Bachelor of Arts major in Politics and International Relations

Skip to Main Content

You can study a range of important political problems, from questions about multiculturalism, democracy and climate governance to human rights, conflict and public policy.

Completing a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Politics and International Relations will give you insight into the major strands of Politics and International Relations:
- International relations
- Political theory
- Politics and the media
- Comparative politics
- Public policy
Often a single course will cover two or more of these different strands.

Politics and International Relations can give you the tools to be successful in both the public and private sectors. Our graduates have become public servants, politicians, diplomats, entrepreneurs, business and marketing executives, consultants, policy analysts, journalists and members of international and non-governmental organisations.

Complete 120 points comprising:

120 points from Elective Courses

Selected courses must include at least 45 points at level 300.

Elective Courses

Complete exactly 120 points from the following:

POLITICS 106 - Global Politics (15 points)

POLITICS 107 - New Zealand Politics (15 points)

POLITICS 109 - Foundations of Western Politics and Law (15 points)

COMMS 201 - Journalism Studies (15 points)

HISTORY 227 - Waitangi: Treaty to Tribunal (15 points)

PHIL 234 - Chinese Philosophy (15 points)

POLITICS 201 - Globalisation and International Organisations (15 points)

POLITICS 202 - Democrats and Dictators (15 points)

POLITICS 203 - Special Topic (15 points)

POLITICS 207 - Media, Conflict and Peace (15 points)

POLITICS 209 - Modern Political Thought (15 points)

POLITICS 210 - Special Topic (15 points)

POLITICS 211 - Politics of China (15 points)

POLITICS 216 - Special Topic (15 points)

POLITICS 218 - American Politics and Public Policy (15 points)

POLITICS 222 - Public Policy: Actors, Processes and Politics (15 points)

POLITICS 229 - Mana Māori Motuhake / Māori Politics and Public Policy (15 points)

POLITICS 233 - Politics, Media and Public Sphere (15 points)

POLITICS 236 - Special Topic: Aotearoa New Zealand Compared (15 points)

POLITICS 254 - China and the World (15 points)

POLITICS 256 - Critical Security Studies (15 points)

ANTHRO 379 - Anthropology of Development (15 points)

COMMS 304 - Gender, Politics and the Media (15 points)

MAORI 330 - Te Ao Hōu / Contemporary Māori Issues (15 points)

MAORI 335 - Mana Taketake / Indigenous Sovereignty and Public Policy (15 points)

PHIL 321 - Chinese Philosophy (15 points)

POLITICS 301 - Toleration and Censorship (15 points)

POLITICS 303 - War and Political Violence (15 points)

POLITICS 304 - Special Topic (15 points)

POLITICS 311 - Gender and Global Politics (15 points)

POLITICS 313 - Governing Planet Earth (15 points)

POLITICS 314 - Democracy in Theory and Practice (15 points)

POLITICS 315 - The Practice of Politics (15 points)

POLITICS 316 - Capitalism and its Critics (15 points)

POLITICS 320 - Social Justice (15 points)

POLITICS 345 - Political Marketing (15 points)

POLITICS 346 - Terrorism (15 points)

POLITICS 347 - American Politics and Public Policy (15 points)

POLITICS 356 - Ethno-Political Violence: Hate Crimes to Genocide (15 points)