6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Organisational Unit
Malaysia School of Arts and Social Sciences
Chief examiner(s)
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Prerequisites
Twelve credit points of second-year Arts units.
Prohibitions
ATS2570, ATS3570
Synopsis
This unit introduces students to key concepts and theories in the discipline of International relations with the aim of exploring how these help explain events and developments in world politics. Students will examine how material power and interests as well as norms, culture, and ideas/theories shape outcomes in the international system, considering theoretically their role in inter-state conflict and war, prospects for peace and cooperation, as well as broader governance questions pertaining to human rights, development and the environment. Drawing also on cases, developments, events and skills encountered in other International Studies subjects, a key aim of this unit is to consider whether it is possible to secure broader normative and humanitarian goals in a state-centric international system that still appears to take seriously the preservation of state sovereignty.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
- Identify key concepts and theoretical perspectives in International Relations and explain the differences between these theoretical models;
- Compare how different theoretical perspectives in International Relations explain events, the behaviour of key actors and structural developments in the international system;
- Apply the various theoretical perspectives and conceptual tools studied in this unit to analyse contemporary issues in world politics;
- Evaluate key debates in International Relations, especially as they apply to contemporary world issues and conflicts; and
- Present and defend verbal/written arguments on contemporary issues in International Relations, including by reflecting on key sources and references used to develop these positions.
Assessment
Within semester assessment: 100%
Workload requirements
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
See also Unit timetable information