Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2012

Master of International Relations by Coursework

Course code/s: AMIR Melbourne

Enquiries: (03) 9479 2728

The Master of International Relations offers demanding postgraduate study in the important and complex field of international affairs. While drawing on theory, the primary focus is on real world issues and seeks to provide students with academic insights to help devise concrete responses to these issues. The degree provides formal academic preparation for people who wish to work in areas that require a detailed understanding of the international political and economic context.

The degree is particularly useful for professionals who seek to enhance their career opportunities, for those who have embarked on a career but wish to change sectors and recent graduates who wish to sharpen their skills. Completing the 18 month offering of the degree also provides an opportunity to progress to a higher research degree.

Duration

The course is one year full-time or two years part-time.

Admission requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed an Australian undergraduate degree (or its equivalent) in the humanities and social sciences or cognate discipline with a B average. Where a B average has not been achieved appropriate professional experience will be taken into account, especially if it involves substantial writing assignments.

Course requirements

The course consists of 120 credit points of fifth-year level subjects.

The course structure is as follows: Students complete

  • 60 credit points of core subjects - POL5SPW, student may take both, and
  • 60 credit points of elective fifth-year subjects from List A below (students who take all 3 core subjects will only complete 30 credit points from List A)

Core subjects

Teaching period Subject title Subject code
TE-SEM-1 Contemporary International Relations (30 cps) POL5CIR
and at least one of    
TE-SEM-2 Security in a Borderless World (30 cps) POL5SPW
TE-SEM-2 Globalisation and Governance (30 cps) POL5GAG

List A Subjects

Teaching period Subject title Subject code
Summer Australia’s International Health Relations (15 cps) PHE5AHR
TE-SEM-1 Europe Transformed: From the Lisbon Earthquake (1775) to the Lisbon Treaty (2009) (30 cps) POL5RIP
TE-SEM-1 Globalisation to Localisation (30 cps) POL5GTL
TE-SEM-1 Issues in International Studies and Development (15 cps) POL5ISD
TE-SEM-1 or 2 International Relations Research Report (30 cps) POL5REP
TE-SEM-2 From Cairo to Kabul: Issues in the international politics of the Greater Middle East (30 cps) POL5QAQ
TE-SEM-2 Human Security and Development (15 cps)1 POL5HSD
TE-SEM-2 International Health Policy (15 cps) PHE5IPO
TE-SEM-2 International Perspectives in Health Economics (15 cps) PHE5IHE
TE-SEM-2 International Relations of the Asia-Pacific (30 cps) POL5CJI
TE-SEM-2 Making Social Change Happen (15 cps) POL5MSH
TE-SEM-2 Transnational Media in Context (30 cps) MST5TMC

1 Not available in 2012.
* Students may take other fifth year level electives with the approval of the course coordinator.

Master of International Relations with Honours by Coursework – Melbourne (AMIRH)

Duration

The course is 18 months full-time or two to three years part-time.

Admission requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed an Australian undergraduate degree (or its equivalent) in the humanities and social sciences or cognate discipline with a B average. Where a B average has not been achieved appropriate professional experience will be taken into account, especially if it involves substantial writing assignments.

Course requirements

Students who wish to take the Masters of International Relations with Honours must complete the requirements for the Master of International Relations and in addition complete a further semester of study in which they will write a 12,000-15,000-word supervised thesis (60 credit points). Please see the Course Coordinator for further information.

It is a requirement that students gain a B average for the coursework component of this degree in order to progress towards thesis enrolment.