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Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
101
Assessment
Modules are examined by a combination of continuous
assessment and formal examination.
Career opportunities
The range of disciplines to which students are exposed in
this degree give you the insights and competencies to pursue
careers in a variety of areas including public administration,
teaching, journalism, media, law and management.
Did you know?
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This degree programme is unique in Ireland in offering
a dedicated introduction to the social sciences and
philosophy.
Further information
Tel: +353 1 896 1840
Political science
Political science may be studied through five degree
programmes:
TR012 History and political science, page 75
TR015 Philosophy, political science, economics and
sociology (PPES), page 99
TR020 Law and political science, page 94
TR029 Political science and geography, page 102
TR081 Business, economic and social studies (BESS),
page 37
What is Political science?
Political science is the field concerning the theory and practice
of politics and the description and analysis of political systems
and political behaviour. Politics affects us all in our daily lives.
It’s easy to think of issues that we all have opinions about.
Should government tax the rich to try to achieve greater
equality? Should it introduce ‘green taxes’ in order to protect
the environment? Should third-level students have to pay fees?
Should abortion be legalised? Should the amount of money the
EU spends on the agricultural sector be cut back drastically?
How high a priority should third world aid be? All of these
questions will be decided through the political process.
The study of politics as an academic subject involves, among
other things, thinking about how these decisions get made. If
it’s not possible to keep everyone happy when some issue has
to be decided, whose views prevail and why? If governments
do not always make what seems to be the most ‘rational’
decision on economic policy or some other issue, why not?
How much say do ordinary people have in policy-making, and
is it feasible to make the decision-making process more open?
Can governments do pretty much what they want, or are they
so constrained by other actors such as interest groups, the
courts, the European Union, the constitution, and the sheer
pressure of events, that in practice they have very little freedom
of manoeuvre? Questions such as these are at the heart of the
study of politics.
And, taking a step back from the debates of contemporary
politics, political theorists ponder more fundamental questions,
to do with normative issues – the ‘should’ questions – rather
than ones that can be resolved by evidence. These days, pretty
much everyone is in favour of justice and democracy – but what
do these terms mean? If a society is to be run justly, what would
this entail? Such topics have been discussed since the time of
the ancient Greeks.
Is this the right course for you?
Politics in the modern world touches everybody in nearly every
aspect of their life. If you want to raise your knowledge beyond
the level of public affairs, the study of political science will give
you the necessary tools.
