Undergraduate Programme

  • International Studies is one of the most popular areas of study in the Faculty of Arts. Its strength lies in the fact that it is taught across multiple disciplines, allowing students to consider the most pressing issues facing the world today from a range of perspectives. The disciplinary perspectives that inform International Studies include Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Drama and Theatre Studies, Film and Television Studies, Geography, History, Literature, Philosophy, and Politics.

    Please visit our programme structure page for a full list of International Studies Units and Electives.

    By engaging in a cross-displinary inquiry of contemporary world issues, you will gain:

    • a knowledge of modern world history and politics
    • a grounding in current affairs and debates about the future
    • an understanding of who we are and how we got here.
    • high level skills in oral and written communication of complex ideas
    • analytical and problem-solving abilities
    • empathy and active engagement with alternative cultural contexts
    • experience in conducting research and writing, including the ability to locate, handle and synthesize large amounts of information
    • independence of mind, self-discipline and self-direction to work effectively under own initiative

    For details on some of our former students, see the bottom of this page.  Students interested in International Studies should also consider the Bachelor of Arts (Global), which is organised around a required study abroad component.

    First-year International Studies Units

    The following two units make up a first-year sequence:

    • Contemporary Worlds 1 (Semester 1) ATS1325
    • Contemporary Worlds 2 (Semester 2) ATS1326

    Second and third-year International Studies units

    A range of units are available at 2nd and 3rd year level for students choosing to progress to a major (8 units – 48 points) or minor (4 units – 24 points) in International Studies after completing Contemporary Worlds 1 and 2. Second and third-year units are taught by a range of schools in the faculty, creating a challenging cross-disciplinary curriculum for students. Detailed unit descriptions are available in the online handbook:

    Second and Third year units are taught by a range of schools in the faculty, creating a challenging cross-disciplinary curriculum for students.

    Units Taught by the School of Philosophical, Historical & International Studies

    Units Taught by the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics

    • Global cultures, local traditions: creating and consuming (popular) culture (ATS2627/ATS3627)

    Units Taught by the School of Political and Social Inquiry

    Units Taught by the School of Geography and Environmental Science

    • Power and poverty: International development in a globalised world (ATS2628)

    Visit the Handbook for detailed information about the International Studies major and minor.

    If you have any further questions regarding International Studies, visit our Course Advice page

    Studying overseas

    Monash encourages its students to take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad at our overseas campuses. The major in International Studies is taught at the Monash South Africa campus and the Sunway campus in Malaysia. Generous travel grants are available to students wishing to study at one of these campuses for a semester. As well as our overseas campuses, Monash has close to 100 exchange agreements with partner universities abroad.

    Visit our Monash abroad website for further information.

     

  • Past Students (Jessie Fisher)
    Jessie Fisher, International Studies major, Bachelor of Arts (Global) graduate, 2010 When I began the Bachelor of Arts (Global) I was looking for a degree that would give me the flexibility of an Arts degree as well as push me to explore beyond my comfort zone. The compulsory International Studies major allowed me to take units ... Read more
  • Past students (Keshia Jacotine)
    Keshia Jacotine, International Studies major, Bachelor of Arts (Global) graduate, 2010 I started at Monash in 2007.  I initially chose the Bachelor of Arts (Global) because I was drawn to the opportunity of going on exchange during my time as an undergraduate. I majored in International Studies and Politics, and I found that these two majors ... Read more