Program Overview

Combining Political Science and International Relations with Law will help you develop a solid understanding of the world we live in. You will learn about the forces that shape politics, public administration and international affairs.

Law component
In the Law component, you will study within a number of special subject areas called 'vertical subjects'. Through these subject areas, you will make connections between law and ethics, legal theory, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, and internationalisation. You will also develop interdisciplinary understandings of law and legal work.

If you complete the five Canadian Law courses, you will be eligible for entry into the legal profession in Canada's common law provinces, when accompanied by a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

Political Science and International Relations component
In the Political Science and International Relations component, you will learn about political movements and institutions, processes of lawmaking, diplomacy and global politics. You'll explore how democracy thrives or struggles to survive, and the strategies authoritarian leaders increasingly use to maintain their grip on power, among a range of other exciting topics in Political Science and International Relations. In your second, third and fourth years, you'll gain valuable specialised knowledge by completing one or two majors in International Relations, Political Science and Public Policy; or Security, Conflict and Human Rights. Throughout your studies, you'll gain the skills and training needed for pursuing your own career pathway, including taking dedicated employability courses and having opportunities to complete a work placement, field study trip, or parliamentary internship.

Major: International Relations

This course introduces students to the major themes and issues studied in the discipline of International Relations. Topics to be engaged include the development of the current international system, war, terrorism and non-traditional security threats, international law and organisations, diplomacy and foreign policy, international political economy, development, and global environmental issues. Students will be introduced to the primary theoretical approaches used by International Relations scholars to explain or interpret global events and processes. The course also introduces students to key concepts and practices related to employability and career readiness in International Relations and related fields.