B International Studies in 2006 (1 Viewer)

[acceber]

Hi everyone!

I completed the HSC in 2004 and deferred this course for a year. I'm re-applying via UAC tomorrow to commence in 2006 but I have a couple of questions.

How viable is this course as a part-time option? I'm financially independent and work full time, can I do the course over say, 6 years? How many UOC is each subject? What is the recommended load for part-time students? Am I able to do lectures/tutes/seminars at night?

Also, has the course changed recently? I was taking a look at the online UNSW handbook and saw a link for a Development Studies stream? I was initially looking to do Global Studies but this new one sounds pretty interesting.

Any help much appreciated, thanks in advance!

 

[acceber]

I just noticed the Development Studies is listed as an "Area of Specialisation" just like the Asian/Global/European streams but it says on the faculty website that it's an "inter-disciplinary program".

What is that?

 

[jawjayo]

i rckn if you did it part time you'll be bored out of your brain with only 6 hours at uni (or 2 if you're lazy) and end up dropping out... but hey, that's just me. You get so much more out of doing it full time - particularly on the social side as you have more classes to see people in and become friends... anyway...
Subjects are 6 units of credit for first year - so part time you take 2 usually. normally arts subjects are 3 hours of which most frequently 2 hours is non-compulsory lectures (which if your lucky you can listen to online) and 1 hour of compulsory tutorial. Languages are more often 5-6 hours. Therefore, you have 14-15 hours per week at uni and are expected to spend alot of time doing your own reading yadayadayada. Most first-year subjects aren't offered at night except for economics or sociology courses and some languages offer afternoons. Eg. international relations (which is kind of like your core subject unless you choose history) is on from 10am-12 with tutorials not rostered on later than 4.
In terms of interdisciplinary - you do everything from a range of faculties that is relevant - political economy, languages etc.etc.
You could probably work it out around work but it would be hard

 

[Meldrum]

I've taken an interest in this subject, but is it a bit dull only studying one country?

 

[fleepbasding]

Well. there is the "global" option... or was it "globalisation"... I can't really remember.

 

[*sarah*]

I've taken an interest in this subject, but is it a bit dull only studying one country?

You dont only study one country! ive got some friends doing this in european studies EUROPEAN ie u study europe, not just france or wateva. if u choose to become more specialised thats up to u. plus u have to do world history or international relations (right?) which is completely GLOBALY focused

 

[ohne]

I don't think it would be possible to work full-time unless all of your courses were at night. You could probably work 3-4 days per week while studying full-time, however, if you're timetable was favourable and you only attended where absolutely necessary.

 

[jawjayo]

yeah gavrillo it's nothing like UTS where you only study one country. When we say international studies we actually mean international studies.

 

[Meldrum]

Ahhhhhhh, thanks!

See, that makes sense

 

[Miliux]

Okay speak up!

I'm doing B International Studies (1st year). I can answer your questions if ya have any queries.

 

[fleepbasding]

Okay speak up!

I'm doing B International Studies (1st year). I can answer your questions if ya have any queries.

what is the exam:assesment/essays ratio? or in % terms.

what stream do you do? What is that stream like? is the water clean and pure?

 

[Miliux]

I'm doing Global studies stream

Most assessments are actually assessments (essays). There will always be final and mid course exams. But the bulk is the actual take home assessment.

Only 4 subjects. 12 hours of contact a week. It is not too hard to get good marks. Here's a thought, before the assessment tasks are handed out they tell ya how to structure an 'essay' and good points what they want to see. However, they don't spoonfeed you.

All the assessment tasks are in the course outline given to you at the beginning of the subject. This means you have months of time to prepare for. First year average word count 2000-2500. Don't bother pagarising also.

Water is very clean and pure. Remember you'll be doing double major. International Relations and a language. Trust me, people who are capable of getting 90 UAI can easily flog this course with one hand tied to back.

 

[jawjayo]

miliux, what the hell are you doing if you're a first year student?! half of what you just told that kid was wrong!

First of all, almost everybody has to do 15 hours. Generally arts subjects are 3 hours, but almost all languages are 6 hours and you have to do a language in first year even if you are doing the global stream. So you are most likely to have 15 hours. However, some people choose to do 2 languages and end up with 18 hours. Get it?!

Second, we don't have majors in international studies at unsw anymore except in the sense that the stream is your major. Particularly if you are doing the global stream, you do not have to continue with a language and many people don't have enough credit units to qualify for a major in a language at the end of their degree because they have chosen other 'global-related' subjects such as development subjects, social policy etc.etc. So no, you don't have to have a major in a language. Also, you are given a choice in first year between international relations and history. Many of my friends have chosen history and have no intention of studying international relations except for the one compulsory semester in 3rd year on international security. So again, you won't necessarily end up with enough credit points to qualify for a major in international relations like you would in an arts degree.


I'm also a first year global stream student. The course is interesting and challenging if you are aiming for High Ds. However, be aware that there is a substantial amount of general economics involved in both the global and development streams.
any other queries feel free to ask, and also, miliux, feel free to argue with me.

 

[moffie_bottom]

miliux, what the hell are you doing if you're a first year student?! half of what you just told that kid was wrong!

First of all, almost everybody has to do 15 hours. Generally arts subjects are 3 hours, but almost all languages are 6 hours and you have to do a language in first year even if you are doing the global stream. So you are most likely to have 15 hours. However, some people choose to do 2 languages and end up with 18 hours. Get it?!

Second, we don't have majors in international studies at unsw anymore except in the sense that the stream is your major. Particularly if you are doing the global stream, you do not have to continue with a language and many people don't have enough credit units to qualify for a major in a language at the end of their degree because they have chosen other 'global-related' subjects such as development subjects, social policy etc.etc. So no, you don't have to have a major in a language. Also, you are given a choice in first year between international relations and history. Many of my friends have chosen history and have no intention of studying international relations except for the one compulsory semester in 3rd year on international security. So again, you won't necessarily end up with enough credit points to qualify for a major in international relations like you would in an arts degree.


I'm also a first year global stream student. The course is interesting and challenging if you are aiming for High Ds. However, be aware that there is a substantial amount of general economics involved in both the global and development streams.
any other queries feel free to ask, and also, miliux, feel free to argue with me.

Hi

I'm really interested in doing this course next year... however, I was wondering what exact sort of jobs the degree qualifies you for? I know it partly depends on what area you go for...

 

[jawjayo]

life is what you make it. this isnt a vocational degree. you could do anything and be anything - economist, aid worker, politician, diplomat, policy analyst, academic, international business entrepreneur, CEO of own developed NGO, interpreter - any nice job 'label' fits. however, you'll find that lots of people doing the degree don't know and arent particularly concerned by the 'types' of jobs out there. they're more interested in creating social change by taking the lead instead of following the well-worn career footsteps of others.

 

[moffie_bottom]

life is what you make it. this isnt a vocational degree. you could do anything and be anything - economist, aid worker, politician, diplomat, policy analyst, academic, international business entrepreneur, CEO of own developed NGO, interpreter - any nice job 'label' fits. however, you'll find that lots of people doing the degree don't know and arent particularly concerned by the 'types' of jobs out there. they're more interested in creating social change by taking the lead instead of following the well-worn career footsteps of others.

Sounds like the sort of degree for me, then.

I don't have a definite direction of where I want to go and what I want to do...but this course looks extremely useful.

Is there any part of the course that you particularly enjoy/dislike? How are the lecturers?

Just out of curiousity.

 

[jawjayo]

personally i love the language i'm doing - chinese - . The lecturers and tutors for it are so nice and helpful and they think we're hilarious with our anglo accents. Doing a language is great, because its one of the few arts subjects where you actually have enough hours to get to know people. subs like politics where you have a 2 hour lecture and a one hour tute don't really let you get to know ppl too well unless you really hit it off . but all in all i love this course particularly the scepticism towards politics. everything is analysed in depth and you get a much greater appreciation of the evvvillll workings of the world at large - particularly globalisation *plays Jaws theme music*...

 

[Miliux]

miliux, what the hell are you doing if you're a first year student?! half of what you just told that kid was wrong!

First of all, almost everybody has to do 15 hours. Generally arts subjects are 3 hours, but almost all languages are 6 hours and you have to do a language in first year even if you are doing the global stream. So you are most likely to have 15 hours. However, some people choose to do 2 languages and end up with 18 hours. Get it?!

Second, we don't have majors in international studies at unsw anymore except in the sense that the stream is your major. Particularly if you are doing the global stream, you do not have to continue with a language and many people don't have enough credit units to qualify for a major in a language at the end of their degree because they have chosen other 'global-related' subjects such as development subjects, social policy etc.etc. So no, you don't have to have a major in a language. Also, you are given a choice in first year between international relations and history. Many of my friends have chosen history and have no intention of studying international relations except for the one compulsory semester in 3rd year on international security. So again, you won't necessarily end up with enough credit points to qualify for a major in international relations like you would in an arts degree.


I'm also a first year global stream student. The course is interesting and challenging if you are aiming for High Ds. However, be aware that there is a substantial amount of general economics involved in both the global and development streams.
any other queries feel free to ask, and also, miliux, feel free to argue with me.

I only do 12 hours a week. Get Thursday and Fridays off. Yeah, what i mean by majors are streams...it does get interesting but some of the lectures are dead boring. Most don't bother attending lectures because they're online. The only time you see full capacity crowd is on exams and first week.