International Studies (1 Viewer)

[HoMeWoRkRuLeZ]

hey guys,

I'm a year 12 student who is very interested in doing the new International Studies course being offered at Sydney Uni. Just was wondering if anyone from this board does it? If so, what's it like?

Thanks a lot.

 

[stazi]

if you are government/political minded then it will be a good course for you. If not, you won't enjoy it

 

[Meldrum]

What can you do with it post-uni?

 

[stazi]

politics, foreign affairs etc.

 

[korry]

I do this course and its pretty good if you're into relations between countries, politics, government related stuff or even like economics.

In the hand books and stuff they list a few career opportunities, but really we don't know because its a new course, but like wikiwiki said, probably government roles or working in the business sector.

I quite like it, and you don't have to do a lot of hours, I only do 13 a week.

 

[cimbom]

Would it be better to combine this course with a bachelor of arts in say, communication, afterwards? Because just B. International Studies sounds pretty limited... where do they send you for internships? I'm so interested in doing this course as well , it's at UNSW too but goes for 4 years.

 

[korry]

at the moment they don't have international studies combined with anything, though I think they will offer it with law next year.

From what I know, the course at UNSW is more focused on arts...and i think its compulsory to do a language or something, but at USYD thats not the case....a language is only 'recommended' and you get to do Eco&Bus subjects and Arts too

 

[stazi]

korry. he said combine it with something afterwards, not consecutively.

 

[cimbom]

okay, almost four months on hehe.

yeah, that's because at UNSW it's within the arts faculty. so my first preference is b. international studies at USYD, second is b. economic and social sciences at USYD. i might not do a post- graduate degree, it depends upon what 'vocational' skills i think i might need, like journalism. but i really hope to major in political economy and be able to complete honours within that study, fourth- year thesis.

 

[jawjayo]

there are heaps of career prospects for international studies (to name but a very few): roles in international organisations including IGOs from the UN, WTO, IMF to smaller ones like the IWC etc., and NGOs like Amnesty, Greenpeace etc., international economist, translator, politician, academic, policy advisor, diplomat, development advisor to a developing country ...
who knows, the possibilities are endless.

My suggestion if you are serious about doing International Studies is to consider the degree at UNSW (which is far more established unlike the very new Usyd degree and far more respected out in the workplace - an indication that a UAI cutoff means very little). Also consider one of the specialist Arts degrees at ANU.

 

[cimbom]

i have considered b. international studies at UNSW and Macquarie University as well, but the fact that at those universities it is within the arts faculty rather than in the economics and business faculty at USYD to me makes it more relevant to units of study such as... social policy, political economy.... At the University of Sydney outside of the core units of study like economics as a social science, geopolitics etc. optional units of study do come from arts like languages and history as well. Like, what i'm saying, is that even though the undergraduate course itself is not as established as UNSW's course, disciplines of government and international relations, econometrics etc. are. Thankyou for your help , i really appreciate it.

 

[jawjayo]

yes... hence why we have the australian social policy research centre if we're so crap at social science and have a highly regarded degree in criminology... such markings of failure ??????
oh and cimbom. We have to do economics subjects, i just did the compulsory global studies subject Australian Political Economy last semester and in first semester i did social science and policy. There are compulsory ones on International political economic theory etc. throughout the degree. Although we're situated in the arts building, we are just as much a law and economics based degree.

 

[stazi]

Political economy isn't an economics subject. It's a political economy subject. Social science and policy isn't an economics subject either. It's a political science/social science subject.
You're not a law degree at all.

 

[cimbom]

yes... hence why we have the australian social policy research centre if we're so crap at social science and have a highly regarded degree in criminology... such markings of failure ??????
oh and cimbom. We have to do economics subjects, i just did the compulsory global studies subject Australian Political Economy last semester and in first semester i did social science and policy. There are compulsory ones on International political economic theory etc. throughout the degree. Although we're situated in the arts building, we are just as much a law and economics based degree.

listen, i'm not saying unsw is crap at social science. i considered an economics degree at UNSW for a very long time because i heard from so many that it was the best. i considered b. international studies at UNSW as well, too, for a very long time. i really do not know that much, you being a university student yourself your knowledge of UNSW's social- science related courses, if you want to call them that, is far superior to mine. it just seems to me, at this time, with all that i have heard and read and learnt, that even though UNSW's international studies degree requires studies of economic policy etc., it is still within arts, without a more concentrated focus on economics and business as USYD has. Criminology and law i guess is excluded from USYD's b. international studies degree, and that's probably advantageous in comparison to UNSW's broader degree of 'social sciences'.

For example, I heard Professor Frank Stilwell speak today at an intro. to Political Economy lecture- and it's things like USYD's unique recognition of the fact that economics is politics is world history... that strengthens my respect and admiration for the faculty and makes me want to study there even more. My "thanyou for your help, I really appreciate it" was genuine, i truly do appreciate all your advice, when right now i haven't experienced any university study at all, your comments are valued .

... ok, thankyou Henry Kissinger, your answer is "i am not trolling" . i just got your "way to steal my career path..." etc. mixed up with your serious truths of USYD.

 

[stazi]

Did you love Frank He's the greatest man alive. I'm going to his lectures again next year just for fun

 

[cimbom]

Did you love Frank He's the greatest man alive. I'm going to his lectures again next year just for fun

He was fantastic! I loved his overhead- "mini political economy lecture, by Frank Stilwell"... "just 15 min. long, that's all we have time for" hehe. So he does undergraduate definitely?

 

[stazi]

he does the first semester, first year subject. then he does an honours prep unit. I wish he did more. *sigh*
I haven't met anyone who wasnt deeply in love with him.

 

[cimbom]

k, thanks .

 

[~shinigami~]

if you are government/political minded then it will be a good course for you. If not, you won't enjoy it

What if I'm interested in the it because of the prospect of learning languages and perhaps the business subjects?

Does the BInSt give me a chance at perhaps working at a international business/corporation? Marketing?

I know someone gave a comprehensive list of career prospects but what I am really interested in is, are there any prospects in the private sector within businesses, banks, companies etc?

I know people always say not to choose a degree for the potential money. If BInSt will allow me to study langauges which is my passion, I will do it but I would also like to know if it will lead me anywhere career wise. What is the starting salary for graduates of BInSt? If there are any statistics at all.

Though am I correct in saying that the UNSW BInSt would suit me more if my goal was to study languages? But in saying that, what if my goal was also business orientated? I've heard that USyd is superior in that aspect.

Thanks in advance for any insights or answers.