Politics and International Relations (B.A.) with International Relations concentration

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Politics program can:

  1. Explain foundational content, practices and philosophical and ethical assumptions of political science.
  2. Explain the empirical and normative approaches of political science inquiry.
  3. Demonstrate commitment to democratic values for meaningful participation in the political process.
  4. Explain the impact of global interactions and identify the significance of different cultural and political structures.
  5. Demonstrate writing, information search methods, and forms of documentation appropriate to the discipline of Political Science and the procedures for pursuing research in the discipline of Political Science.
  6. Demonstrate proficiency in the field of political science sufficient to pursue a career and/or continue education at the graduate level.
  7. Identify options for employment, voluntary service, and/or graduate education in the field of Political Science and identify one’s sense of vocation in this field.
  8. Articulate how faith connects to the field of Political Science and to potential career options in the field of Political Science.

Major Requirements

Nine credits is the maximum number of internship/practica credits that can apply toward the Politics major. This maximum includes any courses or experiential credit earned as a part of a semester-long off-campus program.

Complete the following for your major:

POLI 113American Government

3

POLI 204History of Political Thought

3

POLI 212International Politics

3

POLI 213Comparative Politics

3

POLI 243Political Research Methods

3

POLI 494Politics Seminar

3

POLI 494: Fulfills Writing Enriched course requirement for major.

International Relations Concentration (27)

ECON 120Principles of Macroeconomics

3

ECON 220Principles of Microeconomics

3

 

ECON 312Economic Development I

3

OR

IBUS 375International Business and World Economy

3

 

POLI 362Theories of International Relations

3

POLI xxx
Politics elective

3

Twelve credits from the following:

POLI 222Politics in Latin America

3

POLI 342Politics in Canada

3

POLI 346Russia after Communism

3

POLI 348Politics of the United Kingdom

3

POLI 370Topics in International Relations

3

Three credits of approved European history or non-western history courses

3

Approved History courses include: HIST 310, 312, 314, 319, 321, 322, 323, 324, 332, 372, or 379.

QuEST Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement 0
QuEST requirements Credits
First Year Seminar3
Oral Communication3
Created and Called for Community (W)3
Mathematical Sciences 3 or 4
Laboratory Science3 or 4
Science, Technology & the World3
Social Science (POLI 113)met/major
European or United States History 3
Literature 3
Philosophy and Religion3
Arts3
First Semester of Language 3
Second Semester of Language3
Third Semester of Language or Cross Cultural 3
Non-Western Studies2-3
Bible3
Christian Beliefs3
Wellness course1
Ethics, World Views or Pluralism3
QuEST requirements51-54
Major requirements45
Free electives27-24
Total credits 123