International Relations, BA
36 credit hours
The Bachelor of Arts in international relations is of value in many fields. Many graduates work in government, enter the military or work in fields such as intelligence, counter-terrorism, homeland security, diplomacy, and defense policy-making. Private and non-profit sectors, corporate risk analysis, international trade and development, and many other fields provide opportunities for those with a strong knowledge of international relations. By crafting your degree program to build skills in a variety of areas, you have the opportunity to make your resume' distinctive, creating an excellent foundation for future success. The IR major is designed to maximize your options, allowing you to double or even triple major, add minors, and pursue certificates.
Requirements
Major Coursework
12 credit hours of coursework from the following options:
Philosophical Foundations Coursework
3 credit hours of coursework from the following options:
Culminating Experience Coursework
3 credit hours of coursework from the following options:
| IR 40100 | Intelligence, Military, and National Policy | 3 |
| PS 47500 | Political Literacy | 3 |
Diplomacy Coursework
3 credit hours of coursework from the following options:
| IR 30000 | Diplomatic Affairs: Peace and Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| IR 31000 | Governing Europe | 3 |
| IR 35100 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| IR 36000 | Origins of War: How the World Stumbles into War | 3 |
Security and Sustainability Coursework
3 credit hours of coursework from the following options:
| IR 32000 | Transpacific Relations | 3 |
| IR 32100 | Issues in Asia-Pacific Security | 3 |
| IR 35200 | Politics and Culture | 3 |
| IR 36000 | Origins of War: How the World Stumbles into War | 3 |
| IR 36200 | Seapower: History and Application | 3 |
| IR 36900 | Creating Contemporary China | 3 |
| IR 38000 | Geopolitics, Grand Strategy, and War | 3 |
Elective Coursework
12 credit hours of coursework from IR (International Relations) or PS (Political Science) coursework at or above the 20000-level, including special topics courses, or from the coursework options listed below. At least 6 credit hours of the 12 credit hours must be in IR courses:
Some substitutions, especially for study abroad courses and relevant course from programs represented in the Elective Coursework list, may be possible with the permission of the department head.
IR majors should fulfill their GE-Math requirement by taking MTH 14100 Basic Statistics.
No duplication of coursework is permitted within the program.