Units required for Major: 42
Total units required for BA: 120
Program Description
The International Relations major complements a student's liberal arts education with an emphasis on understanding the theoretical and practical aspects of comparative government and global politics. The major is structured to provide students with a background in the discipline of political science with an emphasis on the fields of Comparative Politics and International Relations, and to fortify that learning with a range of interdisciplinary course offerings that include thematic areas such as globalization, global governance, identity, and security studies as well as regional concentrations on Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Minimum GPA Requirement
Students are required to maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Lower Division Courses (3 Units) | ||
| POLS 1 | Essentials Of Government 1 | 3 |
| Required Upper Division Courses (15 Units) | ||
| POLS 100 | Introduction to Research Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 111 | Political Thought II | 3 |
| or POLS 110 | Political Thought I | |
| or POLS 112 | Current Political Thought | |
| POLS 130 | International Politics | 3 |
| POLS 136 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| POLS 140 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| Electives (24 Units) | ||
| Select 24 units 5 | 24 | |
| World Politics 2 | ||
| Just War, Natural Right, and the Law of Nations | ||
| Socialism Marxism-Communism | ||
| International Law | ||
| International Organization | ||
| War and Peace in the Nuclear Age | ||
| American Defense and National Security | ||
| War, Peace and the Mass Media | ||
| United States Foreign Policy | ||
| Nationalism | ||
| UN Simulation 3 | ||
| UN Simulation Practicum 4 | ||
| Globalization | ||
| International Politics and International Development | ||
| Critical Writings in International Relations | ||
| International Conflict and Ethnicity | ||
| Intelligence and Espionage | ||
| Topics in Human Security | ||
| Politics of the African Diaspora | ||
| Government and Politics in Africa | ||
| Causes of War, Causes of Peace | ||
| European Politics | ||
| Asian Politics | ||
| US-China Relations | ||
| Latin American Government and Politics | ||
| Governments and Politics in the Middle East | ||
| Original Research in Comparative Politics | ||
| Comparative Revolutions | ||
| American Film and Culture in the Nuclear Age | ||
| Gender and Politics | ||
| Internship 4 | ||
| Independent Studies 4 | ||
| Up to 3 classes (9 Units) of Electives may be taken from the following approved list of classes in other departments: 5 | ||
| Anthropology of War | ||
| Peoples and Cultures of Latin America | ||
| African Cultures and Societies | ||
| Anthropology of Human Rights | ||
| Anthropology of Contemporary Asia | ||
or ANTH 173 | Anthropology of Contemporary Asia | |
| Asian Diaspora and Migration | ||
| Genocide in Southeast Asia | ||
| International Trade | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Development Economics | ||
| Race and Ethnicity in Latin America and Caribbean | ||
| Geography Of Africa | ||
| Geography Of Europe | ||
| Geography of the Middle East | ||
| Great Ages and Issues in Modern European History | ||
| World War I: Causes, Conduct, Consequences | ||
| World War II: Causes, Conduct, Consequences | ||
| The Rise and Fall of European Colonial Empires | ||
| Latin American Revolutions in the Twentieth Century | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Latin America | ||
| History of Africa Since 1800 | ||
| History of Women in Africa | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| The Arab-Israeli Conflict | ||
| The Making of Modern Southeast Asia | ||
| Sustainability Business in Global Economy | ||
| International Business | ||
| Middle Eastern Societies and Culture | ||
| Social Change and Migration in Latin America | ||
| Conflict, Oil and Development in the Middle East | ||
| Sociology of Globalization | ||
| Women Of The Middle East | ||
| Sex & Gender in South Asia | ||
| Violence Against Women | ||
| Women & Globalization | ||
| Total Units | 42 | |
- 1
POLS 150 or a score of 3 or higher on the AP United States Government and Politics exam may be used in place of POLS 1 to satisfy the requirement.
- 2
A score of 3 or higher on the AP Comparative Government and Politics exam may be used in place of POLS 35 to satisfy the requirement.
- 3
Students may count up to 6 units of elective credit toward the major from POLS 138.
- 4
Students may receive no more than 3 units of elective credit toward the major in total from among the following three courses: POLS 138B (UN Simulation Practicum), POLS 195A (Internship), and POLS 199 (Independent Studies). An approved internship for credit (POLS 195A) should emphasize comparative or international political experience.
- 5
Electives may include Political Science courses numbered in the range from 130 through 149, as well as POLS 35, POLS 118, POLS 119A, POLS 127, POLS 162, and POLS 166. In addition, up to 9 units of work from the listed classes in other departments may be used to satisfy the 24 units of electives.
General Education Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units) | ||
| A1 - Oral Communication | 3 | |
| A2 - Written Communication | 3 | |
| A3 - Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (10 Units) | ||
| B1 - Physical Science | 3 | |
| B2 - Life Forms | 3 | |
| B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) | 1 | |
| B4 - Math Concepts | 3 | |
| B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 0 | |
| Area C: Arts and Humanities (9-12 Units) | ||
| C1 - Arts | 3 | |
| C2 - Humanities | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 2 | 0 - 3 | |
| Area D: The Individual and Society (3-6 Units) | ||
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course 2 | 0 | |
| Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 2 | 0 - 3 | |
| Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units) | ||
| Area E Course | 3 | |
| Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 Units) | ||
| Area F Course | 3 | |
| Total Units | 37-43 | |
- 1
To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
- 2
Required in Major; also satisfies GE.
Graduation Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (3-6 Units) | ||
| American Institutions: U.S. History | 3 | |
| American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government 2 | 0 | |
| Writing Intensive (WI) 3 | 0 - 3 | |
| Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (9-12 Units) | ||
| English Composition II | 3 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE) 4 | 0 - 3 | |
| Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 5 | 6 | |
- 1
To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
- 2
Required in Major; also satisfies Graduation Requirement.
- 3
Department offers students a "select from the following" option:
- If student chooses to take POLS 149A, HIST 105, HIST 137A, or HIST 143D they will meet the Writing Intensive (WI) Graduation Requirement.
- 4
Department offers students a "select from the following" option:
- If student chooses to take POLS 141 or ASIA 111 they will meet the Race and Ethnicity (RE) Graduation Requirement.
- 5
If not satisfied before entering Sacramento State, it may be satisfied in General Education Area C2 (Humanities). "C- or better required." The alternative methods for satisfying the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement are described here: https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/world-languages-literatures/foreign-language-requirement.html
The following roadmaps are sample planning resources. Please consult your academic advisor and Academic Catalog for graduation requirements as you develop your individualized academic plan.
International Relations, BA: 4-Year Roadmap
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Units | |
| POLS 1 | Essentials Of Government | 3 |
| GE Area 1C - Oral Communication 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 3B - Humanities 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5A - Physical Science 2 | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| GE Area 1A - English Composition 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 2 - Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5B - Biological Science 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5C - Laboratory 2 | 1 | |
| GE Area 6 - Ethnic Studies 2 | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| ENGL 20 | College Composition II | 3 |
| POLS 35 | World Politics | 3 |
| GE Area 1B - Critical Thinking 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area 3A - Arts 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 1 2 | 4 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| POLS 111 |
Political Thought II 3 or Political Thought I or Current Political Thought |
3 |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 5 or 2 - Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 2 2 | 4 | |
| GR American Institutions (US History) 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| POLS 100 | Introduction to Research Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 130 | International Politics | 3 |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| POLS 136 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 3 - Arts or Humanities 2 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| POLS 140 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 12 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
International Relations, BA: 2-Year Roadmap
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Units | |
| POLS 100 | Introduction to Research Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 130 | International Politics | 3 |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 1 2 | 4 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| POLS 136 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 3 - Arts or Humanities + Writing Intensive 2 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Semester 2 2 | 4 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| First Semester | ||
| POLS 111 |
Political Thought II 3 or Political Thought I or Current Political Thought |
3 |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Upper Division GE Area 5 or 2 - Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning 2 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| POLS 140 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| International Relations Elective 3 | 3 | |
| GR American Institutions (US History) 2 | 3 | |
| Elective of Choice | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Total Units | 62 | |
- 1.
Any course not completed in the first semester should be taken in the second or a later semester.
- 2.
Please see General Education/Graduation Requirement course options.
- 3.
Please see an academic advisor for elective options.