Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Global Studies - Government and policy (Dual degree)

at La Trobe University - Melbourne Campus Australia

Explore your passions and build a rewarding career.

Today’s workplaces are rapidly evolving. Governments, businesses and law firms need passionate professionals who not only have advanced legal expertise, but also the ability to think critically, analytically and creatively.*

La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts lets you enrich your legal education by pursuing your interests and passions. Open doors to a diverse range of rewarding careers, while exploring how to make a difference in your community.

Learn the fundamentals of criminal, constitutional, property and company law. Explore the legal system and understand how it can be used as a powerful and positive force in society. Develop key skills in advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution.

You'll also choose from our list of arts majors and explore your area of interest. Broaden your knowledge and experience by studying areas like politics, languages, sociology, history, philosophy and media studies. Learn how to communicate effectively and think critically, analytically and creatively.

You can also choose to complete law electives that complement your arts specialisation. For example, a politics major can be matched with related subjects like public international law and human rights law. While a language or philosophy major could be augmented by subjects in areas like Indigenous Australians and the law, intellectual property law or family, society and law.

Enhance your classroom learning by taking advantage of optional internships, work experience, and our study abroad program*. Gain hands-on experience working with community legal centres, law firms and government agencies. Find out what it takes to interview clients, prepare legal advice and work with senior lawyers to develop legal solutions.

Graduate ready to make a positive difference. With combined expertise in law and arts, you can build a career as a solicitor or barrister, in-house counsel or corporate consultant, working in commercial law firms or community legal centres. You could also work in the public service as a government lawyer or support social justice initiatives in the not-for-profit sector.

The Crime, Justice and Legal Studies major offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the nature, role and impact of law in society. The major encompasses general Socio-Legal Studies, Criminology and Criminal Justice and brings together the insights, theories and methods of various disciplines, including Sociology, Politics, Media Studies, History and Cultural Studies.

The major will equip you with the skills to analyse and evaluate legal concepts, processes, institutions and problems as dynamic and multi-faceted aspects of social relations. The Crime, Justice and Legal Studies major is concerned with the local and global dimensions of pressing contemporary issues. These include: citizenship, the ‘rule of law’, human rights and social justice, violence and discrimination, victimhood, crime and the administration of justice, law’s intersection with popular culture, and law’s role in social policy and social change.

By undertaking this major, students will hone skills in research, critical-thinking and problem-solving which will provide a solid grounding for careers in legal research and policy, community work, advocacy, welfare and related fields.

If you can't let go of unanswered questions. If you love learning. If you're passionate about the world around you. Then it's time to start your journey at La Trobe.

With our flexible Bachelor of Arts, you can choose from an incredible array of majors and minors. You'll have access to around 50 majors and minors from humanities, social sciences, business, health and science, keeping your career options open. Pursue your passion and your profession.

Shape your own future with this interdisciplinary degree. You'll choose one arts major, then explore your interests or build an essential skill when you choose secondary majors, minors and electives from across the university. You'll graduate with your primary major on your academic transcript, so future employers can recognise your expertise.

Create your own path. Want to major in sociology, with a second major in psychology, then take Chinese as an elective? Go for it. Or perhaps you'd like to pair economics and English. Or crime, justice and legal studies with linguistics. Build your own future – we're here to help you achieve your dream. No matter which path you choose, you'll learn from world-class academics and leading researchers.

In your first year, you'll explore your interests and passions. Try a language; or get a taste for history, English, politics or creative writing. In your second and third years, you'll delve deeper while also choosing electives and minors that broaden your skills and knowledge. You may also choose to develop professional skillsets in areas like psychology, public health, marketing, science, sport management and more.

This flexible degree also offers a range of study options. You can choose to study face-to-face at our Melbourne Campus and enjoy our on-campus facilities, or you can study online – knowing your experience will mirror on-campus students, with tutorials delivered in a synchronous manner. Unlike many other online degrees, at La Trobe you can login to live sessions and engage directly with academics and your fellow students in real time.

Gain real-world experience and build valuable connections that will shape your career. Take on an industry placement at organisations like SBS Radio, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre or the United Nations Association of Australia or travel overseas for an international sustainability experience.* Many of our exchange programs are financially supported. Your dedicated course advisor will help you to find your path and explore new opportunities.

The world is waiting for you. Step into it.

In the English major you will encounter a variety of literary forms, from the short story to the novel, plays, poetry and memoir and read a wide range of texts spanning some 500 years of literary history from Shakespeare to Alexis Wright. The subjects available to you in this major will help you develop ideas in literary history, literary theory and contemporary critical approaches while also providing a focused study of literary genres, periods and regions. Critical and creative practices are often linked in the English discipline, with understanding gained through one mode sustaining the other. By delving deeply into texts, you will discover some of the complexities of language and the ways in which culture, thought and writing have shaped and continue to shape each other.

In this major you will be taught to analyse literature in English from around the world, addressing key issues of identity, representation, conflict, desire, authorship and ethics. You will be encouraged to reflect on your own reading habits and to travel beyond the limits of lived experience, extending the capacity for empathy or learning to sit with difference. Reading in this way is a vital means of knowing ourselves as individuals and as part of our wider community.

Our environment is facing serious threats. Learn how to conserve it with La Trobe’s Bachelor of Wildlife and Conservation Biology.

If you're passionate about the environment and want the skills and knowledge to make a difference, this could be the degree for you.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Wildlife and Conservation Biology draws on many areas of science including botany, genetics and zoology. You'll learn to apply ecological concepts to the conservation of species and ecosystems and explore the legal framework for conservation.

Your curriculum will cover biology fundamentals – including how organisms, the environment and human populations interact with each other – as well as climate change and sustainability. As you progress in your studies, you'll advance your understanding of conservation issues, learn to use different technologies to collect and process data, and design your own detailed conservation management plan. You'll be taught by La Trobe experts involved in conservation projects, and who work with partners in state and federal government departments and non-government organisations such as Bush Heritage and Trust for Nature.

To truly understand wildlife and real-world conservation, you need to experience it first-hand. Throughout your degree you'll spend plenty of time immersed in the environment – previous field trip destinations include Wilsons Promontory, Heron Island, Falls Creek, the Mallee, Buchan and the Ovens River. These trips will give you the opportunity to interact with a range of flora and fauna, apply your knowledge in real settings and get hands-on experience using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) technology to collect and analyse data.

The practical side of your degree isn't limited to off-campus experiences. Our on-campus Wildlife Sanctuary is your very own 30-hectare laboratory, where you can study the behaviour of bat species and mosquito fish, and help preserve the natural habitats of species including the long-nosed potoroo, brolga, black wallaby and sugar glider.

With the Bachelor of Wildlife and Conservation Biology, you can study what you're passionate about. In addition to your core biology, conservation and quantitative skills subjects, you can choose from a range of electives – including anthropology, Indigenous studies, and environmental and resource economics – and tailor your study experience to suit your career aspirations.

Industrial engineers are essential to a wide range of industries. They determine how an organisation's workforce, equipment and resources can be used efficiently and safely. As technology continues to evolve, businesses increasingly need industrial engineers to help them stay ahead of the pack.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Industrial) gives you a comprehensive engineering and business skillset, while building your ability to think critically and creatively. You'll discover how to respond to the evolving needs of employers and help them adapt to future challenges.

Begin by learning the fundamentals of industrial engineering, from math, and physics to design and problem solving. You'll then gain sought-after skills in fields that are presently transforming the business landscape, including automation and robotics, advanced material, simulation and modelling of manufacturing processes.

The course is delivered by leading academics in our high-tech facilities where you'll develop advanced technical skills in computer-aided design, systems integration, robotics, and digital manufacturing.
In your final year, you can build your industry experience by completing a work placement in either Melbourne or Bendigo. You'll apply your engineering expertise with a real-world company, while enhancing your teamwork, stakeholder engagement, scoping and project management skills.

Every stage of our Bachelor of Engineering Honours (Industrial) equips you for your future career. You have the option to exit after your first year with a Diploma of Engineering Technology or after your second year with an Associate Degree in Engineering Technology. You can also expand your engineering knowledge and experience by continuing to our Master of Engineering programs.

Our engineering graduates are highly employable and graduate with the adaptable skills to work in vital areas such as aerospace and defence, manufacturing, renewable energy, food and agriculture, mining, and electronics.

Explore your passions and build a rewarding career.

Today’s workplaces are rapidly evolving. Governments, businesses and law firms need passionate professionals who not only have advanced legal expertise, but also the ability to think critically, analytically and creatively.*

La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts lets you enrich your legal education by pursuing your interests and passions. Open doors to a diverse range of rewarding careers, while exploring how to make a difference in your community.

Learn the fundamentals of criminal, constitutional, property and company law. Explore the legal system and understand how it can be used as a powerful and positive force in society. Develop key skills in advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution.

You'll also choose from our list of arts majors and explore your area of interest. Broaden your knowledge and experience by studying areas like politics, languages, sociology, history, philosophy and media studies. Learn how to communicate effectively and think critically, analytically and creatively.

You can also choose to complete law electives that complement your arts specialisation. For example, a politics major can be matched with related subjects like public international law and human rights law. While a language or philosophy major could be augmented by subjects in areas like Indigenous Australians and the law, intellectual property law or family, society and law.

Enhance your classroom learning by taking advantage of optional internships, work experience, and our study abroad program*. Gain hands-on experience working with community legal centres, law firms and government agencies. Find out what it takes to interview clients, prepare legal advice and work with senior lawyers to develop legal solutions.

Graduate ready to make a positive difference. With combined expertise in law and arts, you can build a career as a solicitor or barrister, in-house counsel or corporate consultant, working in commercial law firms or community legal centres. You could also work in the public service as a government lawyer or support social justice initiatives in the not-for-profit sector.

The International Studies major allows you to make sense of the social, economic and political factors that contribute to how the world works. In this major, you’ll investigate the systems, structures and laws that shape international affairs from a range of perspectives. You’ll develop a keen sense of why the world faces the problems it does, how history has shaped the world we live in, and how policies to address the greatest global challenges are developed and can be improved. You’ll study subjects about security, economics, slavery, human trafficking, migration, development, international law, international organisations, foreign policy and modern Asia, and you will be strongly supported to study a language, experience the world through overseas study tours, and undertake internships.

The La Trobe International Studies major is taught by world-leading academics who have extensive experience in many areas including the real world of policy-making, international development, and international negotiations. Industry and community leaders will regularly present in your classes, giving you the opportunity to develop your networks. An International Studies major will provide you with the knowledge required to tackle major global challenges, including climate change, war, terrorism, poverty, and inequality. It will also help you understand cultural and political differences and similarities across the world, which is crucial to working effectively internationally. When you complete this major, you’ll have the skills and knowledge required to establish a career dealing with international issues or working internationally.

The rapid globalisation of our society means international relations are more important – and more complex – than ever. Want to be a leader in this evolving world? Combine a global perspective with in-depth legal expertise.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Global Studies is an immersive and flexible double degree giving you the skills and knowledge to succeed.

Become a legal expert with valuable expertise in global affairs. You'll develop your legal knowledge and skills as you build a deep understanding of global issues, diplomacy, politics, and international trade.

Your law degree will introduce you to the fundamentals of legal practice and build your skills in advocacy, negotiation, and dispute resolution – all highly valued by employers across a range of industries.

At the same time, your global studies degree will immerse you in a wide range of global issues, including international relations and geopolitics, contemporary security issues, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and contemporary armed conflict and terrorism. Tailor your studies to your interests with a choice of five curated majors – international relations, conflict and negotiation, Asian politics and security, government and policy, and human rights.

When it comes to learning, there's no substitute for hands-on experience. You'll have the opportunity to take on real-world work placements in settings such as community legal centres, law firms, government agencies, and with judges and magistrates (subject to availability) and bolster your education with a practical global studies placement subject. You could also put your legal skills to the test in law competitions, both locally and internationally.

Chinese studies beginners

A Chinese studies major will enable you to understand and use an increasingly significant world language. Chinese is spoken by nearly one-fifth of the global population, predominantly in the world’s second-largest economy, China. The Chinese Studies major will give you the opportunity to develop skills in oral and written Chinese (Mandarin), and enhance your understanding in China’s past (culture and tradition) and present (economy and technology). At more advanced levels, specialist subjects are available in Chinese for academic and professional purposes—these will help you develop your integrated communication skills to a professional level. Studying Chinese language and culture will give you an advantage in a range of industries and area of government, given that China has been Australia’s largest trading partner since 2007. You will have the opportunity to enrol in overseas programs to extend your language skills in-country. (Please note: overseas programs may be impacted by travel restrictions.) The major offers four entry-levels to cater to your standard in the Chinese language. You may enrol at beginners, intermediate, advanced or extension levels depending on your background and experience.

More than ever, employers are searching for professionals with advanced STEM skills.* With job growth expected in this area* – including in areas that don’t even exist yet – there’s no better time to build the scientific skills you need to create a successful, interesting and satisfying career.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Science offers you foundational skills in science and the freedom to delve into your passions. Whether it's protecting endangered animals, developing new ways to treat disease or fighting climate change, you'll be ready to pursue your dream journey in science by tailoring your degree with a mix of majors and minors.

As you learn from leading academics and researchers, you'll take a deep dive into science – not only scientific concepts, but also how scientists think, work and share their findings.

Build skills in problem-solving, communication and collaboration – all highly sought after by employers – then use these skills to come up with innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Personalise your learning so you can spend time focusing on the areas that really interest you. Choose from majors in a range of fields, including botany, statistics, microbiology, genetics, data science and more, and learn from academics who are leaders in their fields.

You'll have opportunities to put theory into practice through work placements with our industry partners. Previous students have undertaken placements with CSIRO, Bayer Crop Science and various State and Federal Government departments.

Botany

Explore the intersection between plants and society. You’ll learn about plant ecology, physiology, reproduction and biotechnology while building skills in project design, data collection and analysis. Botany is vital to dealing with environmental issues, the sustainable food supply and the management of our natural resources.

Students commencing their studies at Albury-Wodonga campus are required to transfer to the Melbourne campus from second year to complete this major.

For thousands of years, human societies have grown, prospered and warred through diplomacy and trade. In today’s hyper-connected global markets and diplomatic arenas, we need highly skilled professionals who can navigate this complex global landscape and make the most of evolving business structures.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Global Studies gives you the expertise to build a rewarding career in global politics, human rights and international business. Gain strong foundations in international trade and diplomacy, as well as a well-rounded business skillset.

Explore the complex social, commercial and sustainability challenges faced by corporations and diverse communities. Understand how to analyse problems, develop forward-thinking solutions, and negotiate with stakeholders to turn your ideas into action.

Grow as a leader and a thinker. Challenge your ideas and preconceptions. Expand your networks and your horizons. You'll be prepared for the rapidly evolving world of international trade and the complex web of relationships negotiated by governments and multinational organisations every day. Develop the creative and analytical skills to work across a wide range of industries, and build the resilience to face real-world challenges.

We understand that global experiences are vital for your studies. You'll have the opportunity to get out of the classroom and build both your skills and your professional network at one of our overseas partner universities. You'll also have the opportunity to do an internship, either in Australia or overseas, that's tailored to your career goals.

Whatever your ambition, tailor your degree with specially curated majors and minors that allow you to explore the various business, economic, geopolitical and humanitarian forces shaping our world.

Graduate ready for a rewarding career in trade, diplomacy, politics, government, business, economics and finance.

French studies intermediate

The French Studies major enables you to participate in a dialogue with the French-speaking world by developing your proficiency in the language and your knowledge of French history, society and culture. The French Studies major will give you access to a vast network of international communication and a rich body of literary, historical and scientific knowledge. French is spoken on all continents and in various organisations such as the United Nations and Médecins Sans Frontières. The language prepares you to excel in numerous fields including education, translating and interpreting, foreign affairs and trade, international law and humanitarian work. You will be strongly encouraged to apply for an exchange program with one of La Trobe’s partner universities in France. (Please note: overseas programs may be impacted by travel restrictions.) You should enrol in the appropriate stream at first-year level: Beginners (students with little or no prior knowledge of French), Intermediate (students with Year 11 French or equivalent), Advanced (students with Year 12 French or equivalent) or Extended (native or near-native competency).

La Trobe's Bachelor of Global Studies gives you a strong grounding in the issues facing key regions and countries around the world. We've designed this degree to introduce you to global problems and their policy responses, so you'll develop the tools to tackle the challenges of the future.

Study core subjects examining the history of international relations and geopolitics, contemporary security issues – such as American power, the rise of China, contemporary armed conflict and terrorism – and the emerging challenges of human and environmental security.

Look at international cooperation and conflict. Analyse the dynamics of power, sovereignty and security, exploring transformational changes in 21st century international relations. Investigate the powerful role of international law – including humanitarian, environmental and refugee law.

Whatever your ambition, tailor your degree with specially curated majors and minors that allow you to explore the geopolitical and humanitarian forces shaping our world. Choose from majors such as international relations, human rights, conflict and negotiation, Asian politics and security, government and policy, sustainability and development, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Spanish, Greek, French and Italian.

Global experiences are a vital part of global studies. Get out of the classroom and into the real world with a study experience at one of our overseas partner universities and build both your skills and your professional network. You'll also have the opportunity to do an internship, either in Australia or overseas, that's tailored to your career goals.

International Relations

The International Relations major will train you to analyse how power is used in relationships between states, non-governmental and international actors and its impact on people and ecosystems around the world. In this major you will explore the various institutions, processes, beliefs and cultures that shape how international conflict and cooperation is managed in a variety of key areas ranging from security to environmental protection. Given that international issues touch upon most aspects of our daily lives, you will learn how to make sense of our international connections and develop the responses necessary to solve the big global problems of our time. 

Undertaking an International Relations major at La Trobe will connect you to experts in political theory, nationalism, social movements, democracy and democratisation, climate change, international relations of the Asia-Pacific, the politics of modern China and Russia, and the history of terrorism. 

Modern business needs to be more innovative than ever. Learn to solve complex business, sustainability and ethical issues in evolving global markets with a progressive dual lens of legal and commercial innovation.

Stand out from the crowd with La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Commerce. Gain a prestigious double degree that prepares you to be a change-maker in business and law, navigating complex legal and regulatory frameworks.

Develop specialised knowledge of financial markets, economics, and accounting. Combine it with an understanding of business practice, legal process, and advanced negotiation. You'll develop financial literacy and discover the power of contemporary digital business tools.

Get ready for an exciting career. You'll be equipped to meet the challenges of a field disrupted by automation, the power of big data, and the rapid evolution of business and consumer technologies.

You'll have opportunities to learn in legal placements across government and corporate sectors.

Finance

Finance is a key business discipline because it not only provides you with the knowledge and skills necessary to establish a successful career in the financial markets, insurance and banking sectors, it is equally fundamental to the funding and managing of all successful businesses.  So, whether you are considering a career as a financial analyst or fund manager, seeking a career in the corporate or government sectors, or intending to start your own business, the knowledge and skills of finance are an essential pre-requisite for your success.

The finance major is designed to develop the knowledge and skills sought by employers of finance graduates, through learning experiences in our financial trading room, applying the information sources and financial tools used by professionals working in the finance sector to solve financial problems.