Like most states, New Zealand depends for its security and prosperity on regional and international stability. Its political, economic and societal well-being can be affected by, for example, major power relations; global financial crisis; and the rise of violent extremist non-state actors and the responses to them. As a good international citizen, New Zealand seeks to play a role in the international institutions which try to uphold international law and order and to contribute to international stabilisation operations in various countries.
Given the significance of such issues, International Relations and Security Studies is available as a specialisation within the Political Science major.
Career opportunities
- Diplomat
- Foreign Policy Analyst
- International Defence Relations Officer
- National Assessments Bureau
- National and International NGOs
- New Zealand Defence Force Officer
- Security and Intelligence Officer
Qualifications
Study International Relations and Security Studies in any of these qualifications
Papers
Level 1
| Introduction to International Relations | IRSST103 | 15.0 Points |
| Playing Politics: Conflict, Co-operation and Choice | POLSC100 | 15.0 Points |
Level 2
| The US and the World | IRSST229 | 15.0 Points |
| Terrorism, Violence and the State | POLSC224 | 15.0 Points |
Level 3
| Cyber Security and the Global Politics of the Internet | IRSS331 | 20.0 Points |
Prescriptions for the PGCert(IRSSt), PGDip(IRSSt) and MA
To complete the Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Security Studies, students must complete at least 120 points from the following papers, including at least two of LAWS576, POLS502, POLS506 or POLS527.
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MA in International Relations and Security Studies, a student should have completed either:
a) a BA or BSocSc in Political Science (or equivalent) and have gained at least a B+ average in either the best three of their 300 level Political Science papers or all of their undergraduate Political Science papers, or
b) a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Security Studies or a bachelors degree with Honours in Political Science (or equivalent) and have gained at least a B+ average across all 500 level papers.
Completion requirements for the MA in International Relations and Security Studies vary according to admission criteria:
All students must take at least two of LAWS576, POLS502, POLS506 or POLS527 (unless these have already been taken as part of an earlier qualification) and complete either a dissertation or a thesis.
Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including either a 120 point thesis, or a 90 point thesis or a 60 point dissertation.
Students admitted under b) above must complete a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis and a further 30 points from approved 500 level papers, or a 60 point dissertation and a further 60 points from approved 500 level papers.
To be considered for enrolment in a dissertation or thesis, all students must have completed at least 60 points from approved 500 level papers and have gained at least a B average to be admitted to POLS592, at least a B+ average to be admitted to POLS593 and at least an A- average to be admitted to POLS594.
| Tribes, Empires, Nations | ANTH520 | 15.0 Points |
| International Trade: Theory and Policy Issues | ECON531 | 15.0 Points |
| International Finance and Open Economy Macroeconomics | ECON532 | 15.0 Points |
| International Security, Strategy and Technology | IRSST505 | 15.0 Points |
| Cyber Security and Cyber Warfare | IRSST507 | 15.0 Points |
| International Environmental Law | LEGAL531 | 30.0 Points |
| The Laws of Armed Conflict & International Humanitarian Law | LEGAL576 | 30.0 Points |
| Security Issues in South East Asia | POLS502 | 30.0 Points |
| Democratisation, Democracy and Mass Politics | POLS503 | 30.0 Points |
| International Relations and Global Security | POLS506 | 30.0 Points |
| Environmental Politics and Public Policy | POLS537 | 30.0 Points |
| Directed Study | POLS590 | 30.0 Points |
| Dissertation | POLS591 | 30.0 Points |
| Dissertation | POLS592 | 60.0 Points |
| Political Science Thesis | POLS593 | 90.0 Points |
| Political Science Thesis | POLS594 | 120.0 Points |
Subject links
Contacts
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
General & Undergraduate Enquiries:
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4702
Email: irss-fass@waikato.ac.nz
Graduate Enquiries:
Email: irss-grad@waikato.ac.nz