Postgraduate - CourseMaster 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 human rights.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

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

• apply advanced understanding and analysis to 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 international relations literature
• 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
• demonstrate the application of theory in complex areas of practice.

Students may be eligible for credit to a maximum of 50 per cent of the course requirements for previous graduate-level studies.

Credit or exemptions up to a maximum of 24 points is available for a bachelor degree level qualification in a related discipline, and a further 24 points is available for honours degree level qualification in a related discipline.

Therefore, students who have completed an:

• undergraduate degree and a graduate certificate (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline* must complete 72 points as outlined in Structure 2 under 'Requirements'.
• honours degree with a major in a relevant discipline* must complete 48 points as outlined in Structure 3 under 'Requirements'.

* Relevant disciplines include humanities or social sciences.

48 credit points

This course consists of core and elective units, including capstone units which allow the student to demonstrate their understanding of the course and the skills they have acquired. Students complete general studies in international relations or one of three specialisations. Specialisations will be recorded on students' official University documentation.

Students complete one of the following structures as determined by any credit granted for prior studies:

• Structure 1: 96 points over two years full-time, or part-time equivalent
• Structure 2: 72 points over one and a half years full-time, or part-time equivalent
• Structure 3: 48 points over one year full-time, or part-time equivalent.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options if they choose.

All students must complete a minimum of 48 credit points at level 5, and so should take care when choosing between units offered at level 4 and 5 (where this option is offered).

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Structure 1 - 96 credit points

General studies in international relations

Students must complete:

(a.) in their first year of study, two of the following 6-point international relations preparatory units (12 points):

• ATS2624 Global governance
• ATS3340 International security studies
• ATS3462 International crime and justice
• one 6-point unit from the undergraduate international relationsinternational relations (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/aos/international-relations/ug-arts-international-relations.html) major not listed here if approved by the course coordinator

(b.) a minimum of two of the following core units (24 points):

• APG5092 Human rights in global politics
• APG5337 Governance and democratisation
• APG5667 Terrorism, fringe politics and extremist violence
• APG5668 Advanced seminar in international relations

(c.) one of the following capstone/research options (36 points):

(i.) one general studies capstone unit from the following:

• APG5044 Professional internship
• APG5064 Gender, security and conflict
• APG5097 Politics of international justice
• APG5332 Security and securitisation
• APG5856 Research project

plus:

• 24 points of electives from the list below

(ii.) the research units listed below

(d.) electives from the list below (24 points)

Governance and security specialisation

Students must complete:

(a.) in their first year of study, the two following 6-point preparatory units (12 points):

• ATS2624 Global governance
• ATS2698 Middle East politics
• ATS3340 International security studies
• one 6-point unit from the undergraduate international relationsinternational relations (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/aos/international-relations/ug-arts-international-relations.html) major not listed here if approved by the course coordinator

(b.) the following core units (24 points):

• APG5337 Governance and democratisation
• APG5668 Advanced seminar in international relations

(c.) one of the following capstone/research options (36 points):

(i.) one governance and security capstone unit from the following:

• APG5044 Professional internship
• APG5332 Security and securitisation
• APG5856 Research project

plus:

• 24 points of electives from the list below

(ii.) the research units listed below

(d.) electives from the list below (24 points)

Rights and justice specialisation

Students must complete:

(a.) in their first year of study, two of the following 6-point preparatory units (12 points):

• ATS2624 Global governance
• ATS3462 International crime and justice
• one 6-point unit from the undergraduate international relationsinternational relations (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/aos/international-relations/ug-arts-international-relations.html) major not listed here if approved by the course coordinator

(b.) the following core units (24 points):

• APG5092 Human rights in global politics
• APG5668 Advanced seminar in international relations

(c.) one of the following capstone/research options (36 points):

(i.) one rights and justice capstone unit from the following:

• APG5044 Professional internship
• APG5097 Politics of international justice
• APG5856 Research project

plus:

• 24 points of electives from the list below

(ii.) the research units listed below

(d.) electives from the list below (24 points)

Political violence and counter-terrorism specialisation

Students must complete:

(a.) in their first year of study, two of the following 6-point preparatory units (12 points):

• ATS2490 Advanced professional writing
• ATS2624 Global governance
• ATS3340 International security studies
• ATS3705 Knowledge and power in world politics
• one 6-point unit from the undergraduate international relationsinternational relations (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/aos/international-relations/ug-arts-international-relations.html) major not listed here if approved by the course coordinator

(b.) the following core units (24 points):

• APG5667 Terrorism, fringe politics and extremist violence
• APG5668 Advanced seminar in international relations

(c.) one of the following capstone/research options (36 points):

(i.) one political violence and counter-terrorism capstone unit from the following:

• APG5044 Professional internship
• APG5064 Gender,security and conflict
• APG5856 Research project

plus:

• 24 points of electives from the list below

(ii.) the research units listed below

(d.) electives (24 points)

Research units

Students complete the following units (36 points):

• APG5600 Advanced research methods in the social and political sciences
• APG5848 Research thesis (24 points), or APG5849 Research thesis A and APG5850 Research thesis B

Elective units

• APG5065 Governing migration: Borders, refugees and development
• APG5324 Advanced seminar in international political economy
• APG5327 Wars of recognition: Terrorism and political violence
• APG5336 Islam and modernity
• APG5655 Theories and principles of international crisis management
• APG5666 Terrorism, counter-terrorism and intelligence
• APG5973 The political economy of European integration(6 points)
• BTF5130 International law and policy (6 points)
• MGF5911 Diplomacy and statecraft (6 points)
• MGX5730 International trade policy (6 points)
• MGX5760 International institutions and organizations (6 points)
• any core or capstone unit/s not completed at (c.)above

Structure 2 - 72 points

Students must complete from the requirements listed in Structure 1 above:

• units in (b.),(c.)(i.) or (ii.) and one unit from (d.)

Structure 3 - 48 points

Students must complete from the requirements listed in Structure 1 above:

• units in (b.), one capstone unit and one elective unit

Master of International Relations