International Relations (BA [International Honours] in International Relations)
The Joint Degree Program in International Relations
The International Relations major in the Joint Degree Programme at the University of St Andrews and the College of William & Mary builds on the distinctive strengths of both universities. Students will master the most important theoretical approaches to the study of world politics, and they will learn how the international system operates as well as the major challenges it faces. Majors in the program will take courses from a range of disciplines–in particular, politics, economics, and history–and they will learn how to integrate insights from these diverse approaches to the study of international relations. Topics and issues covered include international security, world trade and finance, environmental politics, human rights, terrorism, regional and ethnic conflict, and the impact of globalization. Students will benefit in particular from exposure to the different modes of analysis pursued at the two universities–more scientific at William & Mary, more philosophical at St Andrews. Together the two universities offer the broad spectrum of courses needed for a solid foundation in the study of world politics. All International Relations majors in the joint program will pursue an independent study project as part of their degree, either by writing a dissertation at St Andrews or by taking a senior research seminar at William & Mary.
Requirements for the Joint Degree Program in International Relations
NOTE: W&M courses carry the prefix of the participating departments (e.g., GOVT, HIST, ECON, SOCL). Courses at St Andrews carry the prefixes IR, EC, or MO.
Required Credit Hours: 54
A minimum of 54, at least 45 of which (180 in St Andrews equivalents) must be taken in courses numbered 300 or above in Years 3 & 4.
Major Computing Requierment: Fulfilled by the IR Research Methods requirement of the major.
Major Writing Requirement: Fulfilled by the Capstone Experience of the major.
Credit Requirements During Honours Years (Years 3 and 4)
- Students must earn at least 60 (W&M)/240 (StA) credits in Years 3 and 4 combined.
- Of the 60/240, students must earn 30 (W&M)/120 (StA) credits at each university.
- With the approval of the Programme Directors and major advisors at both institutions, students may apply up to six (6) 300- or 400-level credits taken at W&M during the summers before Years 3 and 4 toward the total required Honours credits.
- Of the 60/240, students must earn at least 52.5 (W&M)/210 (StA) credits at the 300(0)-400(0) level in Years 3 and 4 combined. Normally, no more than 7.5/30 credits below the 300(0) level may be earned. No courses below the 300(0) level will be used for St Andrews classification.
- Of the 60/240 total credits, at least 45 (W&M)/180 (StA) credits must be in the major at the 300(0)-400(0) level.
- Of the 45/180 major credits, at least 22.5 (W&M)/90 (StA) must be at the 4000 level at St Andrews or at the equivalent level at W&M. Some 300 level courses at W&M will count towards this requirement. See the major advisor for a list.
- Of the 60/240 total credits, at least 45 (W&M)/180 (StA) credits must be in the major at the 300(0)-400(0) level.
W&M home students must take a total of at least 61 credits (out of their 120 credits to graduate) at W&M (or W&M summer school).
As detailed in the schedules below, there will be a range of courses required in the joint degree program. The IR advisor at both institutions will work closely with each student to ensure that they are taking the courses they need to take in order to excel at the next level and at the host institution.
All majors in the Joint Degree Programme are required to take the following courses (normally “OR” indicates “anti-requisites,” or courses that duplicate material and cannot be repeated for credit.
Year 1
Courses at St Andrews carry the prefixes IR, EC, or MO; W&M courses carry the prefix of the participating departments (e.g., GOVT, HIST, ECON, SOCL). All majors in the Joint Degree Programme are required to take the following courses (normally “OR” indicates “anti-requisites,” or courses that duplicate material and cannot be repeated for credit):
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 204 | Introduction to International Politics | 3 |
| ECON 101 | Principles: Microeconomics | 3 |
| HIST 192 | Global History since 1500 | 3 |
| GOVT 203 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| ECON 102 | Principles: Macroeconomics | 3 |
| INRL 300 | International Relations in Disciplinary Perspectives | 4 |
Year 1 at St Andrews
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Modern History: | ||
MO1007 The Early Modern Western World (c. 1450 - c. 1770) | ||
MO1008 Themes in Late Modern History (c. 1776 - 2001) | ||
| OR | ||
| Economics: | ||
EC1001 Macroeconomics | ||
EC1002 Microeconomics | ||
| AND | ||
IR1005 Concepts in Global Politics | ||
IR1006 Foreign Policy and Diplomacy in Global Politics | ||
Year 1 for Honors Preparation
Strongly recommended for students who want to do Honors at W&M in Year 4: an IR Methods Course. Students who do not take an IR Methods Course in Year 1 at W&M, and who spend both years 2 and 3 at St. Andrews, must take EC2003 at St. Andrews if they want to pursue an Honors thesis in year 4 at W&M.
Available Methods courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BUAD 231 | Business Statistics | 3 |
| GOVT 301 | Research Methods | 3 |
| GOVT 302 | Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| GOVT 307 | Political Polling and Survey Analysis | 3 |
| ECON 307 | Principles and Methods of Statistics | 3 |
| SOCI 302 | Research Design | 3 |
| SOCI 303 | Quant Research Methods | 3 |
Year 2
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 327 | Theory and History in International Relations | 3 |
| HIST 192 | Global History since 1500 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| European Politics | ||
| Politics of Developing Countries | ||
| U S Foreign Policy | ||
| Global Governance | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| Politics of Inequality | ||
| South Asian Politics | ||
IR2006 | ||
| Select one of the follow Research Methods Courses: 1 | 3 | |
| Business Statistics | ||
| Research Methods | ||
| Quantitative Methods | ||
| Political Polling and Survey Analysis | ||
| Principles and Methods of Statistics | ||
| Econometrics | ||
MT1007 | ||
EC2003 | ||
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Students may also take PSYC 302 Research Methods/Psy, SOCI 302, or SOCI 303, but these courses have prerequisites that make it unlikely a second year JDP student will qualify.
Years 3 and 4
Students must earn 60 (W&M)/240 (StA) credits, at least 45 (W&M)/180 (StA) in Honours courses - that is, courses in the major at the 300(0) - 400(0) level. Students must take 30/120 credits at each university. Of the total 60/240, 22.5/90 should be at the 4000-level at St. Andrews, or at the equivalent level at W&M.1 Normally, no more than 7.5/30 credits below the 300-level may be taken in a single Honours year.
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Some 300 level courses at W&M will count towards this requirement. See your major advisor for a list.
The 30 W&M credits may be selected from the following:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Politics of European Integration | ||
| Politics of Russia and Neighboring States | ||
| Politics of Eastern Europe | ||
| Governments and Politics of China and Japan | ||
| Politics in Africa | ||
| Latin American Politics and Government | ||
| Middle Eastern Political Systems | ||
| Additional International Relations courses at W&M may be chosen from the following (or from others chosen in consultation with an advisor): | ||
| Culture and Society in the Middle East and North Africa | ||
| Anthropology of Islam | ||
| Peoples & Cultures of Africa | ||
| Native Cultures of South America | ||
| Special Topics in Anthropology | ||
| Issues in Anthropology | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Topics in Economics | ||
| American Economic History | ||
| Global Economic History | ||
| Comparative Economics | ||
| Topics in Economics | ||
| International Trade Theory and Policy | ||
| International Finance and Open Economy Macroeconomics | ||
| Microeconomics of Development | ||
| Macroeconomics of Development | ||
| Economics of Growth | ||
| Game Theory and Politics | ||
| European Politics | ||
| Politics of Developing Countries | ||
| Global Environmental Politics | ||
| U S Foreign Policy | ||
| Global Governance | ||
| International Law | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| International Security | ||
Additional courses from 330-339, as listed above: | ||
| Topics in Government (approved topics only) | ||
| Topics in Government | ||
| Sem: Comparative Politics | ||
| Seminar: International Politics | ||
| Seminar: Theories of the International System | ||
| Seminar: Political Economy of the Newly Industrializing Countries | ||
| Sem:Geostrategic Thought | ||
| Seminar: Government | ||
| Brazil | ||
| Terror, Human Rights, and Memory in Latin America | ||
| The Caribbean | ||
| Topics in History (approved topics only) | ||
| Topics in History (approved topics only) | ||
| Pan-Africanism: History of a Revolutionary Idea | ||
| The Nuclear World | ||
| The Rise and Fall of Apartheid | ||
| The Global Color Line: U.S. Civil Rights and South African Anti-Apartheid Politics | ||
| America and China: U.S.-China Relations since 1784 | ||
| Modern Japanese History | ||
| Modern Korean History | ||
| Modern Chinese History | ||
| Nation, Gender, and Race in South Asia | ||
| United States Immigration History | ||
| America in the World, 1901-Present | ||
| History of Britain 1783 to the Present | ||
| East Central Europe | ||
| History of Russia since 1800 | ||
| History of Germany since 1918 | ||
| History of France, 1800 to the Present | ||
| Topics in History (approved topics only) | ||
| Topics in History (approved topics only) | ||
| Senior Colloquium (approved topics only) | ||
| Senior Colloquium (approved topics only) | ||
| Topics in Psychology (approved topics only) | ||
| The Holocaust | ||
| Women in Islam: Tradition and Change | ||
| Islam in the Modern World | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (approved topics only) | ||
| Comparative Sociology | ||
| Globalization and International Development | ||
| Special Topics in Sociology (approved topics only) | ||
| Migration in a Global Context | ||
| Energy, Environment, and Development | ||
| Readings in Sociology | ||
Year 4
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | 6 | |
| Honors and Honors 1 | ||
| Senior Honors in International Relations and Senior Honors in International Relations 1 | ||
| Independent Study in International Relations | ||
400-Level Seminar with COLL 400 designation (approved topics only) | ||
IR4099 | ||
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Honors theses have a prerequisite of a research methods course completed before the Honors research begins.
For other modules that can be taken at St. Andrews in year 4, consult the current year catalogue or consult advisor.
Course Specific Requirements
Joint Programme students are required to complete the university’s foreign language, writing, quantitative, and major computing proficiencies and a first-year seminar (COLL 150). All William & Mary home students in their first year, and host students from StA at W&M in their second year, will take a COLL 150 and a 1-credit course in the Fall that will prepare them for the academic culture at W&M. W&M first year home students will also take, in the Spring semester of their first year, a 1-credit course that will prepare them for their first year abroad.
Knowledge objectives:
Every student must take a total of nine credits explicitly labelled COLL 200, with at least one course in each of the three knowledge domains of not less than three credits. In addition, students must take one additional course, of not less than three credits, in each of the three knowledge domains of ALV, CSI, and NQR, for a minimum total of 9 credits.
Knowledge Objectives and Proficiency Requirement Guidelines
College Board Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate examinations, and college-level coursework completed post-high school graduation may be used to satisfy Knowledge Domain objectives (not COLL 200), Foreign Language Proficiency, and Mathematics Proficiency. Note that the credit does not count towards the degree, even if it is used to fulfill these requirements.
The COLL 150 and COLL 200 requirements must be met at W&M.
All other requirements may be met with either W&M or StA coursework.