2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/political-science-balas/international-relations/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, International Relations Concentration
International relations (IR) is the study of interactions across borders of nation-states. Students explore how global, regional, and domestic factors influence relations among states as well as non-state actors across the interstate system.
Students take advanced courses in two or more of the following topics: international law and organization, international cooperation, international political economy, globalization, foreign policy, diplomacy, political strategy in IR, conflict, interstate war, civil war, terrorism, global environmental politics, and international human rights.
See the Political Science BALAS page for departmental distinction information.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, International Relations Concentration
See the Political Science Distinction page for departmental distinction information.
Students may count a maximum of six (6) hours of credit of any combination of hours from PS 494 toward the advanced hours requirement. Not more than 6 hours of individual study courses in political science (PS 490) or 6 hours of internships (PS 491) or 6 hours of supervised research (PS 492) may be included in the major; a student with any mix of independent study hours and internship hours and supervised research hours may include a maximum of 9 hours of such credit in the major. (PS 496) is reserved for those seniors doing honors theses for distinction in political science and may not be counted in the 45-hour minimum required for the major.
General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement.
Minimum required major and supporting course work: Normally equates to 70 hours. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level in the major must be taken on this campus.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
International Relations Concentration Requirements
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | PS 100 | Intro to Political Science | 3 | | Select at least one course from the following: | | 3 | | PS 280 | Intro to Intl Relations | | | PS 281 | Intro to Intl Relations-ACP | | | PS 282 | Governing Globalization | | | Select any additional 100- or 200-level Political Science courses | | 6 | | Select 300- or 400-level Political Science courses, at least nine hours of which come from the International Relations Concentration list (below). The other six hours may be any 300- or 400-level Political Science course. | | 15 | | Select any additional Political Science courses at any level. | | 6 | | Students will select a second major, or a minor, or a set of courses of at least 12 hours of thematically-related coursework outside political science, developed in conjunction with an academic advisor. | | 12 | | Total Hours | | 45 |
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | International Relations Course List | | | | PS 180 | IntroPolitics of Globalization | 3 | | PS 230 | Intro to Pol Research | 3 | | PS 231 | Strategic Models | 3 | | PS 280 | Intro to Intl Relations | 3 | | PS 281 | Intro to Intl Relations-ACP | 3 | | PS 282 | Governing Globalization | 3 | | PS 283 | Intro to Intl Security | 3 | | PS 300 | Special Topics (as appropriate) | 3 | | PS 340 | Politics in Intl Development | 3 | | PS 379 | Intl Rel & Domestic Politics | 3 | | PS 380 | International Cooperation | 3 | | PS 382 | Intl Political Economy | 3 | | PS 384 | Politics of Globalization | 3 | | PS 386 | International Law | 3 | | PS 387 | National Security Policy | 3 | | PS 390 | American Foreign Policy | 3 | | PS 391 | Soviet & Post-Sov Foreign Pol | 3 | | PS 392 | Intl Organizations&Regionalism | 3 | | PS 393 | Diplomatic Studies Practicum | 4 | | PS 394 | Crisis Diplomacy | 3 | | PS 395 | International Organization | 3 | | PS 396 | International Conflict | 3 | | PS 398 | Strategic Interntl Relations | 3 | | PS 399 | Politics of International Treaties | 3 | | PS 457 | Dem Gov in a Global Setting | 3 or 4 | | PS 480 | Energy and Security | 3 | | PS 494 | Junior Honors Seminar (as appropriate) | 3 |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, International Relations Concentration
Sample Sequence\ This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Free Elective course | 1 |
| PS 100 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| PS 280, 281, or 282 | 3 |
| PS 100- or 200-level course | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| PS 100- or 200-level course | 3 |
| Thematic related coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| PS 100-400 level course | 3 |
| PS 100-400 level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| PS International Relations 300- or 400 level course | 3 |
| PS 300- or 400- level course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| PS International Relations 300- or 400- level course | 3 |
| Thematic related coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| PS 300- or 400- level course | 3 |
| Thematic related coursework | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| PS International Relations 300- or 400- level course | 3 |
| Thematic related coursework | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 |
Total Hours: 120
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, International Relations Concentration
1. Students will be able to apply central concepts of the scientific method to the study of politics, and demonstrate an ability to draw inferences from data.\ 2. Students will have a foundational knowledge of facts, concepts, and typologies in their chosen subfield in political science.\ 3. Students will be able to demonstrate basic knowledge of central theories in their chosen subfield and show how to evaluate those theories.\ 4. Students will be able to define political science and its subfields, drawing contrasts with other social sciences.\ 5. Students will be able to apply concepts, methods, and theories to research projects, internships, and/or off-campus experiences.
Students completing the concentration will be able to analyze interactions among states and non-state actors, applying concepts from international law, political economy, diplomacy, conflict, human rights, and other global issues to understand the factors shaping international relations.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major in Political Science, International Relations Concentration