200 Point Master of International Relations

The Master of International Relations is offered collaboratively by several Schools in the Faculty of Arts under the umbrella of the Melbourne School of Government. The degree is designed for graduates who are seeking careers in international affairs, in government, diplomacy, international business, 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 also reflects 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, internship and language study opportunities. The degree is specifically designed as a pathway to professional employment. There is a thesis option for high achieving students who may wish to progress to a PhD.

Students who complete the Master of International Relations should:

• Understand how to apply key concepts and theories of international relations to global issues and to those more specific to the Asia-Pacific region;
• Acquire good knowledge of key developments in contemporary international relations; and
• Develop practical skills relevant to a career in international affairs, including in international organisations, government, business, media, and nongovernment organisations.

200 point program

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

Coursework Option

• three compulsory subjects (37.5 points)
• one core subject (12.5 points)
• elective subjects (150 points)

or

Minor Thesis Option

• three compulsory subjects (37.5 points)
• one core subject (12.5 points)
• POLS90027 International Relations Minor Thesis or HIST90031 International Relations Minor Thesis (37.5 points) or ASIA90010 International Relations Minor Thesis (37.5 points)
• POLS40013 Social Sciences Research Seminar (12.5 points)
• elective subjects (100 points)

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, ASIA90010 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 (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
• ASIA90011 China’s Economic and Social Development
• 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 (International Governance and Law). 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 Globalised 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 (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

3 compulsory subjects (37.5 points)

Core Subjects

1 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) or ASIA90010 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 or ASIA90010 International Relations Minor Thesis:

• 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 and ASIA90010 if the supervisor works in the Asia Institute.
• students admitted into the 200 point program must have completed 37.5 points of compulsory and/or core subjects within the program, with an average of H1 (80%); and
• 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; and
• students enrolling in the minor thesis must also complete POLS40013 Social Sciences Research Seminar; and
• the minor thesis must be completed over two consecutive semesters.

Elective Subjects

Coursework Option

• elective subjects (150 points)

or

Minor Thesis Option

• elective subjects (100 points)

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

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 taking 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
• FNCE90065 Fundamentals of Finance