Dec 06, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

International Relations - Development and Political Economy Concentration (BA)


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Program Educational Goals


Upon completion of an international relations Bachelor’s Degree, students will develop and strengthen their: 

  1. ability to understand, apply, and communicate international relations concepts and theories to understand and explain political phenomena related to development and political economy. 
  2. critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills in individual and collaborative settings.
  3. capacity to access, comprehend, synthesize, and apply political science literature in order to assess others’ work and for use in their own work. 
  4. appreciation and understanding of the complexities and political implications of diversity. 
  5. skills to critically consume and evaluate information and assess the ethical implications of contemporary political phenomena and global citizenship 
  6. ability to apply basic research skills including research design, data analysis and interpretation. 

University Requirements:


College Requirements:


College Breadth Requirements:


The College Breadth requirements are in addition to the University Breadth requirement. Up to three credits from each of the University Breadth Requirement categories may be used to simultaneously satisfy these College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirements. Minimum grade C- required for courses used to satisfy College Breadth.

*If the grade earned is sufficient, a course may be applied toward more than one requirement (e.g., breadth and major requirements), but the credits are counted only once toward the total credits for graduation. If all but one course in a group has been taken in one department or program, a course cross-listed with that program will not satisfy the distribution requirement.

Foreign Language:


  • Completion of the intermediate-level course (107 or 202) in an ancient or modern language with minimum grades of D-.
    • The number of credits (0-12) needed and initial placement will depend on the number of years of high school study of foreign language.
      • Students with four or more years of high school work in a single foreign language, or who have gained proficiency in a foreign language by other means, may attempt to fulfill the requirement in that language by taking an exemption examination  through the Languages, Literatures and Cultures Department.

Mathematics:


The math requirement must be completed by the time a student has earned 60 credits. Students who transfer into the College of Arts and Sciences with 45 credits or more must complete this requirement within two semesters.

Complete one of the following four options (minimum grade D-):

Option One:


Option Two:


One of the following:

Option Three:


Successful completion of any 200-level or higher mathematics course except: MATH 201 , MATH 202 , MATH 205 , MATH 251 , MATH 252 , MATH 253 , and MATH 266 .

Option Four:


  • Successful performance on a proficiency test in mathematics administered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences (0 credits awarded).

Second Writing Requirement:


A Second Writing Requirement  approved by the College of Arts and Sciences. This course must be taken after completion of 60 credit hours, completed with a minimum grade of C-, and the section enrolled must be designated as satisfying the requirement in the academic term completed.

International Relations Major Requirements:


Required Introductory Course:


One of the Following Introductory Courses:


Interdisciplinary Core Courses:


One of the Following World History Courses:


One of the Following Geography Courses:


Concentrations:


Students must choose one of four IR concentrations: (1) Development and International Political Economy, (2) Diplomacy and Global Order, (3) Societies and Beliefs, or (4) U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security. Concentrations require 15 hours of course work. Each concentration has a required POSC course. The  Development and International Political Economy Concentration has a required ECON course, ECON 311  or ECON 340 .

Students must take at least three approved Political Science and International Relations courses. One three-credit course from IR concentration course lists other than the student’s IR concentration may be used to fulfill a student’s chosen concentration (does not apply to the two required courses for each concentration). At least three courses must be taken at the 400-level in each concentration. Courses used to meet concentration requirements cannot be used to fulfill specialization requirements.

Restricted Electives:


Note: Three credit hours of POSC 464  (approved Internship), POSC 466  (approved Independent Study), POSC 468  (approved Undergraduate Research), or POSC 498  (approved Capstone Internship) may count once towards completion of either the concentration or specialization.

Development and Political Economy Concentration Requirements:


One of the following ECON courses:


Approved Electives:


Other courses approved to fulfill the 15 credit minimum in addition to courses listed above:

Regional Specializations:


Students must pick or choose one of five regional specializations: (1) Africa, (2) Asia, (3) Europe, (4) Latin America, (5) Middle East. Specializations require nine hours of course work. At least one course must be in POSC and at least one course must be at the 400-level in each specialization.

African Specialization:


  • Three courses from the following, with at least one course in Political Science, and at least three credits at the 400-level (nine credits):
    • NOTE: POSC 309   and POSC 441   may count toward the regional specialization when taken during study abroad in the appropriate region of the world.

Asian Specialization:


  • Three courses from the following, with at least one course in Political Science, and at least three credits at the 400-level (nine credits):
    • NOTE: POSC 309   and POSC 441   may count toward the regional specialization when taken during study abroad in the appropriate region of the world.

European Specialization:


  • Three courses from the following, with at least one course in Political Science, and at least three credits at the 400-level (nine credits):
    • NOTE: POSC 309   and POSC 411   may count toward the regional specialization when taken during study abroad in the appropriate region of the world.

Latin American Specialization:


  • Three courses from the following, with at least one course in Political Science, and at least three credits at the 400-level (nine credits):
    • NOTE: POSC 309   and POSC 441   may count toward the regional specialization when taken during study abroad in the appropriate region of the world.

Middle East Specialization:


  • Three courses from the following, with at least one course in Political Science, and at least three credits at the 400-level (nine credits):
    • NOTE: POSC 309   and POSC 441   may count toward the regional specialization when taken during study abroad in the appropriate region of the world.

Electives:


After required courses are completed, sufficient elective credits must be taken to meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.

Credits to Total a Minimum of 124


Last Revised for 2023-2024 Academic Year


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