International Relations (BA)

The interdisciplinary major in international relations seeks to understand the political, economic, social, and cultural relations among states as well as the transnational roles of non state actors. Such an understanding is critical in today’s world and can support a variety of career options. The major consists of core courses in international politics, economics, history, and women’s studies. Electives are chosen from these disciplines, as well as from modern languages and sociology. The senior year includes an integrative seminar and, if the student chooses, an internship or independent study. Students have interned at organizations involved in international relations such as the World Affairs Council, the United Nations Association, Amnesty International, the International Business Center, the offices of U.S. Senators, and Grassroots International.

Language Requirement for International Relations Majors

The international relations major requires a level of proficiency in a modern language beyond that required by the College’s foreign language requirement. Students may indicate their attainment of this enhanced proficiency in one of four ways:

  1. A student may complete a second major in a modern language or may minor in a modern language.
  2. A student whose native language is not English may choose to use their native language to fulfill the language proficiency requirement in International Relations.
  3. Students who choose to use either French or Spanish to fulfill the proficiency requirement in International Relations must take at least two
    foreign language courses beyond the College’s foreign language requirement in the same language used to fulfill that requirement.
  4. Students who choose to fill the proficiency requirement in Japanese or Chinese must take one language course beyond the College’s foreign language requirement in the same language used to fulfill that requirement. Any language course above the 202 level may be counted as an elective toward a relevant “Area
    Studies” are of elective concentration
  5. Students whose native language is English and wish to use a modern language not taught at Simmons to fulfill the proficiency requirement in international relations, may petition the International Relations Steering Committee, which will determine whether the level of proficiency in that language meets the requirement.

Note: Dix Scholars majoring in international relations must fulfill the international relations language requirement.

Requirements for the Major

Core Courses (six total):

ECON 214Gender, Globalization, and Development

4

HIST 101World History II

4

HIST 128Modern European History 1789-1989

4

INRL 390Senior Seminar

4

POLS 102Introduction to International Politics

4

 

POLS 220International Organization and Law

4

OR

POLS 223Human Rights: The Basic Dilemmas

4

One of the following:

ECON 218International Trade

4

ECON 220International Monetary Systems

4

Students are strongly encouraged to take the following courses in the first or second year:

ECON 100Principles of Microeconomics

4

ECON 101Principles of Macroeconomics

4

HIST 101World History II

4

HIST 128Modern European History 1789-1989

4

POLS 102Introduction to International Politics

4

Faculty members of the International Relations Steering Committee are available for advising and supervising independent studies and honors theses.

Electives:

Three courses in one of the following areas: Global and Human Security, Political Economy and Development, Transnational Issues of Culture and Identity, or Geographical Area Studies. Students may substitute courses from other colleges and study-abroad programs with special permission. This list is not inclusive and new curricular offerings may be added.

Elective Areas:

Global and Human Security

HIST 203Power & Culture: East Asia

4

HIST 205/HON 205Global Environmental History

4

HIST 237Holocaust

4

HIST 251World Historical Perspectives on 9/11

4

HON 303Hiv/Aids Intersections of Science and Society

4

NUTR 150International Nutrition Issues

4

POLS 223Human Rights: The Basic Dilemmas

4

POLS 224Human Security: Translationals Issues in a Global World

4

POLS 229Comparative Foreign Policy

4

POLS 249/HIST 249US Foreign Policy:1945-Pres.

4

Political Economy and Development

ECON 124BRICS and the Global Economy

4

ECON 216Economic Development

4

ECON 222Comparative Economies of East Asia

4

NUTR 150International Nutrition Issues

4

POLS 104Introduction to Comparative Politics

4

POLS 225International Politics of East Asia

4

POLS 242Colonial & Postcolonial Politics of Africa

4

POLS 245MPolitics of Newly Industrialized Countries

4

SOCI 245Global Health

4

Transnational Issues of Culture and Identity

FREN 266The Quest for Identity: The Self and The Other in the French Literary Tradition

4

FREN 316Outside France

4

HIST 231Understanding Islam & Historical Perspectives

4

HIST 251World Historical Perspectives on 9/11

4

HIST 361Topics in World History

4

HIST 364Rape of Nanjing

4

HON 201Conflict & Identity in Sudan

4

HON 203Islam and the West

4

HON 204Dialogues Culturels: France & the Francophone World

4

INRL 202Special Topics in International Relations

4

POLS 202Special Topics in Political Science

4

POLS 240Islam and the West

4

POLS 247Politics of Religious Fundamentalism

4

SOCI 267Globalization

4

SOCI 270South Asia, People & Power

4

SOCI 300/SOCI 500Special Topics: Race Theory

4

SPAN 314Hispanic Culture As Seen Through Film

4

SPAN 380Migrant in the City: Fieldwork Seminar On Puerto Rican Culture

4

INRL 202, POLS 202: Depending on the topic, these courses may count in another particular area

Geographic Area Studies

A student may choose to concentrate their electives in one geographic area, selecting three courses from one of the following lists. If a student wishes to concentrate their electives in an area not represented, or if they wish to count courses taken abroad or at another university in the relevant area, they must obtain permission from the Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations.

Africa

FREN 316Outside France

4

HON 201Conflict & Identity in Sudan

4

POLS 242Colonial & Postcolonial Politics of Africa

4

Asia

ECON 222Comparative Economies of East Asia

4

HIST 201Dynamics Japanese History

4

HIST 202Asia to the Eighteenth Century

4

HIST 203Power & Culture: East Asia

4

HIST 204Japanese Culture: Gender, Family and Society

4

HIST 206Rise of Modern China

4

HIST 207Gender, Family and Society in Modern China

4

HIST 362Reform and Revolutions in Asia

4

HIST 364Rape of Nanjing

4

POLS 225International Politics of East Asia

4

POLS 245MPolitics of Newly Industrialized Countries

4

SOCI 270South Asia, People & Power

4

Europe

FREN 266The Quest for Identity: The Self and The Other in the French Literary Tradition

4

FREN 310Inside France: Studies in French Culture

4

HIST 230Women and Gender in Europe

4

HIST 237Holocaust

4

HON 301Disability and Society

4

POLS 233Feminism and Capitalism

4

POLS 240Islam and the West

4

SPAN 253MSocial & Political Issues in Modern Spain STC

4

SPAN 264Pushing the Limits: the Quest for Freedom in Contemporary Hispanic Theater

4

SPAN 310Making of Spain: Studies in Spanish Culture

4

SPAN 314Hispanic Culture As Seen Through Film

4

Latin America

HIST 218Topics in Latin American History

4

POLS 250Democratization in Latin America

4

SPAN 266The Quest for Independence and Search for Identity in Latin American Literature

4

SPAN 395Seminar: Special Topics in Spanish

4

SPAN 312Introduction to Latin American Culture and Civilization

4

SPAN 332Contemporary Fiction in Latin America

4

Middle East

HIST 231Understanding Islam & Historical Perspectives

4

HON 203Islam and the West

4

POLS 243Politics of the Middle East and North Africa

4

Prerequisites: For ECON/WGST 214: ECON 100 and ECON 101 or by consent. For ECON 216, ECON 218, ECON 220, and ECON 222: ECON 100 and ECON 101. For POLS 220: POLS 102.

To complete the capstone requirement, students must complete one of the three options below:

  • INRL 390 (junior or senior year)
  • One 300-level POLS course with an IR focus (junior or senior year)
  • Complete a Senior Honors Thesis