Course description
The international relations and global affairs major is designed to provide students with an understanding of the international political and economic factors, relationships, and issues shaping today's global community. It is an interdisciplinary major, but its home discipline is political science.
Students majoring in international relations and global affairs affiliate with the Behavioral Science Collegium and will be associates of the political science faculty. Students majoring in international relations and global affairs will gain competency in international political, economic, and foreign policy analysis, proficiency in a foreign language, and skills in research, writing, and oral communication. Students will also gain practical experience in international relations through their work in their practicum. Students will be prepared to go on to graduate study in international relations, the foreign service, or law. They will also be well prepared for a career in the international non-governmental community, service organizations, interest groups, or journalism.
The major requirements consist of three prerequisite courses: PO 103G Introduction to International Relations, EC 282S Principles of Macroeconomics, and HI 234G Twentieth Century World, plus six core courses distributed across the three core groups listed below. Also required are Political Science Research Methods, two and a half years of a foreign language, the international practicum, the Senior Seminar, and the Senior Comprehensive Exam. Students majoring in international relations and global affairs are also strongly encouraged to spend a semester or at least a winter term abroad. Beyond the three prerequisite courses already listed, a minimum of six core courses are required for the major, with at least two courses taken from each of the following three core groups:
Group A - International Relations Theory and Foreign Policy:
AN 289S Gender: Cross-Cultural Perspective
HI 233G Global History in the Modern World
HI 309G The Cold War and After
IR 340 Geneva and International Organization
IR 341 The Hague and International Law
PO 200S Diplomacy and International Relations
PO 212S U.S. Foreign Policy
PO 222 Political Ideologies
PO 243S Human Rights and International Law
PO 251S The Media and Foreign Policy
PO 315 Theories of War and Peace
PO 341 Ethics and International Relations
PO 343S International Environmental Law
PO 351 National Security Policy
RE 105G Religion in Global History
Group B - Regional Studies Group:
Students must take at least two courses, one each from different regions and one each from different disciplines.
AN 282G East Asian Area Studies
AN 285G Latin American Area Studies
AN 286G Cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa
AN 287G Caribbean Area Studies
EA 201G East Asian Traditions
EA 303G Individual and Society in Chinese Thought
EA 310G Modern China
EA 311G Modern Japan
HI 202H The European Experience
HI 283G Russia: Perestroika to Present
HI 342H The Rise of Russia
HI 343H Modern Russia and the Soviet Union
HI 368H Modern German History
LI 244G Postcolonial Literature
LI 314G Caribbean Literature and Film
LI 334 20th Century European Fiction
PO 211G Inter-American Relations
PO 221S Politics of Revolution & Development
PO 231G East Asian Comparative Politics
PO 252S Middle East Politics
PO 263G North African Politics
PO 311G Latin American Politics
PO 316G Women and Politics Worldwide
PO 321S Comparative European Politics
PO 322S Authoritarian Political Systems
PO 324 East European Politics
PO 333 Japan: Government, Politics, Foreign Policy
PO 335S Government and Politics of China
PO 336S East Asian International Relations
PO 362G MidEast Conflicts and Wars
Group C - International Political Economy Group:
EC 281S Principles of Microeconomics
ECI 375S China: Economic Deveolpment & Reform
EC 385 Comparative Economic Systems
EC 388 Economic Development
EC 480 International Economics: Foreign Exchange
EC 481 International Economics: Trade
PO 232G The Pacific Century
PO 241S International Political Economy
PO 242S The Politics of Defense: Economics and Power
PO 313 Politics of the European Union
PO 342S Hunger, Plenty, and Justice
PO 352G The Globalization Debate
PO 363G Middle East Political Economy
In addition to the three prerequisite courses, the six core courses, PO 260M Political Science Research Methods, the Senior Seminar (IR 410), and the Senior Comprehensive Exam, the major requires the following:
Language Requirement:
At least two and a half years (five semesters) of college level foreign language or the equivalent. More years of language or a second foreign language are strongly encouraged.
International Practicum:
There are three ways to fulfill the requirement:
* An internship in an institution engaged in international affairs within the U.S. or abroad sponsored by a member of the Political Science faculty. An internship contract must be agreed upon and approved by the registrar prior to embarking on the internship.
* Specified Winter Term and Spring-Into-Summer courses led by IRGA faculty. The U.N. Winter Term, IR 340 Geneva and International Organization, and IR 341 The Hague and International Law are examples.
* Semester study abroad programs recognized for credit by the International Education Office and the registrar. ISEP or CIEE organized semester abroad programs are examples. IRGA students have studied in Austria, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, and France. The Eckerd London program, while excellent, does not fulfill the IRGA practicum requirement.
Students work closely with a member of the Political Science faculty (or faculty from other disciplines represented in the major) in arranging for the practicum and are responsible for informing themselves of the available types of practicums, for choosing one that meets their needs, and for fulfilling the terms of the practicum contract in a timely manner.
Students may also minor in international relations and global affairs by completing PO 103G Introduction to International Relations, PO 241S International Political Economy, and four core courses beyond the introductory level which are distributed across each of the three core groups.
