• Total units 48 Units
  • Areas of interest International Relations
  • Major code IREL-MAJ
  • Academic career Undergraduate
International Relations Major

The study of International Relations has traditionally focused upon the (often hostile) engagements between nation-states and/or their diplomatic elites seeking to advance the national interest by war or other means. These are still important themes in the contemporary IR agenda. However, at the beginning of the 21st century analysts and policymakers require a more comprehensive body of knowledge and deeper understanding of the world and how it operates. This major is designed to provide students with such knowledge and understanding in regard to both traditional and more recent agendas.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. Identify the core concepts and theories that dominate global politics in the 21st century
  2. Have a thorough understanding of the historical development of the global system
  3. Examine the contemporary challenges facing the global system and evaluate the policies implemented to address them
  4. Identify the role that people, states, ideas, and institutions play in shaping the international political economy
  5. Understand Australia's role in global politics
  6. Reflect critically on the knowledge and skills developed in their study of International Relations
Back to the top

Requirements

This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:

24 units from completion of the following course(s):

Code Title Units
POLS1005 Introduction to International Relations: Foundations and Concepts 6
POLS1006 Introduction to International Relations: Contemporary Global Issues 6
POLS2133 International Organisations in World Politics 6
POLS3001 Foreign Policy Analysis 6

A minimum of 12 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:

Code Title Units
INTR2010 International Relations in the Asia-Pacific 6
POLS2011 Development and Change 6
POLS2094 Issues in International Political Economy 6
POLS2101 Refugee Politics: Displacement and Exclusion in the 20th and 21st Centuries 6
POLS2113 Human Rights 6
POLS2136 Power and influence in world politics 6
POLS3017 International Relations Theory 6
POLS3036 International Terrorism 6
POLS3037 Globalisation: Communications, Culture and Democracy 6
STST3002 Australia's Security in the Asian Century 6

A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:

Code Title Units
ANIP3003 Australian National Internships Program Internship A 6
ANIP3005 Australian National Internship B 12
ASIA2109 Violence, Poverty, and Politics in India 6
ASIA2111 Indonesian Foreign and Security Policy 6
DEMO2003 Migration in the Modern World 6
DIPL2000 Leadership and Diplomacy 6
EURO2012 Uniting Europe: history, politics, theory 6
HIST2136 World at War, 1939-1945 6
HIST2141 The Cold War: 1945-1989 6
HIST2240 Democracy and Dissent: Europe Since 1945 6
INTR2012 Chinese Foreign and Security Policy 6
INTR2014 Indian Foreign and Security Policy 6
INTR2016 US Foreign and Security Policy in Asia 6
INTR2018 Japanese Foreign and Security Policy 6
INTR2020 (In)Stability on the Korean Peninsula 6
INTR2024 Nuclear Politics in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities 6
INTR2028 Regionalism, Rights and Order in Southeast Asia 6
INTR3001 Humanitarianism: Principles, Politics and Practice 6
MEAS2001 New States of Eurasia: Emerging Issues in Politics and Security 6
MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East 6
PHIL2113 Global Justice 6
POLS2044 Contemporary Political Analysis 6
POLS2055 Pacific Politics 6
POLS2063 Contemporary Political Theory 6
POLS2064 Global Social Movements 6
POLS2095 Politics in Latin America 6
POLS2100 Genocide in the Modern World 6
POLS2102 Political Belief and Deceit 6
POLS2117 The International Relations of Latin America 6
POLS2119 Ideas in Politics 6
POLS2120 Foundations of Political Theory 6
POLS2123 Peace and Conflict Studies 6
POLS2125 Game Theory and Social Sciences 6
POLS2135 Race, Ethnicity and Representation 6
POLS2136 Power and influence in world politics 6
POLS3032 The Politics of Empire 6
POLS3033 Environment, Human Security and Conflict 6
POLS3037 Globalisation: Communications, Culture and Democracy 6
SOCY2030 Sociology of Third World Development 6
SOCY2043 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods 6
STST2001 International Security issues in the Asia Pacific 6
STST2003 Australia and Security in the Pacific Islands 6
STST2124 Politics of Nuclear Weapons 6
STST2131 Security Communities from War to Peace 6
VCUG2001 Creating Knowledge 6
VCUG2002 Leadership and Influence in a Complex World 6
VCUG3001 Unravelling Complexity 6
VCUG3002 Mobilising Research 6
Back to the top

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions