Students demonstrating successful completion of relevant studies at other tertiary institutions prior to enrolment may be granted advanced standing for those studies, in accordance with current UWS policy.
Assumed knowledge: two units of Band 4 HSC English
Recommended studies: HSC English Standard, or equivalent
Applications from Australian citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre.
International applicants must apply directly to the University of Western Sydney via UWS International.
Students must complete the four BA core units:
Australia and the World
This unit introduces students to Australia’s history, its political structures and processes and its relationship to the world. It offers an understanding of Australia as part of a worldwide process of European colonisation, and the struggles of space and land involved in this process. The unit offers an introduction to the Westminster system and also explores Australia’s historical and contemporary relations with Japan, China, Indonesia, the United States and Great Britain.
Analytical Reading and Writing
This unit aims to develop and refine students' skills in analytical writing, critical reasoning and the analysis of argument. It aims to develop students' understanding of how arguments are made, along with their ability to analyse and evaluate arguments, while at the same time helping them develop the capacity to make sophisticated arguments in essay form. Sample topics from which students can choose include: advanced database use, Endnote, techniques of analysis, punctuation, grammar, and advanced Internet use.
Texts and Traditions
Students will be introduced to one or more literary traditions in relation to their cultural and linguistic contexts, for example: The Western literary tradition from ancient Greek epic and drama to twentieth-century English literature,diasporic literary traditions surveying writings about America, Europe, the Middle East or Indian subcontinent, or colonial and postcolonial world literatures, including Australia; or the literatures of the Spanish or Arabic-speaking worlds.
Contemporary Society
Contemporary Society introduces students to central issues in social analysis and a range of perspectives that have been used to understand the social world. It provides them with a theoretical grounding in the central concepts and methods of social theory through an encounter with problems raised when social theory directly engages with practical problems such as racism, environmentalism, inequality etc.
Students must also complete units in the following, as per the chosen course structure:
Major
Asian Studies and International Relations
Sub-major
A sub-major in a language other than English (Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Japanese or Spanish) may be undertaken in conjunction with the major.
Bankstown campus
Arabic
Chinese
Japanese
Italian
Spanish
Parramatta campus
Chinese
Japanese
B International Studies Summary Course Structure without Study Abroad Beginner’s Level of Language Skills
Year 1
Autumn session
BA Core unit
BA Core unit
Level 1 Language unit
Asia in the World
This unit introduces Asian Studies and International Relations. Considering both traditional and contemporary times, it seeks to place Asia’s diverse cultures in a global context. It examines issues such as how to define Asia, how Asian states related to each other, and how Western ideas of international relations have transformed these relations. The unit has two strands, each considering a set of ideas. First it examines the great religions/philosophies of Asian societies – Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Confucianism – have influenced them. It then considers international relations theory and how theories can help us understand the complexities of Asian states’ relations with each other and the wider world.
Spring session
BA Core unit
BA Core unit
Level 1 Language unit
Elective
Year 2
Autumn session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2 Language unit
Elective
Spring session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2 Language unit
Elective
Year 3
Autumn session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Elective
Elective
Spring session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Elective
Elective
Elective
B International Studies Summary Course Structure Study Abroad semester option for students with Beginner’s Level of Language Skills
Year 1
Autumn session
BA Core unit
BA Core unit
Level 1 Language unit
Asia in the World
This unit introduces Asian Studies and International Relations. Considering both traditional and contemporary times, it seeks to place Asia’s diverse cultures in a global context. It examines issues such as how to define Asia, how Asian states related to each other, and how Western ideas of international relations have transformed these relations. The unit has two strands, each considering a set of ideas. First it examines the great religions/philosophies of Asian societies – Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Confucianism – have influenced them. It then considers international relations theory and how theories can help us understand the complexities of Asian states’ relations with each other and the wider world.
Spring session
BA Core unit
BA Core unit
Level 1 Language unit
Elective
Year 2
Autumn session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2 Language unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Spring session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2 Language unit
Elective
Year 3
Autumn session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Elective
Elective
Spring session
Study Abroad semester
B International Studies Summary Course Structure without Study Abroad Intermediate or Advanced Level of Language Skills
Year 1
Autumn session
BA Core unit
BA Core unit
Level 2 Language unit
Asia in the World
This unit introduces Asian Studies and International Relations. Considering both traditional and contemporary times, it seeks to place Asia’s diverse cultures in a global context. It examines issues such as how to define Asia, how Asian states related to each other, and how Western ideas of international relations have transformed these relations. The unit has two strands, each considering a set of ideas. First it examines the great religions/philosophies of Asian societies – Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Confucianism – have influenced them. It then considers international relations theory and how theories can help us understand the complexities of Asian states’ relations with each other and the wider world.
Spring session
BA Core unit
BA Core unit
Elective
Elective
Year 2
Autumn session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2 Language unit
Elective
Elective
Spring session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 3 Language unit
Elective
Year 3
Autumn session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 3 Language unit
Elective
Spring session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Elective
Elective
B International Studies Summary Course Structure with Year 2 Study Abroad semester option, for students with Intermediate or Advanced Level of Language Skills
Year 1
Autumn session
BA Core unit
BA Core unit
Level 2 Language unit
Asia in the World
This unit introduces Asian Studies and International Relations. Considering both traditional and contemporary times, it seeks to place Asia’s diverse cultures in a global context. It examines issues such as how to define Asia, how Asian states related to each other, and how Western ideas of international relations have transformed these relations. The unit has two strands, each considering a set of ideas. First it examines the great religions/philosophies of Asian societies – Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Confucianism – have influenced them. It then considers international relations theory and how theories can help us understand the complexities of Asian states’ relations with each other and the wider world.
Spring session
BA Core unit
BA Core unit
Level 2 Language unit
Elective
Year 2
Autumn session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 3 Language unit
Elective
Spring session
Study Abroad semester
Year 3
Autumn session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 3 Language unit
Elective
Spring session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Elective
B International Studies Summary Course Structure with Year 3 Study Abroad semester option, for students with Intermediate or Advanced Level of Language Skills
Year 1
Autumn session
BA Core unit
BA Core unit
Level 2 Language unit
Asia in the World
This unit introduces Asian Studies and International Relations. Considering both traditional and contemporary times, it seeks to place Asia’s diverse cultures in a global context. It examines issues such as how to define Asia, how Asian states related to each other, and how Western ideas of international relations have transformed these relations. The unit has two strands, each considering a set of ideas. First it examines the great religions/philosophies of Asian societies – Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Confucianism – have influenced them. It then considers international relations theory and how theories can help us understand the complexities of Asian states’ relations with each other and the wider world.
Spring session
BA Core unit
BA Core unit
Elective
Elective
Year 2
Autumn session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2 Language unit
Elective
Spring session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 3 Language unit
Elective
Year 3
Autumn session
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Level 3 Language unit
Level 2/3 ASIR unit
Spring session
Study Abroad semester