International Relations

Whether you want to work in government, a global corporation, academia, or a nongovernmental organization, a degree in International Relations opens many doors. You will learn how to do rigorous and structured research, how to understand and explain a comprehensive range of international relations issues and how to develop scholarly analysis as well as how to apply it. You can specialize in different fields such as European integration studies, Asian security studies, energy politics, terrorism or international law, just to mention a few. Our international classrooms, with students and faculty from all around the world, enhance the different political and cultural discussions leading to a better understanding in the field of International Relations.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate knowledge of key subfields and theories of international relations as a discipline.
• Identify major actors and institutions of international relations and know their functions.
• Analyze international issues from perspectives other than their own.
• Display familiarity with foreign cultures and languages.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 128 credit hours consisting of the following:

42 required credit hours in the Major (14 courses)
27 credits Global Citizenship Program (9 courses)
59 elective credit hours (20 courses)

Students are required to complete 42 credit hours within the department, including methods, a research requirement (fulfilled by taking the seminar, senior thesis, or a designated upper-division course), and senior overview. A minimum of 18 credit hours of international relations at Webster University is required.

Students are required to have significant international language experience. This requirement can be met by taking 12 sequential credit hours in an international language or by passing an advanced-level proficiency examination. This requirement will be waived for students whose native language is not English and who are studying in English. Their mastery of English as a second language fulfills the requirement.

Required Courses

Core Courses

• POLT 1050 Introduction to International Politics (3 credit hours)
• POLT 2600 Research Methods and Approaches in Political Science (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050 or simultaneously with POLT 1050

One of the following:

• POLT 1070 Introduction to Political Theory  (3 credit hours)
• INTL 2680 International Relations Theory (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050

One of the following:

• POLT 1080 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 credit hours)
• POLT 1060 Introduction to American Politics (3 credit hours)
• POLT 2250 Politics in the Industrialized World (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050 and Sophomore Standing
• POLT 2550 The Politics of the Developing World (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050 and Sophomore Standing

The following (will be counted as general non-department elective):

• ECON 2030 Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credit hours) [mandatory]
• [ECON 2020 Principles of Microeconomics (3 credit hours) - strongly recommended, but not mandatory]

One of the following:

• INTL 3800 International Security (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050, POLT 2600, ECON 2030, INTL 3100
• INTL 3500 Environmental and Energy Security (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050, POLT 2600, ECON 2030, INTL 3100

One of the following:

• HIST 3100 Diplomatic History (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050, POLT 2600, or 6hrs HIST
• HIST 3150 International Affairs (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050, POLT 2600, or 6hrs HIST
• HIST 3130 History of Human Rights (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050, POLT 2600, or 6hrs HIST

Each of the following:

• INTL 1500 The World Since 1500 (3 credit hours)
• INTL 2030 International Law (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050
• INTL 3100 International Political Economy (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050, POLT 2600, ECON 2030
• POLT 3310 Conduct of Foreign Policy (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050
• INTL 3700 International Organizations (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050, POLT 2600
• INTL 4600 International Relations Seminar (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: Senior standing or Department Head permission
• INTL 4620 Senior Overview (Final Semester/Term) *) (0 Credit Hours)

*) all students require a public defending of their knowledge in order to graduate

Electives

Department Electives

Any of the above or any other HIST/INTL/POLT courses, such as:

• INTL 3220 Current European and American Diplomatic Issues (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050, POLT 2600
• INTL 2690 Multinational Corporations (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050, POLT 2600, INTL 3100, ECON 2030

The following courses offered by other area of study may be applied as electives:

• HRTS 1100 Introduction to Human Rights (3 credit hours)
• ECON 3700 Economics of Development (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: POLT 1050, POLT 2600, ECON 2030, INTL 3100
• ECON 4910 Comparative Economic Problems (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: ECON 3700
• BUSN 4650 International Business (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: INTL 2690
• MNGT 3320 Business Law: International (3 credit hours)
  Prerequisite: INTL 1050, INTL 2030
• JOUR 3080 Global Journalism (3 credit hours)

At least 12 of the 36 required credits  must be upper-level courses (3000 or above) with an international focus.

HIST 1800 may not be used to satisfy the 42-credit-hour requirement in international relations. Teacher certification courses (HIST 3800 and HIST 3810) may not be used to satisfy the upper-level coursework or practicum requirement. A maximum of 3 credit hours of individualized learning experiences (INDZ), practicum, or debate may be applied to total upper-level coursework. A maximum of 6 credit hours of INDZ, practicum, or debate may apply to the total 42 credit hours.