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International Relations - B.A. Program Requirements PDFDownload to print

Type Legend: DD Diversity–Domestic; DG Diversity–Global; ELR Experiential Learning; KAD Kent Core Additional; KBS Kent Core Basic Sciences; KCM Kent Core Composition; KFA Kent Core Fine Arts: KHU Kent Core Humanities; KMC Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning; KSS Kent Core Social Sciences; WIC Writing Intensive

Please read the sections in the University Catalog on Kent Core, diversity, writing-intensive and the experiential learning requirements.

I.   DESTINATION KENT STATE: FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE  (1 credit)
Type Course Title Credits
  US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience 1
II.   MAJOR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (39 credits) 1  Courses count in major GPA 
Type Course Title Credits
KSS ECON 22060 Principles of Microeconomics 3
KAD   22061 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
DG
KSS		 POL 10004 Comparative Politics 3
DG
KAD		   10500 World Politics 3
      Foreign Language Requirement 2 3
  Choose from the following: Economics 3
  ECON 32075 Introduction to International Trade (3) (Geneva)  
    42075 International Economic Relations (3)  
  Choose from the following: Geography Elective 3
  GEOG 37040 Geography of Africa (3)  
    37050 Geography of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (3)  
    37066 Geography of Europe (3)  
    37079 Geography of South Asia (3)  
    37084 Geography of South America (3)  
    37085 Geography of Central America and Mexico (3)  
  Choose from the following: History Elective 6
  HIST 31024 World War II (3)  
    31112 Chinese Civilization (3)  
    31125 Zionism and Israel (3)  
    31126 History of the Middle East (3)  
    31128 Late Medieval and Modern Jewish History (3)  
    31130 History of African Civilization (3)  
    31140 Modern Latin America (3)  
    31141 Early Latin America (3)  
    41020 Nineteenth-Century Europe (3)  
    41024 Modern European History, 1914-1945 (3)  
    41025 Modern European History, 1945-Present (3)  
    41041 History of Germany, 1871-Present (3)  
    41044 Imperial Russia, 1689-1917 (3)  
    41045 Modern Russia, 1917-Present (3)  
    41112 History of Modern China (3)  
    41116 History of Japan (3)  
    41132 History of Africa, 1880-Present (3)  
    41135 History of West Africa (3)  
WIC   42297 Colloquium: China and Japan (3) 3  
  Choose from the following: Political Science Category I 6
  POL 30511 Problems of International Organization (3) (Geneva)  
    30551 U.S. - Latin American Relations (3)  
    30820 International Organization and Law (3)  
    40840 Comparative Foreign Policy (3)  
    40930 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)  
  Choose from the following: Political Science Category II 6
  POL 30520 European Politics (3)  
    30530 Asian Politics (3)  
    30540 African Politics (3)  
    30550 Latin American Politics (3)  
    40540 Politics of Development (3)  
III.  ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (80 credits)  
Type Title   Credits
  Foreign Language 4 14-20
  Kent Core Composition 6
  Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 3-5
  Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 9
  Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) 6-7
  College General Requirement (must be from Kent Core Basic Sciences) 5 3
  College General Requirement (must be from Kent Core Social Sciences) 6 3
  General Electives (15 credit hours must be upper division)
Credits required depends on meeting minimum 120 credit hours and minimum 42 upper-division credit hours		 36
TOTAL 
 120


1 All courses taken from the list of major program requirements are used in the calculation of the major GPA.

2 One course beyond the Intermediate II level in French, German, Russian or Spanish. Students may appeal to their advisor for substitution of another language, when justified by special circumstances. Satisfactory performance in a language proficiency test covering speaking, listening, reading and writing. This requirement also may be satisfied through completion of two additional approved courses in the same or a closely related language with minimum B- (2.700) grade. Prior approval for courses used in this connection must be given in writing by student’s advisor. This course should be taken as soon as Intermediate II is completed. Students should consult with the International Director regarding the foreign language proficiency requirement while enrolled in this course.

3 One course must be earned with a minimum C (2.000) grade to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

4 The following foreign languages are approved for International Relations majors: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. Students should contact the International Relations director for approval for other languages. Students with foreign language experience should consult with the Department of Modern and Classical Languages Studies for appropriate placement. To graduate in four years, students should begin foreign language study by semester four; starting later may require summer courses or delay graduation. These courses fulfill a College General Requirement.

5 One additional course taken from the Kent Core Basic Science courses in the following Arts and Sciences disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Biological Sciences (BSCI), Chemistry (CHEM), Geography (GEOG), Geology (GEOL) or Physics (PHY). Students may take the courses listed in the "introductory" sequences with the restrictions noted above in the Kent Core Basic Science section. The course may not be from the student's major.

6 One additional course taken from the Kent Core Social Sciences courses in the following Arts and Sciences disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Applied Conflict Management (CACM), Geography (GEOG), Criminology and Justice Studies (JUS), Political Science (POL), Psychology (PSYC) or Sociology (SOC). The course may not be from the student's major.

Foreign Language Note: Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must have the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language and the International Relations major requires Intermediate I and II of the same language.

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may begin their university foreign language experience beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by: (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level or (2) receiving credit through Credit by Exam (CBE), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement (AP) exam or credit through the International Baccalaureate (IB) program; or (3) being designated a "native speaker" of a non-English language (consult with the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office for additional information). When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining hours with general electives.