Bachelor of Arts (Honours) major in Politics and International Relations

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You can study a range of important political problems, from questions about multiculturalism, democracy and climate governance to human rights, conflict and public policy.

Postgraduate study in Politics and International Relations
By taking a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Master of Arts in Politics and International Relations you can design a course of study that is suited to your own research interests and career goals.
We offer postgraduate courses across the main strands of Politics and International Relations:
- International relations
- Political theory
- Politics and the media
- Comparative politics
- Public policy
Our courses emphasise topical issues such as human rights, international terrorism and security, diplomacy, multicultural identity, political marketing, leadership, and politics and the media. Wherever possible, we encourage you to undertake supervised research.

Politics and International Relations can give you the tools to be successful in both the public and private sectors. Our graduates have become public servants, politicians, diplomats, entrepreneurs, business and marketing executives, consultants, policy analysts, journalists and members of international and non-governmental organisations.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Politics and International Relations
A BA or Bachelor of Global Studies with a major in Political Studies or Politics and International Relations. You must have a Grade Point Average of 5.0 or higher in 45 points above Stage II in the major.
The following subjects may also be considered for entry: Anthropology, Business, Communication, Economics, Gender Studies, Governance, History, Law, Media, Organisational Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Health, Public Management, Public Policy, Social Geography, Social Sciences, Sociology.

Complete 120 points comprising:

90 points from Elective Courses, and
Either:
30 points for all Research Project - 1 Semester, or
30 points for all Research Project - 2 Semesters

Elective Courses

Complete exactly 90 points from the following:

PACIFIC 717 - Pacific Policies, Pacific Peoples (15 points)

PACIFIC 718 - Pacific Policies, Pacific Peoples (30 points)

POLICY 701 - Policy Analysis and Evaluation (15 points)

POLICY 702 - Economics of Policy (15 points)

POLICY 742 - Statistics and Data Analysis for Policy (30 points)

POLITICS 701 - Research Design in Empirical Political Inquiry (15 points)

POLITICS 702 - Transitional Justice: From Retribution to Reconciliation (15 points)

POLITICS 704 - Political Management in Government (15 points)

POLITICS 706 - International Relations in Asia (15 points)

POLITICS 708 - Theorising International Relations (15 points)

POLITICS 709 - Political Extremism (15 points)

POLITICS 710 - The Security-Development Nexus (15 points)

POLITICS 711 - Bodies in/at War (15 points)

POLITICS 722 - Special Topic (15 points)

POLITICS 724 - Identity and the Politics of Multiculturalism (15 points)

POLITICS 731 - The Engendering of Global Conflict (15 points)

POLITICS 733 - Special Topic (15 points)

POLITICS 737 - Directed Research (15 points)

POLITICS 737A - Directed Research (7.5 points)

POLITICS 737B - Directed Research (7.5 points)

POLITICS 740 - Revolutions, Ideas and Media (15 points)

POLITICS 741 - Ethics and Health Policy (15 points)

POLITICS 750 - International Relations and Human Rights (15 points)

POLITICS 756 - New Zealand Government (15 points)

POLITICS 757 - Comparative Public Policy (15 points)

POLITICS 770 - Ethnic Conflict and Civil War (15 points)

POLITICS 774 - Politics-Policy Internship (30 points)

POLITICS 775 - Special Topic (30 points)

POLITICS 776 - Media and Politics in an Age of Globalisation (15 points)

POLITICS 777 - Politics of Terrorism and Counterterrorism (15 points)

Research Project - 1 Semester

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

POLITICS 780 - Research Project (30 points)

Research Project - 2 Semesters

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

POLITICS 780A - Research Project (15 points)

POLITICS 780B - Research Project (15 points)