POLS30030 American Politics
University of Melbourne · Level 3 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 50%
- About 3 class hours a week
Is POLS30030 hard?
POLS30030: About average. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
How US politics works: the constitution, president, Congress, courts, parties and elections, plus big debates like polarisation.
After it you can
- Explain the institutions of the US political system
- Discuss key moments in US political history
- Analyse current debates such as polarisation
What you need first
None
How it’s assessed
Reports and essays 50%, Final exam 50%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 4 students on StudentVIP (2020–2024)
- Most reviewers (2020-2024) called it one of the best subjects of their degree, with interesting content and well-run, discussion-heavy tutorials.
- Assessments are on the harder side but considered fair; it is doable for anyone willing to put in the work.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate POLS30030
Quick answers
- When is POLS30030 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking POLS30030?
- No prerequisites.
- Does POLS30030 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. Assessment: Reports and essays 50%, Final exam 50%.
- Is POLS30030 hard?
- From 4 student reviews on StudentVIP: Most reviewers (2020-2024) called it one of the best subjects of their degree, with interesting content and well-run, discussion-heavy tutorials.
- What do students say about POLS30030?
- Most reviewers (2020-2024) called it one of the best subjects of their degree, with interesting content and well-run, discussion-heavy tutorials. Assessments are on the harder side but considered fair; it is doable for anyone willing to put in the work.
- How many class hours a week does POLS30030 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take POLS30030 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- Can I rate POLS30030?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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