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Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Affairs

This program is Accredited by ACICS – Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. BA in Political Science and International Affairs Program is designed not only to prepare students for careers in fields related to international affairs and government, but also to support research and teaching within a multi-cultural environment based on respect for human dignity, universal human rights and freedoms for all men and women regardless of race, color, creed or religion.

Highly qualified academic staff and students, representing a wide variety of cultural and geographical backgrounds, are dedicated to combine academic merits of political science and international relations with “real world” experience in close cooperation with private sector, with government agencies and with NGOs. Students will qualify for jobs including Foreign Service Officer, Intergovernmental Affairs Officer, Project Manager, Consultant, Gender and Equality Expert, Program Assistant, Liaison Officer, and Global Coordinator.

Program Learning Goals

  • Discuss and implement major theories of political science and international relations
  • Understand and explain the dynamics of contemporary international affairs and issues of political science
  • Understand the various methods of diplomacy
  • Have an understanding of the role of economics, politics, gender, and environment in international affairs
  • Have an understanding of the history of diplomatic relations among nations
  • Be able to critically analyze documents and media relevant to international affairs
  • Be able to construct and express arguments in written and oral form
  • Make both qualitative and quantitative and empirical analyses
  • Identify actors, structures, processes and complex interactions of politics, international business and diplomacy
  • Analyze regional, national, international, trans-national issues.
  • Formulate policy options in case specific analyses.
  • Have critical thinking on concepts, arguments and key issues.
  • Write sound papers and conduct relevant presentations from readings and research findings.

Graduation Requirements

The BA degree in Political Science and International Affairs is earned by completing the program course requirements of 120 credit hours. Of these credit hours, 39 are general education credits, 63 credits are major or core courses, and 18 pure elective credits. In order to graduate, all students must meet all their general education requirements as well as all their core requirements.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1.  Students enrolled in the undergraduate program must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.0 out of 4.0 to qualify for the BA degree, to remain in good standing, and to graduate.
2. The Maximum Time Frame (MTF) for completion of the BA program is 180 credits.
3. An undergraduate student may transfer up to 60 credit hours earned at accredited institutions.
4. No degree credit is received by an undergraduate for any failing grade (a grade less than D, or 1.00 out of 4.00 grade points).

General Education Requirements

Breadth of knowledge is a foundational element of the American higher education tradition. As such, all BAU undergraduate students are expected to complete general education requirements, in addition to their core requirements. These can be categorized in three broad areas:

Humanities

Social Sciences

Mathematics & the Sciences

In total, these general education requirements fulfill a minimum of 39 credits. Please note that a student’s core requirements may not apply toward his or her general education requirements.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

SHumanities (HM) [five courses]

  • Writing: Written expression and critical analysis are essential skills for students of all disciplines. Students are required to take one (1) of the following introductory writing courses, based on English language and writing abilities, within the first three (3) semesters of study: ENGL 122 or ENGL 123. Students will take BAU’s English composition examination to place into one of the two levels. If a student scores below the minimum requirement to place into ENGL 122, that student will be required to take ENGL 121 before taking ENGL 122.
  • Literature: Students must complete any one (1) literature course (ENGL 222, ENGL 251, ENGL 235, or ENGL 237).
  • Modern Languages: Students must complete two (2) courses in Spanish, French, German, or Turkish.
  • Any one (1) additional course in the following disciplines: English, Philosophy, or Modern Language.

Mathematics & the Sciences (MS) [three courses]

  • Quantitative Reasoning: The ability to conduct quantitative reasoning is essential for fields such as Political Science, Business, and Economics. These courses may not count toward the major area of study. Students must successfully complete one (1) quantitative reasoning course within their first two (2) years of study (MATH 103, MATH 110, or MATH 132).
  • Natural Science: Any one (1) 100-level course in the department of Environmental Studies.
  • Any one (1) additional course of the following: MATH 103, MATH 110, MATH 131, MATH 132, ENVS 105, ENVS 110, or ENVS 115.

Social Sciences (SS) [five courses]

  • History: Two (2) History courses, one of which must be either a non-Western or transregional history course (HIST 166, HIST 168, or HIST 169).
  • Human Behavior: One (1) course in the disciplines of Anthropology, Psychology, or Sociology (ANTH 101, PSYC 101, SOCI 101, or SOCI 221).
  • Any two (2) of the following courses:
    • ECON 111, ECON 221, ECON 222, ECON 336, ECON 371, ECON 432, ECON 435, ECON 437, ECON 456, ECON 473
    • POLS 105, POLS 115, POLS 227, POLS 251, POLS 252, POLS 321, POLS 363
    • ENVS 231

International Relations & Affairs Program Requirements

Students have a wide range of courses to choose from throughout their four years of study. To view a full listing of available courses, please see the sections below:

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & AFFAIRS CORE REQUIREMENTS
Course Title & CodeCourse NamePrerequisitesCredit
Core Requirements (students must complete all courses)
PHIL 101First Year Seminar3
ECON 111Macroeconomics3
ECON 315Political Economy3
ECON 353Globalization & the World Economy ECON 1113
POLS 101An Introduction to Politics and Political Science3
POLS 121Government and Politics of the United States3
INTL 161Diplomatic History3
INTL 253International OrganizationsINTL 1613
INTL 257International RelationsINTL 1613
INTL 271Gender, Development & GlobalizationINTL 1613
INTL 354International Development and Emerging MarketsINTL 1613
INTL 451World Politics & World OrderINTL 1613
INTL 458Introduction to International Human RightsINTL 1613
INTL 459International securityINTL 1613
ENGL 326Technical Writing and Presentation Skills for Political Science & International RelationsENGL 122 or ENGL 1233
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & AFFAIRS CORE ELECTIVES
Course Title & CodeCourse NamePrerequisitesCredit
Core Electives (students must choose six, three of which must be from the department of International Relations)
ECON 351International EconomicsECON 3113
ECON 355Sustainable Economic DevelopmentECON 2223
INTL 350The Government and Politics of BritainINTL 1613
INTL 351The Politics of the Middle EastINTL 1613
INTL 352The Politics of India and PakistanINTL 1613
INTL 353The Government and Politics of ChinaINTL 1613
INTL 355Latin American PoliticsINTL 1613
INTL 356Politics and Society in Present-Day RussiaINTL 1613
INTL 359The European UnionINTL 1613
POLS 359The Spreading of DemocracyPOLS 1153
POLS 373Modern Political ThoughtINTL 1613
GENERAL ELECTIVES: HUMANITIES
Course Title & CodeCourse NamePrerequisitesCredit
General Education Courses: Humanities (five courses)
To complete the Humanities requirement, students must take one writing course (marked “WR”), one literature course (marked “LT”), two modern language courses (marked “ML”), and any one additional course listed below.
ENGL 122 (WR)English Composition IIA moderate score on the BAU English exam or ENGL 1213
ENGL 123 (WR)Academic WritingA high score on the BAU English exam or ENGL 1223
ENGL 222 (LT)Five American NovelsENGL 122 or ENGL 1233
ENGL 235 (LT)African-American LiteratureENGL 122 or ENGL 1233
ENGL 237 (LT)Asian-American LiteratureENGL 122 or ENGL 1233
ENGL 251 (LT)Persian Literature, From Epic Poetry to the Graphic NovelENGL 122 or ENGL 1233
FREN 101 (ML)Elementary French I3
FREN 121 (ML)Elementary French IIFREN 101 or permission of instructor3
SPAN 101 (ML)Elementary Spanish I3
SPAN 121 (ML)Elementary Spanish IISPAN 101 or permission of instructor3
GERM 101 (ML)Elementary German I3
GERM 121 (ML)Elementary German IIGERM 101 or permission of instructor3
TURK 101 (ML)Elementary Turkish I3
TURK 121 (ML)Elementary Turkish IITURK 101 or permission of instructor3
PHIL 105Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 108Moral Dilemmas and Social Ethics3
GENERAL ELECTIVES: MATHEMATICS & THE SCIENCES
Course Title & CodeCourse NamePrerequisitesCredit
General Education: Mathematics and the Sciences (three courses)
To complete the Mathematics and the Sciences requirement, students must take a total of three courses. At least one must be a quantitative reasoning course (marked “QR”) and at least one must be a natural science course (marked “NS”). The third course may either be marked “QR” or “NS.”
ENVS 105 (NS)Introduction to Environmental Science3
ENVS 110 (NS)Geology and the Environment3
ENVS 115 (NS)Aquatic Systems3
MATH 103 (QR)College Mathematics3
MATH 110 (QR)Introductory Statistics3
MATH 131 (QR)Calculus I3
MATH 132 (QR)Calculus IIMATH 1313
GENERAL ELECTIVES: SOCIAL SCIENCES
Course Title & CodeCourse NamePrerequisitesCredit
General Education Courses: Social Sciences (five courses)
Students are required to select 5 courses in the Social Sciences. At least two must be in the History department, with at least one being a non-Western or transregional history course. Students must also choose one of the following four courses: ANTH 101/SOCI 101/PSYC 101/SOCI 221. The remaining two courses must be from among the following: ECON 101, ECON 221, ECON 222, ECON 336, ECON 371, ECON 432, ECON 435, ECON 437, ECON 456, ECON 473, POLS 105, POLS 115, POLS 227, POLS 251, POLS 252, POLS 321, POLS 363, ENVS 231.
ANTH 101 (HB)Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
ECON 101Introduction to Microeconomics3
ECON 221Intermediate MicroeconomicsECON 1013
ECON 222Intermediate MacroeconomicsECON 1113
ECON 336Game Theory3
ECON 371The Development of Economic ThoughtECON 101, ECON 1113
ECON 432Money and MarketsACCT 1123
ECON 435Public Finance and the EconomyECON 1113
ECON 437EconometricsECON 221, ECON 2223
ECON 456International Financial Crises3
ECON 473Keynes vs. FriedmanECON 221, ECON 2223
ENVS 231Environmentally Sustainable Development3
HIST 162 (HS)Europe and the Mediterranean World, Antiquity to 1400 CE3
HIST 164 (HS)European History, 1400 to Present3
HIST 166 (HS)Atlantic History, 1492-18153
HIST 168 (HS)The Islamic Middle East, 622-1258 CE3
HIST 169 (HS)Asian History, 1550-19503
POLS 105Writing and Editing the News3
POLS 115Political Ideologies3
POLS 227Media EthicsPOLS 1013
POLS 251Comparative Politics of Industrialized SocietiesPOLS 1013
POLS 252Comparative Politics of Transitional SocietiesPOLS 1013
POLS 321Political Parties in AmericaPOLS 1013
POLS 363Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Political ThoughtINTL 1613
PSYC 101 (HB)Introduction to Psychology3
SOCI 101 (HB)Introduction to Sociology3
SOCI 221 (HB)Social Class, Gender & Inequality3
PURE ELECTIVES
Course Title & CodeCourse NamePrerequisitesCredit
Pure Electives
Students must complete six courses of pure electives. They may choose from courses in the list below or any other course listed in the course catalog.
ACCT 112Financial Accounting3
ACCT 212Managerial Accounting3
ACCT 222Corporate Financial Reporting IACCT 1123
ACCT 315Accounting Information SystemsACCT 212, MATH 2253
ACCT 222Corporate Financial Reporting IACCT 1123
ACCT 417Federal Income Tax AccountingACCT 3153
ACCT 432Accounting for Not-for-Profits and for GovernmentsACCT 3223
ACCT 435Accounting Decision Making and ControlACCT 2123
ACCT 437AuditingACCT 212, ACCT 3223
ACCT 452International Accounting and Financial ReportingACCT 3223
BUSN 101Introduction to Business3
BUSN 372Business in AmericaBUSN 1013
BUSN 375EntrepreneurshipBUSN 1013
MGMT 201Leadership3
MGMT 322Problem Solving and Decision Making for ManagersMATH 225, MGMT 2013
MGMT 337Strategic ManagementMGMT 2013
MGMT 433NegotiationMGMT 2013
MGMT 453Cross-Cultural ManagementMGMT 2013
MKTG 101Introduction to Marketing3
MKTG 321Marketing ManagementMKTG 1013
MKTG 427Marketing for Not-for-Profit OrganizationsMKTG 1013
MKTG 435Brand ManagementMKTG 1013
CMPS 110Introduction to Computer Science3
CMPS 122Introduction to Java ICMPS 110 or permission of instructor3
CMPS 222Java IICMPS 122 or permission of instructor3
CMPS 226Programming in CCMPS 122 or permission of instructor3
ISIT 101Introduction to Information Technology3
ISIT 102Introduction to Computers and Information Systems3
FINC 221Introduction to Financial ManagementACCT 1123
FINC 331Financial AnalysisFINC 221, MATH 2253
FINC 355International Financial InstitutionsECON 2223
FINC 455International FinanceACCT 1123

To view a sample course outline for the Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations & Affairs, please click here to download.


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