A6011 Master of International Relations and Master of Journalism

Double degree courses include all the features of the component degree courses, except that electives may be reduced or redirected. In this course you complete:

Part A. Principal study in international relations and journalism studies

These studies draw on best practices within the broad realm of international relations practice and research exploring the security, ethical, and economic dimensions of international relations. You will have opportunities to examine key issues in foreign policy, global governance, peace and conflict, political violence and terrorism.

These studies will introduce you to journalism studies at graduate level. Through a combination of academic and practice-based work, you will gain a solid foundation in all production technologies - print, video and online - in metropolitan, regional and international contexts.

Part B. Advanced expertise

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. These studies will be credited to each of the two degrees and you will have the opportunity, if you choose, to undertake a cross disciplinary project or internship that integrates and draws on both fields of study, international relations and journalism.

You have two options:

• a program of coursework study where you select the units to suit your own interests. This option includes the opportunity to undertake an internship in the field.
• a 24 credit point research thesis. If you wish to use this master's course as a pathway to a graduate research degree, you should take this second option.

If you are admitted to the course and have a recognised honours degree in a cognate discipline including humanities or social sciences, you will receive credit for Part B. However, if you wish to complete a 24 credit point research project as part of the course you should consult with the course coordinator.

Master's entry points

• If you are admitted at entry level 1, you complete 120 credit points, comprising Part A and Part B.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2, you complete 96 credit points, comprising Part A.

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

Course progression map

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

The double degree comprises 120 points structured into two parts: Part A. Principal study (96 points) and Part B. Advanced expertise (24 points).

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated 

Part A. Principal study in international relations and journalism studies (96 points)

You must complete 48 points from International Relations and 48 points from Journalism

International relations (48 points)

a. You must complete the following units (18 points): 

• APG5154 Researching international relations 
• APG5324 International political economy 
• APG5332 Contemporary security topics

b. You must complete one unit (6 points) from the following list:

• APG5746 Reading and writing international relations *
• APG5105 Foreign policy of emerging powers**

* If you have not studied International Relations previously you are encouraged to take this unit

** If you have studied International Relations previously you are encouraged to take this unit 

c. You must complete 24 points from units listed below under your chosen specialisation: 

International Diplomacy and Trade: 

• APG5105 Foreign policy of emerging powers
• APG5229 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world
• BTF5114 Regulatory issues for transnational business 
• BTF5905 Global trade governance and law
• MGF5730 International trade policy
• MGF5760 International institutions and organisations
• MGF5911 Geo-politics and business globalisation 

Gender, Peace and Security: 

• APG5045 Gender and development 
• APG5064 Gender, security and conflict (12 points)
• APG5073 Conflict, security and development  
• APG5078 Gender-based policy and planning (12 points) 

Global Migration:

• APG5092 Human rights in global politics (12 points)

Plus 12 points from the following units: 

• LAW5383 International refugee law and human rights 
• LAW5454 Climate change and displacement 
• LAW5651 Human rights and migration in comparative perspective 
• MPH5214 Demographic methods 

Political Violence and Counter-terrorism:

• APG5327 Political violence
• APG5667 Terrorism, fringe politics, and extremist violence 
• APG5666 Terrorism, counter-terrorism, and technology
• APG5092 Human rights in global politics (12 points)
• APG5590 Political Islam (12 points)

Advanced International Relations:

You must complete 24 points of units from a combination of any or all specialisations in Part A c. above.  

Journalism

a. You must complete the following units (12 points):

• APG5095 Journalism practice
• APG5640 Media, law and ethics

b. You must complete two or three of the following units (18 points)

• APG5135 Video journalism
• APG5352 Photography
• APG5182 Digital journalism
• APG5547 Broadcast (12 points)
• APG5642 Investigative and data journalism

c. You must complete one of the following capstone units:

• APG5044 Professional internship  (12 points)
• APG5485 Research portfolio (12 points)
• APG5653 International journalism field school  (12 points)
• APG5856 Research project (12 points)
• APG5969 Advanced application simulation  (12 points)

d. You must complete one professional enhancement unit (6 points):

• APG5084 Designing research*
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments
• APG5966 Academic and professional presentation skills
• APG5967 Professional enhancement A

* If you intend to pursue the research option in Part B, please note that APG5084 is a pre-requisite for APG5849 Research Thesis A.

PART B Advanced Expertise (24 points)

You must complete either Option 1 - Coursework or Option 2 - Research

Option 1  -  Coursework (24 points)

You must complete:

a. One of the following International relations capstone units:

• APG5044  Professional internship (12 points) 
• APG5091  International relations in theory and practice (12 points) 
• APG5093  International relations field unit: Governing peace and security (12 points) 
• APG5856  Research project (12 points) 
• APG5969  Advanced simulation (12 points)

b. One or two Journalism units (12 points) from the lists below:

Screen and Cultural Industries

• APG5066 Shanghai city lab
• APG5373 Engaging audiences
• APG5452 Cultural events, festivals and exhibitions
• APG5453 Screen cities: creative contexts
• APG5454 Screen and social justice
• APG5455 Understanding the screen brain, AI and data futures
• APG5662 Cultural and creative industries
• APG5782 Film festivals in local and international contexts

Communications and media studies

• APG5397 Media, representation and social change
• APG5401 Digital cultures and platforms
• APG5456 Understanding media audiences
• APG5457 Digital cultures and platforms
• APG5458 Digital media, policy and governance

Strategic Communications

• APG5381 Crisis communications and issues management
• APG5366 Strategic communication in a digital era
• APG5373 Engaging audiences

Creative Practice for Media and Communication

• APG5184 Video-Making as Research

Data, Automation and AI

• APG5052 Special topic in communications and media studies
• APG5374 Data analytics in communications
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance in the age of AI
• ETC5510 Introduction to data analysis

Social Change and Impact

• APG5067 Sustainable cultural development
• APG5092 Human rights in global politics
• APG5189 Monitoring and evaluation
• APG5367 Campaigns, advocacy and change
• APG5454 Screen and social justice
• ENS5510 Processes to influence change
• LAW5327 International human rights

Governance, Policy and Leadership

• APG5101 Foundations of public policy
• APG5180 Strategic political leadership and communication
• APG5181 Intergovernmental relations
• APG5189 Monitoring and evaluation

Public Policy and Political Communication

• APG5450 Cultural policy
• APG5101 Foundations of public policy
• APG5180 Policy and political communication
• APG5103 Policy analysis and evaluation
• APG5102 Governance
• APG5104 Public management

International Communication

• MGF5630 Principles of negotiation
• APG5073 Conflict, security and development
• APG5140 Guiding principles for professionals engaged in disasters and humanitarian crises
• APG5381 Crisis communication and issues management

Health Communication

• APG5081 Public health ethics
• MPH5002 Foundations of health promotion and program planning
• MPH5022 Evaluating public health programs 
• MPH5269 Foundations of health policy 
• MPH5255 Health and human rights 
• MPH5252 Global health care delivery: principles and challenges
• MPH5272 Principles of health systems

Leadership and entrepreneurship

• APG5082 Creative entrepreneurship in cultural industries
• APG5433 Corporate sustainability management
• APG5566 Strategic events management
• APG5662 Cultural and creative industries
• MKF5601 Social media marketing
• MKF5955 Marketing management: Theory and practice
• MKF5926 Integrated marketing communication

Environment and sustainability

• APG4554 Resource evaluation and management
• APG5229 Prosperity, poverty and sustainability in a globalised world
• APG5230 Ecosystems and environmental management
• APG5433 Corporate sustainability management
• BTF5910 Corporate sustainability regulation
• ENS5530 Leading change for sustainable development

Arts enhancement units

You can complete a maximum of 6 points from this section.

• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• APG5170 Social enterprise challenge in the Indo-Pacific
• APG5470 Managing multicultural teams
• APG5471 Leadership in intercultural environments

Option 2 - Research (24 points)

 You must complete The following thesis units:

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