Curriculum

Degree requirements:
36 credit hours: required courses
27 credit hours: general education courses
65 credit hours: elective courses

All students seeking a BA degree in International relations are required to complete 36 credit hours within the department. This must include a course in Methods, a Research course (fulfilled by taking the Seminar, Senior Thesis, or a designated upper-division course), and the Senior Overview. Note that degree requirements are different for students electing an emphasis in Economics or Refugee Studies.

The required 36 credit hours (12 courses) must include the following:

POLT 1050 Introduction to International Politics

One course from the following:
POLT 1080 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLT 2250 Politics in the Industrialized World
POLT 2550 The Politics of Development
INTL 3100 International Political Economy

One course from the following:
HIST 2220 Modern Europe
HIST 2250 History of Russia: Since 1917
HIST 2280 History of England: Twentieth Century
HIST 2400 Modern Asia
HIST 2450 Third World

One course from the following:
HIST 3100 Diplomatic History
HIST 3150 International Affairs
POLT 3310 Conduct of Foreign Policy)
POLT 3400 Comparative Politics, or alternative (INTL courses: 3200, 3220, 3240, 3300)

Two courses from the following:
INTL 1500 The World System Since 1500
INTL 2030 International Law
INTL 2600 International Organizations: Structure and Political Conflict (INTL 2610 may be substituted)
INTL 4280 International Economics
INTL 4000 Research Requirement (to be taken in conjunction with a designated 3000-level or 4000-level course)
Senior overview*

With your advisor’s permission, one course from the following may be applied toward the required 36 credit hours:

ECON 3700 Economics of Development
ECON 4910 Comparative Economic Problems
JOUR 3080 Global Journalism
MNGT 3320 Business Law: International
BUSN 4650 International Business

Qualified students may take selected graduate-level courses in international business and international relations as part of an international relations major with permission of the department and the instructor of the course.

* The research requirement and senior overview are satisfied by the seminar course: INTL 4600, POLT 4600, HIST 4600

“Even though Webster is an American university, it doesn’t approach international relations from an American or Western perspective. Instead, you get a truly global perspective that’s inclusive of everyone’s point of view.”

Victor Owade, Undergraduate student, International Relations major