Program Description

The Bachelor of International Studies is a three year degree featuring courses with a contemporary global perspective from several disciplines. Core courses range over cross-cultural communication, earth in crisis, world religions, international economy, global security, as well as Australia's relations with the region and the world. Students choose two from four majors to specialize in:

• Global Politics and Peace: Students will engage with the most challenging issues of the 21st century from the 9/11 attacks signaling the age of terrorism, tackling civil war via conflict resolution, weathering the Global Financial Crisis, Brexit’s impact on European regionalism, populist trends undermining democracy, to the implications of China’s rising power, Trump’s presidency and the COVID-19 pandemic for international relations.
• International Law: After completing Foundations of Law in their first year, students can choose from a diverse array of courses. Hot topics include navigating trade wars, human rights advocacy at the United Nations; wildlife trafficking; global governance of water, mining, fisheries and forests; maritime security notably the South China sea dispute; and combating the nefarious underworld of transnational crime.
• Languages and Cultures: Students pursue a language and its culture to an advanced level (Chinese, Classical Languages, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese or Spanish). This typically includes an exploration of that country’s history, literature and film as well as the option of an in country language unit.
• Societies: Is an eclectic mix drawing on the disciplines of communications and literature, geography, indigenous and peace studies, sociology and studies in religion. Its concerns will ultimately determine the future of humanity such as the clash of civilizations, mitigating climate change, food insecurity and natural disasters, as well as managing the world refugee crisis and the diabolical challenges posed by megacities.