Political Science: International Relations, BALAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, International Relations Concentration
International relations (IR) is the study of interactions across borders of nation-states. Students explore how global, regional, and domestic factors influence relations among states as well as non-state actors across the interstate system.
Students take advanced courses in two or more of the following topics: international law and organization, international cooperation, international political economy, globalization, foreign policy, diplomacy, political strategy in IR, conflict, interstate war, civil war, terrorism, global environmental politics, and international human rights.
See the Political Science BALAS page for departmental distinction information.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, International Relations Concentration
See the Political Science Distinction page for departmental distinction information.
Students may count a maximum of six (6) hours of credit of any combination of hours from PS 494 toward the advanced hours requirement. Not more than 6 hours of individual study courses in political science (PS 490) or 6 hours of internships (PS 491) or 6 hours of supervised research (PS 492) may be included in the major; a student with any mix of independent study hours and internship hours and supervised research hours may include a maximum of 9 hours of such credit in the major. (PS 496) is reserved for those seniors doing honors theses for distinction in political science and may not be counted in the 45-hour minimum required for the major.
General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement.
Minimum required major and supporting course work: Normally equates to 70 hours. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level in the major must be taken on this campus.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
International Relations Concentration Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PS 100 | Intro to Political Science | 3 |
| Select at least one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Intro to Intl Relations | ||
| Intro to Intl Relations-ACP | ||
| Governing Globalization | ||
| Select any additional 100- or 200-level Political Science courses | 6 | |
| Select 300- or 400-level Political Science courses, at least nine hours of which come from the International Relations Concentration list (below). The other six hours may be any 300- or 400-level Political Science course. | 15 | |
| Select any additional Political Science courses at any level. | 6 | |
| Students will select a second major, or a minor, or a set of courses of at least 12 hours of thematically-related coursework outside political science, developed in conjunction with an academic advisor. | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations Course List | ||
| PS 180 | IntroPolitics of Globalization | 3 |
| PS 230 | Intro to Pol Research | 3 |
| PS 231 | Strategic Models | 3 |
| PS 280 | Intro to Intl Relations | 3 |
| PS 281 | Intro to Intl Relations-ACP | 3 |
| PS 282 | Governing Globalization | 3 |
| PS 283 | Intro to Intl Security | 3 |
| PS 300 | Special Topics (as appropriate) | 3 |
| PS 340 | Politics in Intl Development | 3 |
| PS 379 | Intl Rel & Domestic Politics | 3 |
| PS 380 | International Cooperation | 3 |
| PS 382 | Intl Political Economy | 3 |
| PS 384 | Politics of Globalization | 3 |
| PS 386 | International Law | 3 |
| PS 387 | National Security Policy | 3 |
| PS 390 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| PS 391 | Soviet & Post-Sov Foreign Pol | 3 |
| PS 392 | Intl Organizations&Regionalism | 3 |
| PS 393 | Diplomatic Studies Practicum | 4 |
| PS 394 | Crisis Diplomacy | 3 |
| PS 395 | International Organization | 3 |
| PS 396 | International Conflict | 3 |
| PS 398 | Strategic Interntl Relations | 3 |
| PS 399 | Politics of International Treaties | 3 |
| PS 457 | Dem Gov in a Global Setting | 3 or 4 |
| PS 480 | Energy and Security | 3 |
| PS 494 | Junior Honors Seminar (as appropriate) | 3 |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, International Relations Concentration
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Free elective course | 1 | PS 280 (or PS 281 or PS 282) | 3 |
| PS 100 | 3 | PS 100- or 200-level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | Free elective course | 2 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PS 100- or 200-level course | 3 | PS 100-400 level course | 3 |
| Thematic related coursework | 3 | PS 100-400 level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PS International Relations 300- or 400 level course | 3 | PS International Relations 300- or 400- level course | 3 |
| PS 300- or 400- level course | 3 | Thematic related coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| PS 300- or 400- level course | 3 | PS International Relations 300- or 400- level course | 3 |
| Thematic related coursework | 3 | Thematic related coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, International Relations Concentration