Master of Arts

MASTER OF ARTS (APPLIED ETHICS)

The course aims to provide professionals and others who have a general interest in applied ethics with a philosophical education in one or more areas of applied ethics. Applied areas on offer in 2002 (subject to enrolments) are: Bioethics, Ethical Issues in Research, Applied Ethics Topics and Environmental Ethics.

It has become increasingly obvious with the proliferation of ethics committees and the demand for public accountability that health care professionals, public policy makers, lawyers, public servants, business people, scientists, researchers, and so on, are required to make well-reasoned, informed judgements about issues that are essentially ethical. Such judgements require philosophical expertise - one needs to be able to recognise the factual and evaluative complexity of the issues, to recognise evaluative issues as evaluative, critically to evaluate competing ethical claims, and to reason to a conclusion soundly. Yet the development of such expertise is typically not included in the professional training of people who are called to act as ethical decision-makers. The Master of Arts (Applied Ethics) helps make good this lack.

It would be expected that students undertaking the course would benefit at least in the following ways. Firstly, they would sharpen their critical reasoning skills. Secondly, they would gain a good grounding in ethical theory and a comprehensive understanding of the specific issues in their chosen applied area. Third, they would enhance their ability to make difficult, ethically sensitive decisions.

The Master of Arts (Applied Ethics) is a course in applied philosophy, in which ethical theory, as studied in a core subject (PHIL955 - Theoretical Ethics) is applied to various areas of practical concern. The course may be co-taught by members of the Philosophy Program and lecturers from the Faculties of Law and Health and Behavioural Sciences.

Entry to the Degree
Admission is open to holders of a Bachelor's degree (pass or honours) in any field or others who satisfy the Board of Research and Postgraduate Studies of comparable professional standing or attainments.

Degree Program
The Degree is available by Coursework and Minor Thesis. Candidates shall successfully complete a program of 48 credit points, normally comprising a minor thesis (24 credit points) in applied ethics, together with the two 8 credit point core subjects and one 8 credit point elective.

Candidates who have done the undergraduate subject PHIL206, or equivalent, are required to take one core subject PHIL955 and two electives. Candidates who have done the undergraduate subject PHIL251/301, or equivalent, are required to take one core subject PHIL935 and two electives.

All students enrol in PHIL923 Minor Thesis.

Schedule of Subjects

MASTER OF ARTS (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS)

The degree is intended to provide opportunities for graduates of diverse disciplinary backgrounds to develop their academic understanding and professional skills in the field of international relations, broadly defined. The program is expected to be especially useful to students with relevant, professional experience or ambitions, including diplomats, other government officials, business persons, journalists, specialists in public affairs, government relations, etc.

The program is multi-disciplinary in nature, focussing on international politics, economics, management, and law and diplomatic practice, in particular, but allowing both for specialisation within the program as well as for the inclusion of area studies, and other relevant subjects, in accordance with students' needs.

Students take part in regular simulations and professional seminars, workshops, exchanges with other institutions, including relevant Government agencies, and, where possible, professional placements. Special classes are provided in computing and (where appropriate) English language, study, analytical, public speaking and other skills. A special centre (with computing, video and short-wave radio facilities, plus a range of pertinent periodicals) has been set aside for use by students in the program.

Entry to the Degree
Students normally have a Bachelor's degree with a minor sequence in the area studied.

Degree Program
Students must complete 48 credit points from the following list of subjects (or such greater number as may be required in individual cases). Except with the permission of the Head of Program, students are required to complete the following four core subjects in order to graduate in the program:

*Not all of these subjects are available each year - refer to History and Politics Program before enrolment. Students may, with the permission of the Course Co-ordinator, apply to enrol in other Postgraduate subjects.

Please contact the co-ordinator, Dr John Minns before enrolment.

MASTER OF ARTS (MARITIME POLICY)

This degree is offered both on-campus and by flexible delivery. It includes one week's intensive teaching program on campus.

This degree, the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, is intended to enable groups of varying academic and professional backgrounds to develop their knowledge and analytical skills in relation to a wide range of maritime policy issues, broadly defined. The program is expected to be especially useful to prospective government officials, analysts and other practitioners engaged in maritime and related activities, including the Navy, commercial shipping, port management, fisheries and marine environmental protection.

Entry to the Degree
Students entering the program will normally be required to have a pass Bachelor with a major in a relevant discipline (ie 48 credit points, or equivalent, in a major sequence). In special cases, the Faculty may vary the entry requirements, if satisfied that an applicant's qualifications are adequate preparation for advanced study.

Degree Program
The program consists of an interdisciplinary core of two compulsory subjects, plus a range of options which allow students to specialise in particular disciplines, and to acquire a broader acquaintance with the field as a whole. The duration of the course is one year of full-time study or equivalent for part-time students.

In addition to formal course requirements, students take part in a variety of other professional activities, including specialist seminars.

Students may, with the permission of the Course Co-ordinator, apply to enrol in other Postgraduate subjects.

*Not all of these subjects may be available each year - refer to the Teaching Co-ordinator, Dr Peter Sales (History and Politics Program) before enrolment.