Course Learning Outcomes and Minimum Standards
A726 Master International Relations AQF Level 9
Deakin Graduate Learning
Outcomes
1. Disciplinespecific
knowledge and
capabilities:
appropriate to
the level of study
related to a
discipline or
profession.
AQF Masters degree Descriptor1
Knowledge: A body of knowledge that includes the
understanding of recent developments in a discipline
and/or area of professional practice.
Knowledge of research principles and methods
applicable to a field of work and/or learning.
AQF Level 9 (Masters Degree) Criteria*
Knowledge: Advanced and integrated
understanding of a complex body of
knowledge in one or more disciplines or
areas of practice.
Skills: will have expert, specialised
cognitive and technical skills in a body of
knowledge or practice to independently:
 research and apply established
theories to a body of knowledge or
Application of knowledge and skills: will demonstrate the
practice
application of knowledge and skills:
Skills: Cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of
theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory
and professional practice or scholarship.
 with creativity and initiative to new situations in
professional practice and/or further learning
 to plan and execute a substantial research-based
project, capstone experience and/or piece of
scholarship.
Discipline/
Professional
Standards
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
Minimum Standards
(relating to CLOs)
Note: ensure at appropriate AQF specifications
and criteria (see columns 2 & 3)
Use advanced and integrated
knowledge and understanding of
International Relatins to review,
research and analyse major theoretical,
conceptual and policy debates and
disputes pertaining to foreign policy,
conflict and security, international and
regional politics, globalisation, and
international law with reference to
empirical cases.
Demonstrate an advanced and
integrated knowledge of
International Relations theories,
knowledge and techniques to
research, and communicate an
understanding of, the international
forces and dynamics that shape
global politics, and their implications
at national, regional and
international levels.
Application of knowledge and skills: will
apply knowledge and skills to
demonstrate autonomy, expert
judgement, adaptability and
responsibility as a practitioner or learner
2. Communication:
using oral,
written and
interpersonal
communication
to inform,
motivate and
effect change. #
Skills: Communication (and technical research) skills to
justify and interpret theoretical propositions,
methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions
to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Skills: Expert, specialised cognitive and
technical skills in a body of knowledge or
practice to independently:
 interpret and transmit knowledge,
skills and ideas to specialist and non(Technical and) communication skills to design, evaluate,
specialist audiences.
implement, analyse and theorise about developments
that contribute to professional practice or scholarship.
Effectively communicate the findings
and analyses of International Relations
theories, concepts and their application
to real-world contexts, in a selection of
written, oral and digital formats, to a
range of audiences in professional and
academic contexts.
Demonstrate advanced
communication skills to
communicate ideas, arguments and
analyses in written, digital and oral
formats that meet academic and
practitioner standards to a diverse
range of audiences.
3. Digital literacy:
using
technologies to
find, use and
disseminate
information.
Skills: Communication and technical research skills to
justify and interpret theoretical propositions,
methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions
to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Employ a range of digital
communication technologies and
platforms appropriately to conduct
research, engage in debate,
communicate findings, and deliver
reports and presentations to a diverse
range of audiences.
Demonstrate the capacity to access
information using a variety of expert
search strategies including digital
technologies and relevant
information sources and to support
and develop research in scholarly
academic and professional contexts.
Technical and communication skills to design, evaluate,
implement, analyse and theorise about developments
that contribute to professional practice or scholarship.
1
Skills: Expert, specialised (cognitive and)
technical skills in a body of knowledge or
practice to independently:
 analyse critically, reflect on and
synthesise complex information,
problems, concepts and theories
 research and apply established
theories to a body of knowledge or
practice
 interpret and transmit knowledge,
skills and ideas to specialist and nonspecialist audiences.
The text in the 2nd and 3rd columns is taken directly from the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Second Edition January 2013 (www.aqf.edu.au). In relation to each of the Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLO), the full text from the AQF is reproduced. However, some concepts from the AQF
specifications may not apply to a particular Graduate Learning Outcome – in these cases, they have placed in parentheses.
A726 Master International Relations AQF Level 9
Deakin Graduate Learning
Outcomes
4. Critical thinking:
evaluating
information
using critical and
analytical
thinking and
judgment.
AQF Masters degree Descriptor1
Skills: Cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of
theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory
and professional practice or scholarship.
Cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate,
analyse and synthesise complex information, problems,
concepts and theories and to apply established theories
to different bodies of knowledge or practice.
Cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and
evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract
level.
(Communication and) Technical research skills to justify
and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies,
conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and
non-specialist audiences.
AQF Level 9 (Masters Degree) Criteria*
Skills: Expert, specialised cognitive and
technical skills in a body of knowledge or
practice to independently:
 analyse critically, reflect on and
synthesise complex information,
problems, concepts and theories
 research and apply established
theories to a body of knowledge or
practice
 interpret and transmit knowledge,
skills and ideas to specialist and nonspecialist audiences.
Discipline/
Professional
Standards
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
Note: ensure at appropriate AQF specifications
and criteria (see columns 2 & 3)
Analyse, critically evaluate and
synthesise theoretical
conceptualisations of international
politics and policy responses by a
range of actors in the context of the
changing international political
system.
Skills: Cognitive, technical and creative skills to
investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information,
problems, concepts and theories and to apply
established theories to different bodies of knowledge or
practice.
Cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and
evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract
level.
Cognitive and technical skills to design, evaluate,
implement, analyse and theorise about developments
that contribute to professional practice or scholarship.
Application of knowledge and skills: Will demonstrate
the application of knowledge and skills:
 with creativity and initiative to new situations in
professional practice and/or for further learning
 to plan and execute a substantial research based
project, capstone experience and/or piece of
scholarship.
A726 Master International Relations AQF Level 9
Skills: Expert, specialised cognitive and
technical skills in a body of knowledge or
practice to independently:
 analyse critically, reflect on and
synthesise complex information,
problems, concepts and theories
 research and apply established
theories to a body of knowledge or
practice
 interpret and transmit knowledge,
skills and ideas to specialist and nonspecialist audiences.
Application of knowledge and skills: Apply
knowledge and skills to demonstrate
autonomy, expert judgement,
adaptability and responsibility as a
practitioner or learner.
Demonstrate the ability to organise
and synthesise complex evidence to
reveal subtle patterns, differences
or similarities.
Demonstrate expert capacity to
reflect on advanced theory,
professional practice and/or
scholarship in international relations
and its relationship to professional
practice or scholarship.
Demonstrate the capacity to
interpret and justify theoretical
propositions, methodologies and
conclusions in academic contexts
and for professional decisions.
Application of knowledge and skills: Apply
knowledge and skills to demonstrate
Technical (and communication) skills to design, evaluate, autonomy, expert judgement,
adaptability and responsibility as a
implement, analyse and theorise about developments
practitioner or learner.
that contribute to professional practice or scholarship.
5. Problem solving:
creating
solutions to
authentic
(real world and
ill-defined)
problems.
Minimum Standards
(relating to CLOs)
Employ initiative and creativity in
conjunction with appropriate Social
Science methods of research and
analysis to investigate complex realworld problems in a systematic manner
and generate and evaluate potential
responses to issues in the areas of
conflict and security, globalization,
international crises and risks, foreign
policy and international law.
Demonstate the ability to
independently and expertly identify
issues in International Relations using
theoretical and empirical knowledge
in conjunction with well-developed
meta-cognitive analytical skills in
order to identify and evaluate
appropriate solutions and policy
options.
Propose one or more creative
solutions to existing and/or new
situations in professional practice
and/or further learning in the
International Relations field that
indicates comprehension of a
complex problem and reflects expert
judgement of the pros and cons of
the various options. Solutions or
hypotheses are sensitive to a
diversity of contextual factors as well
as the ethical, logical or cultural
dimensions of the problem. Solutions
reflect a high level of intellectual
independence and autonomy.
Deakin Graduate Learning
Outcomes
6. Selfmanagement:
working and
learning
independently,
and taking
responsibility for
personal actions.
AQF Masters degree Descriptor1
Application: Will demonstrate the application of
knowledge and skills:
 with creativity and initiative to new situations in
professional practice and/or for further learning
 with high level personal autonomy and accountability
 to plan and execute a substantial research-based
project, capstone experience and/or piece of
scholarship.
AQF Level 9 (Masters Degree) Criteria*
Application of knowledge and skills: Apply
knowledge and skills to demonstrate
autonomy, expert judgement,
adaptability and responsibility as a
practitioner or learner.
Discipline/
Professional
Standards
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
Minimum Standards
(relating to CLOs)
Note: ensure at appropriate AQF specifications
and criteria (see columns 2 & 3)
Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility,
accountability and a continued
commitment to learning and skill
development personally, academically
and professionally in the field of
International Relations.
Demonstrate self-directed learning,
self-management and reflection that
have influenced the student's
academic, personal and professional
development.
Plan and execute a research-based
project, professional project and/or
piece of scholarship autonomously.
Self-critique their learning needs and
create a personal professional
learning/development plan.
7. Teamwork:
working and
learning with
others from
different
disciplines and
backgrounds.
AQF is silent on this.
8. Global
citizenship:
engaging
ethically and
productively in
the professional
context and with
diverse
communities and
cultures in a
global context.
Skills: Technical skills to design, evaluate, implement,
analyse and theorise about developments that
contribute to professional practice or scholarship.
Application of knowledge and skills: Demonstrate the
application of knowledge and skills:
 with creativity and initiative to new situations in
professional practice and/or further learning
 with high level personal autonomy and accountability.
(Note: this second dot point from the AQF Application
descriptor does not relate specifically and directly to
global citizenship, however does relate indirectly via its
link to ethical engagement.)
A726 Master International Relations AQF Level 9
AQF is silent on this.
The AQF makes no specific reference to
global citizenship under the criteria
section.
Work and learn collaboratively with
others in the field of International
Relations and from other backgrounds
while still maintaining responsibility for
their own learning.
Work effectively and collaboratively
in different roles in diverse cultural
and professional teams.
Analyse and respond to issues in global
politics in domestic, regional and
international contexts as a reflective
scholar and practioner, taking into
account cultural and socio-economic
diversity, social and environmental
responsibility and adherence to
professional and academic ethical
standards.
Expertly articulate understanding and
consideration of cultural and socioeconomic diversity, social and
environmental responsibility and
adherence to professional and
academic ethical standards in all
aspects of learning and work in the
field of International Relations.
Critically evaluate own performance
in achieving team goals and
contributing to team cohesiveness