UNSW Handbook Plan - International Relations

International Relations - IRELA14761


	Faculty: Faculty of Law
	School: School of Social Sciences and International Studies
	Contact: http://ssis.arts.unsw.edu.au
	Program: 4761 - Social Science / Law
	Award(s):
	Bachelor of Social Science (Major)

Plan Outline

This plan is only available to students commencing 2009 onwards

A contemporary, dynamic, discipline, International Relations is the study of politics at the international, cross-national, transnational, regional, and global, level. Although a relatively modern discipline, it is one of increasing relevance in the contemporary world because of what can be broadly termed globalization. We are constantly reminded of the impact of international relations on everyday lives from climate change to agricultural trade, from terrorism to refugees. A major in International Relations is therefore at the cutting edge of current concerns. The solutions to many national problems are now intricately linked with regional and international treaties and conventions. International Relations is most closely related to the study of Politics but it is has links with other disciplines, including International History, Economics, and Law. UNSW has research strength in several sub-disciplines of International Relations, including International Political Economy, and the Politics of International Law.

Students graduating from UNSW with a major in International Relations should be able to demonstrate:

a knowledge of key actors and their functions in world politics as well as their place within political system;
a knowledge of key concepts and terms used within International Relations
an understanding of alternative theoretical approaches to the study of world politics of both a normative and positive character as well as the strengths and weakness of these approaches;
an appreciation of the historical evolution of both world politics and the study of world politics

Students will also develop discipline-specific and generic social science skills, including being able to:

respond to a piece of writing on International Relations, identifying its strengths and weaknesses;
distinguish among theoretical, conceptual, and empirical lines of enquiry;
contribute to the discussion of political and ethical issues in a reasoned manner;
undertake research, using both traditional, and technological sources;
communicate ideas fluently, develop a reasoned argument, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement;
write in a style used within this discipline;
reflect on their own learning and seek to make use of constructive feedback

Plan Structure

A student who wishes to gain a major sequence in International Relations must complete 48 uoc including 12 uoc at Level 1, 18 uoc at Level 2 and 18 uoc at Level 3, including the capstone course.

Level 1

ARTS1810 Int'l Rel in the 20th Century (6 UOC)
ARTS1811 International Relations (6 UOC)

Level 2

Level 2 courses enable students to build on the knowledge and skills acquired in the first year courses. Courses are offered in several of the subfields of International Relations, including global politics, global security, and the global economy.

Level 3

Level 3 courses are offered within each of the subfields introduced at second year level. Topics for seminar courses are less broad than those at second year level to permit students to acquire greater specialist knowledge and to develop their research skills.