Program Overview
The International Relations major prepares students for responsible global citizenship and entry into internationally related jobs in government, business, or international public or private agencies. The curriculum is designed to provide greater breadth than is possible by majoring in a single discipline, yet permit sufficiently focused study in international affairs to prepare the student for direct entry into the field of international work or continued post-graduate study.
The curriculum features a core set of political science courses dealing with international security, international law and international political economy. Regional and thematic concentrations allow students to explore international affairs through multiple disciplinary perspectives, including history, sociology, economics and political science. Learning a foreign language is strongly encouraged, as is study abroad. We offer students opportunities to integrate experiential learning with their academic coursework. Examples include Model European Union, mock trial, and internships with federal and state governments, political campaigns, and non-profit organizations in Central Iowa or overseas. Students should work closely with their advisors to select courses that are most compatible with their academic and professional goals.
B.A. Degree Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Hours |
POLS 065 | COMPARATIVE POLITICS | 3 |
POLS 075 | WORLD POLITICS | 3 |
POLS 176 | INTERNATIONAL SECURITY | 3 |
POLS 177 | POLITICAL ECONOMY OF GLOBALIZA | 3 |
POLS 178 | INTERNATIONAL LAW | 3 |
| |
| 9 |
| DEVELOPING ECONOMIES | |
| AFRICA IN WORLD HISTORY | |
| MODERN MEXICO | |
| COLONIAL LATIN AMERICA | |
| MODERN LATIN AMERICA | |
| MODERN CHINA | |
HIST 130 | | |
| MODERN JAPAN | |
HIST 134 | | |
| AFRICA'S COLONIAL MOMENT | |
| THE WEST AND RUSSIA | |
| AFRICA, AFRICANS, AND ATLANTIC SLAVERY | |
HIST 167 | | |
| GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF DEVELOPING NATIONS | |
| THE POLITICS OF INEQUALITY | |
| CASE STUDIES IN COMPARATIVE AND TRANSNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS | |
| COMPARATIVE POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS | |
| SUPREME COURTS & ELECTIONS | |
| INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES | |
| POLITICS & PARLIAMENTS | |
| COMPARATIVE ASIAN POLITICS | |
| GOVERNMENT & POLITICS OF CHINA | |
| GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF JAPAN | |
| MODERN EUROPEAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS | |
| POLITICS IN RUSSIA AND FORMER SOVIET UNION | |
| 9 |
| INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS | |
| THE COLD WAR THROUGH FILM | |
| TRANSITIONS TO DEMOCRACY | |
| POLITICS & PARLIAMENTS | |
| JAPAN AND THE WORLD: ISSUES OF WAR AND MEMORY | |
| HUMAN RIGHTS AND WORLD POLITICS | |
| TRANSNATIONAL ADVOCACY NETWORK | |
| TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE | |
| RACIAL JUSTICE & HUMAN RIGHTS | |
| HUMAN TRAFFICKING | |
| GLOBAL HEALTH | |
| THE UNITED NATIONS AND GLOBAL SECURITY | |
| GENDER AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | |
| GENDER AND WAR | |
| SIMULATING CRISIS DECISION-MAKING IN U.S. FOREIGN POLICY | |
| U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS | |
| REVISITING VIETNAM | |
| THE US AND IRAN | |
| THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | |
| INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | |
| 3 |
Total Hours | 36 |
In addition to programmatic requirements, students are responsible for satisfying all requirements of the Drake Curriculum, including Areas of Inquiry (AOI).
Student must also satisfy university graduation requirements for all undergraduate students.