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The Department of Political Science now offers a major in International Relations. The Department has longstanding strengths in the fields of comparative politics and international relations. Many of the nation's leading faculty in these fields received their PhD's from Rochester, and the Department is excited at the prospect of supporting this new undergraduate concentration. 
The major in International Relations will introduce students to the complex and fascinating world of politics beyond the United States and provide them with essential tools for understanding and analyzing it. In an increasingly interdependent world of nations and international organizations, such understanding is important for a variety of internationally oriented careers, inside and outside the United States, as well as for its own sake as part of a liberal arts education. Rather than constructing a major that offers vague introductions to many different aspects of world affairs, this major draws fully on the Political Science Department's analytical tradition of undergraduate education. Students will gain great breadth in their understanding of world affairs, but with analytical rigor and depth. The core of the major consists of four political science courses that introduce the concepts and theories of the subfields of international relations (relations between nations) and comparative politics (political processes and policymaking within nations). Students in the International Relations major also develop essential knowledge of cultures and contexts of politics outside the United States through a semester of Study Abroad (fall, spring, or summer) and through taking at least two courses taught in a language other than English. These basic theoretical and cultural tools are supplemented and applied with additional substantive courses in Political Science and related disciplines. Included in these additional courses is selection of a track focusing on one of the three important substantive areas of Global Security, Political Economy and Development, or Governance of Nations. Students who are interested in the International Relations major may consult with any of the undergraduate advisors in the Department of Political Science. The major in International Relations requires that students successfully complete at least twelve courses, achieving a minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 in these courses. To fulfill the requirements of the major, students must also complete two college-level courses taught in a foreign language and participate in a program of Study Abroad. None of the twelve courses may be taken on a satisfactory/fail basis. At least nine of these twelve courses must be in Political Science. No more than four introductory courses may be included in the twelve courses for the International Relations Major. 
As described below, the twelve courses must include the four required core courses, five courses in the specialized tracks (at least three of which come from a single track), and three elective courses. The specialized tracks are: Global Security, Political Economy and Development, and Governance of Nations. International Relations majors must also take at least two college-level courses taught in a foreign language. All International Relations majors must also participate in a program of Study Abroad (in either the fall, spring, or summer). Core Requirements (four courses) 2. PSC 106 (Introduction to International Relations). 3. Either PSC 256 (Theories of Comparative Politics) or PSC 258 (Democratic Regimes). 4. Either PSC 270 (Mechanisms of International Relations) or PSC 272 (Theories of International Relations). Specialized Tracks (five courses, three of which must be from a single track) 
Track A: Global Security. Click here for approved courses. Track B: Political Economy and Development. Click here for approved courses. Track C: Governance of Nations. Click here for approved courses. Electives (three courses) Study Abroad Internships count for one course toward the major, even if students receive more than four credits in the internship toward their degree requirements. Business Internships supervised by the University of Rochester will also be approved for this major on a case-by-case basis, whenever the internship will enhance the student's understanding of international politics or international economics. The Study Abroad requirement may be waived for students who have resided for at least two years in a non-English speaking country and who, while abroad, have taken formal education courses at the high school level or above taught in a foreign language. Language Requirement 
This requirement, like the Study Abroad requirement, may be waived for students who have resided for at least two years in a non-English speaking country and who, while abroad, have taken formal education courses at the high school level or above taught in a foreign language. Writing Requirement Additional Guidelines on Courses in the Major Transfer Courses. Except in extraordinary circumstances, no more than four courses in the major may be transferred from other schools, no more than three of which may be transferred from another university or college in the United States. Transfer courses may not be used to satisfy Core requirements. However, they may be used to satisfy any of the five specialized track courses or three electives. The Director of Undergraduate Studies or another International Relations advisor will determine whether courses taken elsewhere are track or elective courses. While abroad, students are urged to take courses related to the politics and international relations of the country or region in which they are studying. Substituting Courses after Declaring a Major. The course plan approved by an undergraduate advisor must meet the requirements for the major. Students who substitute courses after declaring a major are responsible for ensuring that substitutions satisfy requirements. If in doubt about substitutions, students should check with one of the Department's undergraduate advisors. 
// Pick up a blue Approval Form for Concentrations and Minors, available in the Center for Academic Support at Lattimore Hall 312 or in the Department of Political Science office at Harkness Hall 333. // Collect information at this website regarding requirements for the major. // Complete Part A of the Approval Form, following the information about requirements. List the relevant courses you have already taken, are currently taking, or plan to take before you graduate. You are not committed to following this course plan exactly, but you must fulfill the relevant requirements if you wish to graduate with a major in International Relations. If you ultimately substitute courses for those listed on your Approval Form, you may wish to check with an undergraduate advisor in the Political Science Department to confirm that the substitutions are acceptable. In deciding which courses to take, you may wish to examine the course descriptions. You may also wish to consult with an undergraduate advisor in the Political Science Department for advice about courses best suited to your particular intellectual interests and career goals. If you would like advice, list only those courses you have taken, are taking, or know for certain you wish to take. // Once you have completed Part A of the Approval Form as best you can, take it to an undergraduate advisor in the Political Science Department during his or her office hours. Your advisor will check the form, answer any questions you may have, and sign it. If you plan to double major, request that "permission to double major" be written and initialed by the advisor on the Approval Form. // Submit the completed and signed Approval Form to the Center for Academic Support at Lattimore Hall 312. The Center will send one copy to the Department of Political Science. Students are reminded that they are subject to the College's "overlap policy" with respect to double majors and a major and minor. The policy applies to all students in the College: 
Major: No more than three courses overlapping between any two majors. Minor: No more than two courses overlapping between a minor and either a major or another minor. If a cross-listed course (such as PSC/ECO 288) is listed under two majors, it counts toward the overlap limit even if it is listed under the Political Science number in one case and a cross-listed number in the other case. For more information, see here. Honors students in International Relations will be integrated into the Honors Program in Political Science. (The Junior Honors Seminar, offered in the spring semester of the junior year, may count as an elective course toward the major.) They will be required to take an additional two courses of Senior Honors Thesis while they write their honors theses (for a total of 14 courses). In October of each year the Honors Coordinator and faculty of the Political Science Department invite a select group of juniors majoring in either Political Science or International Relations to take part in the honors program. Selection is based on performance and promise exhibited in coursework in the major. Juniors who wish to enter the honors program but who have not been invited may petition the Honors Coordinator to be considered for admission. Petitions must be received by November 1st. Students with an interest in pursuing an honors degree in Political Science or International Relations are urged to take PSC 200 or 201 in the sophomore year.Junior Honors Seminar In the Seminar, students complete a research paper on a topic of their choosing and a draft prospectus for their Senior Honors Project. Students are taught how to choose a research question, to find and evaluate relevant literature, to locate and access appropriate data, and to bring all of this together in a research paper. The seminar does not attempt to cover all of the background necessary for completion of a successful senior honors project. Some projects require a broad philosophical background or a strong historical underpinning. Some require an ability to read a foreign language or a knowledge of elementary game theory. Still others require statistical analysis and related computer-processing skills. Such material should be learned through appropriate courses prior to the beginning of the senior year. Toward the end of the semester the Honors Coordinator assigns each student a faculty member to supervise the Senior Honors Project. In general, the Honors Project is supervised by a faculty member with interests closely tied to the student's topic. Continuation on to the Senior Honors Project is contingent upon demonstrating in the Junior Honors Seminar the ability to identify a feasible, worthwhile project and the ambition and skills needed to complete a project successfully. Students who have not been admitted to the Junior Honors Seminar are not eligible to write a Senior Honors Project. Students who have been admitted but are unable to take the Seminar (because they are abroad or in the Washington Semester Program) may apply to write a Senior Honors Project, but they must be in contact with the Honors Coordinator during the spring semester of their junior year.  Senior Honors Project EXPECTATIONS The Honors Project should successfully present and substantiate a thesis. In so doing, it should demonstrate an understanding of the research question in the context of the relevant literature. It should employ sources and a methodology well suited to the research question: where primary sources are appropriate, it should not unduly rely on secondary sources; where quantitative analysis is appropriate, it should not unduly rely on qualitative analysis, and vice versa. The Senior Honors Project should be well written and properly presented. It should be logically organized, and the ideas should be clearly expressed. It should be without error in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. It should conform to professional standards of citation. EVALUATION The faculty supervisor assigns a grade for each semester of work on the Honors Project. An incomplete grade is not awarded except under extraordinary circumstances. If the faculty supervisor feels that the progress and level of effort demonstrated during the fall semester do not merit continuation of the project, students may be withdrawn from the program. In such cases, a grade reflecting the one semester of work is assigned. For each Honors Project, the Honors Coordinator appoints a faculty member in addition to the project supervisor to evaluate the completed work. Each independently evaluates the project and submits a recommendation as to the award of honors. By the end of the first week in May, the Honors Coordinator informs honors candidates of the decision on awarding of honors and provides a copy of written comments on which the decision is based. Honors Projects may be awarded highest honors, high honors, or honors to acknowledge levels of excellence. Highest honors is reserved for work of extraordinary achievement and is rarely awarded. High honors acknowledges a consistent high level of achievement, reflecting more than great diligence and intelligence in meeting the expectations of excellence described above. Honors acknowledges successful achievement of the expectations of excellence described above. Completion of a Senior Honors Project does not automatically entitle a student to the award of honors. If the project does not measure up to the expectations of excellence associated with honors, honors is not awarded. However, in all circumstances when satisfactory work has been completed, students are awarded course credits and a grade for each semester in which they worked on the Honors Project. |
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