200 Point Master of International Relations

The Master of International Relations (MIR) is offered collaboratively by several Schools in the Faculty of Arts. The degree is designed for graduates who are seeking careers in international affairs, in government, diplomacy, non-government organisations (NGOs), international organisations, and the media. It is a program that combines advanced study in the field of international relations, with relevant professional skills development, and an electives program that is specifically designed to promote cross-cultural understanding. The elective program is also to reflect Australia’s geographic location and the University of Melbourne’s research strengths, notably in Asian and Islamic Studies with an emphasis on Asian and Islamic politics, society and culture. The program will also offer students exchange and language study opportunities. The degree is specifically designed as a pathway to professional employment, however there is a thesis option for high achieving students who may wish to progress to a PhD.

The MIR is designed to provide students with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and professionally-oriented degree in international relations, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. It is designed to provide students with a conceptual knowledge of key developments in international relations together with the practical skills that are relevant to a career in international affairs, including working in international organisations, government, business, media, and nongovernment organisations.

200 point program

Duration: 2 years full-time / 4 years part-time

The Master of International Relations 200 point program requires:

• three compulsory subjects (37.5 points)
• one core subject (12.5 points)

Coursework Option

• 150 points of elective subjects

or

Minor Thesis Option

• POLS90027 International Relations Minor Thesis or HIST90031 International Relations Minor Thesis (37.5 points)
• POLS40013 Social Sciences Research Seminar (12.5 points)
• 100 points of elective subjects

Capstone Requirement:

All students are required to complete the Capstone Requirement for the program (25 points). Students must complete the relevant capstone option for their specialisation:

Capstone Stream 1: International Relations Minor Thesis (HIST90031 or POLS90027):

Purpose: An opportunity to integrate knowledge and research skills to address a research question; pathway to the PhD

Capstone Stream 2: POLS90009 International Relations Internship:

Purpose: An opportunity to apply knowledge and skills in social policy practice to solve problems that arise in professional contexts and develop an integrated understanding of research and practice

Capstone Stream 3: POLS90022 International Security and one of the following subjects:

• CRIM90007 Genocide, State Crime and the Law
• CRIM90015 Terror, Law and War
• HIST90026 History, Memory and Violence in Asia
• HIST90027 Middle Eastern Wars: Jihad & Resistance
• POLS90007 US Foreign Policy
• POLS90016 The United Nations: Review and Reform
• POLS90030 Nuclear Weapons and Disarmament
• POLS90034 International Policymaking in Practice
• POLS90035 Great Power Rivalry: Peace & War in 21C

Purpose: An opportunity to deepen understanding in one of three central fields of disciplinary specialization of International Security. Students will be required to tailor an assessed piece of work in the elective subject in ways that reflect their personal interests and draws on the subject matter of the core and linked international security-related elective subjects.

Capstone Stream 4: POLS90023 International Governance and Law and one of the following subjects:

• ASIA90001 Human Rights in Southeast Asia
• CRIM90007 Genocide, State Crime and the Law
• CRIM90015 Terror, Law and War
• POLS90011 The EU and Globalisation
• POLS90012 Trade Policy Politics & Governance
• POLS90016 The United Nations: Review and Reform
• POLS90017 Europe and Asia: Competing Hegemons?
• POLS90034 International Policymaking in Practice
• POLS90037 Corruption in Today's World
• POLS90038 Human Rights

Purpose: An opportunity to deepen understanding in one of three central fields of disciplinary specialization of International Governance. Students will be required to tailor an assessed piece of work in the elective subject in ways that reflect their personal interests and draws on the subject matter of the core and linked international governance-related elective subjects.

Capstone Stream 5: POLS90026 International Political Economy and one of the following subjects:

• INTS90007 Rising China in the Gloablised World
• POLS90011 The EU and Globalisation
• POLS90012 Trade Policy Politics & Governance
• POLS90013 Politics and Business in post-Mao China
• POLS90017 Europe and Asia: Competing Hegemons?
• POLS90034 International Policymaking in Practice
• POLS90037 Corruption in Today's World

Purpose: An opportunity to deepen understanding in one of three central fields of disciplinary specialization of International Political Economy. Students will be required to tailor an assessed piece of work in the elective subject in ways that reflect their personal interests and draws on the subject matter of the core and linked political economy-related elective subjects.

For policies that govern this degree, see Academic Services Policy in the University Melbourne Policy Framework. Students also should also refer to information in the Student Policy Directory.

Compulsory Subjects

Three compulsory subjects (37.5 points)

Core Subjects

One core subject (12.5 points)

Minor Thesis Subjects

Minor Thesis Option

• POLS90027 International Relations Minor Thesis or HIST90031 International Relations Minor Thesis (37.5 points)
• POLS40013 Social Sciences Research Seminar (12.5 points)

Please note the following prior to enrolling in POLS90027 International Relations Minor Thesis or HIST90031 International Relations Minor:

• it is important that students enrol into the thesis that is administered by the school in which their supervisor is housed, e.g. HIST90031 if the supervisor works in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, POLS90027 if the supervisor works in the School of Social and Political Sciences.
• students admitted into the 200 point program must have completed 37.5 points of compulsory subjects within the program, with an average of H1 (80%)
• to be eligible to enrol in the thesis, students must submit a 300 word thesis proposal for approval by the course coordinator prior to the semester of enrolment in the thesis
• students enrolling in the minor thesis must also complete POLS40013 Social Sciences Research Seminar
• the minor thesis must be completed over two consecutive semesters

Elective Subjects

Coursework Option

• 150 points of elective subjects

or

Minor Thesis Option

• 100 points of elective subjects

Languages: Students may enrol in up to 25 points of language study in the following areas:

• Arabic
• Chinese
• French
• German
• Hebrew
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Japanese
• Russian
• Spanish
• Swedish

Please note:

In addition to these electives, students enrolled in the Master of International Relations will have the option of undertaking electives from the Master of International Business offered by the Graduate School of Business and Economics.

Students enrolled in the 200 point program will have the option of undertaking up to three of the following electives from the Master of International Business (up to a maximum of 37.5 points):

• ECON90025 Cooperation and Conflict in Word Trade
• IBUS90002 Asian business and Management
• MGMT90038 Global Corporate Governance