International Relations (B.A.)

Program Requirements

General Education Requirements
33 credit hours33
International Relations Major Requirements (48 credit hours)
Required Courses (24 credit hours)
PSC 101INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS3
PSC 104INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS3
PSC 203POLITICAL ANALYSIS3
PSC 204POLITICAL STATISTICS3
PSC 330AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY3
PSC 352HISTORY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT II3
PSC 399RESEARCH SKILLS3
PSC 470SENIOR SEMINAR3
or PSC 488 INTERNSHIP
Area Studies Electives (6 credit hours)
Select two from the following:6
EUROPEAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
GOVERNMENT, POLITICS, AND POLICIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
POLITICS AND HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST
POLITICS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GEOGRAPHY OF ASIA
Concentrations (12 credit hours)
Students are required to complete one of the following concentrations:12
Electives (0-6 credit hours)
Students who receive foreign language exemptions should take additional International Relations or Comparative courses. 0-6
Note: Courses not used to fulfill Area Studies Electives and Concentrations may also be used as general electives in International Relations.
SPECIAL PROJECT (1-3)
WASHINGTON SEMESTER (1-16)
INDEPENDENT STUDY (3-12)
All College Electives
44-50 credit hours44-50
Total Credit Hours120

Peace and Conflict Concentration

Select four from the following:12
THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICS OF GLOBALIZATION
Total Credit Hours12

Sustainable Development Concentration

Select four from the following:12
WORLD NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS
WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY
GEG 307CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT3
GLOBAL CHANGE
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Total Credit Hours15

Students will:

  1. be able to select and critically evaluate existing literature in a given topic area of International Relations.
  2. demonstrate mastery of research report writing.
  3. demonstrate the ability to generate a scientific hypothesis in a given area of International Relations.
  4. be able to apply appropriate statistical techniques for a given research design.
  5. demonstrate the rudimentary skills to design and implement research to test scientific hypotheses.
  6. demonstrate the ability to apply valid conclusions based on topic area, hypothesis, review of literature, and study outcomes.
  7. demonstrate an understanding of the major historical schools of thought and approaches in International Relations.
  8. demonstrate global awareness and engagement skills.