International Relations (BA)
The interdisciplinary major in international relations seeks to understand the political, economic, social, and cultural relations among states as well as the transnational roles of non state actors. Such an understanding is critical in today’s world and can support a variety of career options. The major consists of core courses in international politics, economics, history, and women’s studies. Electives are chosen from these disciplines, as well as from modern languages and sociology. The senior year includes an integrative seminar and, if the student chooses, an internship or independent study. Students have interned at organizations involved in international relations such as the World Affairs Council, the United Nations Association, Amnesty International, the International Business Center, the offices of U.S. Senators, and Grassroots International.
Language Requirement for International Relations Majors
The international relations major requires a level of proficiency in a modern language beyond that required by the College’s foreign language requirement. Students may indicate their attainment of this enhanced proficiency in one of four ways:
- A student may complete a second major in a modern language or may minor in a modern language.
- A student whose native language is not English may choose to use their native language to fulfill the language proficiency requirement in International Relations.
- Students who choose to use either French or Spanish to fulfill the proficiency requirement in International Relations must take at least two
foreign language courses beyond the College’s foreign language requirement in the same language used to fulfill that requirement.
- Students who choose to fill the proficiency requirement in Japanese or Chinese must take one language course beyond the College’s foreign language requirement in the same language used to fulfill that requirement. Any language course above the 202 level may be counted as an elective toward a relevant “Area
Studies” are of elective concentration
- Students whose native language is English and wish to use a modern language not taught at Simmons to fulfill the proficiency requirement in international relations, may petition the International Relations Steering Committee, which will determine whether the level of proficiency in that language meets the requirement.
Note: Dix Scholars majoring in international relations must fulfill the international relations language requirement.
Program Requirements
Core Courses (six total):
One of the following:
Students are strongly encouraged to take the following courses in the first or second year:
Faculty members of the International Relations Steering Committee are available for advising and supervising independent studies and honors theses.
Electives
Three courses in one of the following areas: Global and Human Security, Political Economy and Development, Transnational Issues of Culture and Identity, or Geographical Area Studies. Students may substitute courses from other colleges and study-abroad programs with special permission. This list is not inclusive and new curricular offerings may be added.
Elective Areas:
Global and Human Security
Political Economy and Development
| ECON 124 | BRICS and the Global Economy | 4 |
| ECON 216 | Economic Development | 4 |
| ECON 222 | Comparative Economies of East Asia | 4 |
| NUTR 150 | International Nutrition Issues | 4 |
| POLS 104 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 4 |
| POLS 225 | International Politics of East Asia | 4 |
| POLS 242 | Colonial & Postcolonial Politics of Africa | 4 |
| POLS 245M | Politics of Newly Industrialized Countries | 4 |
| SOCI 245 | Global Health | 4 |
Transnational Issues of Culture and Identity
| FREN 266 | The Quest for Identity: The Self and The Other in the French Literary Tradition | 4 |
| FREN 316 | Outside France: Perspectives from the French Speaking World | 4 |
| HIST 231 | Understanding Islam & Historical Perspectives | 4 |
| HIST 251 | World Historical Perspectives on 9/11 | 4 |
| HIST 361 | Topics in World History | 4 |
| HIST 364 | Rape of Nanjing | 4 |
| HON 201 | Conflict & Identity in Sudan | 4 |
| HON 203 | Islam and the West | 4 |
| HON 204 | Dialogues Culturels: France & the Francophone World | 4 |
| INRL 202 | Special Topics in International Relations | 4 |
| POLS 202 | Special Topics in Political Science | 4 |
| POLS 240 | Islam and the West | 4 |
| POLS 247 | Politics of Religious Fundamentalism | 4 |
| SOCI 267 | Globalization | 4 |
| SOCI 270 | South Asia, People & Power | 4 |
| SOCI 300/SOCI 500 | Special Topics: Race Theory | 4 |
| SPAN 314 | Hispanic Culture as Seen Through Film | 4 |
| SPAN 380 | Migrant in the City: Fieldwork Seminar On Puerto Rican Culture | 4 |
INRL 202, POLS 202: Depending on the topic, these courses may count in another particular area
Geographic Area Studies
A student may choose to concentrate their electives in one geographic area, selecting three courses from one of the following lists. If a student wishes to concentrate their electives in an area not represented, or if they wish to count courses taken abroad or at another university in the relevant area, they must obtain permission from the Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations.
Africa
| FREN 316 | Outside France: Perspectives from the French Speaking World | 4 |
| HON 201 | Conflict & Identity in Sudan | 4 |
| POLS 242 | Colonial & Postcolonial Politics of Africa | 4 |
Asia
| ECON 222 | Comparative Economies of East Asia | 4 |
| HIST 201 | Japanese History: Politics, Society, and Everyday Life | 4 |
| HIST 202 | Asia to the Eighteenth Century | 4 |
| HIST 203 | Power & Culture: East Asia | 4 |
| HIST 204 | Japanese Culture: Gender, Family and Society | 4 |
| HIST 206 | Rise of Modern China | 4 |
| HIST 207 | Family, Gender, and Sexuality in Chinese History | 4 |
| HIST 362 | Reform and Revolutions in Asia | 4 |
| HIST 364 | Rape of Nanjing | 4 |
| POLS 225 | International Politics of East Asia | 4 |
| POLS 245M | Politics of Newly Industrialized Countries | 4 |
| SOCI 270 | South Asia, People & Power | 4 |
Europe
| FREN 266 | The Quest for Identity: The Self and The Other in the French Literary Tradition | 4 |
| FREN 310 | Inside France: Studies in French Culture | 4 |
| HIST 230 | Women and Gender in Europe | 4 |
| HIST 237 | Holocaust | 4 |
| HON 301 | Disability and Society | 4 |
| POLS 233 | Feminism and Capitalism | 4 |
| POLS 240 | Islam and the West | 4 |
| SPAN 253M | Social & Political Issues in Modern Spain STC | 4 |
| SPAN 264 | Pushing the Limits: the Quest for Freedom in Contemporary Hispanic Theater | 4 |
| SPAN 310 | Making of Spain: Studies in Spanish Culture | 4 |
| SPAN 314 | Hispanic Culture as Seen Through Film | 4 |
Latin America
| HIST 218 | Topics in Latin American History | 4 |
| POLS 250 | Democratization in Latin America | 4 |
| SPAN 266 | The Quest for Independence and Search for Identity in Latin American Literature | 4 |
| SPAN 395 | Seminar: Special Topics in Spanish | 4 |
| SPAN 312 | Introduction to Latin American Culture and Civilization | 4 |
| SPAN 332 | Contemporary Fiction in Latin America | 4 |
Middle East
| HIST 231 | Understanding Islam & Historical Perspectives | 4 |
| HON 203 | Islam and the West | 4 |
| POLS 243 | Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | 4 |
To complete the capstone requirement, students must complete one of the three options below:
- INRL 390 (junior or senior year)
- One 300-level POLS course with an IR focus (junior or senior year)
- Complete a Senior Honors Thesis