Program Overview

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Program Overview

The International Relations major at Virginia Tech is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of global politics, economies, and cultures. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities necessary to navigate the complexities of international relations.

Program Requirements

To graduate with an International Relations degree, students must complete a total of 120 hours, including 57 required hours for the major. The program consists of:

• Degree Core Requirements
• Major Requirements
• Elective Courses for the Major
• Pathways to General Education
• Foreign Language Requirements

Degree Core Requirements

The degree core requirements include:

• IS 1034: Introduction to International Studies and Political Science
• IS 2084: The Evolution of World Order
• Select one of the following: IS 3115 or IS 3116
• Required Foreign Language: 12 credits of a single foreign language at the level 1

Major Requirements

The major requirements include:

• IS 1004: Nations and Nationalities
• IS 2004: Research and Writing in International Studies
• IS 2054: Introduction to World Politics
• IS 2064: The Global Economy and World Politics
• IS 3615: International Relations 2
• IS 3616: International Relations 2
• Select one of the following: IS 4034, PSCI 4514, IS 4614, or PSCI 4724
• Elective Courses for the Major: 15 credit hours from the list below

Elective Courses for the Major

The elective courses for the major include:

• Political Science (PSCI) courses:
  • PSCI 1014: Introduction to United States Government and Politics
  • PSCI 2014: Introduction to Political Theory
  • PSCI 2024: Research Methods in Political Science
  • PSCI 3015: Political Theory
  • PSCI 3016: Political Theory
  • PSCI 3255: The Politics of Race, Ethnicity and Gender 2
  • PSCI 3256: The Politics of Race, Ethnicity and Gender 2
  • PSCI 3344: Global Environmental Issues: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
  • PSCI 3514: Latin American Government and Politics 2
  • PSCI 3515: European Political Systems 2
  • PSCI 3516: European Political Systems 2
  • PSCI 3524: Politics of Post-Communist Systems 2
  • PSCI 3534: African Government and Politics 2
  • PSCI 3544: The State of Israel: A Political History 2
  • PSCI 3564: Violent Political Change 2
  • PSCI 3574: Government and Politics of Japan 2
  • PSCI 3584: Governments and Politics of Asia 2
  • PSCI 3684: Indigenous Peoples and World Politics 2
  • PSCI 3764: Contemporary Democratic Theory 2
  • PSCI 3774: Marxian Political Analysis 2
  • PSCI 3784: Origins of the State 2
  • PSCI 4514: Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics 2
  • PSCI 4724: Senior Seminar in Political Theory 2
• International Studies (IS) courses:
  • IS 1024: Comp Gov & Politics
  • IS 1114:
  • IS 2114: Transatlantic Political Frameworks
  • IS 3104: Security Studies: Theories and Concepts 2
  • IS 3175: Global Development 2
  • IS 3176: Global Development 2
  • IS 3184: Human Security 2
  • IS 3554: Comparative Political Economy 2
  • IS 3594: Topics in Middle East Politics and International Relations 2
  • IS 3624: Foreign Policy and Diplomacy 2
  • IS 3814: The European Union: Institutions and Policies 2
  • IS 3824: European Union's Foreign and Security Policy 2
  • IS 3924: Theories of Transatlantic Relations 2
  • IS 4054: Seminar in Global Political Economy 2
  • IS 4064: Seminar in Global Development 2
  • IS 4104: Topics in European Studies 2
  • IS 4114: Topics in European Union Policies 2
  • IS 4124: Topics in European Integration 2
  • IS 4144: Topics in Transatlantic Relations 2
  • IS 4154: Topics in Transatlantic Studies 2
  • IS 4184: Capstone Project Transatlantic Studies 2
  • IS 4134: Capstone Research Project in European Studies 2
  • IS 4614: Senior Seminar in International Relations 2
  • IS 4734: Theories and Practices of International Conflict Management 2
  • IS 4735:
  • IS 4736: Topics in Multilateral Diplomacy Workshop 2
  • IS 4964: Field Study 3
  • IS 2034: Geography of Global Conflict
  • IS 2044: Food, War and Conflict
  • IS 2104: Europe Country Analysis
  • IS 2474: Religion and Violence
  • IS 3004: Professionalism and Careers in Political Science and International Studies 2
  • IS 3114: Global Security 2
  • IS 3134: Global Conflict and War 2
  • IS 3144: Global Governance and Public Policy 2
  • IS 3154: Topics in Global Public Policies 2
  • IS 3164: Global Trade: Structures and Policies 2
  • IS 3174: Monetary Foundations of the World Economy 2
  • IS 3194: Nuclear Strategy & Politics 2
  • IS 3374: The Politics of Energy 2
  • IS 3625: US-Russia Foreign Policies 2
  • IS 3626: US-Russia Foreign Policies 2
  • IS 3634: Human Rights: Global Issues 2
  • IS 3704: National Security Strategy 2
  • IS 3734: National Security 2
  • IS 3735:
  • IS 3736:
  • IS 3795: Global Terrorism and Counterterrorism 2
  • IS 3796: Global Terrorism and Counterterrorism 2
  • IS 3804: European Integration 2
  • IS 3854: European Political Economy 2
  • IS 3914: European Economics 2
  • IS 3894: Transatlantic Relations Since 1945 2
  • IS 3934: NATO & European Security 2
  • IS 3944: International Enrollment
  • IS 3954: Study Abroad
  • IS 4014: International Development 2
  • IS 4024: Seminar in Diplomacy and Security 2
  • IS 4034: Topics in Diplomacy Lab 2
  • IS 4044: International Communication 2
  • IS 4974: Independent Study 4
  • IS 4984: Special Study 4
  • IS 4994: Undergraduate Research 4

Pathways to General Education

The pathways to general education include:

• Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse: ENGL 1105, ENGL 1106, IS 2004
• Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities: Select six credits
• Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences: IS 2054, IS 2064
• Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences: Select six credits
• Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking: Select six credits
• Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts: Select three credits
• Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States: IS 1004

Foreign Language Requirements

The foreign language requirements include:

• University and Admissions Foreign Language Requirement: Completion of three years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language in high school or completion of two years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language in high school plus 1106 or the equivalent in college
• International Studies Language Requirement: 12 credits of a single foreign language at the level 1

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with an International Relations degree, students must:

• Complete a total of 120 hours
• Maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0
• Maintain an in-major GPA of 2.0
• Complete all required courses for the major
• Complete the foreign language requirement
• Complete the pathways to general education requirements

Satisfactory Progress

To proceed satisfactorily toward a degree, a student must:

• Complete IS 1004, IS 1034, IS 2004, IS 2054, IS 2064, and IS 2084 by the end of the semester in which 60 hours have been attempted
• Maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0
• Maintain an in-major GPA of 2.0

Dual Use of Courses

No course can double count within or between International Studies Program-related majors or minors, with the exception of the Core Degree Requirements and IS 1004, IS 2004, IS 2054, and IS 2064.

Intra-departmental Majoring and Minoring

Students pursuing one or more majors associated with the International Studies Program cannot major or minor in Political Science.

Intra-IS Program Majoring and Minoring

Students may pursue more than one major or minor associated with the International Studies Program, but the policy pertaining to the "Dual Use of Courses" will apply.

Prerequisites

Some courses listed have prerequisites; please consult the University Catalog and/or check with your advisor.