Simmons College

Major in International Relations

[Applies to those students entering the college in 2005-06 and thereafter. Those who entered the college before 2005-06 may choose either to fulfill the new requirements for a major in international relations or the requirements that were in effect when they first matriculated at the college]

The interdisciplinary major in international relations seeks to impart to students an understanding of the political, economic, social, and cultural relations among states as well as the transnational roles of non-state actors. Such an understanding is critical in today’s world and can support a variety of career options.

The major consists mainly, but not exclusively, of courses in international politics, economics, history, and women’s studies. The senior year includes an integrative seminar and, if the senior chooses, an internship or independent study. Students have interned at organizations involved in international relations such as the World Affairs Council, the United Nations, Amnesty International, the International Business Center, Bay Banks International, the offices of US senators, and Grassroots International.

Students are also strongly encouraged to take the following courses in the first or second year: ECON 100 and 101, HIST 128, and POLS 102.

Students majoring in international relations must fulfill a language requirement beyond that required by the College’s foreign language requirement. Students may indicate their attainment of this enhanced proficiency in one of four ways:

1. A student may complete a second major in a modern language, or may minor in a modern language.
2. A student whose native language is not English and is exempt from the College foreign language requirement may choose to use her native language to fulfill the language proficiency requirement in International Relations
3. Students who choose to use either French or Spanish to fulfill the proficiency requirement in International Relations must take at least two foreign language courses beyond the College’s foreign language requirement in the same language used to fulfill that requirement. Students who choose to fill the proficiency requirement in Japanese or Chinese must take one language course beyond College’s foreign language requirement in the same language used to fulfill that requirement. Any language course above the 202 level may be counted as an elective toward a relevant "Area Studies" area of elective concentration.
4. Students whose native language is English, and who wish to use a modern language not taught at Simmons to fulfill the proficiency requirement in International Relations, may petition the IR Steering Committee, which will determine whether the level of proficiency in that language meets the requirement.

Double Majors:

As with political science, many students benefit from a double major. Common choices include political science, economics, foreign languages, history, sociology, management, education, and communications.

Please note that these requirements are clearly set out in the catalogue and that it is the student's responsibility to make sure that she has met all departmental requirements for graduation.

Core Courses

There are six core courses for the major. Students must take HIST 101, HIST 128, POLS 102, and POLS 220. They may select either WST 200 or ECON 214 and either ECON 218 or ECON 220.

Elective Courses

Students must also take three elective courses in one of the following areas:

• Area Studies
  [Students wishing to concentrate their three elective in a geographical area must consult with the IRSC Area Study Advisor and receive formal approval to count the courses toward the IR major. In 2005-2006 the Area Study Advisor is Professor Raquel Halty.]
• Political Economy and Development
• Global and Human Security
• Transnational Issues of Culture and Identity

In addition, the senior seminar, INRL 390, must be taken in the senior year.

Geographic Area Studies

A student may choose to concentrate her electives in one geographic area, selecting three courses from one of the following lists. If a student wishes to concentrate her electives in an area not represented, or if she wishes to count courses taken abroad or at another university in the relevant area, she must obtain permission from the Chairman of the Department of Political Science and International Relations.

Latin America

• HIST 218 - Topics in Latin American History: Central America and the Carribbean
• HON 202 - Political Upheaval and Its Expression in 20th Century Latin America
• POLS 241 - Latin American Politics
• SOCI 277 - Introduction to Latin American Studies
• SPAN 266 - Imagination, Freedom, and Repression in Latin American Literature
• SPAN 312 - Society and Politics in Latin America
• SPAN 332 - Contemporary Fiction in Latin America
• SPAN 336 - Latin American Women Writers

Middle East

• HIST 231 - Early Muslim Societies
• HONS 203 - Islam and the West
• POLS 221 - The Arab-Israeli Conflict
• POLS 243 - Middle Eastern Politics
• POLS 390 - Seminar: The War on Iraq: Political Science Perspectives

Asia

• CHN 310 - Chinese Civilization: Past and Present
• ECON 222° - Comparative Economics of East Asia
• ECON 224° - The Japanese Economy
• HIST 201 - The Dynamics of Japanese History
• HIST 202 - Asia to the 18th Century
• HIST 203 - History of East Asian and U.S. Foreign Relations
• HIST 206 - The Rise of Modern China
• HIST 207 - Gender, Family, and Society in Modern China
• JAPN 310 - Japanese Civilization
• POLS 225 - International Politics of East Asia
• POLS 245 - Politics of Newly Industrializing Countries
• SOCI 270 - South Asia: Power and People

Europe

• FREN 310 - Inside France: Studies in French Culture
• FREN 246 - Contemporary Issues in France
• HIST 230 - Women and Gender in Europe
• HIST 237 - Holocaust
• HONS 301 - Explosive Mix: Ethn, Rel. Nat.
• POLS 233 - Politics and Catastrophe: Political Thought in the 20th Century
• POLS 246 - Politics of Western Europe
• SPAN 314 - Hispanic Culture as Seen Through Film
• SPAN 253 - Social and Political Issues in Modern Spain

°Prerequisites: For ECON 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, and 224: ECON 100 and 101. For POLS 220: POLS 102

*If this course is taken as a core course, it may not double-count as an elective.

**Depending on the topic, these courses may count in another particular area.

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