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International Relations 

Major Overview 

The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (BAIR) degree builds on the academic tradition and strong international relations curriculum provided at ACM and its study abroad institute, IAU. ACM strives to create global ethical leaders and policymakers in an increasingly interconnected global community that includes classroom discussions on European, French, Mediterranean, and North African topics facilitated by accomplished and well-traveled faculty. As part of ACM’s ‘Social Issues Across the Curriculum’ initiative, students and faculty weave topics related to race, class, and gender into everyday discussion both in and out of the classroom. Additionally, during their undergraduate career, students will participate in ACM’s Global Diversity (GD) requirement, taking at least one course that meets the GD requirement, which focuses on exploring and analyzing typically underrepresented groups of people on the global stage and incorporate international and cross-cultural studies. These experiences allow graduates holding a BAIR to enter the global workforce with a wealth of knowledge gained through experiential learning.  

Course Requirements 

ACM’s Bachelor of Arts in International Relations requires students to satisfy the ACM Core Curriculum and the following major requirements.  

Lower-Division Courses (12 credits required)   

  • POL 103: Political Theory   

  • POL 105: Introduction to Comparative Politics  

  • POL 106: International Relations  

Upper-Division Courses (40 credits required)

  • IRL/POL 303: International Relations   

  • IRL/POL 305: US Diplomacy in an Age of Change 

  • POL 307: The European Union: Integration, Enlargement, Unity   

  • IRL/POL 308: Geopolitics of the Mediterranean Basin: Security in a Diverse Region 

  • POL/ENS 309: Global Environmental Politics   

  • PHI/POL 312: Ethics in Society    

  • COM/IRL 316: Media and Conflict   

  • POL 318: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 

  • PHI/POL 319: Contemporary Political Philosophy    

  • HIS/POL 321: French Colonialism in the Middle East and North Africa   

  • IRL/MED 323: Migrations, Borders, Hospitality 

  • BUS/IRL 333: Intercultural Management 

  • BUS/IRL 337: International Negotiations 

  • FRE/POL 376: Contemporary French Identities   

  • POL/FRE 417: Dissent in the Mediterranean, from Albert Camus to Leila Slimani 

January Term Seminar (3 Credits)

Total Major Credits: 55 

Learning Outcomes

Bachelor's students in the International Relations program will learn to:

  • Recognize the key issues, mechanisms, and drivers of international relations both globally and in the Euro-Mediterranean context; 

  • Differentiate between the various theoretical, ethical, and operational schools of thought that motivate global actors;  

  • Appraise contrasting perspectives on multilateral cooperation, conflict resolution, and global justice issues, with particular attention to North America, Europe and the MENA region; 

  • Develop analytical and critical thinking skills by analyzing and evaluating key global challenges and appreciating their historical, political, economic, and geographic, dimensions;  

  • Apply robust research methods, refined writing, and confident oral presentation skills to explore and communicate complex concepts relevant to international relations and global politics; 

  • Develop informed, ethical, and pragmatic policy responses to the challenges of global affairs in the 21st century.  

 

Academics

Admissions