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| Head of School, Associate Professor Gillian Whitehouse |
Welcome to the School of Political Science and International Studies. The School is at the forefront of teaching and research in political science in Australia and also enjoys a strong international reputation.
We offer a wide range of courses in public policy, Australian politics, international relations, peace and conflict studies, political economy and political and social theory. Our courses are concerned with how we make sense of the world in which we live, the current challenges we face and how both Australian and international political institutions ought to respond to complex policy problems in an era of globalisation and rapid social change.
By studying in the School you can develop specialist skills in areas such as Australia's relations with other countries in the region, human rights and justice, Australia's place in the changing international economy, the media and politics, social inequality and unemployment, feminism and the changing role of women in society, international development, conflict resolution in the international arena, privatisation, deregulation and the role of the public sector, and political issues facing Queensland, Australian and international policy makers. Our courses also explore political philosophy, social theory and social science research methods.
The School of Political Science and International Studies presently offers courses across four specialist areas of study: Political Science, Governance and Public Policy, International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies.
Many students also study political science or international relations courses in connection with another major area of study. For example, students studying law, psychology, economics, social work, management or journalism find it beneficial to have a greater understanding of how to analyse public policy, of how the Australian political system works, and of the ethical and philosophical issues underlying political decision making.
The School of Political Science and International Studies has a very strong research and publication profile in Australia. The School's twenty-four academic staff members are all actively engaged in researching and publishing in their fields and this informs their teaching. Over the past three years some two dozen books and more than 160 chapters and articles in journals have been published by staff in the School. Presently our academic staff members supervise the research of 90 PhD candidates.
If you need assistance in planning your studies in the School of Political Science and International Studies please don't hesitate to contact us. We hope that you find your studies with the School both interesting and intellectually rewarding.
Internships and Exchange