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Bachelor of Arts (International Studies)

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International Studies and Languages  brochure (PDF - 1916KB download Adobe Acrobat)

Announcement
Transnational students study the equivalent Bachelor of Arts (International Studies).

Aim

To prepare students with experiential learning for productive and socially responsible careers in culturally diverse global contexts, based on continuing development of professional knowledge and skilful analysis of politics and international relations.

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to have one of the following qualifications:

Qualified for the SACE and:

• recorded achievement in five SACE subjects taken at Stage 2 level, and 
• included at least four Stage 2 subjects which are approved Higher Education Selection Subjects (HESS), and  
• obtained a competitive TER

Completed the equivalent secondary education qualifications as required for University entry under SACE and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements

Completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements

Completed or partly completed a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements

Completed at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses in a degree level and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements.

Completed an award from TAFE or from another registered training organisation at AQF Certificate IV or above and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements

Qualified for Special Entry and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements

Completed the University Foundation Studies program

Special entry provisions may also apply for ATSI applicants

In addition, international students who speak English as a foreign language must have obtained one of the following standards within the last two years prior to admission:

• English Language Test (see Note 1)
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
• Reading and writing - 6.0
• Overall band score - 6.0
• CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) (University of Cambridge ESOL examination)
• Grade of C
• CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) (University of Cambridge ESOL examination)
• Grade of C
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• TOEFL iBT (internet based test) - 80 with no band less than 20
• TOEFL PBT (paper based test) - 550 with TWE (test of written English) of 4.5
• English Language Programs
• Successful completion of the CELUSA Academic English Program - Level 4
• Other qualifications
• Successful completion of a secondary qualification in Australia within the last two years; or
• Successful completion of at least one year of tertiary study in Australia within the last two years; or
• Successful completion of one year of secondary or tertiary study conducted and completed in English within the last two years in a country in which English is commonly used, as determined by the University (see Note 2).

Note 1:  Results from IELTS, University of Cambridge ESOL examinations and TOEFL are valid for two years.
Note 2:  The University, through UniSA International, maintains a list of countries where English is commonly used and which would satisfy this criterion. This may include particular educational institutions within a given non-English speaking country where English is the language of instruction.
Note 3:  Where previous study was conducted in English, the application must be accompanied by certified documentation from the educational institution certifying that the language of instruction was English.

Content/structure

To qualify for the award, students must complete 108 units consisting of:

• the professional major of eight designated courses in International Relations (36 units)
• at least four International Studies courses (18 units)
• approved professional experience in Australia or overseas (9 or 18 units)
• professional specialisation courses chosen by students in International Studies, or in one or two languages, or in approved professional application courses (22 or 31.5 units)
• courses in Contemporary Aboriginal Issues and Intercultural Communication (9 units)
• Free Elective selected from undergraduate courses across the University (4.5 units).

Eligible students may include the Honours Preparation course as an International Studies or professional specialisation elective.

Professional Recognition

Graduates may apply for membership, at an appropriate level, of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.

Graduates may apply for membership, at an appropriate level, of the Royal Australian Institute of Public Administration.

Graduates may apply for membership, at an appropriate level, of the Australasian Political Studies Association.

Honours

A separate one year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) program is available and may be undertaken by students who complete an International Relations professional major with a credit or higher grade point average.

Fee information

Program requirements

Rules

1. Students may transfer from a double degree which includes the Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) to the Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) degree.
2. Credit may be granted for relevant studies completed at a recognised tertiary educational institution, including cross-institutional language studies, a program of approved overseas study or approved TAFE qualifications. The maximum credit granted is 72 units.
3. Credit may be granted for graduates of a recognised degree in any field who gain entry into the Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) program. The award requires the successful completion of the Professional Major in International Relations and four International Studies electives. Graduates may be given full credit for International Studies courses completed as part of their previous degree. The maximum credit granted is 72 units.

Notes

1. The Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) comprises the following six components: 

MBIL Degree/Program component:		Unit value
1. Professional Major (8 designated courses).	The required courses in the professional major in International Relations are: POLI 1015 Understanding World Politics POLI 1010 Introduction to International Relations POLI 1014 Global Societies POLI 2020 Globalisation and Regionalism POLI 2011 World Order: Theoretical Interrogations POLI 2022 Islam and World Politics POLI 3012 Contemporary International Political Economy POLI 3011 Global Security and Sustainability.	(36 units)
2. International Studies Minor	Four courses (18 units) must be chosen from the International Studies Major to complete the International Studies Minor. Other courses may be substituted with approval of the Program Director. Further study in the International Studies major may be undertaken as part of the Professional Specialisation component.	(18 units)
3. Professional experience Students have 3 choices within a 9 or 18 unit professional experience component.	The professional experience component of this program may be fulfilled by completing one of the following: · POLI 3014 Hawke Ambassador International Volunteer Experience (18 units) or · International Study Experience (18 units) or · POLI 3013 Australian Professional Experience internship or structured work experience (9 units)	(9 or 18 units)
4. Professional Specialisation: Students may choose courses for the professional specialisation component within 3 categories: International Studies, or languages or career application courses (see Note 2)	·Not more than 18 units of approved career application courses or ·One or more approved sequences of language courses, or ·Not more than 18 more units of International Studies courses.	(22.5 or 31.5 units)
5. Other required courses for a three year MBIL degree.	·HUMS 1034 Contemporary Aboriginal Issues ·LANG 1054 Intercultural Communication	(9 units)

6. One Free Elective

·selected from undergraduate courses across the University

(4.5 units)

2.  Professional Specialisation

The Professional Specialisation consists of 5 courses (22.5 units) for students undertaking International Volunteer Experience or International Study Experience, or 7 courses (31.5 units) for students undertaking Australian Professional Experience. Students may choose courses for the professional specialisation component in International Studies, or languages or career application options. None of the three options is compulsory.

The Professional Specialisation component of the program may be met by:

a)  Completion of not more than four additional courses (18 units) in International Studies, for a maximum of eight courses (36 units) in International Studies. Eligible students may include the Honours Preparation course as a Professional Specialisation elective.

b)  Completion of not more than five courses (22.5 units) in a Language Other Than English. Arabic, French, Italian and Japanese are available at the University of South Australia see majors homepage, Chinese and German at the University of Adelaide and Modern Greek, Indonesian and Spanish at Flinders University. Other languages are available by cross-institutional enrolment with the approval of the Program Director. Students from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds may choose up to 18 units of courses in English as an Additional Language. Students may choose to combine 22.5 units of language choices in professional specialisation with a free elective in a language and additional courses in a Language Other Than English as part of their International Study Experience for the maximum of ten courses (45 units) of language studies.

c)  Students may choose to complete a (27 unit or 36 unit) Area Specialisation as a Professional Specialisation, by combining Asian or European language courses with appropriate Asian or European regionally focused International Studies courses.

d)  Completion of not more than four career application courses (18 units) from one of the minor sequences listed in the Program Handbook, including choices in the fields of business, communication, management, marketing, public relations,  sociology, or tourism. Other minor sequences may be chosen with the approval of the Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) Program Director.

e)  Students who for their professional specialisation choose a language or any other discipline requiring sequential enrolment will need to seek enrolment advice from the Program Support Officer to prepare a program study plan.

3.  Free Elective

All students complete at least one Free Elective as part of their undergraduate program. See undergraduate elective courses.

Program director/s

• Dr David Lundberg (MBIL - International Studies)

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