International Relations BA
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations
General Education Requirements
Majors must satisfy the university and college general education requirements. Political science courses may be used to satisfy the social sciences requirement. The foreign language requirement for the B.A. degree may be satisfied in any language.
Departmental Honors
The department awards honors to students having a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 in the major, a minimum overall GPA of 3.2 (except in extraordinary circumstances), and successfully completed an honors thesis, project, or report.
Degree Requirements
All majors must complete at least 15 hours in Political Science at the 3000 level or above.
| Core Courses | ||
| POL SCI 1800 | Introduction to International Politics (MOTR POSC 201) | 3 |
| POL SCI 1500 | Introduction to Comparative Politics (MOTR POSC 202) | 3 |
| POL SCI 2800 | International Relations Theories | 3 |
| POL SCI 3000 | Political Analysis | 3 |
| POL SCI 4950 | Senior Seminar in Political Science | 3 |
| International Relations | 12 | |
| Select four of the following: | ||
| Global Issues | ||
| The Geography of Governance | ||
| United States Foreign Policy | ||
| Studies in Political Science 1 | ||
| The Politics of the Middle East: International and National Dynamics | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| International Organizations and Global Problem-Solving | ||
| Political Violence | ||
| Workers and Globalization | ||
| Special Readings (with consent of instructor and advisor) | ||
| Human Rights | ||
| Comparative Politics | 9 | |
| Select three of the following: | ||
| Comparing Different Worlds | ||
| The Politics of European Union | ||
| Political Systems of South America | ||
| African Politics | ||
| Globalization: Prospects and Problems | ||
| The Geography of Governance | ||
| Studies in Political Science 2 | ||
| The Politics of the Middle East: International and National Dynamics | ||
| Political Violence | ||
| Special Readings (with consent of instructor and advisor) | ||
| Human Rights | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Topic must relate to international relations.
- 2
Topic must relate to comparative politics.
It is recommended that majors take POL SCI 1500, POL SCI 1800, POL SCI 1820, and POL SCI 3000 as early as possible since these courses are designed to provide a substantive foundation as well as conceptual and analytical tools for subsequent course work.
Majors are strongly encouraged to broaden their academic experience by including relevant curricular experiences including study abroad, and minors or certificates in areas such as economics and foreign languages.
B.A. degree students may take a maximum of 3 hours of political science on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory basis; this can include any course except the four required courses in the core curriculum.
Departmental Honors
The department awards honors to students having a grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 in the major, an overall GPA of 3.2 (except in extraordinary circumstances), and successfully completed an honors thesis, project, or report.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Identify key trends in international relations that are expected to impact life in the United States and other countries in the foreseeable future.
- Demonstrate cross-cultural competence and a global worldview.
- Apply major international relations theories and concepts to contemporary issues in global affairs.
- Analyze the foreign policy behavior of the United States and other major actors in world politics.
- Compare and contrast the major political, economic, cultural, and geographic features of different regions of the world.
- Assess international relations issues, formulate evidence-based recommendations, and communicate them with clarity and coherence.
- Plan, execute, and defend a major research project.
Sample Four Year Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| INTDSC 10031 | 1 | POL SCI 1500 | 3 |
| ENGL 1100 | 3 | CORE-Communication Proficiency | 3 |
| POL SCI 1100 | 3 | EXPLORE-Mathematics and Natural/Life Sciences | 3 |
| CORE-Mathematics Proficiency | 3 | EXPLORE- Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 |
| EXPLORE-Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Mathematics and Life/Sciences | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| POL SCI 1800 | 3 | POL SCI 2800 | 3 |
| Foreign Language 1001 | 5 | Foreign Language 1002 | 5 |
| EXPLORE- Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | EXPLORE - Mathematics and Life/Natural Sciences | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 1 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| POL SCI 3000 | 3 | ENGL 3100 (or Equivalent) | 3 |
| POL SCI XXXX: International Relations Course | 3 | POL SCI XXXX Comparative Politics Course | 3 |
| Foreign Language 2101 | 3 | POL SCI XXXXX International Relations Course | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| POL SCI XXXX International Relations Course | 3 | POL SCI 4950 | 3 |
| POL SCI XXXX Comparative Politics Course | 3 | POL SCI XXXX International Relations Course | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
- 1
INTDSC 1003 is required only for first-time freshmen and transfer students with less than 24 college credits.
Please Note: This plan is an example of what a four year plan could look like for a typical student. Placement exam scores in math as well as the completion of coursework may change the plan. It should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester. All requirements are subject to change.