International Relations
At RWU, our interdisciplinary International Relations major celebrates human endeavor, diversity and opportunity by drawing upon subjects like history, sociology, economics, modern language and political science. Through internships, study abroad and specialization in either globalization, culture or area studies, you’ll learn the practical diplomacy, communication and critical thinking skills needed to help make a difference in the world in careers such as government, consulting and intelligence.
Study International Relations at RWU
Degree Requirements
International Relations Minor
The International Relations minor familiarizes students with foundational issues, models, and theories of international relations including broad understanding of the major issues in the politics and policies of other countries. Coursework in the minor emphasizes analytical skills, problem solving, and effective communication regarding complex global political and policy issues. An International Relations minor helps students make sense of the geopolitical issues and increasingly globalized political systems as preparation for careers within the business sector, government and non-governmental agencies, the public policy realm, and non-governmental/non-profit organizations, and other institutions.
Required Courses
Take each of the following courses:
Elective Courses
Take six (6) credits from the following courses as electives for the minor:
- POLSC 212 - Model Diplomacy
- POLSC 215 - Strategy and National Security Policy
- POLSC 309 - Film and Politics
- POLSC 310 - Pop Culture and Advanced IR Theory
- POLSC 321 - Politics and Ethnic Conflict
- POLSC 325 - Modern European Politics
- POLSC 327 - Politics of the Middle East
- POLSC 328 - Politics of Latin America
- POLSC 330 - Revolution and Social Change
- POLSC 335 - International Negotiation
- POLSC 340 - International Political Economy
- POLSC 344 - United States and the Middle East
- POLSC 345 - Rich States, Poor States
- POLSC 346 - Russian Politics and Foreign Policy
- POLSC 347 - Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy
- POLSC 348 - Rogue States, Allies, Regional Powers
- POLSC 383 - Global Environmental Politics
- POLSC 386 - International Law and Organization
- POLSC 390 - Globalization and its Critics
- POLSC 392 - Global Food Politics
- POLSC 397 - Playing Games with Politics
- POLSC 400 - Washington Internship
- POLSC 401 - Washington Public Policy Seminar
- POLSC 402 - Washington Experiential Learning Seminar
- POLSC 410 - Political Science Independent Study
- POLSC 429 - Political Cultures in Contact
- POLSC 440 - Independent Research Project
- POLSC 479 - Special Topics
To read more about our academic offerings, or to view full course descriptions, please refer to our University Catalog.
Internship Opportunities
(partial list)
- Washington, D.C. – Various sites
- US State Department and Foreign Embassies
- Law Firms, Corporations, and Non-Profit Organizations
Research Projects
(partial list)
- Model United Nations
- Model Arab League
- Center for Macro Projects and Diplomacy
- Economic development in Gaza
- Foreign policy beliefs of Chinese, Russian and US political elites
- Political culture and the Arab-Israeli conflict
Employers
(partial list)
- Accenture
- Sub-Saharan Africa Program at Partners Global
- Peace Corps
- World Wildlife Foundation
- US House and Senate (staff)
- Central Intelligence Agency
- US Marine Corps
- DigitalGlobe Satellite Imagery
- NASCAR Corporate
- Powell Tate Consulting
Graduate Study
(partial list)
- George Washington University
- New York University
- London School of Economics
- Duke University School of Law
- Roger Williams University School of Law
- American University School of Law