International Relations (IR) is the study of relationships, interactions, and institutions that involve power, rule, or authority and take place across national borders. The IR major provides an overview of the field’s historical and intellectual background and an understanding of contemporary debates across many dimensions – cultural, economic, environmental, military, and beyond. Students gain exposure to policy analysis, critical thinking and data literacy, and select specialised IR topics like terrorism, empire, and human rights to name a few. Our flexible program offers many additional options, including language study, going on exchange or doing an international/national internship.
Learning Outcomes
- demonstrate knowledge of the international system's historical development and contemporary status, and of its key theories and concepts;
- demonstrate more specialised theoretical, methodological, or historical/case knowledge; apply that knowledge to the study of international phenomena;
- apply the key theories and concepts of international relations to historical cases and contemporary issues; reflect on the utility and explanatory power of those theories and concepts; and
- communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using various media.
Requirements
The International Relations major requires the completion of 48 units, of which:
A maximum of 12 units may come from the completion of 1000-level courses; and
A minimum of 18 units must come from the completion of 3000-level courses.
The 48 units must consist of:
6 units from the completion of:
POLS1005 Introduction to International Relations Foundations and Concepts
18 units from the completion of courses from the following International Relations Sub-field list:
POLS2017 International Relations Theory
POLS2094 International Political Economy
POLS2132 War and International Relations
POLS2133 Global Cooperation and Institutions
6 units from the completion of any 1000 or 2000 level POLS-coded course, or a course from the following International Relations and Social Science Enquiry list:
ASIA2093 Natural Resource Conflicts in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2301 Human Migration and Expansion in the Rise of the Asia-Pacific
DEMO2003 Migration in the Modern World
HIST2136 World at War, 1939-1945
HIST2141 The Cold War: 1945-1989
HIST2214 The Great War. The Conflict that Changed the World
INTR2010 International Relations in the Asia-Pacific
MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East
SOCR1001 Foundations of Social Research
STAT1003 Statistical Techniques
STST2001 Security Concepts in the Asia-Pacific
18 units from the completion the following list, of which 12 units must come from the completion of POLS-coded courses:
ENVS3033 International Environmental Policy
INTR3001 Humanitarianism: Principles, Politics and Practice
INTR3002 Global Governance in the Asia-Pacific
MEAS3009 Modern Arabian Peninsula: Politics, Security and Society
PASI3013 Environment and Development in the Pacific
POLS3001 Foreign Policy Analysis
POLS3032 The Politics of Empire
POLS3035 Norms and International Law in World Politics
POLS3036 International Terrorism
POLS3113 Human Rights
POLS3136 Power and Influence in World Politics
SOCR3001 Data for Decision Making
STST3002 Living with Giants: Australia's Security in a Contested Asia
STST3003 Honeypots and Overcoats: Australian Intelligence in the World
30 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS1005 | Introduction to International Relations Foundations and Concepts | 6 |
| POLS 1006: Contemporary Global Issues | ||
| POLS2094 | International Political Economy | 6 |
| POLS3001 | Foreign Policy Analysis | 6 |
| POLS 3017: Intern Relations Theory |
18 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| EURO 2003: European Union | ||
| HIST2136 | World at War, 1939-1945 | 6 |
| HIST 2140: Europe in the 20th Century | ||
| HIST2141 | The Cold War: 1945-1989 | 6 |
| INTR2010 | International Relations in the Asia-Pacific | 6 |
| MEAS2001 | New States of Eurasia: Emerging Issues in Politics and Security | 6 |
| MEAS2105 | The Political Economy of the Middle East | 6 |
| POLS 2011: Development and Change | ||
| POLS2031 | Politics in the Middle East | 6 |
| POLS 2064: Global Social Movements | ||
| POLS 2075: Glob & Pol of Identity | ||
| POLS 2085: Gendered Pols of War | ||
| POLS 2095: Development in Latin America | ||
| POLS 2097: Strategy I: Grand Strategy | ||
| POLS 2098: Strategy II | ||
| POLS 2099: Cartographies of Security | ||
| POLS 2101: Refugee Politics | ||
| POLS2102 | Political Belief and Deceit | 6 |
| POLS 2109: The Politics of Empire | ||
| POLS 2113: Human Rights | ||
| POLS 2115: Revolution! | ||
| POLS 2117: IR in Latin America | ||
| POLS 2123: Peace and Conflict Studies | ||
| POLS 2124: Politics of Nuclear Weapons | ||
| SOCY2030 | Social Inequalities and Development | 6 |