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PAIS103 International Relations: An Australian Perspective

Updated: 06 January 2010
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 1 Off Campus D - Comp/internet essential
Armidale Semester 1 On Campus D - Comp/internet essential
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites None
Co-requisites None
Restrictions INRE103 or POLS103
Notes None
Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) Karin Von Strokirch (kvonstro@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

An introduction to international relations from an Australian perspective. The focus is on Australia's relations with the United States and the Asia Pacific on selected issues which are of growing importance in international relations. These range from regional economic and security cooperation to global concerns over arms control, foreign aid and the environment.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Australia in International Politics
ISBN: 9781741143461
Firth, S., Allen and Unwin 2nd ed. 2005
Note: Also available as an e-book.
Text refers to: Semester 1 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 20% 1000
Assessment Notes
Essay
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-6 GA:1,2,4,5,6
Assignment 2 40% 2000
Assessment Notes
Essay
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-6 GA:1,2,4,5,6
Bulletin Board 10%
Assessment Notes
Online participation.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA:1,2,4,5,6
Online Assessment 30% 2000
Assessment Notes
Take home examination.
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA:1,2,4,5,6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. introduce key contemporary themes in the field of international relations;
  2. identify and analyse the dominant trends in Australian foreign policy since Federation;
  3. compare the ideology and policy record of the two major party political forces;
  4. investigate the struggle between competing currents of thought over foreign policy;
  5. raise awareness of how international relations impacts on people in all walks of life;
  6. act as a basis for more advanced studies in international relations.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Knowledge of the political and international studies discipline will be taught through lectures and tutorials. It will be assessed through online and written assessments. 		True True
2 Communication Skills
Students will be taught communication skills through written and oral feedback on the written, online and participation component of the unit. Students studying on-campus will learn valuable communication skills through participation in tutorials (this will include debates and small group work). Students will be assessed on the style of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas, and referencing. Students will practice their communication skills through completing the assessment tasks (written through essays) online assessments and participation. 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Students will demonstrate an awareness of the global context of the subject area and they will develop an awareness of the need for tolerance and inter-cultural understanding. 		True True
4 Information Literacy
Students will be taught, and directed, to relevant literature and how to assess its validity. Students will be assessed (through the essay) on their ability to identify relevant literature, and on their ability to critically analyse the literature. 		True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Through completing the assessments, students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, and will be useful in any research positions. These attributes will be assessed in all of the assessments (written skills; analytical skills). In addition, students who attend tutorials will be provided with the skills to debate contentious topics and develop their understanding of a topic through group activities. 		True True
6 Problem Solving
Students will be assessed on their ability to deconstruct the essay question and to integrate theory and literature into their answer. Students will need to work out how to address the question and where the most appropriate material is to answer the question. 		True
7 Social Responsibility
Students will recognize social issues relevant to their subject area; students will be expected to use professional language and show sensitivity towards political standpoints, cultures or other groups in their written assessments. 		True True
8 Team Work
Students will practice their teamwork skills through participating in tutorials, or online discussion postings. They will be required to discuss the weekly topics with their fellow students in a thoughtful and respectful manner (practice). 		True
   

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