MAJOR IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Department of Politics and International Relations
Advisors:
David Skidmore (Director), Meredith 213. (515) 271-3843; david.skidmore@drake.edu
Debra DeLaet, Meredith 210. (515) 271-1884; debra.delaet@drake.edu
Eleanor Zeff, Meredith 209. (515) 271-3102; eleanor.zeff@drake.edu 

 The International Relations major is an interdisciplinary program designed to meet the needs of those interested in understanding and/or working in international affairs. The goal is to train students for entry into internationally-oriented jobs in business, government, education or international public or private agencies. The curriculum is designed to provide greater breadth than is possible by concentration in a single discipline, yet to permit sufficiently focused study in international matters to prepare the student for direct entry into the field of international service or continued postgraduate study.

 The requirements in the major are outlined below. As a rule, students should expect to concentrate on courses in the basic core during the first year and begin the language sequence. Courses in the regional and functional concentrations should be taken from the sophomore through senior years with careful attention to sequential connections where appropriate. The capstone International Relations Seminar (Pols 192) should be taken during the spring semester of a student's final year of study. Courses listed under more than one area may be counted toward one area or the other, but not both.

 Students are encouraged, though not required, to study abroad during their junior year. Study abroad options should be considered in consultation with the student's academic adviser and the study abroad coordinator. Information concerning careers, internships and graduate programs related to international affairs can be obtained from your academic adviser, the International Relations webpage or the Center for International Programs and Services. 

 I. Foreign Language: Students must take two years of coursework (14 hours) in a single language or demonstrate equivalent competence. 

 II. The Basic Core: All International Relations majors must complete the following basic requirements (15 hours):

Econ 001 & 002             Principles of Economics, I & II     6 hrs.
Pols  065                        Comparative Politics                     3 hrs.
Pols 075                         World Politics                                3 hrs.
Geog 003                       World Regional Geography            3 hrs.
or
Geog 002                        Human Geography 3 hrs.


III. Regional Study Concentration: Majors are required to take a minimum of 12 credit hours under the Regional Study Concentration. Of these, 9 hours must be taken in a single regional specialization. Options include Europe, Latin America and East Asia. The remaining 3 hours must be taken in a regional course outside of the student s area of specialization. For these final 3 hours (i.e., those outside of one s regional specialization), students are not limited to the courses listed below, but may also count courses that deal with other regions (e.g., Africa, Middle East, South Asia, etc.). Relevant courses taken through study abroad programs may count toward the Regional Study Concentration. Also, relevant Drake courses offered on an occasional basis may be considered. In all cases, the choice of courses must be made with the approval of the student s academic adviser. See the course description section in the back in the catalog for information on the courses listed below.

 A. Regional Studies Concentration: Europe

Fren 115        French Civilization Topics
Geog 132       Europe
Ger 115         German Civilization Topics
Hist 099        European Women's History, 1900-1945
Hist 133        Europe in the 19th Century
Hist 134        Contemporary Europe
Hist 137        France Since 1799, Napoleon to de Gaulle
Pols 160        Modern European Political Systems
Pols 166    Comparative Political Parties and Interest Groups
Pols 168        Politics and Parlaiments
Pols 169        Nationalism and Ethnicity in Eastern Europe
Pols 171    Politics of European Integration

B. Regional Studies Concentration: Latin America

Eng 164        Latino/a Literature
Hist 123        Modern Mexico
Hist 125        Colonial Latin America
Hist 126        Modern Latin America
Hist 170        Mexican Revolution
Pols 164        Government & Politics in Latin America
Span 116       Civilization Topics:  Latin America

C. Regional Studies Concentration: East Asia

Geog 135      Asia
Hist 022        East Asian Civilization since 1600
Hist 127        Modern China
Hist 128        Revolutions in 20th Century Asia
Hist 129        Modern Japan
Hist 153        Chinese Communist Revolutions & Revolutionaries
Soc 130        Contemporary Chinese Society


IV. Functional Study Concentration. Majors are required to take a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework under the Functional Concentration. Nine hours must be taken in a single functional specialization. Options include International Political Economy and Peace and Conflict. The remaining 3 hours must be selected from among the courses listed under the alternative functional specialization. Relevant courses taken through study abroad programs may count toward the Functional Study Concentration. Also, relevant Drake courses offered on an occasional basis may be considered. In all cases, the choice of courses must be made with the approval of the student s academic adviser. See the course description section in the back in the catalog for information on the courses listed below.

 A. Functional Studies Concentration: International Political Economy

Econ 130         International Economics
Econ 134         International Finance
Econ 175         Developing Economies
Hist 061         Africa: From Colonialism to Independenc
Pols 109         Globalization: Salvation, Scourge or Myth?
Pols 165         Government & Politics in Developing Nations
Pols 171         Politics of European Integration
Pols 172         International Political Economy

B. Functional Studies Concentration: Peace, Conflict, and World Order

Eng 126         Studies in Film/Television History & Criticism:
                                Vietnam War/Gulf War
Eng 166         Literature of the Vietnam War
Hist 113        America as a World Power
Hist 139        Civil War and Reconstruction
Hist 170        The U.S. and the Origins of the Cold War
Hist 170        The U.S. and Vietnam
Hist 185        Revolution & Counterrevolution:  World Politics, 1943-54
Pols 109      The Laws of War
Pols 121        The United Nations and Global Security
Pols 123    Revisiting the Vietnam War
Pols 124    Grassroots Globalism
Pols 125    Post-Conflict Justice
Pols 170        International Law
Pols 173        Human Rights & World Politics
Pols 175        Peace & World Order
Pols 176        Gender & World Politics
Pols 179        American Foreign Policy
Psy  134        Ethnopolitical Conflict and Peacemaking
Rhet 112       Rhetoric and War


V. International Relations Seminar. Majors are required to complete Pols 192: International Relations Seminar. This course is offered each spring and must be taken during the Senior year. Politics 192 counts as a senior capstone under the Drake Curriculum. 

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