International Affairs Major

The international affairs major is an interdisciplinary program stressing integrated knowledge of economics and political studies as applied to the international arena. The major is jointly administered by the Department of Economics and Business and the Department of Political Studies. The program prepares students for a variety of international career and graduate school options by stressing a high level of language preparation, theoretical training in international political economy and a required international internship or field experience.

Like the other majors offered by its sponsoring departments, international affairs has a strong liberal arts character, intentionally sharpening students' powers of analysis, writing and speaking. Furthermore, issues of Christian stewardship, justice and leadership are an integral part of the program. These features help equip students for lives marked by Christian character and service. Requirements for the major in international affairs. In consultation with an advisor, each student will meet the core requirements of the major. A minimum of 40 credits must be taken in the major, not including any language credits. Ordinarily students will take 300-level courses in their junior or senior years. ECB/POL416 serves as the culminating seminar.

Required courses (28 credits plus language):
ECB201 Principles of Microeconomics
ECB202 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECB366 International Economics
ECB/POL416 International Political Economy
POL106 International Relations
POL310 American Foreign Policy
POL348 Theories of International Relations
Foreign language: 8 credits of intermediate (second year) language or proficiency at the intermediate level

ELECTIVES (12 credits)
Students must choose 12 credits from the following list with at least one course from the Regional Politics section:
Regional Politics
POL214 American Domestic Policy or PS325 Congress and the Presidency
POL219 Politics of the Developing World
POL235 Politics of the Middle East
POL240 Politics of Western Europe
POL315 Politics of Post-Communist Europe
POL324 Politics of Latin AmericaGeneral Electives
ECB305 Economic Development
ECB369 International Capitalisms
HIS241 Modern China
HIS242 Modern Japan
HIS245/FRE245 History of Africa
POL245 The United Nations
POL246 International Diplomacy

INTERNATIONAL FIELD EXPERIENCE
The international field experience may be an appropriate course of study, internship or other experience as approved by the student's academic advisor and the Global Education Office. Ordinarily it will complement a student's language and elective preparation. Students planning graduate work in this field are advised to take an additional 16 credits of related course work in consultation with the academic advisor, at least 8 credits of which should be outside the Department of Economics and Business and the Department of Political Studies.

HONORS IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
In exceptional cases international affairs majors may earn honors in international affairs by researching and writing an honors thesis during the senior year. Under the direction of a faculty advisor, candidates will develop a thesis proposal in the spring prior to the senior year and, with approval of the Economics and Business and Political Studies Departments, register for and complete 8 credits of independent research in the senior year (registered as INA471, 472 Research I, II). For honors the thesis must be of high quality and sufficient scope and must be defended orally before program faculty toward the end of spring term in senior year. The minimum GPA for honors candidates is 3.5 in the major and 3.0 overall; candidates must have completed their international field experience prior to senior year; depending on the topic, substantial cognate coursework may be required junior and senior years. An honors thesis should be considered by students intending to complete advanced degrees in economics, political science or international affairs. See program faculty for details.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Descriptions for all ECB and POL courses are found in their respective departmental pages.

INA471, 472 research I, II (4, 4)
Individual research for senior honors thesis. Prerequisites: senior standing and permission of a program director.