Ngati Apopo: Maori Futures

This course explores the local, national and global trends that will materially impact on the future trajectory of Maori self determination and futures making. Students will investigate how Maori navigate such shifts and trends to advance self-determination as change agents.

30 points

Any 30 points at 200 level from CULT, MAOR, POLS, or TREO, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA.

POLS331, POLS358, CULT319

Contemporary Political Theory

The study of politics focuses not only on how the political world operates, but also the normative question of how it ought to operate. Is redistribution of wealth justified? Do people have a right to what they earn in the market? Is equality of opportunity possible? Is it desirable? This course examines theories of distributive justice and their implications for economics and markets. Topics covered include: Utilitarianism; Rawls’s theory of justice; Dworkin’s equality of resources; Libertarianism; Universal basic income; Market socialism; Citizenship; and culture and politics.

30 points

Any 30 points at 200 level from PHIL or POLS, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA, or LAWS, GEOG, or the Schedule V of the BCom.

PHIL317, POLS351

Environmental Politics and Policy

Has green politics come of age? Around the world we are seeing spontaneous community movements challenging four difficult and intersecting issues: dangerous environmental change, growing social inequality, weak democracy and a paradigm of growth that has contributed to resource extraction beyond the capacity of the planet. Against a background of difficult issues including climate change and the impact of colonization, this course examines the roots of environmental thinking and activism and asks- what are the implications of these ideas for how we live as citizens, communities, businesses and nations and how might we plan for just transitions towards a more equitable and sustainable future? The course involves a weekend field trip.

30 points

Any 30 points at 200 level from POLS, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA, or LAWS, GEOG, or the Schedule V of the BCom.

Media and Social Change

This course analyses the role of the media in social change and question whether media can, in fact, produce consensus within society, and if those changes are controllable by the artist/writer/producer, the audience, or the state. It does this by exploring theoretical underpinnings of societal shifts through the framework of the media as an important institution in society and in the construction of social reality. The course will invite students to further understand the role of the media in power relations by analysing such notions and processes as ideology, hegemony, representations, and media ethics. This course includes group work and requires active in-class engagement. This is not a distance course. This course has a strongly practical focus that requires active in-class engagement. This course requires students to create and share work with others, in order to learn from and support each other.

30 points

Any 30 points at 200 level from COMS, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA.

Strategic Campaign Development

This advanced course in strategic communication will start with a broad introduction to the process of strategic campaign planning. A significant portion of the course will be devoted to different situations that a campaign creator may come across. The course will talk about theoretical and professional strategies in advertising and public relations. Students will learn ways to create different types of campaign messages. This is not a distance course. This course teaches some of the core skills that all communication professionals will need. It includes group work and requires active in-class engagement.

30 points

Any 30 points at 200 level from COMS, or any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA.

Podcasting Project

COMS333 examines podcasts as a media form, and develops techniques of podcast making. You will explore the technologies that lead to podcasting, along with histories of audio storytelling. You will develop a collaborative podcast project. This is not a distance course. It teaches practical skills and requires students to create and share work with others, in order to learn from and support each other. In COMS333 you will advance core skills in audio production, textual analysis, media archaeology, collaborative work, networking, creativity, writing and presentation.

30 points

15 points at 200-level in COMS. Students without this prerequisite but with at least a B average in 60 points of relevant courses, may enter the course with the approval of the Department Co-ordinator or the Undergraduate Co-ordinator for COMS.