International Relations

Undergraduate Curriculum

The curriculum of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences provides for an interdisciplinary major in International Relations (INRL), the study of economic, historic, and political relations among nation-states. The International Relations concentration also addresses the interactions among states, markets, and non-state actors (such as international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and mutli-national corporations). The curriculum has been designed to ensure that students address the major issues in the international arena from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. The major in International Relations is distinct from William and Mary`s Global Studies program, which focuses on the culture, history, languages, literature, politics and religions of major world regions. If you are interested in such a course of study, you should see the Global Studies website.

In general, a major in International Relations includes courses from at least three departments. A detailed description of the degree program is provided below.

Language Requirement. Degrees in International Relations include a modern foreign language component that exceeds the College's proficiency requirement. Students in International Relations must either (1) complete three courses beyond the 202-level in at least one modern language or (2) achieve 202-level proficiency in two modern languages and complete one course beyond the 202-level in one of those languages.

Major Writing Requirement (MWR). The major writing requirement may be satisfied by upon completions of the capstone course, internship, independent study or honors project.

Major Computer Proficiency Requirement (CPR). International Relations majors may satisfy the computing proficiency computer proficiency by succesfully completing the concentration methods course requirements.

Study Abroad. Students are strongly encouraged to seek overseas opportunities that complement their International Relations major. With prior approval, most courses taken abroad may be applied to major or other requirements. Contact the Global Education office at the Reves Center for more information.

Major Declaration. A prospective major in International Relations should discuss their plans with a faculty advisor as soon as possible.

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Description of Major

The International Relations major requires a minimum of thirty six credits selected from the options listed under Parts A, B, C, D, and E below  In choosing courses, students are encouraged to work with their advisors to achieve an appropriate degree of substantive coherence across disciplines and analytical approaches. For example, a student might combine History 182 (African History) in Part E with Anthropology 335 (Peoples and Cultures of Africa) under Part C. Such choices should also be taken into consideration by the student in selecting the language(s) used to fulfill the language co-requisite.

Part A: Core Curriculum (7 courses)

Part A represents the core of the IR major, and includes basic requirements in Government, Economics, and History. All courses must be taken, and no substitutions are allowed. Prerequisites in (parentheses).

  • GOVT  204:  Introduction to International Politics
  • GOVT  328:  International Political Economy (Govt 204)
  • GOVT  329:  International Security (Govt 204)
  • ECON  475:  International Trade Theory and Policy  (ECON 101, 102, 303)
  • ECON  476: International Finance Open Econ Macro (ECON 101, 102, 304)
  • HIST  192: Global History since 1500
  • INRL  300: IR in Disciplinary Perspective (GOVT 204, HIST 192, ECON 101/102)
Part B: Methods (1 course)

Part B includes courses designed to familiarize students with the basic methodological tools of disciplines contributing to the IR major.  This course meets the Major Computer Proficiency requirement.  Students who intend to write an Honors thesis In IR should select the methods course that provides the necessary tools to complete the thesis.   It may be fulfilled with any of the following courses:

  • BUAD 231: Statistics
  • GOVT  301:  Research Methods
  • GOVT 307: Political Polling and Survey Analysis
  • ECON 307: Principles and Methods of Statistics
  • PSYC 302: Experimental Methods (201, 202, 301prerequisites, 302L co-req.)
  • SOCL 352: Methods of Social Research (Soc 250)
  • SOCL 353: Social Statistics (Soc 250 or consent)
Part C: Social and Cultural Contexts (1 course)

Part C emphasizes the role that social and cultural contexts play in international relations, and exposes students to relevant disciplinary approaches. Students may fulfill part C with any of the following courses:

  • ANTH  330: Caribbean Cultures (ANTH 202)
  • ANTH 335: Peoples and Cultures of Africa
  • ANTH  338:  Native Cultures of Latin America
  • GOVT 312: Politics of Developing Countries (GOV 203)
  • GOVT 334: Russian and Post-Soviet Politics
  • GOVT 335: Politics of Eastern Europe
  • GOVT 336: Governments and Politics of China and Japan
  • GOVT 337: Politics in Africa
  • GOVT 338: Latin American Politics and Government
  • GOVT 339: Middle Eastern Political Systems
  • HIST   380: West Africa
  • HIST  300:  The Caribbean
  • HIST  304: Brazil
  • HIST 305: History of Mexico
  • HIST 325: Race, Culture, and Modernization in South Africa
  • HIST 328: Modern Japanese History
  • HIST 329: Modern Chinese History
  • HIST 330: America and China: US-China Relations since 1784
  • HIST 332: Modern Korean History
  • HIST 340: Maroon Societies
  • HIST 370: History of Britain
  • HIST 373: East Central Europe
  • HIST 378: The History of Russia
  • HIST 384: The History of Germany
  • SOCL 312: Comparative Sociology
  • SOCL 313:  Globalization and International Development
Part D: Capstone (1 course)


To fulfill part D, each student must successfully complete an independent research project.  This course meets the Major Writing Requirement.  This requirement may be met by completing one of the following:

  • INRL  495-496:  Senior Honors in International Relations
  • INRL  480:  Independent Study in International Relations
  • xxx xxx 400-level seminar in contributing department (approved IR topics only)
  • xxx xxx Three credit directed internship in contributing department (approved IR topic only, and must not be Pass/Fail).
Part E: Electives (2 courses)


IR majors may choose any two courses from the list below, provided that no more than nine of the twelve total courses required for the concentration may come from the economics and/or government department. All the courses in Part C listed above can also count as Part E courses.

  • ANTH 475:  Globalization, Democratization and Neo-nationalisms
  • ANTH 476:  National Formations and Postcolonial  Identities
  • BUAD  417:  International Banking and Trade Financing (Buad 203, Econ 101, 102)
  • ECON  342: Global Economic History (Econ 101, 102)
  • ECON 382: Comparative Economics (Econ 101, 102)
  • ECON 400: Economics of Immigration--Econ 400:03 (Econ 303, 304)
  • ECON 474:  Seminar in International Economic Integration (ECON 303 304, and 475)
  • ECON 483: Development Economics (ECON 303, 304)
  • ECON  484: Economics of Growth (ECON 303, 304)
  • GOVT  322: Global Environmental Governance (Gov 204)
  • GOVT  324:  U. S. Foreign Policy
  • GOVT   325:  International Organization (GOVT 204)
  • GOVT  326:  International Law (GOVT 204)
  • GOVT  327:  Intermediate International Relations Theory (GOVT 204)
  • GOVT  330:  Politics of European Cooperation (GOVT 204)
  • GOVT  391:  Topics in Government (International Relations topics only)
  • GOVT  433:  Theories of the International System
  • GOVT  482:  Geostrategic Thought
  • HIST  131:  Survey of Latin American History to 1824
  • HIST  132:  Survey of Latin American History, 1824 to present
  • HIST  141:  Survey of East Asian Civilization to 1600
  • HIST  142:  Survey of East Asian Civilization, 1600 to present
  • HIST 161: History of South Asia
  • HIST  172: The Modern Middle East II (1798-present)
  • HIST  182:  African History
  • HIST 211: Topics in History (only approved IR topics)
  • HIST 212: Topics in History (only approved IR topics)
  • HIST 223: Pacific War
  • HIST  241:  European History, 1815-1914
  • HIST  242:  European History, 1914-1945
  • HIST  243:  Europe Since 1945
  • HIST  311: Topics in History (only approved IR topics)
  • HIST 312: Topics in History (only approved IR topics)
  • HIST  431:  United States Immigration History
  • HIST  433:  U.S. Foreign Relations, 1763-1900
  • HIST  434:  U.S. Foreign Relations, 1900-present
  • HIST  435:  America and Vietnam
  • HIST  490/491: Topics in History (International Relations topics only)
  • HIST 490C/491C: Senior Colloquia in History (International Relations topics only)
  • INRL   390:  Topics in International Relations
  • INRL  480:  Independent Study
  • INRL   495-496: Senior Honors
  • PSYC 470: Topics in Psychology: Psychology of Peacekeeping (instructor permission required)
  • RELG 323: Warfare and Ethics
  • SOCL  408: Migration in Global Context
  • SOCL 427: Globalization and the Environment
  • SOCL  430:  Comparative Studies in Gender and Work
Second Language Requirement


The IR major requires intermediate proficiency in a modern language other than the native language of the student. 

The student can meet this requirement in two ways:
•  Continuation of the modern foreign language used by the student to meet the College requirement to three courses above the level of 202.  The courses must be taught in the target language.
• Starting a second modern language in addition to the modern language used to meet the College requirement.  The student must achieve the 202 level in both of the languages, and one course over the 202 level in one of the languages.  The courses must be taught in the target language.

A student who is a native speaker of a language other than English should consult with his/her advisor about meeting the IR language requirement using their native language.

 

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Curriculum FAQs
As an IR major,  you will have questions about the ways in which your requirements can be fulfilled, how majors fit together, and any number of other details.  Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked of these questions; if you think others should be added here please let us know.
 
 
What is the difference between International Relations and Global Studies?
 
First of all, what is Global Studies?  GS is what used to be called International Studies.  It is a humanities-based approach to understanding various areas around the world (European Studies, Middle East Studies and the like).  It centers around language, literature, culture, history, and other aspects of the humanities.  International Relations, on the other hand, is grounded in the social sciences (primarily political science and economics) and uses this approach to understand the players and the relationships of the international system.

Can I double major in IR and GS?

Yes, but consider carefully whether future plans will be well-served by two multidisciplinary majors.  College policy also permits only two courses to overlap between two majors, or a major and a minor.

Can I double major in IR and a department that contributes to IR?

Yes, but with the usual proviso that only two classes are subject to double counting.

How is language proficiency outside of coursework handled?

The IR major requires, as a co-requisite, that a student masters a single modern foreign language to the level of 202 + 3 beyond or 2 modern foreign languages to the level of 202 with an additional course above 202 in one of the languages.  If a student comes in with, for example, native proficiency that s/he wishes to use to meet the major language requirement, arrangements can be made with the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures to certify proficiency for the purposes of the major.

I want to study abroad.  What now?

Although study abroad is not currently required for IR  majors  it is strongly recommended. The first stop for students interested in pursuing this option is at the Global Education Office upstairs at the Reves Center. There you will find information about the range of study abroad options (summer, semester, academic year) available as well as all the relevant forms. The Study Abroad Handbook, available from the GEO provides both basic information to students and the necessary forms

Please note that you may not, under most circumstances, study abroad in your senior year.  However, this does not apply to W&M programs, and may possibly be waived with non-W&M programs with the permission of the major department.

I'm interested in independent study, or an internship for credit.

An Independent study may be used to fulfill elective requirements as well as MWR or Computer Proficiency for IR. The necessary form can be found here. You must fill out the form with the help of the supervising faculty member. For transfer credits from abroad with no William and Mary course counterpart, you may choose INRL or an appropriate departmental number. Once completed, the form should be submitted to the IR Office for approval.

Internships provide productive and beneficial learning experiences for IR students.  A bona fide internship is expected to include an analytical or research component accompanied by a written final report. In order to ensure appropriate academic content as well as a productive experiental learning experience, you must formulate the mandatory internship agreement with the help of a faculty supervisor.  As per Catalog requirements, students must file the application form, Internship for Academic Credit, before you begin the internship. 

 

 

 
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