UNISA International Politics Course Module 2025-2026
Major Combinations
Any SEVEN (7) of the following modules:
NQF level 5: IPC1501, IPC1502
NQF level 6: IPC2601, IPC2602
NQF level 7: IPC3701, IPC3702, IPC3703, PSC3702, PSC3703
PLUS any THREE (3) modules selected from the remainder above, PSC2601, PSC3701 or any second or third level module in African Politics and Politics. At least FIVE (5) modules should be taken at third level (NQF level 7).
Students are advised to give preference to IPC modules and to follow a 2+3+5 structure – that is 2 modules at NQF level 5, 3 modules at NQF level 6, and 5 modules at NQF level 7.
| International Political Economy – IPC3702 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to understand, analyse, describe and explain the nature, scope and structure of international political economy; and the position of South Africa in the international political economy. |
| Diplomacy – IPC3703 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to understand, analyse, describe and apply the history and theories pertaining to diplomacy; the nature and functions of diplomacy and the institutions and structures of diplomacy. |
| Political Conflict and Conflict Resolution – PSC3702 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to analyse and describe the background and characteristics of politics and conflict and the resolution of political conflict; and to apply the theories pertaining thereto. |
| Political Knowledge – PSC3703 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to analyse, describe and apply the criteria for the acquisition of political knowledge; and to apply the approaches and theories pertaining thereto. |
| Integration and Disintegration: African and International Institutions – AIP4801 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: An advanced comparative study of African and International institutions and the prospects for integration and disintegration. |
| Political Sciences and Research – HPPSC81 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to equip students with the knowledge of the philosophy of science, that is, metatheory and the ontological, epistemological and methodological issues informing research in the Political Sciences, and to enable them to reflect and think critically about them. These issues will assist students to make informed choices about research problems and research in general. |
| South Africa in the International Political Economy – IPC4801 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: An advanced study of South Africa’s position in the international political economy. It is based on the theoretical and analytical framework of Susan Strange |
| Research Report – HRPSC82 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 36 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The aim of this module is to equip students with research skills relevant to the Political Sciences in order to enable them to produce a research report based on their independent critical exploration of phenomena relevant to the Political Sciences. |
| International Political Theory – IPC4802 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: An advanced theoretical study of state sovereignty and how it is affected by different developments on the global level. |
| An Advanced Study of Problems Relating to Foreign Policy Analysis – IPC4803 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: An advanced study of the main theoretical issues, as well as the sources, determinants, instruments, the decision making process and the outcomes of foreign policy. The paper focuses mainly on US foreign policy. |
| Politics in the Twenty-First Century: National, African and International Perspectives – PSC4802 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: An advanced study of the main characteristics and tendencies in politics in the 21st century as influenced by the fall of the Berlin Wall, 11 September 2001 and globalisation. |
| Fundamentals of International Politics – IPC1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to demonstrate an understanding of and to describe the fundamental participants and issues in international politics; power and international politics; how international politics is conducted; and the theories pertaining thereto. |
| Conflict, Peace and Security Studies – PSC4803 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: An advanced study of the origins of conflict and the attaining of peace. |
| South Africa in International Politics – IPC1502 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to demonstrate an understanding of and to describe: the fundamental concepts of foreign policy and (foreign) policy analysis; the position of South Africa as participant in international politics and the formulation of South Africa’s foreign policy. |
| International Organisations – IPC2601 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to understand, analyse and describe the nature, functions and workings of regional and global organisations. |
| International Political Dynamics – IPC2602 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to understand, analyse and describe the macro international political dynamics; intermediate international political dynamics and micro international political dynamics. |
| International Political Theory – IPC3701 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to understand, analyse, describe and apply the philosophical tradition and modern theories to international politics. |
