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Department of Political Science

International Relations Certificate

This certificate is for those who are interested in international affairs and who are considering careers in this field (e.g., working for the U.S. government’s foreign policy or intelligence agencies; foreign policy think tanks; international non-governmental organizations).

Students may apply here.

Certificate Requirements:

Credits: 18, completed with minimum grades of C

Required Courses (6 credits)

Core courses in International Relations theory

INR 2001 – Introduction to International Relations, 3 credits

INR 3603 – Theories of International Relations, 3 credits

Subfield Courses (12 credits)

Main subfields of international relations courses (3000 level)

Advanced subfield courses (4000 level)

While successful completion of this 18-credit program will qualify students for the certificate, most graduate programs, foreign service organizations, and private corporations will be looking for individuals with broader training. Therefore, students are encouraged to pursue related study in other political science fields and other departments. Students interested in U.S. foreign policy, for example, should consider taking courses in American government. Likewise, students interested in international trade or finance would do well to pursue coursework in economics.

In addition, students interested in the international relations of a particular geographical region would benefit from learning about the comparative domestic political systems and/or cultures of those regions and may find courses in comparative politics, geography, anthropology, or foreign languages and literatures helpful. Many other opportunities for enrichment through interdisciplinary work are available on campus.