Postgraduate - Course3093 - Master of International Relations

The course explores the nature of international politics and some of the key issues in the field. Individual units deal with a range of topics such as global security, economics and ethics.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes. For more information refer to http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• apply advanced understanding and analysis to complex theory and issues in international relations
• demonstrate advanced critical understanding of the principal themes and theories in international relations
• apply advanced critical understanding and analysis to the literature within the field of international relations
• effectively communicate complex ideas and arguments with other specialists in the field of international relations and to lay persons
• demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of world views in the analysis of literature within the field and the application of theory in complex areas of practice

This course consists of two core units (24 points) and two elective units at level four (24 points), and 24 points at level five of units and/or research in one of three options.

Unless otherwise indicated, all units are 12 points.

Level four

Students must complete at least two units (24 points) from the following:

• APG4324 Advanced seminar in international political economy
• APG4327 Wars of recognition: Terrorism and political violence
• APG4332 Strategic studies
• APG4337 Conflict resolution in the Middle East

plus:

• a further two units (24 points) from the list above or from the list of electives below, or a combination of both

Level five

Students must complete one of the following options (24 points):

• 24 points of level-five units from the list of electives below
• APG5856 Research project (9000 words)** and 12 points of level-five units from the list of electives below
• APG5848 Research dissertation (18,000 words, 24 pts)**, or APG5849 Research dissertation-Part 1** and APG5850 Research dissertation-Part 2**

Electives

• APG4329/APG5329 Political Islam
• APG4334 Southeast Asian politics
• APG4335/APG5335 Interfaith relations in the 21st century
• APG4336/APG5336 Islam and modernity
• APG4337/APG5337 Conflict resolution in the Middle East*
• APG4666/APG5666 Terrorism, counter-terrorism and intelligence
• APG4667/APG5667 Fringe politics and extremist violence: An introduction to terrorism
• APG4898/APG5898 The European Union and the developing world
• APG4922/APG5922 Peace and conflict theory
• APG5324 Advanced seminar in international political economy*
• APG5327 Wars of recognition: Terrorism and political violence*
• APG5332 Strategic studies*
• APG5848 Research dissertation (18,000 words, 24 pts)**
• APG5849 Research dissertation-Part 1**
• APG5850 Research dissertation-Part 2**
• APG5856 Research project (9000 words)**

Recommended level five electives for students considering a research degree

• APG5600 Advanced research methods in social and political sciences**
• APG5856 Research project (9000 words)**

* If not previously taken as a level four unit.

** Entry into this unit will be reserved for students who have achieved 75 per cent or more in the core units, have the agreement of a supervisor as selected from the politics staff list, and who have received approval to enrol in the research dissertation or project from the course coordinator.

Note: Students may select 12 points of units from outside the above list, from anywhere in the University, if closely related to international relations and approved by the course coordinator.

The following units have received advanced approval.

European studies

• APG4019/APG5019 Approaches to transnationalism
• APG4435/APG5435 European union: History, debates, politics (6 points)
• APG4438/APG5438 The European Union and the world (6 points)
• APG4436/APG5436 Comparative regionalism (6 points)
• APG4442 Intensive European Union study in Europe

Business and Economics

• MGX9110 Diplomacy and statecraft (6 points)
• MGX5760 International institutions and organisations (6 points)
• MGX5730 International trade policy (6 points)

Law

• LAW7028 International trade law (6 points)
• LAW7218 International humanitarian law (6 points)
• LAW7253 Human rights in the global economy (6 points)
• LAW7326 World trade organisation (WTO) law (6 points)
• LAW7343 The use of force in international law (6 points)
• LAW7425 International refugee law and human rights (6 points)
• LAW7464 Genocide in international law (6 points)

Master of International Crisis Management

• APG4655/APG5655 Theories and principles of international crisis management
• APG4656/APG5656 International crisis management in action
• APG4657 Beyond conflict: Democracy, electoral management and civil society

Students may apply to exit after successful completion of:

• 24 points with course 3765 Graduate Certificate in International Relations.
• 48 points with course 1400 Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations.

Master of International Relations