976001 Foundations in International Studies

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2015 is available in the Archives.

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Description

The aim of this subject is to provide students with an understanding of and introductory level skills in the key International Studies practice of intercultural communication based on learning about and critical reflection on different societies. The subject is taught from various disciplinary perspectives including cultural studies, history and political economy. The objectives are to develop effective academic presentation as well as the research and writing skills necessary to make informed arguments within International Studies to prepare students for the writing and presentation techniques used in the contemporary society and in-country study subjects in the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies.

Subject objectives

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The subject contributes to the following BAIS Course Intended Learning Outcomes (and the FASS Graduate Attributes)

1. Professional Readiness

1.1. Graduates will have the capacity to operate appropriately in intercultural professional contexts

1.2. Graduates will demonstrate the application of international knowledge as adaptable, flexible and resourceful practitioners

1.3. Graduates will have a broad and coherent understanding of the historical, political, cultural, social and economic situations of their host country

2. Critical and Creative Inquiry

2.1. Graduates will be able to creatively design and conduct independent, engaged and ethical research in and about other cultural contexts and societies

2.2. Graduates will possess critical problem-solving and research-led analytical skills in international and intercultural change

3. International and Intercultural Engagement

3.1 Graduates will be able to personally reflect upon the relationship between diverse cultures in Australia while confidently engaging with cultures overseas, particularly in this region

4. Indigenous Competencies

4.1, Graduates have the capacity to reflect upon and contextualise Indigenous peoples’ experiences and circumstances

5. Active Citizenship

5.1. As informed and engaged international citizens graduates will demonstrate cosmopolitan openness, with an awareness of, and commitment to, ethical practices

6. Effective Communication

6.1. Graduates will possess a high-level of oral and written communication skills in English and at least one other language

Teaching and learning strategies

International Studies as it is taught in the BAIS constitutes a practice of interculturalcommunication based on learning about and critical reflection on different societies. In this subject students establish competencies in the basic concepts of International Studies and some of the methodological skills needed for future assignments – reading and thinking critically, building an argument, and using academic and non-academic materials in research.

Learning is based on students preparing for classes each week through lectures, set readings and online materials. Students then extend this learning in class, through structured learning activities, class discussion and workshopping of assignments. In the assignments students extend their learning further, and demonstrate their capacities in relation to the subject learning objectives.

This is an 8 credit point subject comprising weekly modular delivery: every week there will be a two-hour tutorial and independent study. Most weeks there is also a one-hour lecture.

Students are expected to do 12-14 hours of study per week per 8cp subject at UTS. In this subject the rough weekly breakdown is

as follows:

1 hour lecture OR viewing of specified online materials

Tutorial 2 hours

Reading and note-taking 5-6 hours

Preparation for Group Presentation 2-3 hours

Preparation for Essay Plan and Essay 3-4 hours

Content

The international sysem, states, nationalities, the United Nations, other transnational actors, NGOs and businesses. Process of globalization. Indigenous peoples.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Essay Plan: Thesis & Procedure Statements and Annotated Bibliography

Assessment task 2: Group Presentation: Worldviews and Indigenous Peoples

Assessment task 3: Weekly Quiz

Assessment task 4: Essay

Minimum requirements

Students must achieve a total of at least 50% on the combined total of marks from the graded assessment tasks. Students may fail even if their total is 50% or more if they fail an assessment task that relates to an essential requirement of the subject (see Subject Objectives and Contribution to Course Aims and Graduate Attributes in this Subject Outline) that is not assessed in another task in the subject.

Required texts

Essential readings for each week's classes are listed in the weekly program in this Subject Outline.

Most weeks one of the essential readings will be a chapter from the subject text: Smallman, S. and Brown, K. 2011. Introduction to International and Global Studies University of North Carolina Press, USA. ISBN: 9780807871751. There are 10 copies of this book in the Library, that may be borrowed for free. It is available to buy at the Coop Bookshop Broadway: Non-Members: $57.95, Members: $52.73.

The rest of the essential readings are free to download from the UTS Library Subject Resources eReadings for the subject, or are available freely on the web via the URL in the subject outline. They may also be bought as a Course Notes from the Union Shop (CN number and price to be posted in UTSOnline when available).

References

Please see the list of readings for each week in the Program section of the Subject Outline.