Minors in the Bachelor of Politics

A minor is an additional area of focus for a degree. Find out about the available minors in the Bachelor of Politics.

A minor is made up of a collection of courses in a particular subject. The workload for a minor is lighter than for a major—fewer courses to do, fewer points required. This makes a minor a good way to build a second or third area of focus into your degree.

Minors are made up of at least 60 points from the relevant subject area at 200 level or above. At least 15 of those points must be at 300 level and not counted towards a major or another minor.

Find out more about how minors work.

Asian Politics

Explore the diverse political systems, ideologies, and power dynamics of Asia. Learn how the region’s politics influence global affairs, from trade and diplomacy to nationalism and regional security.

Requirements

Complete two of the following courses:

Complete one further course from:

Include at least one course at 300 level.

Civic Engagement

Understand what it means to be an active citizen in today’s world. This minor explores political participation, advocacy, and the role of civil society in shaping democratic life, and it gives you practical experience of civic engagement.

Requirements

Complete either POLS 353 or FHSS 302

Complete two further courses from:

Environmental Politics

Examine the political dimensions of climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice. Learn how political decisions shape—and are shaped by—our relationship with the natural world.

Requirements

Complete 60 points from:

Include at least one course at 300 level.

Human Rights, Justice, and Peace

Explore the ways that we can create peace and preserve human rights across nations in a world with different historic legal systems and approaches to law and justice.

Requirements

Complete courses worth 60 points from:

Include at least one course at 300 level.

If you take the Human Rights, Justice, and Peace minor in the Bachelor of Politics, you need to take GLBL 201 in addition to the 60 points required for the minor.

International Political Economy

Investigate the intersection of politics and economics on a global scale. Study how international trade, finance, and development shape global power and inequality.

Requirements

Complete INTP 247

And two further courses from:

Include at least one course at 300 level.

Māori Politics

Engage with Māori political thought, tino rangatiratanga, and the evolving constitutional and governance debates in Aotearoa New Zealand. This minor centres Te Ao Māori within an understanding of today’s politics.

Requirements

Complete MAOR 216 and MAOR 316

And one further course from:

  • HIST 203
  • HIST 204
  • HIST 312
  • MDIA 308
  • POLS 206.

    • Pacific Politics

    Study the politics of the Pacific region, including the legacy of colonialism, climate change challenges, and regional governance. Understand how Pacific peoples shape political life locally and globally.

    Requirements

    Complete the following courses:

    Politics of Aotearoa New Zealand

    Gain a focused understanding of the institutions, histories, and movements that define politics in Aotearoa New Zealand. Study how local issues connect to global trends and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

    Requirements

    Complete one course from:

    And one course from:

    And one course from:

    Include at least one course at 300 level.

    Politics of Migration

    Explore the politics of borders, citizenship, and human movement. This minor focuses on migration’s causes and consequences, and the policies and discourses that surround it.

    Requirements

    Complete either INTP 305 or POLS 352

    Complete two further courses from:

    Politics, Philosophy, and Economics

    Tackle political problems from multiple angles by combining ethical reasoning, economic analysis, and political insight. This minor is ideal for students who want to sharpen their policy thinking and critical skills.

    Requirements

    Complete the following courses:

    Include at least one course at 300 level.

    Science and Politics

    Examine how science and technology shape political decisions—and how political values shape science. Learn to navigate the politics of risk, evidence, and innovation.

    Requirements

    Complete one course from:

    And complete courses worth 45 points from:

    Include at least one course at 300 level.