Program Overview
The International Relations program seeks to educate students through a traditional liberal arts and interdisciplinary curriculum. The program is committed to teaching skills in critical and perspectival thinking, problem solving, communication, research, teamwork, and communication technology.
The program is structured with a set of general core course requirements, which students should complete by the beginning of their junior year. Additionally, students take courses in three of the IR fields in which the student chooses to concentrate (Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, International Law and Organizations, International Political Economy, International Relations and History). Finally, in consultation with their advisor, students select courses as International Relations Electives.
The program is ideal for those who want to pursue careers in diplomacy, media, local and national government, and international and non-governmental organizations. It is also an excellent stepping-stone toward graduate programs in international relations, history, political science, public administration, law, and business. It is strongly recommended that a student majoring in International Relations also minor in History or Arabic.
Upon completion of the AUK major in international relations, the student will be able to:
- Examine diverse theories and perspectives of international relations.
- Identify problems, issues, patterns, and questions relevant to the study of international politics.
- Apply research methods involved in the study of contemporary international relations.
- Assess both qualitative and quantitative data relevant to different political and economic systems and their institutional arrangements.
- Apply critical thinking and writing skills when analyzing political and economic problems, issues, and arguments in a variety of local, national, regional, and international contexts.
- Reconstruct concepts, models, and theories of international relations.
- Communicate decisions as leaders in the national, regional, and international arena.