Outline of Undergraduate Courses 2012

Political and International Studies is a three-year major subject which may be studied for degree curricula in the Faculties of Humanities, Commerce and Science. Courses offered in the Department are studied from a global, regional and local perspective with particular attention paid to the South African and African context.

Political and International Studies 1

The first-year course introduces students to the basic components of the discipline of Political and International Studies and usually consists of courses in Political Philosophy, Comparative Political Studies and International Relations.

Political and International Studies 2

The second-year course usually consists of courses in Political and Social Theory, Political Sociology, the Politics of Industrialised States and International Relations.

Political and International Studies 3

The third-year course usually consists of a selection of the following: Social and Political Theory, South African Politics and Government, African Politics and Political Thought in Africa, International Relations and International Political Economy.
Admission Prerequisites

Students must pass Political and International Studies 1 in order to proceed to Political and International Studies 2.

Students must pass Political and International Studies 2 in order to proceed to Political and International Studies 3.

A pass is recorded when 50% or more is obtained on aggregating the marks for the required courses taken in any given year.

Students who fail on aggregation and who wish to continue with Political and International Studies will be required to repeat the whole of the failed year rather than repeat only individually failed courses.

Examinations

In each year, courses taken in the first semester (terms one and two) are written off in the June examination and courses taken in the second semester (terms three and four) are written off in the November examination.

Examinations usually count for 50% of the final year mark while course work (such as tests and essays) counts for 50% of the mark.