Social and Political Sciences students
Kurt Cheng
Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Communications (Social and Political Sciences)
What inspired you to study Social and Political sciences?
When I had to decide whether to study a straight Law degree or combined with something else, I asked older students who talked about the multidimensional perspectives SPS offers. The way in which people and communities interact have always fascinated me. Towards to the end of high school while making decisions about future study plans, we drew closer to the 2019 Federal and NSW State Elections. At this time, I was very interested in the role media plays in the context of Australian politics and how society perceives political messages as a means of civic participation at election time. The study of social science within communities and the role of politics in shaping everyday life was what drew me to study SPS. Ultimately, I came to the decision a combined Law/Communications degree majoring in SPS aligned with my interests, but also my own curiosities.
What has been a highlight of Social and Political Sciences?
One of my highlights has been being able to work with academics outside of the classroom. After completing Investigating For Change with Associate Professor Christina Ho, I was asked to join a research project that examines the role of immigration on civic participation in modern Australia. Funded by the Australian Research Council, my role is on the advisory board to seek a youth perspective on civic participation over the next four years.
Beyond this, it's the culture of every class that is based upon respectful and thought-provoking debate that stimulates the thrill of study SPS. The ability to meet new people, regardless of whether you agree or disagree on various topics, has been equally rewarding.
What has been your favourite assessment so far?
My favourite assessment so far would be for Intervening for Change which involved policy advocacy negotiation. Groups were assigned a particular stakeholder group, such as a political party to advocate for policy change that mutually benefits all parties. The task concerned water usage in the Murray-Darling Basin in NSW and how government policy should be amended. This assessment was one of the most memorable as it tested my skills to advocate for a particular stakeholder that may not necessarily align with my own personal values.. It enabled a high degree of critical thinking to negotiate for policy reform and applied the requisite theoretical knowledge learnt in previous subjects into a real-world practical experience.
What are your career aspirations?
Combined with a Law and Communications degree, I would like to enter politics as means to improve the lives of people and communities. Although I am a few years away from graduating, in any event, I would like to pursue a career where I can make a meaningful impact to people's lives. I always keep in mind that as students, we have a role to play during and after our degree to contribute to the public good of society - because that's the role of public universities. So, it's never too late to start getting involved by volunteering to help others or pursuing leadership roles during your studies in preparation for wherever your career takes you.
Stephanie Newman
Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) / Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
This degree is a way for those with inquiring minds to challenge themselves to reconsider their ideas, beliefs and place in the world. I chose this degree because I feel driven to learn more about the vast world around me. I also have a sense of responsibility to embark on a course of study and work where I am able to help others. I see my future in anthropology as a way to explore the world while at the same time addressing the social issues that I encounter.
I have really enjoyed UTS’s strong emphasis on practical learning that has led us to carry out fieldwork and research that goes beyond studying the theories of others. Learning from academics and researchers in the field has also helped to show me the possibilities for future career paths beyond university: our lecturers and tutors are respected professionals in their field, which represents a source of inspiration for students.
I’d encourage students to make the most of the opportunities UTS offers, whether it is engaging in community service, work experience, clubs and societies, or overseas volunteer opportunities. The learning that goes on outside of the conventional learning environment is what will shape you most as a person.
During the second year of my degree, I gained an internship at NGO 1 Million Women through the UTS SOUL volunteering program. This subsequently turned into a highly rewarding paid position where I was able to put into practice the skills I learned during my degree.
In fourth year, I studied overseas in Japan for the International Studies component of my double degree, improving my Japanese language skills and learning to adapt to a new environment. A year of foreign study is a valuable addition to any degree and particularly compliments the Social and Political Science major.
But even those not completing a double degree can internationalise their study program, especially through initiatives like Global Short Programs and The New Colombo Plan. Adding a language to your degree is another great option – UTS’s highly trained teachers and wealth of resources enable all students to take the steps towards being bilingual. It’s a lifelong skill I would encourage anyone to pick up.
Julie Mehrdawi
Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) / Bachelor of Laws
Studying Social and Political Science at UTS has been a really enriching and enjoyable experience.
What have you enjoyed about studying Social and Political sciences?
A highlight of this degree was a recent opportunity I had to complete a project with the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, where I undertook independent research and prepared a paper on Juvenile Incarceration in Australia. Another highlight was a project I took under the 'Media Power' subject, where I wrote a paper on the Sexualisation and Objectification of Women in Advertising.
What has been your favourite assessment so far?
For one project, I undertook a visual analysis of different perfume advertisements, then undertook an extensive literature review on the topic. I was able to look at different pieces of writing and statistics and provide a comprehensive analysis of the industry. This project has been extremely useful for me as I have been able to use it on a number of job applications within the Communication industry.
What are your career aspirations?
Currently, I am combining my Social and Political Science degree with a Law degree and I am hoping to move into the policy area after I graduate.
Eliot Barham
Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) (Journalism)
For me, Social and Political Sciences was a really easy choice because it worked so well with my Journalism major. It's a course that really quickly gets you thinking about the impacts of various policies and ideologies on the community.
What has been a highlight of Social and Political Sciences?
A real highlight for me was the subject Economy, Society and Globalism. You learn about supply chains and political economic theory, and although it's hard, I found it really interesting. I came out of the subject feeling as though I'd learned a lot, which is rewarding. I also had a terrific tutor and some great guest lecturers. For my project, I interned with former investigative Fairfax journalist, Michael West. We decided to analyse three types of publicly available data; AEC donations data, Corporate Tax Transparency Data, and, AusTender data. The idea was to see what companies donated to political parties, paid no tax and still won tenders. This ended up being a real challenge – if it weren't for a data scientist on Michael's team who helped me with the demo models, it would have been near impossible for me to do!
One of the major unintended takeaways from that project was the realization that a lot of the data released by the government isn't actually that useable in its current form. This is significant because one of the main reasons for releasing it is so developers can use it for their own products and services (as we were trying to do). On a side note, I also got a huge crash course lesson in Microsoft Excel!
Why did you choose to study Social and Political Sciences?
For me, Social and Political Sciences was a really easy choice because it worked so well with my Journalism major. It's a course that really quickly gets you thinking about the impacts of various policies and ideologies on the community.
What are your career aspirations?
I'm not entirely sure what I'd like to do when I finish my undergraduate degree. I'd be thrilled to get a job as a journalist but also wouldn't mind working in policy or trying something totally different – who knows!
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