International Relations

International Relations
BA
Hours60 - 86 Credit Hours
MAPMajor Academic Plan

Program Requirements

No double counting of courses within the major will be allowed.
requirement 1 Complete 2 courses
Introductory Core Courses:
requirement 2 Complete 1 course
requirement 3 Complete 1 course
requirement 4 Complete 2 courses
requirement 5 Complete 1 option
Complete one of the following options:
option 5.1 Complete 2 courses
option 5.2 Complete 1 course
requirement 6 Complete 2 courses
requirement 7 Complete 1 course
requirement 8 Complete 1 option
requirement 9 Complete 1 course
International relations courses:
requirement 10 Complete 1 course
Comparative politics courses:
requirement 11 Complete 1 option
Achieve proficiency in a foreign language. Students are to complete courses for one language to a specified level with all attendant prerequisites. Some courses may be waived depending upon previous language training. The specific requirements for each language are listed on a separate sheet available from the International and Area Studies Advisement Office or the international relations coordinator. This requirement is waived for international students for whom English is their second language.
option 11.1 Complete 1 course
option 11.2 Complete 2 courses
Preferably taken abroad.
option 11.3 Complete 2 groups
option 11.4 Complete 2 groups
option 11.5 Complete 2 courses
Students can receive credit for many less commonly taught languages (e.g., Tagalog, Thai) by enrolling in FLang 330. Please contact the Center for Language Studies (422-1201) or see http://cls.byu.edu/index.html for information on which languages are offered and when. Languages not on the list above and not available through FLang 330 cannot be used to fill this requirement.
requirement 12 Complete 1 option
Specializations: Complete one of the following tracks (no double-counting of major courses allowed):
option 12.1 Complete 1 group
A. International Politics
option 12.2 Complete 1 group
B. Political Economy
Complete four courses from at least two disciplines. At least two courses must be from economics. NOTE: Completion of the Econ 378/388 sequence for the statistics requirement above will also count as fulfillment of one course in this track.
group 12.2.1 Complete 4 courses
option 12.3 Complete 1 group
C. Asian Politics and History
option 12.4 Complete 1 group
D. Latin American Politics and History
Complete four courses from the following. At least one course must be from political science and one course from history. Students cannot count both Hist 359 and Poli 380.
group 12.4.1 Complete 4 courses
option 12.5 Complete 1 group
E. Middle Eastern Politics and History
option 12.6 Complete 1 group
F. European Politics and History
option 12.7 Complete 2 groups
G. Economic and Political Development:
group 12.7.1 Complete 1 course
Note: Econ 431 cannot be double-counted for the 400-level economics course in the core; Econ 388 is the preferred route to fill the statistics prerequisite for this course.
group 12.7.2 Complete 3 courses
Complete three courses from the following, of which one course must be from political science. NOTE: Completion of the Econ 378/388 sequence for the statistics requirements above will also count as fulfillment of one course in this track.
option 12.8 Complete 1 group
H. African Politics and History
With the prior approval of the international relations coordinator, a maximum of 3 hours of IR 398R, 399R, or IAS 351R may be used toward meeting the four-course requirement of specialization. Only the second semester of IAS 351R would be allowed.
requirement 13 Complete 1 option
Capstone research experience (Note: With prior approval of the IR coordinator, IR 398R, 399R may count toward this requirement):
option 13.1 Complete 1 course
Note 1: Only MESA 495, Poli 450, or Poli 470 can fill the GE Advanced Written and Oral Communication requirement when coupled with Poli 200.
Note 2: Students majoring in international relations may not pursue a double major or minor in either economics or political science because of the course overlap between international relations and those majors.
Program Outcomes

Factual Knowledge

Demonstrate factual knowledge of important international trends and events related to politics, economics, geography and history.

Analyzing International Affairs

Anaylze international affairs by using theoretical concepts and ideas from more than one IR-related discipline.

Writing Effectively

Communicate effectively in writing and in speech.

Critical and Analytical Thinking

Think critically and analytically about international problems and events, and synthesize concepts, information and experiences from different disciplines relevant to international affairs.

Analysis and Research

Employ appropriate methods of analysis and research, both qualitative and quantitative, to provide sophisticated analyses and clear, logical arguments relating to important questions about international relations.