Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Area of Study

Research programs in international relations at Monash are designed to enable students in politics or related disciplines to explore, at an advanced level, the many issues and questions raised by the rapidly changing nature of contemporary world politics:

• How are security issues to be understood in a fluid international system?
• How far can the consideration of ethical, normative and cultural issues contribute to the understanding of politics across state boundaries?
• How is globalisation affecting the sovereignty of states and the economic policies which governments pursue at home and abroad?
• What is the significance of issues such as human rights and the environment in contemporary international politics?
• What kind of world order, or disorder, is emerging in the aftermath of the twenty-first century?

The graduate coursework programs are particularly suitable for students interested in pursuing careers in such areas as government, diplomacy, business, NGOs, teaching and journalism (see Journalism/International relations double masters).

Politics staff are active researchers who are engaged in public debate and are actively sought by the media for expert commentary and regularly address major forums, such as the Australian Institute of International Affairs, dealing with issues of major public interest.

For students who wish to undertake research in international relations at masters or doctoral level, the school is able to provide supervision in a wide variety of sub-fields, including, but not limited to:

• arms control and strategic studies
• Australian foreign policy
• ethics and international relations
• globalisation
• international history
• international law
• international political economy
• international relations in East, Southeast and South Asia
• international relations theory
• nationalism
• Russia and the former Soviet Union
• the European Union, NATO and transatlantic security
• the Middle East
• the 'war on terror'
• US foreign policy.

For a list of units studied or course outlines, refer to the relevant courses.

• 3765 Graduate Certificate in International Relations
• 1400 Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations
• 3093 Master of International Relations
• 2695 Master of Arts*
• 0020 Doctor of Philosophy*

* By research.