2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

International Affairs, B.A.


The B.A. in international affairs is designed to provide a graduate-style program in the applied study of international relations at the undergraduate level. The program places a unique emphasis on the development of transferrable job skills such as critical thinking, interpersonal communication, cultural understanding and adaptiveness, writing, problem-solving, persuasion, and public speaking.  Students will develop mastery of content areas in the fields of political and economic development, national security, and diplomacy. In addition, the program places a particular emphasis on the role of women in economic and political development and the necessity for sustainable economic and environmental socio-politico systems.

Graduates will be well-positioned for work with national governments, international organizations, the private sector, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, multi-national corporations, or further graduate study at top-tier programs.

Students in the B.A. international affairs program must complete 121 credits, 63 interdisciplinary credits of which are required to complete the major. The program consists of courses in political science, national security, and economics.  Additionally, students must take and report a score for an approved foreign language proficiency exam certification.  Finally, students must participate in at least 3 approved semester-long high impact learning experiences and submit proof of participation to the international affairs coordinator or faculty advisor.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES:

1. Apply knowledge of economic and political development in states recovering from conflict contemporary issues.

2. Explain how diplomacy is related to contemporary issues.

3. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of different models of political or economic development.

4. Create a research design/paper, policy analysis brief, or national security brief using qualitative and/or quantitative methods.

5. Assess solutions to contemporary problems.

 

University Core Curriculum


Tier 1:

  • CC 1.1 - ENGL 1112  or ENGL 1113  
  • CC 2.1 - COMM 1130  
  • CC 3.1 - Mathematical and Quantitative Literacy - choose any course with this attribute
  • CC 4.1 - Scientific Exploration - choose any course with this attribute
  • CC 5.1 - UNIV 1141  
  • CC 6.1 - Historical Perspectives - choose any course with this attribute
  • CC 7.1 - PSCI 1121  
  • CC 8.1 - PSCI 2241  
  • CC 9.1 - Perspective on Creative Arts - choose any course with this attribute

Tier 2:

  • PSCI 2247 
  • Plus nine credits of any Tier 2 courses in any competency

Required Courses


Plus 12 credits from the following Political Science upper division restricted electives:


Plus 9 credits from the following National Security restricted electives:


Plus 12 credits from the following upper-division restricted electives:


Plus:


  • Plus 27 credits of free electives to be chosen with the student's program advisor, three credits of which must be a W-designated course.
  • Students must complete at least one of the following study abroad experiences: Faculty-led Study Abroad in PSCI, ECON, HIST, NSEC, SOCI, or LSTD; Semester Study Abroad at Prato Campus; Semester Study Abroad with IAFF coordinator approved program.

  • Students must complete at least three high impact learning experiences from the following list: Washington Internship will count for 15 credits and counted as to the discretion of the IAFF coordinator; Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship; Independent Study Research project approved by the IAFF coordinator; Internship experience approved by the IAFF coordinator; Mayor's Advisory Commission internship or leadership position; Model United Nations course and conference participation; Model G-20 Summit Conference; Service-Learning Course; Intensive Foreign Language Study Program approved by the IAFF coordinator; Additional Study Abroad Experience from the "Study Abroad Requirement" list; Activity approved by IAFF coordinator.