personal actions through a commitment to self-directed learning and professional practice that contributes to solving political, philosophical and economic issues in society.
Teamwork	Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals and members of the wider community in addressing major political, philosophical and economic issues confronting society.
Global citizenship	Engage respectfully with ethical issues, cultural diversity, and social responsibility when engaging in Politics, Philosophy and Economics scholarship and professional roles in the local, national or international community.
Approved by Faculty Board

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, students must complete 24 credit points including:

9 credit points of core units
3 credit points of employability sequence units
10 credit points of discipline study units comprising of:
- 5 credit points of discipline study units chosen from a first discipline stream Politics, Philosophy or Economics
- 5 credit points of discipline study units chosen from a second discipline stream from Politics, Philosophy or Economics
- Chosen units must comprise of at least 2 credit points at level 3 in each discipline

2 credit points of elective units chosen from across the University.

Students must also ensure that they have met the following course rules to be eligible to graduate with a Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics:

a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
a minimum of 6 credit points at level 3

AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

Course structure

Core Units

AIP107

Introduction to Politics

ASP108

Critical Thinking

MAE101

Economic Principles

AIP230

Policy and How It Shapes Us

ASP214

Justice and Equality

ASP216

Ethics in Global Society

MAE208

Growth Inequality and Conflict

AIP347

Media and Politics: Campaign Strategies

MAE305

Energy, Environment and Sustainability

Employability Sequence

1 credit point from:

AWL100

Your Future Direction

MWL101

Professional Insight

Plus 1 credit point from:

AWL200

Leadership and Transformation

AWL201

Communication and Persuasive Presentation

AWL202

Entrepreneurial Mindset

AWL203

Expand Your Experience

Plus 1 credit point from:

AWL300

Internship

MWL305

Business for Social Impact

MWL316

Consultancy Experience

MWL317

Entrepreneurship Experience

MWL318

Internship

MWL319

International Consultancy Experience

Discipline Study Units

Philosophy

To complete the Philosophy stream, 5 credit points of discipline study units must be chosen including at least 2 credit points at level 3.

ASP129

Love, Sex and Death

ASP211

Freedom and Power: Existentialism and Beyond

ASP215

Philosophy, Happiness, and the Good Life

ASP224

Freud and Philosophy

ASP228

Philosophy, Art, Film

ASP309

Critique and Creativity: Contemporary French Philosophy

ASP326

Language and Reality

Politics and Policy Studies

To complete the Politics and Policy stream, 5 credit points of discipline study units must be chosen including at least 2 credit points at level 3.

AIP116

Visions and Values in Politics

AIP208

Government and Politics of the United States

AIP209

The Politics of Asylum in Australia and Asia

AIP211

Politics of Poverty and Prosperity

AIP243

Europe's Political Transformations

AIP245

Environmental Politics

AIP301

Political Parties and Social Movements

AIR200

Global Capitalism and Power

AIR348

Activists Beyond Borders

Economic Policy

To complete the Economic Policy stream, 5 credit points of discipline study units must be chosen including at least 2 credit points at level 3.

Management

Business Analytics

The Global Economy

International Trade

Business and Climate Change

MAE214

Economic Strategy for Business

MAB341

Global Challenges: Food, Water and Climate

MAE302

Macroeconomics of Open Economies

MAE304

Labour and Health Economics

Work experience

Students have the opportunity to undertake preparation for work units and/or internship units as electives in this course.

Other course information

Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Other learning experiences

Prepare for your future by getting real world experience and the employability skills to succeed, while completing your degree. The Employability Stream is tailored to support you to be future ready. Deakin’s suite of Work Integrated Learning programs can connect you with internships, social impact programs and opportunities to extend your skills in settings across the globe.

For further details see the Faculty of Arts and Education’s Work Integrated Learning information.

Research and research-related study

Independent research components are embedded across a number of units in this course.