StudyQA — Bachelor: International Relations — University of Maryland at College Park (Page 158)

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Description Contents Requirements Funding

Education and career preparation in Foreign Policy, National Security, International Development, Conflict Management and Global Affairs has never been more relevant or more timely. Located just a few Metro stops from downtown Washington, D.C., the University of Maryland is home to innovative International Relations (IR) programs, courses, faculty, research projects and events.

Studying IR at Maryland means exploring the politics and political economy of cross-border interactions, including the determinants of foreign policy behavior. The new IR concentration is ideal for students who are interested in exploring the causes of war, the workings of international organizations, the complexities of international negotiations, and the politics of foreign economic policy and economic development.

At the University of Maryland, students have a front-row seat to IR through:

Courses and research opportunities with outstanding IR faculty who are addressing the world's most challenging problems.
Advisors who help you create a customized curriculum that matches your interests and career goals.
Internships where you gain industry-specific IR experience and make professional contacts.
Study abroad through IR programs around the world.
Professional preparation for future jobs or for graduate school admission.

Through policy-relevant research and hands-on experiential learning opportunities, IR students and faculty are working toward a more peaceful and secure world.

Students pursuing the International Relations Concentration are required to take nine courses as outlined below:

GVPT200: International Political Relations
GVPT280: Comparative Politics OR GVPT282: Politics of the Developing World
GVPT Course of Choice
GVPT Course of Choice 300/400 Level
IR or Comparative Course of Choice 300/400 Level
IR or Comparative Course of Choice 300/400 Level
IR or Comparative Course of Choice 300/400 Level
IR or Comparative Course of Choice 300/400 Level
IR or Comparative Course of Choice 300/400 Level

In addition to GVPT100, GVPT170, and GVPT241, students must complete a minimum of 27 GVPT credits. At least 18 of these 27 GVPT credits must be at the upper level (300-400).
No more than 42 GVPT credits can be applied toward the 120 credits that are required for graduation. GVPT 100 (Principles of Government and Politics), GVPT 170/171 (American Government) and GVPT 241 (Political Philosophy) are included in the 42 credit limit.
No more than six GVPT experiential learning credits will apply toward the minimum of 36 GVPT credits. Only internship credit that is taken for a regular grading method in the GVPT department may be included in the minimum of 36 credits. Note most internship credit is pass/fail and does NOT count toward GVPT requirements. Internships counting for the IR Concentration must be related to international relations.
At least 12 upper-level GVPT credits (4 upper-level courses of choice) must be completed at UMD.
Please click here to find a sample list of courses by subfield.

Skills Requirement

The skills category comprises four requirements:

ECON 200
Entire level of elementary foreign language
Quantitative skills course
Intermediate foreign language

Students may not apply courses used to fulfill the skills category toward the supporting sequence nor apply the course used to fulfill the math gateway requirement toward the skills category. Click here for a complete list of approved skills requirement courses.

1. Microeconomics

All students must complete ECON 200: Microeconomics.

2. Elementary Foreign Language

Students must complete a foreign language through the entire elementary level. Normally this requires three or four credits of study beginning with the initial elementary course. The entire elementary level in some languages requires twelve hours (e.g. ARAB, RUSS). Students may be exempt from the foreign language requirement if they have satisfied one of the following options:

a. High School Proficiency

Students who are proficient through the entire elementary level of a foreign language because of study in high school or from studying abroad may speak to a GVPT advisor about fulfillment of this requirement. Students must have completed level 3 of the same foreign language at high school level with a “C-” or better in all attempts to be exempt from this requirement. GVPT majors must demonstrate exemption by bringing an official high school transcript to the GVPT advising office no later than the semester in which they reach 90 credits. Students may also check with their GVPT advisor to see if they can access their transcript from their UMD application. *Note- Exemption from elementary foreign language from GVPT does not necessarily guarantee your placement into intermediate or advanced level of the language. Please contact the respective language departments for clarification on intermediate placement.

b. CLEP Foreign Language Exam

Students must complete one of the following language exams and earn the corresponding score to be exempted from this requirement. GVPT majors must demonstrate exemption by having their CLEP scores sent to the University of Maryland. The exam score must be posted to the student's record no later than the semester in which they reach 90 credits.

EXAM and Score:
French Language, Level 2 - 67
German Language, Level 2 - 58
Spanish Language, Level 2 - 71

Proficiency in language level II will satisfy the Language Skills Requirement at the elementary level for the Government and Politics major. Please note no credit is awarded. This test is only used to determine a student's proficiency of the language. For additional information you can contact the CLEP Administrator in the Counseling Center, Room 0106A Shoemaker Hall (301) 314-7688.

c. Proficiency Exam through a Private Agency

Students may have a proficiency exam administered by a private source. GVPT majors must submit a signed and sealed letter documenting that he/she is proficient at the elementary level or higher of a given foreign language. Students should contact the appropriate language department for suggestions on where to go for a proficiency test.

3. Quantitative Skills Requirement

This requirement is designed to insure that our students graduate with an introduction to rigorous skills in argumentation, reasoning, and statistical inference. Student may choose a quantitative course from an approved list.

4. Intermediate Foreign Language Course

Students must complete the first course in an intermediate foreign language. Placement levels are determined by the foreign language placement test and may require the completion of the necessary prerequisite introductory foreign language course(s).

Requirements

Nonrefundable application fee of $75
Two letters of recommendation are required for a completed application: one from your school counselor and one from a teacher. Recommendations must be sent to us directly from the recommender.
Official copy of your high school transcripts
Where appropriate, include official results and certificates of completion from national secondary school examinations such as GCSE/GCE, CBSE national and regional, CXC/CSEC and WAEC. Transcripts must be sent in the native language with a certified English translation.
The SAT or the ACT is required.
If neither the SAT nor the ACT is available in your country, submit a written request for a waiver of this requirement with your application. Applicants who don’t submit some form of official standardized testing may be at a competitive disadvantage.
Activities and awards list or resume
If English is not your native language—regardless of your citizenship—you must have an official report of your scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the address below by the appropriate application deadline. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will consider all materials submitted in the application package to determine your level of English proficiency.