A Distinctive Program
How does the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process affect the U.S. and other countries? What steps should be taken to convince Iran’s leaders to reign in their nuclear ambitions? Should the U.N.’s work increasingly rely on Gulf aid? How have the wars in Iraq impacted relations between America and the world?
As an international relations major at Spring Hill College, you’ll explore questions like these, and many more—examining how and why one society’s issues cause ripple effects around the globe. You'll study relationships between countries, governments, and people. You’ll delve into how balance of power and distribution of wealth can contribute to a society’s instability or progress. You’ll also study the art of diplomacy—intricate and delicate methods of conducting negotiations between countries.
International Relations is a multi-disciplinary major that draws from politics, history, economics, law, sociology, psychology, philosophy, ethics, and geography. The study of foreign languages is a necessity, as is a sense of empathy, compassion, and goodwill.
Degree Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in International Studies
REQUIRED LOWER-DIVISION CORE COURSES
Course
POL 151 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POL 161 Introduction to International Relations
ECO 101 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECO 102 Principles of Microeconomics
Modern Foreign Language (intermediate level)1
1The foreign language requirement may be completed on campus or through a study abroad program.
REQUIRED UPPER-DIVISION CORE COURSES
Course
POL 363 Politics of Developing Countries
POL 346 American Foreign Policy
POL 493 Seminar in International Studies
CONCENTRATIONS
Choose two courses from one concentration and two courses from a second concentration.
Division of Social Sciences 221
International Economics and Development
Course
BUS 320 International Business
FIN 321 Money and Capital Markets
ECO 434 International Trade and Finance
POL 379 International Political Economy
Area Studies
Course
ENG 426 European Fiction
GEO 301 World Regional Geography
HIS 301 Modern Latin America
HIS 322 Europe Since 1945
LAN 302 The French Heritage II
LAN 304 The Spanish Heritage II
LAN 305 The Latin American Heritage
POL 365 Latin American Politics
POL 367 Middle Eastern Politics
POL 371 Russia and Eastern Europe
THL 261 World Religions
Peace and Conflict Studies
Course
POL 361 Comparative Foreign Policy
POL 375 Terrorism, Revolution, and War
THL 345 Religion & Culture
THL 351 Contemporary Moral Issues
THL 352 Peace and Justice Issues
THL 354 Religion and International Politics
Electives
Choose one course or an additional course from a third concentration above.
Course
CMM 376 Intercultural Communication
HIS 330 World Cultures
HIS 331 Asian History
POL 385 Marxism and Twentieth Century Political Thought
POL 447 Problems in International Politics
POL 495 Study Abroad in Political Science 1
1More than three credit hours may be earned in study abroad with the prior permission of the director of International Studies.