International Relations

Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

The International Relations program at Roger Williams University promotes an understanding of the trans-boundary interactions of governments, organizations, cultures and people – both in terms of how these interactions exist today and how they can be improved in the future. In addition, our program seeks to help students cultivate practical analytical and communication skills that will foster professional excellence and personal achievement.

Because our world is dynamic and increasingly interdependent, the International Relations program works across academic disciplines while also providing students with the flexibility to focus on subjects and themes of greatest interest to them. The major draws upon faculty and courses representing some 12 academic programs at RWU, including political science, history, economics, sociology, anthropology, communications, art and architectural history and foreign languages, among others.

The goal of the International Relations program is to give students the tools to flourish in the world while also encouraging them to help make the world more secure, more prosperous and more humane than it is at present. Students are encouraged to understand the world as it really is, and also to engage themselves as global citizens working to make a difference.

Degree Requirements
Majors pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations must satisfy University general education requirements and the College speech requirement, COMM 210. In addition, majors must complete five international relations foundation courses; a two- course sequence intended to promote intercultural negotiating skills; a minimum of eight thematically-related courses in one of four tracks: Globalization Studies; Culture and Identity; Area Studies: Europe; or Area Studies: Non-Western; and one final capstone course completing the major. Majors must demonstrate minimum proficiency in a foreign language, either by successful completion of courses at the 202-level or by test; and they must complete a sufficient number of general electives to total 120 credits. Independent study and study abroad are encouraged.

It is recommended that majors use general education requirements to enhance their knowledge of a single discipline or language—and to apply electives toward a related minor or second major. Note: Double counting courses is not permitted in earning a minor or a second major.

Foundation Requirements:
The following five courses are required of all majors and are prerequisites for many of the more advanced courses in the major.

Intercultural Negotiation Sequence:
All majors are required to take the following two courses. It is recommended that they be taken in the sequence which follows.

Note: COMM 100 and COMM 101 are waived for IR majors as a prerequisite for COMM 250.

International Relations Tracks

Majors are required to complete a minimum of eight thematically-related courses from
ONE of the following four tracks:

Track #1—Globalization Studies
The Globalization Studies track examines ongoing transformations in international politics, economics and culture. The study of globalization focuses especially upon patterns of increasing interdependence and communication across cultures, as well as emerging systems of global governance and the roles of states, international organizations, multinational corporations and transnational activist networks. Courses are situated in fields such as political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, management studies and environmental science.

Note: Courses marked with an “*” may require a non-IR prerequisite.

Requirements for this track:

Select One:

Electives: Select Four electives drawn from:

Additional Elective Options are:

• Special topics courses and independent study with permission
• Participation in a Macro Seminar, Center for Macro Projects and Diplomacy.
• Courses from Study abroad or relevant internship (a maximum of two could be counted against any two elective courses. Directly-related courses could, in addition, count against other IR courses.) 
• Courses from the other tracks (up to two courses). 

Track #2 – Culture and Identity
The Culture and Identity track explores how myriad cultural traditions around the globe have evolved and influenced each other throughout history and also shaped the formation of personal identity. While scholars today debate the possible emergence of a universal global culture, global communication has reinforced particular identities, attachments and allegiances along national, ethnic, religious and tribal lines. Courses are situated in fields such as anthropology, literature, sociology, communication, art and architecture, political science, psychology.

Note: Courses marked with an “*” may require a non-IR prerequisite.

Requirements for this track:

and
One additional Anthropology elective with International content content to be selected from the Anthropology electives listed below

Electives: 
Select Four electives drawn from:

Additional Elective Options are: 

• Special topics courses and independent study with permission
• Participation in a Macro Seminar, Center for Macro Projects and Diplomacy.
• Courses from Study abroad or relevant internship (a maximum of two could be counted against any two elective courses. Directly-related courses could, in addition, count against other IR courses.)
• Courses from the other tracks (up to two courses).

Track #3 -- Area Studies: Europe
The European Area Studies track examines the history, politics, economics, literature, arts and cultural traditions of Europe. Particular attention is given to the pivotal role of Europe in shaping modernity as well as prospects for European-based international organizations, especially the European Union, to serve as prototypes in strengthening channels of global collaboration. The longstanding impact of Europe in propelling economic capitalism and political liberalism is examined alongside themes such as immigration and resurgent nationalism. Courses are situated in fields such as economics, history, political science, art and literature.

Note: Courses marked with an “*” may require a non-IR prerequisite.

Requirements for this track:

Select Four electives drawn from:

Additional Elective Options are:

• Special topics courses and independent study with permission
• Participation in a Macro Seminar, Center for Macro Projects and Diplomacy.
• Courses from Study abroad or relevant internship (a maximum of two could be counted against any two elective courses. Directly-related courses could, in addition, count against other IR courses.)
• Courses from the other tracks (up to two courses).

Track #4 -- Area Studies: Non-Western

The Non-Western Area Studies track examines the history, politics, economics, literature, arts and cultural traditions of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Special attention is given to economic restructuring and political transitions to democracy in the aftermath of colonialism as well as communism. Courses are situated in fields such as anthropology, history, political science, sociology and management studies.

Note: Courses marked with an “*” may require a non-IR prerequisite.

Requirements for this track:

Select one from:

**If a student selects either HIST 381, HIST 382 or HIST 383, the student may not take the same course to fulfill the electives requirement below

Electives
Select Four electives drawn from:

***A student may select one of HIST 381,382 or 383 as an elective; which is in addition to the one HIST course required for the Non-Western track 

PHIL 212 Eastern Philosophy*

Additional Elective Options are:

• Special topics courses and independent study with permission
• Participation in a Macro Seminar, Center for Macro Projects and Diplomacy. 
• Courses from Study abroad or relevant internship (a maximum of two could be counted against any two elective courses. Directly-related courses could, in addition, count against other IR courses.)
• Courses from the other tracks (up to two courses).

Capstone Course:
The capstone course is intended, in most cases, to reconnect students to the general interdisciplinary study of international relations and to provide culmination—and real world context -- for their personalized studies.

Note: Normally, to be taken second semester of senior year.

All majors are required to take either:

• A directed senior research project, independent study or
• Senior seminar, such as ANTH 460 Senior Seminar, HIST 420 Senior Seminar, or POLSC 460 Senior Seminar
  or
• POLSC 386 International Law and Organization—covering the management of international relations (including a substantial research paper).

Language and Study Abroad:
All students are required to demonstrate at least minimum proficiency in a foreign language, either by successful completion of courses at the 202-level or by test.

Students entering the major without a language are encouraged to use foreign language to meet the core concentration requirement.

Study abroad is strongly encouraged—consideration to be given with respect to substituting courses for the major, especially with respect to the tracked courses.

Note: As listed above under track electives, any two courses taken abroad or in a related internship could be used to count against up to two elective courses in a student’s track pro- vided they are international in content--even if the content of these courses does not substitute for the recommended electives.

Student Learning Outcomes

At RWU, majors in International Relations will be able to:

• demonstrate at least minimum proficiency in a foreign language
• understand the dynamics of transboundary interactions of governments, organizations, cultures and people using multiple disciplinary lenses
• develop communication, negotiation and analytical tools to allow them to engage as global citizens
• critically evaluate the major theories that explain international cooperation and conflict
• connect the theories and concepts of international relations to real world situations through simulations and research work
• produce a senior capstone research project of publishable quality