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.