BA in Political Science/International Affairs
What Will I Learn?
Our program is designed to equip you with knowledge of the historical and contemporary dimensions of the international system, and to introduce you to foreign affairs, global issues, and the methodologies employed in historical, political and economic analysis.
It allows you to explore the enduring questions of the origins of war and the maintenance of peace, the nature and exercise of power within an international system, and the changing roles of state and non-state actors who participate in international decision making in the global environment.
Your Career
Upon graduation you have the opportunity to pursue a wide variety of paths. You can apply for post-graduate programs in international affairs or you can seek further complementary education - by attending law school, graduate business or public administration programs, teacher training, or journalism and broadcasting schools.
You can also directly pursue careers in the private sector, in fields such as international business, business management, and consultancy. You can apply to positions in the many branches of the public service, including civil and diplomatic services and local government, national and international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the United Nations.
Curriculum
A total of 92 credits are required to graduate, which can be completed in three years by those entering as sophomores.
- Major core courses: 24 credits
- Major Electives: 18 credits
- Liberal Arts Core: 6 credits
- Liberal Arts Electives:
- Digital Cultures: 3 credits
- Change Makers: 6 credits
- Liberal Arts and Humanities: 3 credits
- Liberal Arts Electives: 9 credits
- Free Electives: 23 credits
See the Liberal Arts Curriculum page for details.
Major core requirements (24 credits)
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| POL201 | Introd. to Polit. Science | 3 |
| POL203 | Gov’t & Politics of Lebanon | 3 |
| POL210 | Introduction to Political Thought | 3 |
| POL222 | Comparative Political Systems | 3 |
| POL242 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| POL318 | Research Methodology I (Qual.) | 3 |
| POL319 | Research Methodology II (Quant.) | 3 |
Students can choose one of the following courses:
| POL499R* | Undergraduate Research | 3 |
| POL499P | Capstone Project | 3 |
*Students who wish to register POL499R should have a minimum GPA of 3.2
Major electives (Choose 6 courses, total of 18 credits)
Students should take a minimum of two “400” level courses.
Global Governance
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| POL324 | Foreign Policy Analysis | 3 |
| POL325 | Diplomatic and Consular Service | 3 |
| POL326 | Politics of the European Union | 3 |
| POL327 | Fundamentals of Security Studies | 3 |
| POL331 | International Organization | 3 |
| POL332 | Public International Law | 3 |
| POL346 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| POL357 | Globalization and Political Change | 3 |
| POL434 | Topics in Global Governance | 3 |
Comparative Politics
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| POL252 | Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| POL321 | American Government and Politics | 3 |
| POL328 | Fundamentals of Public Policy | 3 |
| POL334 | Negotiation and Bargaining | 3 |
| POL335 | Politics of Multiculturalism | 3 |
| POL336 | Politics of Global South | 3 |
| POL435 | Topics of Comparative Politics | 3 |
Middle East Politics
| Number | Course | Cr |
|---|---|---|
| POL323 | M.E. Government and Politics | 3 |
| POL422 | The M.E. in the World Affairs | 3 |
| POL436 | Topics in Middle Eastern Studies | 3 |
| SOC321 | Sociology of the Arab World | 3 |
| WOS313 | Women in the Arab World | 3 |