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Requirements for the B.A. in International Affairs | JCU Rome
Department of Political Science and International Affairs
Requirements for the B.A. in International Affairs | JCU Rome

Requirements for the B.A. in International Affairs

Learning Outcomes for the International Affairs Major

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE (AS OF FALL 2022)

See the pre-Fall 2022 degree requirements

A. The Proficiency and General Distribution Requirements of the University (the Social Sciences and Humanities requirements will be satisfied by completing the core curriculum courses below).

B. Additional Foreign Language Requirement

International Affairs students will need to demonstrate language proficiency in a language other than English. Language proficiency is defined as:

  • two years of U.S. college-level language instruction or,
  • level B2 or higher in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or,
  • completion of a secondary education in a language other than English.  

Students may demonstrate language proficiency by taking JCU placement tests in Italian, Spanish or French or the Dialang which covers 14 European Languages. These services are offered by JCU’s Foreign Language Resource Center. Students who wish to be evaluated for languages for which the Dialang is not available should contact the Coordinator of JCU’s Foreign Language Center, Professor Gina Siddu Pilia: [email protected].

C. Core Curriculum**

  • PL 209 World Politics
  • PL 210 Introduction to Political Theory
  • PL 212 International Organizations
  • PL 223 Comparative Politics
  • HS 210 Nineteenth-Century Europe and the World
  • HS 211 Twentieth-Century Europe and the World
  • MA 208 Statistics I or PL 208 Statistical Analysis for Political Science
  • EC 201 Principles of Microeconomics
  • EC 202 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • EC 316 International Economics
  • PL/LAW 320 Public International Law
  • One PL 400-level Writing Intensive Senior Seminar (in lieu of this seminar, students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above can choose to write a thesis).

The University requires an overall minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all courses taken at the University, with no more than two grades lower than C- in core courses.

D. Major Electives

Six major electives are required for the major, to be chosen from the PL, LAW, EC and HS listings not included in the core curriculum. Of these courses, no more than two EC or two HS courses each may be taken as major electives. In addition, credit earned from an internship can be applied towards the Major Electives. All courses must be at the 200 level or above and at least four courses must be at the 300 level or above. MA 209 Stats II can count as a major elective for the IA major.

E. General Electives sufficient to give a total of 120 credits.

Please note that students cannot earn a double major or a double degree in International Affairs and Political Science.