Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Global Studies

The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Global Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students for global citizenship. This major emphasizes real-world problems and issues, incorporates experiential learning, and provides students with essential tools such as critical thinking, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and foreign language skills.

Program Details

• The program is 120 credits and is available on both the New York City and Pleasantville campuses.
• It is ideal for students interested in international relations, global cultures, and dynamics, who wish to be involved in international affairs.

A Three-Pronged Approach

The program requires three groups of courses:

• Required courses in political science
• Electives in political science and other fields like history, economics, peace and justice, and others
• A minor in any of the following programs: history, economics, environmental studies, modern languages, global Asia, Latin American studies, peace and justice, diplomacy, non-profit studies, and women's and gender studies.

Meeting Today's Need for a Global Mindset

The BA in International Relations and Global Studies investigates how the world works and the way politics, history, culture, and economics affect the global system. Students will develop a global mindset and skills necessary for the twenty-first-century workplace. They will analyze trends in a complex global world, examining dilemmas such as why countries go to war or forge peace, the relationship between wealthy and poorer countries, and how to create a just society.

Experiential Learning

Students have the opportunity to gain practical, resume-building experiences through participation in the award-winning Model United Nations team and internships at the UN and affiliated non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and think tanks.

Classes with Experiential Elements

• POL 297L Global Politics of Disarmament and Arms Control: Students visit the United Nations to sit in on meetings and engage in discussions around disarmament.
• POL 303A & C Workshop on International Organization: These are Model UN courses where students prepare for participating in Model UN conferences in Washington, DC, and NYC.
• POL 219 International Political Economy: Students complete projects with community partners on water sanitation projects in Ethiopia or human trafficking in Southeast Asia.

Our Esteemed Faculty

The faculty of the Political Science department includes nationally and internationally recognized scholars who are also engaging teachers and activists. Their scholarship is evidenced by numerous books, monographs, global awards, and articles published in journals, newspapers, and periodicals intended for general audiences.

Skills and Employment

Upon graduating, students will:

• Demonstrate substantive interdisciplinary knowledge of political, economic, social, cultural, and historical factors influencing international affairs.
• Display in-depth understanding of an important subfield related to international relations (through a field of concentration).
• Conduct theoretically informed and empirically based analysis of real-world conditions and events and persuasively present the results in written and oral forms.

Students will emerge prepared to enter a wide range of professions, including:

• Foreign service
• International NGOs and advocacy organizations
• Government agencies
• International business
• International journalism
• Law
• Research

Many graduates can also go on to graduate school or careers in higher education, education, multinational corporations, and financial institutions.