Program Overview

This double degree will prepare you for legal practice while giving you specialised knowledge in either International Relations or Journalism.

If you choose International Relations as your second major, you’ll increase your understanding of international diplomacy, politics and organisations.

If you choose Journalism as your second major, you’ll learn how to report on topics across radio, video and online platforms.

What you'll learn

• Apply knowledge of the Australian legal system, statutory rules and case law principles in both the fundamental areas of legal knowledge and a range of elective fields to the resolution of legal problems; apply broad discipline knowledge in a range of theoretical and practical situations through research and practical application
• Critically and creatively analyse legal problems to articulate the issues involved and apply legal reasoning to make a considered choice between competing solutions; think creatively and critically to generate innovative solutions to complex social, political and artistic problems
• Identify, access, assess and synthesise relevant information from primary legal sources such as cases and legislation and secondary sources such as journal articles and commentaries (including electronic versions of these sources) and gather relevant oral and documentary evidence; access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from a range of sources
• Communicate the outcomes of legal research and analysis effectively, appropriately and persuasively to colleagues, to clients and to other professionals and the broader community; communicate effectively in professional and public contexts
• Use appropriate electronic legal databases for research purposes and be able to communicate effectively in electronic forms; apply technologies appropriately
• Maintain intellectual curiosity as to justice and its practical application in the legal system, be able to identify areas where their legal knowledge and skills require further development, and to critically reflect on their own performance as legal professionals, making use of feedback as appropriate; demonstrate responsibility and lifelong learning skills by applying critical reflection and being proactive
• Articulate the similarities and differences between local and other jurisdictions, including interstate and overseas ones, and be aware of the principles of public and private international law; describe global and cultural issues and their impact
• Articulate distinct concepts of law, justice and human rights, with an awareness of different legal traditions and cultures, particularly indigenous cultures; identify how and where indigenous persons and other identifiable social groups are differentially impacted by the legal system; demonstrate respect for human rights, cultural diversity and the particular rights of Indigenous Australians
• Work independently, as well as collaboratively, with a developing sense of the ethical issues that arise in legal practice and how these may be resolved; work ethically and professionally, both within a team and independently

Specialisation: International Relations
International relations is a dynamic, multi-disciplinary field that investigates the social, economic and environmental relationships between different political bodies.

This major provides you with an understanding of the complexities involved in global issues, through a range of analytical frameworks of political theory, international relations theory, foreign policy, strategic studies and political history. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the actors, institutions, and processes of international politics and organisations. 

You will study the art of diplomacy and policymaking, geopolitical change, and national and regional security in military, political and geo-economic contexts.

Political and regional globalisation are explored in-depth, with an emphasis on the Indo-Pacific. International trade, environmental change, resource management and human rights issues are also examined.

You will develop skills in critical analysis, problem-solving and written and oral communications – skills that underpin influential careers in international relations.

What you'll learn

• Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the social and political sciences; the ability to apply a political and international perspective to the study of social life
• Demonstrate the ability to think and analyse critically, creatively and reflectively within politics and international relations and across disciplinary boundaries
• Demonstrate the ability to locate relevant evidence from a wide range of sources and to make informed decisions about the significance of this information in the development of a political and international relations analysis of social life
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively through a variety of written, oral and other formats to diverse audiences in ways appropriate in international relations
• Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of technologies and the ability to decide on their applications appropriately
• Show sustained intellectual curiosity by taking responsibility for one’s own learning and intellectual development through the recognition of a range of learning strategies
• Demonstrate the capacity to understand socio-economic and political life in a range of local and global contexts through the recognition of international practices in political and international affairs
• Embrace the importance of cultural diversity and of human rights in the making of knowledge in the social and political sciences
• Provide both accountable and ethical prescriptions/solutions to the major issues and challenges involved in national, regional and world affairs.