International Relations Program
Courses for the International Relations major are drawn principally from the departments of History, Modern Languages and Literatures, and Political Science.
Requirements (36 credit major):
A student seeking to complete an International Relations major will complete 36 credits including:
- IR 245 International Relation
- IR 394 Historical Geography
- IR 352 US Foreign Policy Since WWI
- IR 499 Advanced International Theory
The major will have no less than
- 9 credits at the 300 level or above in Modern Languages and Literatures, including 301 and 302 or 306 level courses in their chosen language of study.
Finally, the major will take at least
- 5 electives or 15 credits in the student’s chosen area of concentration.
- 12 elective credits from list of approved History, Modern Language, and Political Science credits (see the following list.)
Students who major in International Relations and History, Modern Languages, or Political Science must complete their elective credits for the International Relations major outside of their second major. For example, a student majoring in International Relations and History would complete his/her elective credits from Political Science and Language courses.
Students may wish to develop an expertise in a second language in addition to the language requirements for the major. These second language credits would only be counted as elective credits; second language credits cannot substitute for the "primary" language requirements.
The College strongly encourages that international relations majors spend a semester abroad. This will insure the most effective and rewarding educational experience for international relations majors.
International Relations majors have the opportunity to select elective course work from one the areas of concentration: Asia, European Culture, European Policy, Humanitarian Operations, Latin America, Russia and Central Asia, Security Studies, or US Foreign Policy. When combined with an appropriate semester abroad program, these concentrations provide students with an advanced understanding or specialization in some area or field.
