Program  Description

The International Affairs major prepares students for success in an interconnected global society. Undergraduate study of International Affairs includes comparative politics, international relations, and US foreign policy, along with additional regional and thematic political science courses. These courses introduce the concepts, events, issues and institutions that shape international affairs, while providing analytical and communication skills that readily apply to occupations in the private and public sectors. This major integrates the information, techniques and skills of political science with economics, history, geography, religion and modern languages to study and understand the complexity of the international environment. Students frequetly study abroad and have internship opportunities both in the US and abroad. 

Advisor: Dr. Roger Murphy

Location: Grise Hall, Room 308

Phone:  270-745-2890

Fax: 270-745-2945

E-mail Contact: Roger.Murphy@wku.edu

Major Requirements 

The major in international affairs (reference number 702) requires a minimum of 42 semester hours and leads to a bachelor of arts degree. At least 23 hours must be at the 300-level or above. A minor or second major is required.

Courses:

The requirements for a major include the following: 21 hours of core courses:

1. PS 250: International Politics
2. PS 260: Introduction to Comparative Politics
3. PS 357: U.S. Foreign Policy
4. PS 497: Senior Seminar in International Affairs (students are advised to take all core courses before enrolling in PS 497)
5. HIST 102: World History II
6. ECON 202: Principles of Economics-Micro or ECON 203: Principles of Economics-Macro
7. GEOG 110: World Regional Geography

12 hours of Political Science electives from the following courses:

PS 299, PS 300, PS 301 or PS 302, PS 303, PS 350, PS 352, PS 355, PS 359, PS 360, PS 361, PS 362, PS 363, PS 364, PS 365, PS 366, PS 367, PS 368, PS 369, PS 449, PS 450, PS 457, PS 460.

Students may also enroll in PS 403, PS 405, or PS 407 for a total of 3 hours.

9 hours of electives academic disciplines outside of Political Science with no more than 6 hours from one academic discipline:

AFAM 343, AFAM 350, ANTH 120, ANTH 340, ANTH 342, ANTH 350, ANTH 360, ARBC 202, ARBC 306, ARBC 324, ARBC 437, ARBC 438, CHIN 202, CHIN 306, CHIN 333, CHNF 202, CHNF 333, CHNF 420, CHNF 430, COMM 365, CRIM 448, CSJ 380, ECON 380, ECON 385, ECON 496, FIN 433, FIN 436, FLK 310, FLK 340, FLK 342, FLK 350, FREN 202, FREN 306, FREN 323, FREN 427, GERM 202, GERM 306, GERM 335, GEOG 330, GEOG 350, GEOG 364, GEOG 385, GEOG 425, GEOG 455, GEOG 465, GEOG 466, GEOG 467, HIST 200, HIST 299, HIST 324, HIST 331, HIST 333, HIST 343, HIST 365, HIST 370, HIST 380, HIST 425, HIST 438, HIST 439, HIST 461, HIST 462, HIST 464, HIST 465, HIST 471, HIST 472, HIST 494, JAPN 202, MGT 303, MGT 316, MKT 324, PLS 375, PR 354, RELS 302, RELS 303, RELS 304, RELS 305, RELS 306, RELS 324, RUSS 202, SOCL 240, SOCL 363, SOCL 376, SPAN 202, SPAN 306, SPAN 372, SPAN 373.

For additional information on the International Affairs major and full listing of available courses, please visit the WKU Undergraduate Course Catalog.

Students pursuing a degree in international affairs are strongly encouraged to participate in a study abroad program or an international internship experience.

Examples of Careers in International Affairs:

• Activist, Advocate/Organizer
• Administration, Corporate, Government, Non-Profit
• Archivist, Online Political Data
• Budget Examiner or Analyst
• Attorney
• Banking Analyst or Executive
• CIA Analyst or Agent
• Corporate Analyst
• Corporate Public Affairs Advisor
• Corporate Economist
• Corporate Manager
• Corporate Information Analyst
• Customs Officer
• Financial Consultant
• Foreign Service Officer
• Immigration Officer
• Information Manager
• Intelligence Officer
• International Agency Officer
• International Research Specialist
• Lobbyist
• Management Analyst
• Mediator
• Plans and Review Officer, USIA
• Policy Analyst
• Political Commentator
• Public Affairs Research Analyst
• Public Opinion Analyst
• Publisher
• Research Analyst
• Survey Analyst
• Systems Analyst
• University Administrator
• University Professor

Model United Nations

The Model Assembly course involves participation in the American Model United Nations Conference.  Previous Model UN confrences have attracted over 1,200 students from 87 Colleges and Universities representing 137 UN member states.  Students will work in pairs representing a particular UN member and a particular UN committee.

Participation in this course involves the writing of position papers, the drafting of resolutions and research into each student’s particular country and committee topics prior to the conference in November.  At the conference students will be expected to represent their country in an authentic and professional simulation.

 

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 Your Future Begins Here

The International Affairs program prepares students from diverse backgrounds to be productive leaders in their communities and around the world by sharing knowledge, encouraging excellence in research and practice, and fostering an environment of professionalism. 

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