Foundation Studies Program (Standard) - Arts (X0F:1) (0100808) + Associate Degree in Arts - Politics and Policy (R2B) (056426M)

Program Description Foundation Studies Program (Standard) - Arts (X0F:1) (0100808): The Foundation Studies program is a direct academic pathway to first-year undergraduate degree study, or an equivalent. The program acts as a bridging course for international students who wish to study a university undergraduate degree course but who don’t yet meet academic requirements and/or have the English language skills for tertiary study. To successfully complete the program, students must achieve a 50% pass in all units, including English. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates can enter one of the University of Tasmania’s undergraduate degree courses. Associate Degree in Arts - Politics and Policy (R2B): The Associate Degree in Arts is a two-year course, that provides students with opportunities to interpret human culture and behaviour from different perspectives and periods, to explore today’s big questions and learn how to support the social and economic development of humanity, and/or to be immersed in creativity, performance and innovation. The award is designed to allow students to choose their path: it can be the first two-years of Bachelor of Arts study, or they may like to enroll in this degree to pursue their passion and undertake two of the majors in the BA, or to extend curiosity and try units from a number of disciplines. The Associate Degree in Arts gives students the flexibility to choose from subjects to build knowledge and diversify their skills from a wide range of over twenty possible majors and minors in the Bachelor of Arts as well as many individual elective study options. By studying Politics and Public Policy students become immersed in the world of political ideas, institutions and actors. They will study current events and recent political developments, learn how Australia’s and other countries’ political institutions work, and engage with the political ideas and concepts that shape communities. In the first year students will learn about political institutions and policy processes. In the second and third years they will learn to compare political systems and policies, focus more closely on a policy area that interests them (environmental or marine politics and policy, for example), and have the opportunity to undertake an internship with the Tasmanian Parliament or Tasmanian State Service.  Studying Politics and Public Policy in Tasmania will give students the opportunity to directly engage with state policy makers and to observe firsthand the politics of debating and accepting particular shifts in policy; they will learn to analyse social and organisational structures, and understand complex concepts, as well as legal and political communication. Throughout the studies they will deepen their reading, debating, writing and researching skills. The skills acquired in this major will prepare students for work in civil society settings, public services, political institutions, the media and other complex organisations.