International Relations Interdisciplinary Concentration, B.A.

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International relations is an interdisciplinary concentration based in the Department of Political Science, drawing on courses offered in numerous departments across campus. It has a required set of courses in the disciplines of political science, history, world languages, and economics. Beyond the required courses, students may pursue an Analytical, Culture and Region, or Human Rights Track, which allows students to take courses in a wide variety of disciplines.

Required Courses

University Core Curriculum: 22 Credits

Click here to view the University Core Curriculum requirements.

General Education Requirements: 30 Credits

Click here to view the General Education requirements.

IREL Interdisciplinary Concentration: 57-60 Credits

International Relations Core: 36 Credits

World Languages (8)

Two 4-credit courses at the 300-400 level

Methods and Capstone (8)

POLS 301 - Methods and Practice of Political Science (4) **
POLS 465 - Senior Seminar in Political Science (4) **
(choose a section with international focus)

International Relations Tracks: 21-24 Credits

Choose one of three tracks–Analytical, Culture & Region, or Human Rights–and complete four (4) courses from the primary track and two (2) courses from the secondary track.

Primary Track (4 courses): (13-16)
Secondary Track (2 courses): (6-8)

Analytical Track Courses: 13-16 or 6-8 Credits

If primary track, complete four (4) courses (13-16 credits).
or
If secondary track, complete two (2) courses (6-8 credits).

ECON 202 - Principles of Microeconomics (3)
ECON 394 - International Studies in Economics (3) or
POLS 394 - International Studies in Economics (3)
ECON 420 - International Economics (3)
POLS 313 - International Organization (4)
POLS 332 - Human Rights (4)
POLS 333 - Genocide (4)
POLS 334 - Terrorism (4)
POLS 348 - Riots, Rebellion, and Revolution (4) or
HIST 340 - Riots, Rebellions, and Revolutions (4)
POLS 363 - Politics of Developing Nations (4)
POLS 370 - Women and World Politics (4)
POLS 410 - Game Theory (4) or
ECON 410 - Game Theory (4)
POLS 449 - International Law (4)
POLS 450 - Law and the World (4)
POLS 452 - After Authoritarianism (4)
POLS 453 - The State (4)

Culture and Region Track Courses: 16 or 8 Credits

If primary track, complete four (4) courses (16 credits).*
or
If secondary track, complete two (2) courses (8 credits).

GEOG 392 - Geographies of Africa (4) or
POLS 392 - Geographies of Africa (4)
GEOG 395 - Giants of Asia: China and India in the 21st Century (4) or
HIST 395 - Giants of Asia: China and India in the 21st Century (4) or
POLS 395 - Giants of Asia: China and India in the 21st Century (4)
GEOG 397 - Andes to Amazon: Physical Landscapes of Latin America (4) or
POLS 397 - Andes to Amazon: Physical Landscapes of Latin America (4)
HIST 312 - Medieval Intellectual History (4)
HIST 313 - Reformation Europe (4)
HIST 314 - The Enlightenment (4)
HIST 316 - Modern Intellectual History (4)
HIST 322 - Early 20th Century Europe (4)
HIST 323 - Recent European History (4)
HIST 326 - Modern Russia (4)
HIST 331 - Ancient Near East and Greece (4)
HIST 332 - Roman Republic and Empire (4)
HIST 335 - Modern Middle East (4)
HIST 336 - Modern Africa (4)
HIST 341 - China to 1644 (4)
HIST 342 - Modern China (4)
HIST 343 - Modern Japan (4)
HIST 345 - Christianity, Imperialism, and Identity in Asia (4)
HIST 346 - Monsoon Asia (4)
HIST 347 - The Vietnam War (4)
HIST 350 - Modern Latin America (4)
HIST 351 - Modern Mexico and Central America (4)
HIST 355 - Colonial Latin America (4)
HIST 362 - Early Modern England (4)
HIST 363 - Modern England (4)
HIST 434 - Folklore: Europe to America (4)
HIST 438 - The Family, Sex, and Marriage in Modern Europe (4)
HIST 479 - Rise of the British State (4) or
POLS 479 - Rise of the British State (4)
LAST 201 - Introduction to Latin American Studies (4)
POLS 321 - Post-Soviet Politics (4)
POLS 322 - Latin American Politics (4)
POLS 323 - African Politics (4)
POLS 351 - European Politics (4)
POLS 352 - Italian Politics: From Napoleon to Berlusconi, 1800-2011 (4)
RELG 201 - Introduction to World Religions (4)
All language courses at the 300-400 level (8)***

Human Rights Track Courses: 16 or 8 Credits

If primary track, complete four (4) courses (16 credits).*
or
If secondary track, complete two (2) courses (8 credits).

POLS 332 - Human Rights (4) (required)
POLS 460 - Internship (2-4) (required)
POLS 313 - International Organization (4)
POLS 333 - Genocide (4)
POLS 363 - Politics of Developing Nations (4)
POLS 370 - Women and World Politics (4)
POLS 449 - International Law (4)

General Electives: 16-19

Total Required Credits: 128

* Students may choose an alternate upper-level history course if unable to enroll in HIST 317 .

** Students may, after consultation with international relations faculty, choose two alternate courses in a separate research-oriented track in history (HIST 300 & HIST 495 ), world languages, or economics/business.

*** Students choosing the Culture & Region Track as their primary track must complete two 4-credit language courses (at the 300-400 level) as part of the primary track requirement.