• Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality. 
  • Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality. 

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA degree language requirements, for a total of 12 semester hours of language study or demonstrated equivalent proficiency, as described in Additional Requirements for BA students. Successful demonstration of proficiency does not reduce total minimum semester hours of study required to earn the BA degree.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Political Science Requirements

Political Science Requirements
POLS 1150American Government4
POLS 1155Comparative Politics4
POLS 1160International Relations4
POLS 2400Quantitative Techniques4
Political Theory
Complete one of the following:4
Ancient Philosophy and Political Thought
Modern Political Thought
American Political Thought
Contemporary Political Thought
Political Science Electives
Note: Elective courses may also fulfill requirements of an optional concentration of this program.
Complete four political science courses at or above POLS 200016

Concentration List 

Supporting Course for Political Science

Mathematics
Complete one of the following to fulfill the prerequisite for POLS24004
Interactive Mathematics
Mathematical Thinking
Calculus for Business and Economics
Calculus 1
Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 1
Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering
Calculus 2 for Science and Engineering

International Affairs Requirements

Courses used to fulfill major requirements may not be used to satisfy the global dynamics requirement. See department for additional courses.

Required Courses
ECON 1115Principles of Macroeconomics4
or ECON 1116 Principles of Microeconomics
HIST 2211The World Since 19454
or HIST 2311 Colonialism/Imperialism
INTL 1101Globalization and International Affairs4
INTL 3400International Conflict and Negotiation4
International Experiential Learning
Complete at least one “international semester” via study abroad, international internship, international co-op, or two short-term programs.

International Affairs Elective

Complete one of the following courses:4
Women and World Politics
Race and Global Human Mobility
Global Philanthropy
Cities in a Global Context
Borders and Racial Security
International Law
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
Security, Culture, Power
Global Political Economy
Forced Migration: Refugees, Exiles, and Displaced Persons
International Human Rights Law and Policy
Climate and Development

Global Dynamics Requirement

Complete one of the following. Courses are divided into thematic groups to aid students in deciding which courses to take and have no bearing on major requirements.4
Environment
Global Climate Change
Sustainable Development
Food Security and Sustainability
Climate and Development
International Environmental Policy
International Environmental Policy
Climate Policy and Justice
Environment and Society
Law, Diplomacy, and Global Governance
Law and History
Global and Intercultural Communication
Women and World Politics
Women and World Politics
Global Political Economy
International Human Rights Law and Policy
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Religion and Politics
International Political Economy
International Law
Model United Nations
Human Rights and Social Justice
Gender and Black World Literatures
Afro-Asian Relations in the Americas
Gender, Social Justice, and Transnational Activism
Gender, Social Justice, and Transnational Activism
Gender and Reproductive Justice
Gender and Sexuality in World History
Women and World Politics
Women and World Politics
International Human Rights Law and Policy
Global Justice
Conflict and Security
Global Criminology
Political Crime and Terrorism
Security in the 21st Century
Drug Trade and Drug War: History, Security, Culture
History of Espionage 1: Antiquity to World War II
History of Espionage 2: Cold War Spies
The Global Far-Right since 1945: Politics, Culture, Violence
The Global Cold War
Assassinations in World History
History of Modern Terrorism
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
Security, Culture, Power
Covering Conflicts: Peace, War, and the Media
Covering Conflicts: Peace, War, and the Media
Global Justice
The Holocaust and Comparative Genocide
Nationalism
U.S. National Security Policy
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
Model NATO
Globalization
Issues in Race, Science, and Technology
Global Markets and Local Culture
Religion and Modernity
History of the Global Economy
International Economics
Origins of Today: Historical Roots of Contemporary Issues
The World Since 1945
Colonialism/Imperialism
Cultural Aspects of International Business
Women and World Politics
Women and World Politics
Cities in a Global Context
Global Political Economy
International Relations
Religion and Politics
International Political Economy
International Law
Population, Migration, and Diaspora
Introduction to African American and Africana Studies
Epidemiology of Pandemic Diseases and Health Disparities in the African Diaspora
Introduction to Global Health
Introduction to Global Health
Peoples and Cultures
Human Trafficking
Pirates, Planters, and Patriots: Making the Americas, 1492–1804
History of Global Pandemics
Race and Global Human Mobility
Cities in a Global Context
Forced Migration: Refugees, Exiles, and Displaced Persons
Introduction to World Religions
Sex in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Immigration Politics
Development
Global Markets and Local Culture
Development Economics
International Food Policy
A Critique of Capitalism
Economic Growth and Applications
Sustainable Development
Capitalism and Business: A Global History
Global Social Enterprise
International Business and Global Social Responsibility
International Business and Global Social Responsibility
Global Philanthropy
Global Political Economy
Climate and Development
Global Health
Politics of Developing Nations
Communication and Media
Global and Intercultural Communication
Understanding and Managing Cultural Differences
Cultural Aspects of International Business
Covering Conflicts: Peace, War, and the Media
Covering Conflicts: Peace, War, and the Media
Global Reporting
Language Policy
Global Media

Regional Analysis Requirement

Complete three of the following, two of which must be in one region. Select courses taken during a semester study abroad or specific Dialogue of Civilizations courses may count as regional analysis courses pending approval of the international affairs head faculty adviser. See department for additional courses:12
  
Africa
Possession, Sacrifice, and Divination in African Diasporic Religions
Swahili, Culture, and Politics in Kenya
Community Health, Culture, and Development in Kenya
Introduction to African Studies
Ethnography of Southeast Asia
Anthropology of Africa
Business Economic History of South Africa
Natural Resources and Sustainable Development
Asia
Culture and Politics in Modern India
East Asian Studies
East Asian Studies
Japanese Film
Modern Chinese History and Culture
Introduction to Japanese Pop Culture
World War II in the Pacific
Japanese Literature and Culture
History of Vietnam Wars
Modern Chinese History and Culture
Modern Japan
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Beyond
Chinese Philosophy and Religion
Japanese Buddhism
China: Governance and Foreign Policy
Europe
Anthropology of Eastern Europe
Introduction to French Culture
Introduction to Italian Culture
Cultural History of Spain
Europe: Empires, Revolutions, Wars, and Their Aftermath
Europe in the Middle Ages, 500–1500
History of the Soviet Union
Renaissance to Enlightenment
The Tudors, the Stuarts, and the Birth of Modern Britain
Russian Foreign Policy
Russian Foreign Policy
Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union
Latin America
Afro-Latin American Studies
Latin American Society and Development
Latin American Film
Latin American Culture, History, and Politics
Social Justice in Latin American and Latinx Film
New Narratives: Latin America after 1989
Literature, Arts, and Poverty in Latin America
Latin American Literature
Introduction to Latin American History
Latin American History through Film
Latino, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies
Middle East
Introduction to Arabic Culture
Economic History of the Middle East
Introduction to Middle Eastern History
The Mediterranean World: An Overview
Middle East Studies
Modern Israel
America and the Middle East
Islam: Rituals, Traditions, and Debates
Jewish Religion and Culture
Government and Politics in the Middle East

International Affairs Foreign Language Requirement

Complete coursework in a language through at least intermediate-level two (course number 2101 or higher). Note: Completing this requirement satisfies the language requirement for the BA degree.

Integrative Requirements

Research Methods
POLS 2399Research Methods in Political Science4
or INTL 2718 Research Methods in International Affairs
Capstone
Complete one of the following:4
Senior Capstone Seminar in International Affairs
Political Science Senior Capstone
Senior Thesis

Political Science and International Affairs Combined Major Credit Requirement

Complete 84 semester hours in the major.

Experiential Liberal Arts

All students in this College of Social Sciences and Humanities program are required to complete the Experiential Liberal Arts Requirement.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required


Concentration in American Political Institutions

Complete four of the following:16
State and Local Politics
The U.S. Congress
Judicial Process and Behavior
Public Policy and Administration
Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections
Campaign Strategy

 

Concentration in Campaigns and Elections

Required Courses
POLS 3160Campaign Strategy4
POLS 3302Judicial Process and Behavior4
Campaigns and Elections Electives
Complete two of the following:8
Urban Policies and Politics
State and Local Politics
POLS 3162
Public Opinion, Voting, and Elections
Politics and Mass Media

 

Concentration in Comparative Politics

Theoretical Requirement
Complete two of the following:8
The Holocaust and Comparative Genocide
Democratic Erosion
Immigration Politics
Religion and Politics
Nationalism
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
Politics of Developing Nations
Regional Requirements
Complete one of the following:4
Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union
Government and Politics in the Middle East
Experiential/Practicum Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
Model Arab League
Model NATO
Dialogue of Civilizations: Government and Politics Abroad

 

Concentration in Identity, Culture, and Politics 

Core Course
POLS 3418Nationalism4
Electives
Complete three of the following:12
Immigration Politics
Music and Politics in America and Abroad
Religion and Politics
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Public Policy
Law and Society

Concentration in International Relations and Diplomacy

Experiential/Practicum Requirement
Complete one of the following:4
Model United Nations
Model Arab League
Dialogue of Civilizations: International Politics Abroad
Core Courses
Complete three of the following:12
International Political Economy
International Law
Politics and Governance of Europe and the European Union
International Security

Concentration in Law and Legal Studies

Complete four of the following:16
American Political Thought
The U.S. Congress
Judicial Process and Behavior
Race, Inequality, and the Law
Law and Society
International Law
Global Governance
U.S. Constitutional Law
U.S. Civil Liberties

 

Concentration in Public Policy

Core Requirement
POLS 3307Public Policy and Administration4
Electives
Complete three of the following:12
Urban Policies and Politics
State and Local Politics
Science, Technology, and Public Policy
Environmental Politics and Policy
U.S. Foreign Policy

 

Concentration in Security Studies

Complete four of the following:16
U.S. National Security Policy
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
U.S. Foreign Policy
Revolution, Civil War, and Insurrection
Politics of Developing Nations
International Security

Sample Plan of Study: Four Years, Two Co-ops

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 11114HIST 22114Foreign language core course4Elective (Dialogue Of Civilizations possible)4
INTL 11014MATH 1215 (or other MATH course as pre-requisite for POLS 2400)4Elective4Elective (Dialogue of Civilizations possible)4
MATH 12154POLS 11504  
POLS 11554POLS 11604  
POLS 10001   
 17 16 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ECON 32904POLS 24004Elective (Dialogue of Civilizations possible)4Co-op0
POLS Thought course4INTL undergraduate elective4Elective (Dialogue of Civilizations possible)4 
POLS undergraduate elective4POLS undergraduate elective4  
Foreign language core course4Foreign language core course4  
 16 16 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Co-op0ENGW 33154INTL undergraduate elective4Co-op0
 INTL 34004POLS undergraduate elective4 
 INTL undergraduate elective4  
 POLS undergraduate elective4  
 0 16 8 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Co-op0Capstone requirement4  
 Foreign language core course4  
 INTL undergraduate elective4  
 POLS undergraduate elective4  
 0 16  
Total Hours: 129