ATS1945 Issues in Australian politics and government
Faculty of Arts
ATS1945 Issues in Australian politics and government is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Caulfield and Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Caulfield, Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Overview
In this unit you will explore the politics, government and key issues that challenge the Australian liberal democratic state. You will undertake study of the key theoretical issues and debates in Australian politics and governance and interrogate ideas about power that underpin them. Topics covered include: political ideologies, Australian political thought; democracy; voting behaviour; the media; gender and sexuality; Indigenous politics; social movements; and corruption. In this course you will gain a foundational understanding of the Australian political system.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Caulfield | Online |
| Second semester | Caulfield | On campus |
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Second semester | Clayton | Online |
Assessment
- Annotated bibliographyWritten20%
- EssayWritten30%
- ExercisesExercise20%
- Take home final assessmentWritten30%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
identify the political dynamics involved in the mobilisation of individuals and groups seeking power or aiming to influence those in power in Australia;
- 2
interpret and analyse key issues and debates in Australian politics;
- 3
apply political concepts and theories to analyse interests, ideas, institutions, and political behaviour in Australia;
- 4
critically analyse the formation and foundations of the Australian nation state;
- 5
critically evaluate different interpretations of political phenomena;
- 6
communicate ideas, frameworks, and systems about Australian politics effectively through tutorial engagement and rigorous written analysis.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials24 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachCase-based teaching
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit includes case-based teaching, where you apply your knowledge and engage in analytical and reflective thinking to solve complex contextual scenarios. Activities are often designed so that there is not one clear answer, but you need to work together to examine, analyse and make decisions to resolve the situation.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Where it fits
ATS1945 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Nathan Fioritti
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Nathan Fioritti
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS1945?
ATS1945 has no prerequisites.
When is ATS1945 offered?
In 2026, ATS1945 runs in Semester 2 at Caulfield and Clayton, with an online option.
How much work is ATS1945?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS1945 have an exam?
No. ATS1945 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS1945?
ATS1945 is part of Politics.