Sep 28, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

International Relations, B.A.

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The International Relations major emphasizes the understanding of global issues and world cultures, and traces the political, social, ideological, and economic history of the world. This major addresses the idea of globalization as well as the challenges and opportunities present in a closely integrated world. Students graduating with a major in International Relations will be able to:

Understand the major analytical perspectives and key concepts used by scholars to study international relations;
Use the theoretical literature to analyze global issues and problems; and
Engage in a discussion of the complex issues and developments that drive and define contemporary global politics.

Degree Requirements

Institutional Degree Requirements

Program-Specific Degree Requirements: To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in International Relations must maintain a 2.0 grade point average in the course requirements of the major and earn a grade of 2.0 or higher in all international relations core, political science electives, and support courses. International Relations majors must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language at the intermediate level.

General Education Requirement

First Year Seminar

FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours

Foundations Requirements

Disciplinary Perspectives Requirement

Choose 3 credits of the following Humanities courses:

FLM 216 Introduction to Film 3 credit hours
HIS 101 The Foundation of the West 3 credit hours
LIT 200 Introduction to Literary and Textual Studies 3 credit hours
PHL 221 Introduction to Philosophy 3 credit hours
PHL 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours crosslisted as WGS 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Arts courses:

ART 101 Art and Visual Culture 3 credit hours
CRW 272 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 credit hours
MUS 186 Listening to Music 3 credit hours
THE 154 Introduction to Theatre 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Social and Behavioral Sciences courses:

ECO 205 Economic Perspectives 3 credit hours
ENT 150 Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3 credit hours
MKT 100 Principles of Marketing 3 credit hours
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credit hours
REC 101 Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society 3 credit hours
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Natural and Physical Sciences courses:

BIO 204 Exploring Biology 3 credit hours
CHM 240 Perspectives on the Molecular World 3 credit hours
CHM 241 Perspectives on the Molecular World Lab 0 credit hours
G 151 Introduction to Physical Geography 3 credit hours
G 152 Introduction to Physical Geography Lab 0 credit hours
PHY 252 Science and Sustainability 3 credit hours

Constellation Requirement

The Constellation requirement is met when a student completes four courses from a minimum of three disciplines within the Constellation requirements. Students who transfer in 60 credits or more at the time of admission to the college will be waived from the Constellation requirement, except for Education majors. The waiver applies to the requirement for graduation but does not waive the credits to graduate; students need to meet the overall bachelor’s degree credit requirement.

Required Courses

Core Requirements

PS 102 Contemporary Global Issues 3 credit hours
PS 110 Introduction to Political Science 3 credit hours
PS 260 Comparative Politics 3 credit hours
PS 262 Quantitative Analysis 3 credit hours
PS 302 International Relations 3 credit hours
PS 308 International Political Economy 3 credit hours
PS 450 Senior Seminar 3 credit hours

Political Science Upper Division Electives

Students must complete 18 credits of the following:

PS 303 American Foreign Policy 3 credit hours
PS 304 American-East Asian Relations 3 credit hours
PS 306 International Organizations 3 credit hours
PS 307 International Law 3 credit hours
PS 309 International Organizations 3 credit hours
PS 327 Environmental Law 3 credit hours
PS 357 Health Law and Policy 3 credit hours
PS 406 International Peace and Security 3 credit hours
PS 471-478 Selected Topics in Political Science 3 credit hours
PS 473 Social Movements Around the World 3 credit hours
PS 479 European Union 3 credit hours
PS 480 European Union 3 credit hours
PS 490 Internship 3 credit hours each semester
PS 491 Internship 3 credit hours each semester
PS 498 Independent Study 1-3 credit hours
PS 499 Independent Study 1-3 credit hours

Political Science Electives

Students must complete 12 credits of the following:

PS 243 Government and Politics of Africa 3 credit hours
PS 244 Government and Politics of East Asia 3 credit hours
PS 245 Government and Politics of Latin America 3 credit hours
PS 246 Government and Politics of the Middle East 3 credit hours
PS 247 Government and Politics of Eastern Europe and Russia 3 credit hours
PS 248 Government and Politics of the Caribbean 3 credit hours
PS 250 Government and Politics of South Asia 3 credit hours
PS 303 American Foreign Policy 3 credit hours
PS 304 American-East Asian Relations 3 credit hours
PS 306 International Organizations 3 credit hours
PS 307 International Law 3 credit hours
PS 309 International Organizations 3 credit hours
PS 327 Environmental Law 3 credit hours
PS 357 Health Law and Policy 3 credit hours
PS 406 International Peace and Security 3 credit hours
PS 471-478 Selected Topics in Political Science 3 credit hours
PS 473 Social Movements Around the World 3 credit hours
PS 479 European Union 3 credit hours
PS 480 European Union 3 credit hours
PS 490 Internship 3 credit hours each semester
PS 491 Internship 3 credit hours each semester
PS 498 Independent Study 1-3 credit hours
PS 499 Independent Study 1-3 credit hours

Targeted Electives

Students must complete 12 credits of the following:

ANT 220 Cultural Anthropology 3 credit hours
ANT 300 Food and Culture 3 credit hours
ART 390 Art of the Classical World 3 credit hours
ART 391 Nineteenth-Century Art 3 credit hours
ART 394 The Modernist Impulse: Art 1900-1950 3 credit hours
ART 395 Art After 1960 3 credit hours
FRN 303 French Culture/Civilization 3 credit hours
FRN 315 French Literature I 3 credit hours
FRN 316 French Literature II 3 credit hours
G 100 World Regional Geography 3 credit hours
G 261 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 3 credit hours
G 332 Globalizing Economic World 3 credit hours
GRM 305 German Culture and Civilization 3 credit hours
GRM 315 German Literature I 3 credit hours
GRM 316 German Literature II 3 credit hours
HIS 101 The Foundation of the West 3 credit hours
HIS 102 The West in the World 3 credit hours
HIS 367 Recent America, 1945-Present 3 credit hours
HIS 388 Race, Racism, and the Long Struggle for Equality in America 3 credit hours
HIS 421 Nazi Germany and the Holocaust 3 credit hours
HIS 460 The Civil Rights Movement 3 credit hours
IBS 200 Principles of International Business 3 credit hours
IBS 401 International Economics 3 credit hours
IBS 405 International Finance 3 credit hours
IBS 415 International Accounting 3 credit hours
IBS 480 Global Supply Chain Management 3 credit hours
INT 101 Introduction to Indo-European Languages 3 credit hours
INT 201 Introduction to World Languages 3 credit hours
LIT 283 Ancient to Early Modern British Literature 3 credit hours
LIT 284 Modern to Postmodern British Literature 3 credit hours
LIT 285 Classical to Early Modern European Literature 3 credit hours
LIT 286 Modern to Postmodern European Literature 3 credit hours
LIT 389 Postcolonial Theory 3 credit hours
REL 265 World Religions 3 credit hours
SPN 308 Tradition and Change in Spanish America 3 credit hours
SPN 315 Exploring Spain through Its Literature 3 credit hours
SPN 316 Exploring Spanish America through Its Literature 3 credit hours

Foreign Language Requirement

Students must be proficient in a foreign language at the intermediate level, demonstrating that proficiency with one of the following options:

A student may complete a second major in a modern language.
A student may complete a minor in a modern language.
A student whose native language is not English may choose to use his or her native language to fulfill the language proficiency requirement.
Students who choose to use German, French or Spanish to fulfill the proficiency requirement must take GRM202, FRN202 or SPN202.
Students whose native language is English and who wish to use a modern language not taught at York College to fulfill the proficiency requirement may petition the Department Chair who will determine whether the level of proficiency in that language meets the requirement.

Students should communicate regularly and work closely with the Academic Advisor in fulfilling this requirement for graduation.

International Experience

All students must participate in an international experience approved by the Department Chair of the History and Political Science Department. International experiences may include full semester study abroad, international travel, internship or other experience in consultation with the Department Chair.

General Elective Courses

Students must complete 15 credits of free elective courses.

Suggested Course Sequence

Freshman Year (30 credits)

FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours
FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
PS 102 Contemporary Global Issues 3 credit hours
PS 110 Introduction to Political Science 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Foundations - American Citizenship course 3 credit hours
Foundations - Global Citizenship course 3 credit hours
Foundations - Quantitative Fluency course 3 credit hours
Political Science Elective course 3 credit hours

Sophomore Year (30 credits)

PS 260 Comparative Politics 3 credit hours
PS 262 Quantitative Analysis 3 credit hours
PS 302 International Relations 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Elective course 3 credit hours
Foundations - Advanced Communication course 3 credit hours
Political Science Elective course 3 credit hours
Targeted Elective course 3 credit hours
Targeted Elective course 3 credit hours

Junior Year (30 credits)

PS 308 International Political Economy 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Elective course 3 credit hours
Elective course 3 credit hours
Political Science Elective course 3 credit hours
Political Science Elective course 3 credit hours
Political Science Upper Division Elective course 3 credit hours
Targeted Elective course 3 credit hours
Targeted Elective course 3 credit hours

Senior Year (30 credits)

PS 450 Senior Seminar 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Elective course 3 credit hours
Elective course 3 credit hours
Political Science Upper Division Elective course 3 credit hours
Political Science Upper Division Elective course 3 credit hours
Political Science Upper Division Elective course 3 credit hours
Political Science Upper Division Elective course 3 credit hours
Political Science Upper Division Elective course 3 credit hours