International Relations (IR) is an interdisciplinary undergraduate concentration within the social sciences that focuses on the study of global issues from a wide variety of perspectives. It has an additional requirement of competence in at least one modern foreign language and research methods. IR emphasizes political, economic, social, and cultural interactions that take place among governments, international organizations, and non-state actors such as multinational corporations, nongovernmental organizations, ethnic groups, and insurgent or terrorist groups. Taking a broad approach, the concentration examines a range of issues including diplomacy, war, and peace; poverty, inequality, and development; trade, globalization, and economic conflict; human rights and humanitarianism; the formation of political identities and the role of culture; and the environment and global public health.
The program is divided into four tracks or themes, from which concentrators must select one:
2. Political Economy and Development
3. Politics, Culture, and Identity
Each track brings together a set of courses which focuses broadly on each of these themes.
Overall, concentrators in international relations must take eleven courses approved for the concentration:
1. Three introductory core courses required for all students, preferably to be taken during their freshman or sophomore years. The three courses are:
a. PS 40, Conflict and Cooperation in International Politics
b. HI 2, Europe Since the French Revolution
c. EC 11, Principles of Economics or EC 121 Intermediate Macroeconomics
These three courses provide a multidisciplinary, conceptual basis for approaching international relations. Students who have AP credit for HI 2 with a score of 5 are required to replace it with a 100-level course in the History department with the approval of the track advisor.
2. Three courses within the student's chosen track, to be selected from a designated list. Each track has one or more designated keystone courses (see below), of which students in the track are required to take one:
3. One regionally-focused course, covering a particular region or country from a historical or contemporary perspective. The course chosen should have a clear connection to the student's track courses.
4. Two 100-level electives that focus on themes connected to the student's track and contribute to the coherence of the student's program
5. One senior IR or IR-crosslisted seminar (IR 180)
6. One qualitative or quantitative research methods course from a designated list
Detailed lists of courses that satisfy these requirements may be obtained from the International Relations Program office at 111 Thayer Street or on the IR program website: www.watsoninstitute.org/IR.
In addition, students are required to demonstrate competence in a modern foreign language, equivalent to three years of study at the university level in that language. This may be accomplished either by completing specified courses at Brown or by other means of demonstrating language proficiency, to be determined by each language department. Finally, students are strongly encouraged to undertake part of their study, during their entire junior year if possible, at a university outside the United States.
The program is administered by affiliated faculty from different departments at Brown. It has a concentration advisor and each track has a primary faculty advisor to assist students in planning their academic programs. Further details may be obtained by from the IR program website or by contacting the International Relations Program Office.
Page last updated in April, 2006.