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Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

 Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's

The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations gives students an understanding of the world and analyzes the nature of modern global relationships. Scholars, horrified by the events of World War I, founded the discipline of international relations. Through the study of past lessons learned in politics, economics, culture and history, students will debate and explore global economies, societies and cultures. This undergraduate program focuses on the central concerns of international relations - diplomacy, foreign policy analysis, international organizations, global development and international relations theory. Students study the possibility of another world war and explore ways to prevent it. This major provides an excellent foundation for careers in government agencies, the diplomatic service, international organizations, world trade, and finance and international media.

Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates.  With reference to each of the respective areas of international relations, graduates in this degree program will be able to:

American Foreign Policy

  • Compare and contrast the political, economic, and military components of foreign policy decision making and analyze the impact of foreign policy on domestic decisions.
  • Draw conclusions about the implications of foreign policy as it is currently applied to various regions of the world.
  • Evaluate the "national interest" and how it is formulated, assess alternatives to current policies, and examine their likely impact on the United States, its allies, and other nations.

Diplomacy

  • Examine the theory, nature, and causes of war and their relationship to diplomacy; assess the contributions of diplomacy to accomplishment of war objectives.

International Organizations and Development

  • Critically assess the unique principles, structure, and organization of the major international organizations.
  • Examine the prospects of governance by international organizations.
  • Assess the economic and political processes in international development; diagnose social issues in international development; appraise the need for sustainable international development.
  • Evaluate the multidimensional effects of globalization.
Degree Program Requirements
Required Course - 3 semester hours

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)

English Composition - 6 semester hours

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours

Science - 4 semester hours including the required 1 hour labs

Mathematics - 3 semester hours

History - 6 semester hours

Humanities - 3 semester hours

Literature - 3 semester hours

All literature courses require successful completion of EN101 - Proficiency in Writing or EN102 - Effectiveness in Writing


Political Science - 3 semester hours

Core Courses (21 semester hours) 
Major Courses (24 semester hours)

Because of the nature of the discipline, a student enrolled in International Relations should take eight (8) courses within a single concentration from the following list.

International & Transnational Security Concentration

Objectives
Students in this concentration undertake an in-depth examination of international and transnational issues that affect the global community as a whole and nation-states as individual entities.

Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

  • Comprehend a theory about the distinct nature of conflict in the post-Cold War era.
  • Explore the norms and purposes of international structures and regimes
  • Identify the various manifestations of globalization an its impact on various political, economic and social systems.
Comparative & Regional Politics Concentration

Objectives
Students in this concentration undertake an in-depth review of regional issues and actors.  This will allow the student to determine the significant political, economic, security, diplomatic, and social challenges facing a selected region—individually as separate nations and collectively as a region.

Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

  • Evaluate the potential for conflict in a specific region based on existing theories of causation.
  • Describe the approaches to peace through coercive power, nonviolence, world order, personal and community transformation in a specific geographic region.
  • Understand the concepts and theories of comparative analysis of different political regimes.
  • Determine the significant political, economic, security, diplomatic, and social challenges facing a selected region – individually as separate nations and collectively as a region.
Peacekeeping Concentration

Objectives
Students in this concentration undertake an in-depth study of the principles and foundations of peace operations within the context of international and regional mechanisms.  The student gains valuable insight into the skills necessary to step into international incidents between countries and among peacemakers to assist in the resolution of difficult problems

Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

  • Understand the nature of conflict and diplomatic negotiations in the post-Cold War era.
  • Identify the evolving theory and practices of United Nations peacekeeping operations.
  • Describe the role of UN and regional peacekeeping initiatives in specific peace-building, peace making, and peace-keeping operations in conflict areas.
Capstone Course (3 semester hours)
Electives (33 semester hours)

Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 121 semester credits

 Return to APUS Catalog | Bachelor's

AMU is a member institution of the American Public University System (APUS), which is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association and nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission, Distance Education and Training Council.
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