A6010 Master of International Relations

The course is structured in four parts: Part A. Principal study, Part B. Applied study, Part C. Professional enhancement and Part D. Specialist knowledge studies.

Part A.  Principal study

These studies draw on best practices within the broad realm of international relations practice and research exploring the theoretical, analytical, economic, and security dimensions of global politics. 

Part B.  Applied study

These studies cover key issues in diplomacy and global political economy, gender, peace and security, global migration, and political violence and counter-terrorism. 

Part C.  Professional enhancement

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. 

Part D.  Specialist knowledge studies

Choose from a variety of units to further your knowledge of your chosen specialist knowledge areas, or world politics more broadly.

Master’s Entry Points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry into the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1, you complete 96 credit points, comprising Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2, you complete 72 credit points, comprising Part A, Part B, Part C (6 credit points) and Part D (18 credit points).
• If you are admitted at entry level 3, you complete 48 credit points, comprising Part A and Part B.

A research pathway is also available for students seeking eligibility to apply for graduate research studies.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options. 

Course progression maps

The course progression map  provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

If you are eligible to enrol in the 1.5-year entry point, you have the option of completing this course intensively over a 12-month period by following the intensive course progression map.

The course comprises 96 points structured in four parts: Part A. Principal study, Part B. Applied study, Part C. Professional enhancement and Part D. Specialist knowledge studies.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A:  Principal study (36 points)  

You must complete 36 points selected from: 

• APG5105 Foreign policy of emerging powers
• APG5154 Analysing global politics
• APG5199 Peacekeeping in the international system: Theory, policy and practice
• APG5324 International political economy
• APG5332 Contemporary security topics
• APG5666 Terrorism, counter-terrorism and technology
• APG5746 Foundations of international relations

Part B:  Applied study (12 points) 

You must complete 12 points of capstone units selected from:

• APG5044 Professional internship (12 points)
• APG5069 Australia and Asia in the Asian century: Politics, business, media (12 points)
• APG5093 International relations field unit: Governing peace and security (12 points)
• APG5236 Global policy challenge (12 points)
• APG5237 Political, social and economic change in contemporary India (12 points)
• APG5856 Research project (12 points)
• APG5969 Advanced simulation (12 points)

Part C:  Professional enhancement (12 points)

If you are admitted at entry level 1 you must complete 12 points: 
If you are admitted at entry level 2 you must complete 6 points:

• APG4248 Field methods in anthropology and international development
• APG5050 Doing media and communications research 
• APG5075 Using data to understand family violence 
• APG5084 Designing research 
• APG5103 Policy analysis 
• APG5129 Evaluation 
• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity 
• APG5170 Social entrepreneurship challenge in the Indo-Pacific 
• APG5230 Field studies in environmental governance
• APG5367 Campaigns, advocacy and change 
• APG5393 Ethical theory
• APG5426 Environmental analysis 
• APG5434 Sustainability measurement 
• APG5457 Digital cultures and platforms
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams 
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments 
• APG5652 Language and intercultural communication 
• APG5805 Project planning and management in international development 
• APG5966 Academic and professional presentation skills 
• APG5967 Professional enhancement A 
• APG5968 Professional enhancement B (12 points)
• ENS5510 Innovation to influence system change 
• ENS5530 Leading change for sustainable development 
• MGF5630 Principles of negotiation 
• MON5750 Monash Innovation Guarantee
• MPH5214 Demographic methods

Note: If you intend to pursue the research pathway, please note that APG5084 is a co-requisite for Research Thesis A.

Part D:  Specialist knowledge studies (36 points) 

If you are admitted at entry level 1 you must complete 36 points from one or more of the specialist knowledge areas listed below and/or from the units in Part A, B or C not already completed.  

If you are admitted at entry level 2 you must complete 18  points from one or more of the specialist knowledge areas listed below and/or from the units in Part A, B or C not already completed.  

Global business and management

• APG5122 Corporate sustainability management 
• BEX5060 Challenges in global agribusiness 
• BTF5112 Regulatory issues for transnational business 
• BTF5905 Global trade governance 
• MGF5691 Global sustainable operations and supply chains management 
• MGF5760 International institutions and organisations 
• MGF5911 Geo-politics and business globalisation 

Global justice and development

• APG5045 Gender and development 
• APG5156 Human rights in global politics 
• APG5229 Prosperity, poverty, and sustainability in a globalised world 
• APG5354 Indigenous peoples and the state 
• APG5590 Political Islam (12 points)
• APG5627 Power, politics and development in a changing environment 
• APG5628 Understanding development: Discourse, practice and power 

Global security  

• APG5073 Conflict, security and development
• APG5140 Principles and practices for disaster management, humanitarian action and climate change adaptation
• APG5619 Community resilience, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation
• APG5667 Right-wing terrorism, extremism and fringe politics
• FSC5070 Future food supply and security

Research pathway (optional) – 24 points

A pathway to graduate research (e.g. master by research, PhD) is available if you have achieved a weighted average mark of at least 80% in the units of this course.

If you are admitted into the course at entry point 1 or 2 and want to pathway to a Graduate Research Degree, you must complete: 

• APG5084 Designing research
• APG5849 Research thesis A 
• APG5850 Research thesis B (12 points) 

Notes:

• APG5084 Designing research is a co-requisite for enrolment in APG5849 Research thesis A and must be completed in the same semester. 
• APG5850 Research thesis B (12 points) replaces the capstone unit from Part B. 
• APG5084 Designing research replaces 6 credit points from Part C 
• APG5849 Research thesis A replaces 6 credit points from Part D

If you are admitted into entry point 3 and wish to complete a research thesis, the replacement units will be determined based on previous study in consultation with the course director.