INTRODUCTION
The School of Government offers a major in International Relations
on both the Hobart and Launceston campuses.
Studying International Relations helps you understand issues
concerned with conflict and cooperation at the highest level of
political analysis. You can choose to study international security,
international justice, international law and human rights, international
organisations such as the United Nations, the foreign policies
of major powers, the politics of terrorism, globalisation and
international political economy, and many other topics. Your studies
will provide you with critical perspectives on the forces shaping
the world in which we live, and help will you understand how we
in Australia can relate to others in our region, and to the international
community in general. To find out more about the units and courses
available go to the online courses
and units entry.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
The program will examine key themes in world politics and seek
to understand them through an analysis of competing interpretations
of international relations. The course addresses theories and
concepts in the discipline by identifying the main strands of
thought that have been applied to developments in international
politics. It examines the growth of the international state system
we live in today and traces how the nature of this system has
led to the dominance of what has been called the Realist view
of international relations. It also considers alternative views
of international relations that claim to represent more appropriate
explanations of current international behaviour, and increasingly
challenge the traditional dominance of Realism.
The program also examines actors and processes in international
relations. In particular the major seeks to integrate significant
problems of international political economics, foreign policy
analysis, international security studies, international relations
theory, international organisations and international law and
ethics into a more unified analytical framework. It therefore
addresses issues of conflict and security (including traditional
interstate threats and newer transnational challenges such as
terrorism); human rights and international justice; processes
of globalisation; the rise to prominence of non-state actors;
and the challenges to development posed by an increasing gap between
a wealthy West and an increasingly poor Third World. The overall
theme of the course is that we may have entered a new era in international
relations, but it is not clear what form this era is likely to
take. At the very least, the interplay between economics and politics,
the role of international organisations and non-state actors,
the broadening of the idea of security and changing views on the
use of military power will force us to consider international
relations in a way different from that which prevailed for much
of the last century.
The specific objectives of the program are as follows:
1. To introduce students to a variety of ways of analysing world
politics through an examination of notable events and processes
in recent world history and an understanding of key theoretical
issues relevant to the discipline.
2. To encourage the interchange of varying perspectives on developments
in international relations, especially through the application
of theoretical concepts to specific issues.
3. To enhance students’ capabilities to apply their knowledge
and analysis of international relations in both a verbal and written
context.
4. To analyse and critically interpret texts, ideas and concepts
related to the international relations and its history.
5. To demonstrate knowledge of the assumptions, methods of study,
theories and different approaches employed within the discipline
of International Relations and to demonstrate an understanding
of the themes of the course as expressions of the conceptual,
empirical and normative aspects of the subject material.
6. To demonstrate an understanding of the continuing interplay
between local and global issues to the present and to the world
outside the university.
7. To develop an understanding of the variety of cultures, regions,
and countries that make up the international community and to
analyse and contextualise cultural, historical and political dynamics
relevant to the study of international relation.
8. To develop knowledge of the relationship between different
regions of the world as expressed through political, economic,
and cultural/philosophical contact.
9. To enhance cross-cultural approaches for analysing international
relations in order to foster an understanding of the impact (e.g.
historical, political, economic, cultural and philosophical) of
nations, regions, and cultures upon other nations, regions, and
cultures.
10. To deepen an understanding of the reciprocal interactions
between individuals and global systems and to cultivate the ability
to see different cultural groups from their own points of view.
11. To develop an ability to use the analytic tools of a specific
discipline to engage in comparative analyses of nations, regions
and key issues.
12. To foster the student’s knowledge and understanding
of the diversity and pluralism of the international community
with respect to race, ethnicity, and gender, as well as class,
sexual orientation, and/or religion.
13. To enhance an understanding of the sources and manifestations
of controversy or conflict arising from diversity.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates with a major in International Relations will typically
find work in public sector organisations (e.g. Foreign Affairs,
Defence, Immigration); the security services (e.g. ASIO, Australian
Federal Police); international organisations such as the United
Nations, human rights organisations and non-government organisations;
and in areas related to international law, risk assessment in
industry, and strategic planning for business.
HONOURS
The fourth year (level 400) Political Science honours program
offers an advanced exploration of selected issues in International
Relations. The program is open to students who have majored in
International Relations (or Political Science) with a Grade-Point
Average of 6.5 or higher. The honours year consists of specialised
coursework units and a thesis, and introduces students to the
skills involved in independent research. The honours program also
provides a stepping stone to Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, as
well as providing an additional qualification.
POSTGRADUATE COURSES
The School of Government has a strong reputation for research
and welcomes applications from those seeking to undertake higher
degree research (ie Master of Arts or Doctor of Philosophy) in
Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration or International
Relations.
In addition, the School offers the following postgraduate coursework
programs in International Politics at the Hobart Campus:
Graduate
Certificate in International Politics
Graduate
Diploma in International Politics
Master
of International Politics
FURTHER INFORMATION
Dr Matthew Sussex
International Relations Coordinator
Telephone: 03 6226 2326
Fax: 03 6226 2864
Email: Matthew.Sussex@utas.edu.au
Website: www.utas.edu.au/courses
