International Relations
The International Relations (IR) concentration addresses world politics at multiple levels of analysis – from history-defining decisions to the forces that influence our personal choices. IR is an intellectually diverse field of study that addresses some of the most dramatic and controversial global issues of the day. Students explore the theory and practice of how political power shapes the way the world works – or doesn’t work. Students debate topics such as war and conflict, wealth and poverty, foreign policy and national security, human rights and climate change, and more.
In their second year of the program, students in this concentration earn 1.0 credit in the following two courses:
PSCI 2601 [0.5 credit]: International Relations: Global Politics
Introduction to theories, concepts and issues in global politics. Topics may include conflict and intervention, peace and security, international institutions, norms and ethics, human rights, gender, culture, and globalization.
PSCI 2602 [0.5 credit]: International Relations: Global Political Economy
Introduction to the international political economy. Topics may include contemporary changes in the global political economy, multinational corporations, foreign economic policy, global and regional economic institutions, environmental issues, international development and relations between rich and poor countries.
In their third and fourth years of the program, students take an additional 2.5 credits in International Relations, such as:
PSCI 3107 – The Causes of War
PSCI 3207 – The Government and Politics of European Integration
PSCI 3601 – Theories of International Politics
PSCI 3603 – Strategic Thought and International Security
PSCI 3801 – Environmental Politics
PSCI 4303 – Governmentality and Politics
PSCI 4605 – Gender in International Relations
PSCI 4606 – American Foreign Policy
PSCI 4805 – Political Economy of Global Money and Finance
PSCI 4807 – Politics of Citizenship and Migration
For the full list of course options in International Relations, and the specific degree requirements for your program, consult the Undergraduate Calendar. Please note that not all courses in this list are offered each year.