International Relations Major
International Relations is a degree program that offers students a truly cross-disciplinary course of study. The major concentration emphasizes modern history, economics, and political science. The IR faculty encourages its majors to enhance the cross-disciplinary nature of their studies by completing a minor concentration in modern language, economics, history, political science, business, or one of the interdisciplinary and area studies programs that the University offers (e.g., Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, Gender Studies, American Studies); by studying abroad; and/or by participating in the Washington and Philadelphia Internship Programs.
Students majoring in International Relations acquire valuable skills in communication and analysis, critical thinking, independent judgment, appreciation of different societies and cultures, and knowledge of world affairs and trends, all of which are critical in the globalized environment of today and tomorrow.
International Relations is a major rooted in the Jesuit tradition of liberal arts, especially suited to those students orientated toward government service, business, legal studies, communications, and education.
Goal 1: Key Concepts/Theories: Students will understand core concepts and/or theories within international relations.
Outcome 1: Students will identify, define, and/or explain the content, core concepts, and theories that guide international relations from an integrated, interdisciplinary perspective.
Goal 2: Write/Argue: Students will develop arguments based on evidence.
Outcome 2: Students will articulate verbally and/or in writing an argument which defines, explains, and/or analyzes the content, process, and/or outcomes relevant to international relations.
Goal 3: Analyze: Students will evaluate arguments using empirical evidence.
Outcome 3: Students will apply a variety of tools, methods, or perspectives to critically analyze and/or evaluate issues relevant to international relations.
Goal 4: World outside the classroom: Students will participate in experiential learning related to international relations.
Outcome 4: Students will demonstrate career preparation through experiential learning opportunities that are closely related to international relations or a related field through the development of interpersonal, analytical, and/or problem-solving skills.
Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements
Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements. See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Course Requirements | ||
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| World History Course Area | ||
| HIS 101 | Globalization in World History | 3 |
| or HIS 102 | Movements in World History | |
| or HIS 103 | Empires in World History | |
| Philosophy Requirements | ||
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Theology & Religious Studies Requirements | ||
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Theology | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Diversity & INT 151 Requirements | ||
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years | ||
| Diversity | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Math & Natural Science Requirements | ||
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements. | ||
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Non-Native Language Requirement | 3-4 | |
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement. | ||
| Literature Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Overlay Requirements | ||
| Writing-Intensive | 3 | |
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition). | ||
| Mission-Overlay | 3 | |
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science. | ||
| Total Hours | 47-49 | |
Recommended CCC Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Mission-Specific Overlay | ||
| Second Semester of a Non-Native Language Course | 3-4 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Intro to Global Politics (Fulfills CCC: Social Science) | ||
| Introduction to Statistics (Either course fulfills CCC: Mathematics) | ||
or MAT 148 | Applied Statistics Plus | |
| Foundational Course (3 courses) | 9 | |
| Intro to Comparative Politics | ||
| Intro to Microeconomics | ||
| Intro to Macroeconomics | ||
| Professional Development Requirements (1 credit each) | 2 | |
| Strategies for Success | ||
| Career Prep Seminar | ||
| Complementary Analytical Skills (1 course) | 3 | |
| Students will choose one course among the following: | ||
Any GIS course | ||
World Language: Second Semester Non-Native Language course | ||
| Capstone Course (1 course) | 3 | |
| Students will choose one course among the following: POL 403, POL 404, or POL 409. 1 | ||
Note: IR majors who double-major in POL must complete a separate Senior Capstone Course to fulfill the POL major requirements. In addition, Capstone Courses do not count towards the Upper Division Course requirements for either major. | ||
| Experiential Learning (1 course) | 3 | |
| Students will choose one course among the following: | ||
OR any Service Learning course (with SLR attribute) | ||
OR Study Abroad (One Semester) | ||
| Upper Division Courses (9 courses) 2, 3 | 27 | |
| Majors will select a total of 9 courses from the list of approved IR courses (see below). In completing this requirement, students must take (1) at least one upper division IR course in Economics, (2) at least two upper division IR courses in History, and (3) at least two upper division IR courses in Political Science. Course descriptions can be found in the Departmental listings of the catalog. | ||
| Economics | ||
| International Trade | ||
| International Macroeconomics | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Asian Economies | ||
| Econ of Gender in South Asia | ||
| Chinese Economics | ||
| History | ||
| Historical Intro to Latin Am | ||
| Latin American-U.S. Migration | ||
| Historical Intro to Asian Civs | ||
| History of Modern Africa | ||
| Latin America and the U.S. | ||
| History of Modern Mexico | ||
| War & Peace in Imperial Russia | ||
| Rise & Fall of USSR | ||
| Stalinism in the USSR | ||
| African Ethnicities | ||
| Exchng & Conq in Mod E. Asia | ||
| Gndr, Ideolgy & Rev in E. Asia | ||
| Modern China | ||
| Japan Since 1600 | ||
| Modern South Asia | ||
| History of Islam in Asia | ||
| Contemporary China | ||
| India & Pak: Colony to Nation | ||
| Reform and Reaction in the US | ||
| US in the World since WWI | ||
| Political Science | ||
| Politics, Ideology, & Film | ||
| Latin American Politics | ||
| Asian Democ at the Crossroads | ||
| Understanding Putin's Russia | ||
| The EU and European Politics | ||
| Contemp Cuban Pol & Society | ||
| Asian Dictators | ||
| Global Geopolitics | ||
| Haunted by the Past | ||
| Power & Money in IR | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| IR of East Asia: War and Peace | ||
| Ethics inInternational Affairs | ||
| Sex & Power around the World | ||
| Total Hours | 47 | |
- 1
The Department strongly recommends that students take the appropriate introductory and upper division courses prior to enrolling in a Capstone.
- 2
IR majors who double-major in POL may not count more than 3 Upper Division courses towards either degree requirement.
- 3
IR majors may only count 2 study abroad courses towards the degree requirements of the major.
Free Electives
To be awarded a bachelor's degree at Saint Joseph's University, students must complete at least 120 total credits. As such, elective credits may be required in addition to Cornerstone Core Curriculum (CCC) and major requirements. Any credits necessary to reach at least 120 total credits outside of the CCC and major requirements are considered free electives. Under the CCC, there are no fixed number of electives required. A student's total number of electives will vary based on major requirements, transfer credits, as well as math and language placement.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| POL 115 or POL 113 |
Intro to Global Politics or Intro to Comparative Politics |
3 |
| World History | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level One or Theology | 3 | |
| Non-Native Language | 3-4 | |
| ECN 101 or ECN 102 |
Intro to Microeconomics or Intro to Macroeconomics |
3 |
| POL 190 | Strategies for Success | 1 |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| POL 113 or POL 115 |
Intro to Comparative Politics or Intro to Global Politics |
3 |
| Philosophy Level One or Theology | 3 | |
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| Complementary Analytical Skills | 3-4 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECN 101 or ECN 102 |
Intro to Microeconomics or Intro to Macroeconomics |
3 |
| IR Major Elective #1 | 3 | |
| MAT 118 or MAT 148 |
Introduction to Statistics or Applied Statistics Plus |
3 |
| PHL Level Two or Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| POL 290 | Career Prep Seminar | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| IR Major Elective #2 | 3 | |
| IR Major Elective #3 | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two or Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Complementary Analytical Skills or Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| IR Major Elective #4 | 3 | |
| IR Major Elective #5 | 3 | |
| Natural Science or Free Elective | 3-4 | |
| Experiential Learning or Free Elective | 3 | |
| Diversity or Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| IR Major Elective #6 | 3 | |
| IR Major Elective #7 | 3 | |
| Natural Science or Free Elective | 3-4 | |
| Complementary Analytical Skills or Free Elective | 3 | |
| Diversity or Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| IR Capstone or IR Major Elective #8 | 3 | |
| IR Major Elective #9 or Free Elective | 3 | |
| Fine & Performing Arts, Design & Creativity or Literature or Free Elective | 3 | |
| Experiential Learning or Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| IR Capstone or IR Major Elective #8 | 3 | |
| IR Major Elective #9 or Free Elective | 3 | |
| Fine & Performing Arts, Design & Creativity or Literature or Free Elective | 3 | |
| Experiential Learning or Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 123-127 | |