International Relations Major

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Patrick Wohlfarth, Ph.D.

The International Relations major is housed in the Department of Government and Politics, and offers a broad range of courses on conflict, political economy, international development, international organization, comparative institutions, identity, and regional politics in East Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, among other topics.  Students enrolled in the International Relations major also have access to the Department of Government and Politics’ many other courses in American politics, comparative politics, political theory, political methodology and formal theory, public law, and environmental policy. Its large and diverse group of students are mentored by faculty through a variety of in and out of classroom experiences and have been extremely successful in garnering campus and national awards, acceptance to competitive law and graduate programs, and exciting careers in all levels of government and the private sector. Courses offered for the International Relations major may be found under the acronym GVPT.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The International Relations major offers programs for the general student as well as for students who are interested in careers in government, the public sector, foreign assignment, teaching, a variety of graduate programs, and law schools. The program will provide a strong foundation in the study of IR and is especially aimed at students planning to pursue graduate study in IR (or a related field such as international law), careers with a large IR component (either in the public or private sector), or both. The International Relations major will also encourage students to participate in experiential learning via opportunities such as study abroad, IR-related internships, and research assistantships.

Students may choose between two curriculums, one leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree and the other to a Bachelor of Science. The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations prepares students to understand and interpret research on international relations and comparative politics. The Bachelor of Science in International Relations provides students with the tools to produce political science research focused on international relations and comparative politics through advanced training in political methodology and data analysis.

Restriction: Students declared in the International Relations major are not permitted to double-major or double-degree with the Government and Politics major.

Program Learning Outcomes

Having completed the degree program, students should have acquired the following knowledge and skills:

1. Understand basic international relations concepts including power, political institutions, international organizations, political economy, theories of the state, political conflict and war, and contending analytical and theoretical approaches.
2. Identify causes of systemic bias and discrimination against underrepresented groups and structural disadvantages of states in the Global South, such as persistent legacies of colonialism and imperialism, and critically evaluate theories and evidence on the impact of race and identity in international politics.
3. Use international relations concepts, modes of inquiry, and analytic skills to address contemporary problems in international politics, understand the politics of diversity, and encourage civic engagement.
4. B.A. track: Demonstrate familiarity with the methods, approaches, and theories used to interpret information applicable to international relations.
5. B.S. track: Understand, interpret, and produce empirical international relations research using sophisticated quantitative methodology.
6. B.A. track: Communicate key arguments and ideas in international relations effectively in writing and speaking.
7. B.S. track: Communicate key arguments and the results of empirical analyses in international relations effectively in writing and speaking.

B.A. Requirements

In addition to the University's general education requirements, students must earn a minimum of 36 credit hours within GVPT (and no more than 42 credit hours) total within the major. At least 18 of the 36 credits must be in upper-level courses. Students who have completed or are in the process of completing 42 credits must get permission to take additional GVPT credits. A course used to fulfill one requirement for the major may not count towards any other International Relations major requirement. A minimum grade of "C-" is required in all major requirements.

Bachelor of Arts

Benchmark 1
Students must complete the following four courses within two semesters of entering the major:

• GVPT170 with a grade of C- or higher

• One 200-level GVPT course with a grade of C- or higher (may not be experiential learning)

• One of STAT100, MATH107, MATH113, MATH115, MATH120, MATH135, MATH136, or MATH140 with a grade of C- or higher

• Academic Writing with a grade of C- or higher

Note: At least one of the GVPT courses must not be from AP/IB/CLEP credit.

B.S. Requirements

In addition to the University's general education requirements, students must earn a minimum of 36 credit hours within GVPT (and no more than 42 credit hours) total within the major. At least 18 of the 36 credits must be in upper-level courses. Students who have completed or are in the process of completing 42 credits must get permission to take additional GVPT credits. A course used to fulfill one requirement for the major may not count towards any other International Relations major requirement. A minimum grade of "C-" is required in all major requirements.

Bachelor of Science

¹

See GVPT website for approved GVPT Methods and Quantitative Methods course options, https://gvpt.umd.edu/undergraduate/major-requirements.

²

See GVPT website for approved foreign language course list, https://gvpt.umd.edu/undergraduate/major-requirements. Students may be eligible for exemption from the foreign language requirement(s) based on demonstrated language proficiency, see GVPT website for details.

³

See GVPT website for approved Quantitative Skills course list, https://gvpt.umd.edu/undergraduate/major-requirements. 

Click here for roadmaps for graduation plans in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Additional information on developing a graduation plan can be found on the following pages:

• http://4yearplans.umd.edu
• the Student Academic Success-Degree Completion Policy section of this catalog