The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations gives students an understanding of the world and analyzes the nature of modern global relationships. Scholars, horrified by the events of World War I, founded the discipline of international relations. Through the study of past lessons learned in politics, economics, culture and history, students will debate and explore global economies, societies and cultures. This undergraduate program focuses on the central concerns of international relations - diplomacy, foreign policy analysis, international organizations, global development and international relations theory. Students study the possibility of another world war and explore ways to prevent it. This major provides an excellent foundation for careers in government agencies, the diplomatic service, international organizations, world trade, and finance and international media.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates.  With reference to each of the respective areas of international relations, graduates in this degree program will be able to:

American Foreign Policy

• Compare and contrast the political, economic, and military components of foreign policy decision making and analyze the impact of foreign policy on domestic decisions.
• Draw conclusions about the implications of foreign policy as it is currently applied to various regions of the world.
• Evaluate the "national interest" and how it is formulated, assess alternatives to current policies, and examine their likely impact on the United States, its allies, and other nations.

Diplomacy

• Examine the theory, nature, and causes of war and their relationship to diplomacy; assess the contributions of diplomacy to accomplishment of war objectives.

International Organizations and Development

• Critically assess the unique principles, structure, and organization of the major international organizations.
• Examine the prospects of governance by international organizations.
• Assess the economic and political processes in international development; diagnose social issues in international development; appraise the need for sustainable international development.
• Evaluate the multidimensional effects of globalization.
  

Degree Program Requirements

RQ295 / COL 100 Foundations of Online Learning (fomerly Academic and Career Planning) (3 semester hours) - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.

General Education Requirements (31 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
EN101 / ENG 101 - Proficiency in Writing (Required)
EN102 / ENG 102 - Effectiveness in Writing or
EN202 / ENG 200 - English Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
SS101 / ECO 101 - Microeconomics
SS102 / ECO 102 - Macroeconomics
SS111 / GEO 101 - Introduction to Geography
SS133 / SOC 111 - Introduction to Sociology
SS134 / PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology 
SS190 / ANT 100 - Introduction to Anthropology
SS210 / CFD 220 - Human Sexuality  
SO220 / SOC 220 - American Popular Culture

Science - 4 semester hours including required 1 hour lab
SC100 / SCI 100 - Introduction to Biology
SC198 / SCI 100 L - Introduction to Biology Lab
SC101 / SCI 110 - Introduction to Chemistry
SC199 / SCI 110 L - Introduction to Chemistry Lab   
SC102 / SCI 102 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology 
SC122 / SCI 102 L - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
SC103 / SCI 103 - Introduction to Physics 
SC123 / SCI 103 L - Introduction to Physics Lab
SC104 / SCI 104 - Introduction to Astronomy
SC124 / SCI 104 L - Introduction to Astronomy Lab
SC106 / SCI 106 - Introduction to Oceanography 
SC126 / SCI 106 L - Introduction to Oceanography Lab
SC107 / SCI 107 - Introduction to Meteorology
SC127 / SCI 107 L - Introduction to Meteorology Lab

Mathematics - 3 semester hours
MA110 / MA112 / MAT 110 - Introduction to College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Algebra, or
MA111 / MA113 / MAT 111 College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Trigonometry, or
MA125 / MAT 125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors, or
MA225 / MAT 225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester hours
HS101 / HIS101 - American History to 1877
HS102 / HIS 102 - American History since 1877
HS111 / HIS 111 - World Civilization I
HS112 / HIS 112 - World Civilization II
HS121 / HIS 121 - Western Civilization Before The Thirty Years War
HS122 / HIS 122 - Western Civilization Since Thirty Years War
HS215 / HIS 223 - History of the American Indian
HS217 / HIS 221 - African-American History before 1877
HS218 / HIS 222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester hours
HM101 / SPA 100 - Spanish I 
HM102 / SPA 101 - Spanish II (Prerequisite: HM101) - or other foreign language
HM200 / MUS 200 - Music Appreciation
HM230 / REL 201 - Introduction to World Religions  
HM240 / ART 200 - Art Appreciation  
HM277 / PHI 200 - Introduction to Ethics
PH101 / PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy

Literature - 3 semester hours
HM201 / LIT 220 - American Literature before the Civil War
HM202 / LIT 221 - American Literature from Civil War to Present
HM221 / LIT 210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
HM222 / LIT 211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
HM211 / LIT 201 - World Lit through the Renaissance
HM212 / LIT 202 - World Lit since the Renaissance

Core Courses (21 semester hours) 
SS131/ INR 210 - International Relations
SS132 / INR 211 - International Relations II
MH304 / INR 214 - History of American Foreign Relations
RQ300 / COL 300 - Research, Analysis, and Writing
SS303 / INR 481 - International Law
SS402 / INR 301 - International Organizations
SS403 / INR 302 - International Development 
 
Major Courses (24 semester hours)
Because of the nature of the discipline, a student enrolled in International Relations should take eight (8) courses within a single concentration from the following list.

International & Transnational Security Concentration
Objectives
Students in this concentration undertake an in-depth examination of international and transnational issues that affect the global community as a whole and nation-states as individual entities.

Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Comprehend a theory about the distinct nature of conflict in the post-Cold War era.
• Explore the norms and purposes of international structures and regimes
• Identify the various manifestations of globalization an its impact on various political, economic and social systems.

IR390 / INR 390 - Contemporary International Issues [Required]
SS450 / INR 392 - Globalization and the Market Economy [Required]
IS313 / INT 441 - International Criminal Organizations
CJ319 / SCM 319 - Global Terrorism
IR491 / INR 491 - Special Topics in International Relations
IR339 / INR 430 - U.S. National Security and the Pacific Basin
IR451 / INR 480 - The Third World: Dependency and Development
WS400 / WOM 400 - Woman of Color Cross-Cultural Comparison

Comparative & Regional Politics Concentration
Objectives
Students in this concentration undertake an in-depth review of regional issues and actors.  This will allow the student to determine the significant political, economic, security, diplomatic, and social challenges facing a selected region—individually as separate nations and collectively as a region.

Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Evaluate the potential for conflict in a specific region based on existing theories of causation.
• Describe the approaches to peace through coercive power, nonviolence, world order, personal and community transformation in a specific geographic region.
• Understand the concepts and theories of comparative analysis of different political regimes.
• Determine the significant political, economic, security, diplomatic, and social challenges facing a selected region – individually as separate nations and collectively as a region.

SS411 / INR 300 - Comparative Political Systems [Required]
SS401 / INR 412 - Comparative Foreign Policy [Required]
MH379 / INR 416 - North Atlantic Treaty Organization
RQ313 / INT 315 - Foreign Intelligence Organizations
IR383 / INR 420 - Government and Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
IR349 / INR 430 -The Politics and Security of Asia
IR375 / INR 342 - Government and Security in Western Europe
IR374 / INR 341 - Government and Security in Eastern Europe
IR363 / INR 450 - Government and Politics in Latin America
IR359 / INR 460 - Government and Security in the Middle East
IR372 / INR 343 - Government and Security of Russia

Peacekeeping Concentration
Objectives
Students in this concentration undertake an in-depth study of the principles and foundations of peace operations within the context of international and regional mechanisms.  The student gains valuable insight into the skills necessary to step into international incidents between countries and among peacemakers to assist in the resolution of difficult problems

Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Understand the nature of conflict and diplomatic negotiations in the post-Cold War era.
• Identify the evolving theory and practices of United Nations peacekeeping operations.
• Describe the role of UN and regional peacekeeping initiatives in specific peace-building, peace making, and peace-keeping operations in conflict areas.

SS407 / INR 413 - International Conflict Resolution [Required]
MM321 / INR 414 - Principles of Peacekeeping [Required]
MM322 / INR 415 - Peacekeeping Logistics
CJ321 / INR 417 - International Civil Order
MH379 / INR 416 - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
MH402 / MIL 382 - Low Intensity Conflict
MH373 / MLH 373 - The Balkans: Conflict and Peace
MH371 / MLH 421 - History of Peacekeeping: 1945-1987
MH372 / MLH 422 - History of Peacekeeping: 1988 – Present
PY432 / PSY 432 - Psychology of Combat

Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
IR498 / INR 492 - Senior Seminar in International Relations (to be taken in the senior year)
Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all core and major courses prior to enrollment.

Electives (39 semester hours)
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.
 
Total = 121 semester hours