Bachelor of Arts in International Relations Roadmap
120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 43
This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult your Degree Planner and an advisor for further guidance.
To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| I R 104 | Introduction to International Relations: Politics, Economics, Environment, and People (Major Core, GE 4, ES, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| GE Area 1A: English Composition 1 | 3 | |
| GE Area 1: English Communication | 3 | |
| GE Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning 2,3 | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| GE Area 1: English Communication | 3 | |
| GE Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences with USH | 3 | |
| GE Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences 5 | 3-4 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 4 | 6 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| GE Area 3: Arts and Humanities 3 | 3 | |
| GE Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences 5 | 3-4 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Three 5 | 9 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| I R 208 | Fundamentals of International Relations Theories, Issues, and Perspectives (Major Core) | 4 |
| GE Area 3: Arts and Humanities 3 | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Three 4 | 9 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| I R 310 | U.S. Foreign Policy (Major Core, GE 4UD, AERM, GP) | 4 |
| Major Electives (18 units) - Take One 6 | 3 | |
| GE Area 6: Ethnic Studies | 3 | |
| GE Area 5UD or 2UD: Upper-Division Sciences or Upper-Division Mathematical Concepts | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| I R 309 | International Relations Writing Workshop (Major Core) | 1 |
| I R 309GW | International Relations Analysis and Application - GWAR (Major Core) | 3 |
| I R 312 | Introduction to International Political Economy (Major Core) | 4 |
| Major Electives (18 units) - Take One 6 | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| I R 550 | Senior Thesis in International Relations (Major Culminating Requirement) | 6 |
| Major Electives (18 units) – Take Two 6 | 6 | |
| GE Area 3UD: Upper-Division Arts or Humanities | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| Major Electives (18 units) – Take Two 6 | 6 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Three 4 | 8 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Total Units | 120-122 | |
- 1
Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 1A course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 2
Students should use their Pathway/Category to determine the appropriate GE 2 course option. For directions on how to view your Pathway/Category, visit how to find your pathway. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 3
Recommended GE Courses:
GE Area 2
I R 112/HIST 112/LCA 112/MATH 112/PHIL 112/PLSI 112 Quantitative Reasoning for Civic Engagement (3 units) (GE 2, SJ)GE Area 3B
I R 260/PRSN 260 History and Cultures of Iran (3 units) (GE 3B, GP)- 4
Complementary Studies
12 units of Complementary Studies are required of all candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations. These units must come from courses bearing a prefix other than I R, and not cross-listed with I R.International Relations majors are offered several pathways toward completing this requirement, each of which is designed to facilitate graduation in a timely manner. International Relations majors may, with the approval of an International Relations advisor, elect to apply 12 units in a single foreign language of their choosing, courses taken in an approved study abroad program (e.g., CSU Study Abroad), courses taken as part of a second major, a minor or a certificate, and courses in a related discipline. Related disciplines typically include: political science, sociology, anthropology, environmental studies, geography, global health, or journalism.
Up to six units of a single language or six upper-division units of Complementary Studies may, with the approval of a departmental advisor, also be counted as International Relations electives in fulfillment of major requirements.
- 5
Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill 5C if not already satisfied.
- 6
Major Electives (18 Units)
Students are required to complete 18 elective units related to international relations. At least 12 units of coursework must be upper-division I R courses (300-level or above) or be cross-listed with I R. Six additional units may be taken outside of the department upon the approval of a major advisor. Lower-division language courses taken in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures and 200-level I R courses can be used for these 6 units; otherwise, upper-division courses are required.