International Relations and Political Science, B.S.
Bachelor of Science in International Relations and Political Science
Audrey Kurth Cronin, Director, and Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
acronin@andrew.cmu.edu, Posner Hall 385A
Emily Half, Deputy Director for Academic Affairs
ehalf@andrew.cmu.edu, Posner Hall 391, 412-268-7082
Overview
The Bachelor of Science in International Relations and Political Science (IRPS) is for students who want to learn how to think systematically and develop foundational knowledge about international and domestic politics. It is an interdisciplinary major that is rooted firmly in political science and draws on strengths and insights from decision science, economics, history, modern languages, and other fields. BS IRPS students wrestle with a wide range of issues including the future of democracy, the relationship between technology and politics, the drivers of war and peace, domestic politics across countries, and the formulation of effective foreign policies. IRPS graduates embark on a variety of careers in government, law, public policy, intelligence, national defense, consulting, international development, and more.
Core disciplinary courses for the IRPS major establish a strong foundation in the study of political science and enable students to better understand the workings of political institutions, political behavior across countries, the decision-making of political leaders, the making of national and international policy, and prevailing challenges to the international system, among other topics.
Core methodology courses train IRPS students in the social science tools and communications skills needed to analyze and write persuasively about international relations and politics. Students pursuing an IRPS major learn to use a wide range of analytic tools including statistics and data science, qualitative analysis, game theory, and behavioral decision-making models as they study politics and strategy. Students also learn how to effectively communicate their analyses to affect public policy.
A rich set of electives allows students to investigate issues in security and technology, grand strategy and national security, cybersecurity and international conflict, military strategy and doctrine, the politics of key regions of the world, international political economy and economic policy, representation and voting rights, climate change and development, repression and human rights, international law and diplomacy, political psychology and public opinion, and social change and revolution.
Recognizing the importance of language and culture in understanding politics and international relations, students are required to complete the intermediate (200) level, or its equivalent, in a modern language other than English. Advanced-level study is strongly encouraged.
Open to all Carnegie Mellon undergraduates, the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP) is an experiential learning program that allows students to study American politics, law, and public policy, while also interning in Washington, DC, for one semester. Courses taken through CMU/WSP count toward electives for the IRPS major.
The major in International Relations and Political Science is available as both a primary and additional major. The requirements are the same for both.
Curriculum
A maximum of four courses may double count between the IRPS major and any other majors or minor. Unlimited double counting is permitted with general education requirements.
Political Science Core Courses45 units
Students must complete all of the following political science core courses.
| Units | ||
| 84-101 | Introduction to Political Science | 9 |
| 84-110 | The Economics of Politics and Technology | 9 |
| or 73-102 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
| or 73-103 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| or 73-104 | Principles of Microeconomics Accelerated | |
| 84-250 | Writing for Political Science and Policy | 9 |
Students must complete two of the three courses listed below. If all three are taken, the third can count as an elective for the major.
| 84-104 | Decision Processes in American Political Institutions | 9 |
| 84-226 | International Relations | 9 |
| 84-275 | Comparative Politics | 9 |
Methodology Core Courses27 units
Students must complete all of the following methodology core courses.
| 84-266 | Research Design for Political Science | 9 |
| 84-369 | Decision Science for International Relations | 9 |
| 36-202 | Methods for Statistics & Data Science | 9 |
Language Requirement9 units
Students are required to complete a course at the Intermediate II level or higher of a modern language other than English. Advanced level study is strongly encouraged. Students who successfully pass a language placement exam on campus, at the intermediate II level or higher, are required to take an advanced language course to satisfy the language requirement.
Electives54 units
Students must complete 54 units (usually six courses) from the elective lists below. At least four courses (36 units) must be taken from the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (84-xxx). Most courses listed below are 9-unit courses, but some are fewer. When students choose courses offered for fewer than 9 units, they must remember that a minimum of 54 units is still required and thus plan to take one or more additional courses to fill out that minimum number. In other words, the key requirement is the number of units (54), not the number of courses.
| Political Science Electives | ||
| 84-120 | Introduction to US Constitutional Law | 9 |
| 84-200 | Security War Game Simulation | 3 |
| 84-252 | Briefing in the Policy World | 6 |
| 84-274 | An Introduction to Technology and War | 9 |
| 84-280 | Popcorn and Politics: American Foreign Policy at the Movies | 12 |
| 84-285 | Introduction to Legal Education and the Legal Profession | 9 |
| 84-301 | Policy & Persuasion | 6 |
| 84-303 | International Human Rights | 6 |
| 84-304 | Analysis of Current US National Security Priorities | 6 |
| 84-306 | Latin American Politics | 9 |
| 84-309 | American Political Divides and Great Debates | 9 |
| 84-310 | Policy in a Global Economy 1: International Trade and Trade Policy | 6 |
| 84-311 | Policy in a Global Economy 2: International Macroeconomics and Finance | 6 |
| 84-312 | Terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa | 6 |
| 84-314 | Politics, Technological Change, and Economic Growth | 9 |
| 84-315 | Rise of the Asian Economies | 9 |
| 84-319 | Civil-Military Relations | 9 |
| 84-322 | Nonviolent Conflict and Revolution | 9 |
| 84-323 | War and Peace in the Contemporary Middle East | 9 |
| 84-324 | The Future of Democracy | 9 |
| 84-325 | Contemporary American Foreign Policy | 9 |
| 84-327 | Who Really Runs America?: Subnational Governance and Policymaking | 9 |
| 84-328 | Military Strategy and Doctrine | 9 |
| 84-329 | Asian Strategies | 6 |
| 84-330 | Race for the Future: US-China Tech Competition | 6 |
| 84-331 | Technology, Law, and Democracy | 6 |
| 84-332 | Contemporary US Constitutional Law Issues * | 6 |
| 84-333 | Law of US Democracy | 9 |
| 84-336 | Implementing Public Policy: From Good Idea To Reality * | 12 |
| 84-338 | Analysis of US Presidential Powers * | 6 |
| 84-339 | Seminar in Public Policy Research * | 12 |
| 84-341 | Transnational Criminal Networks & International Security | 6 |
| 84-343 | Offensive Cyber: Law & Policy | 6 |
| 84-345 | Hackers, the Law, & Policy Responses | 6 |
| 84-347 | Congress & National Security | 9 |
| 84-349 | Digital Diplomacy: Cybersecurity Challenges and Global Governance | 9 |
| 84-350 | A Strategist's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 9 |
| 84-352 | Representation and Voting Rights | 9 |
| 84-353 | US-China Strategic Stability | 6 |
| 84-355 | Democracy's Data: Analytics and Insights into American Elections | 9 |
| 84-356 | Applied Political Data Analytics | 9 |
| 84-358 | Money, Connections, and Power: Interests and Influence in the US | 9 |
| 84-360 | CMU/WSP Internship Seminar * | 24 |
| 84-362 | Diplomacy and Statecraft | 9 |
| 84-363 | Click. Hack. Rule: Understanding the Power & Peril of Cyber Conflict | 9 |
| 84-365 | The Politics of Fake News and Misinformation | 9 |
| 84-366 | The 21st-Century Presidency: Expanding Powers, New Challenges | 9 |
| 84-367 | The Politics of Antisemitism | 9 |
| 84-368 | Technology Ethics | 9 |
| 84-370 | Nuclear Security & Arms Control | 9 |
| 84-371 | International Governance of Artificial Intelligence | 9 |
| 84-373 | International Law | 9 |
| 84-375 | Geopolitics of Innovation | 9 |
| 84-380 | US Grand Strategy | 9 |
| 84-383 | National Cyber Policy & Strategy | 6 |
| 84-386 | The Privatization of Force | 9 |
| 84-387 | Remote Systems and the Cyber Domain in Conflict | 9 |
| 84-389 | Terrorism and Insurgency | 9 |
| 84-393 | The US Congress: Legislative Progress or Paralysis? | 9 |
| 84-402 | Judicial Politics and Behavior | 9 |
| 84-405 | The Future of Warfare | 9 |
- *
Denotes courses taught in Washington, DC, through the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP)
| Additional Electives | ||
| 19-452 | EPP Projects II | 12 |
| 70-342 | Managing Across Cultures | 9 |
| 70-365 | International Trade and International Law | 9 |
| 70-430 | International Management | 9 |
| 73-332 | Political Economy | 9 |
| 76-318 | Communicating in the Global Marketplace | 9 |
| 79-203 | The Other Europe: The Habsburgs, Communism, & Central/Eastern Europe, 1740-1990 | 9 |
| 79-205 | 20th Century Europe | 9 |
| 79-223 | Mexico: From the Aztec Empire to the Drug War | 9 |
| 79-227 | Modern Africa: The Slave Trade to the End of Apartheid | 9 |
| 79-229 | The Origins of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, 1880-1948 | 9 |
| 79-230 | The Arab-Israeli Conflict and Peace Process Through 1948 to Present | 9 |
| 79-257 | Germany and the Second World War | 9 |
| 79-262 | Modern China: From the Birth of Mao ... to Now | 9 |
| 79-264 | Tibet and China: History and Propaganda | 9 |
| 79-265 | Russian History: Game of Thrones | 9 |
| 79-266 | Russian History and Revolutionary Socialism | 9 |
| 79-267 | The Soviet Union in World War II: Military, Political, and Social History | 9 |
| 79-275 | Introduction to Global Studies | 9 |
| 79-288 | Bananas, Baseball, and Borders: Latin America and the United States | 9 |
| 79-302 | Killer Robots? The Ethics, Law, and Politics of Drones and A.I. in War | 9 |
| 79-313 | "Unwanted": Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Patterns of Global Migration | 6 |
| 79-314 | How Do We Remember? The Politics and Cultures of Memory | 9 |
| 79-318 | Sustainable Social Change: History and Practice | 9 |
| 79-320 | Women, Politics, and Protest | 9 |
| 79-343 | Education, Democracy, and the Arts | 9 |
| 79-377 | Food, Culture, and Power: A History of Eating | 9 |
| 79-385 | Out of Africa: The Making of the African Diaspora | 9 |
| 80-135 | Introduction to Political Philosophy | 9 |
| 80-136 | Social Structure, Public Policy & Ethics | 9 |
| 80-249 | AI, Society, and Humanity | 9 |
| 80-335 | Social and Political Philosophy | 9 |
| 80-348 | Health, Human Rights, and International Development | 9 |
| 80-447 | Seminar in Global Justice | 9 |
| Advanced Level Modern Language Course Any 300 or 400 level Modern Language Course | ||
| 88-234 | Negotiation: International Focus | 9 |
| 88-261 | Health Policy and Decision Making | 9 |
| 88-281 | Topics in Law: 1st Amendment | 9 |
| 88-284 | Topics of Law: The Bill of Rights | 9 |
NOTE: Some courses have additional prerequisites.
Senior Seminar9 units
Students must complete the following course.
| 84-500 | Senior Seminar | 9 |
Sample Four-Year Plan
These sample curricula represent a plan for completing the requirements for the B.S. in International Relations and Political Science. International Relations and Political Science (IRPS) students are encouraged to spend a semester studying and interning in Washington, DC, through the CMU/WSP, and/or study abroad. The plan below demonstrates that a semester off-campus fits well into the curriculum. As with most majors in Dietrich College, the IRPS major can be completed in as few as two years of undergraduate study, not that it must be. Students may declare the BS in International Relations and Political Science as early as the second semester of the first-year and should consult frequently with the deputy director of academic affairs (see above) about their course of study. Please note that this is only a sample plan of study and not the only possible plan of study. The IRPS major and Dietrich College General Education curricula provide a high degree of flexibility in sequencing and coursework. Double counting between the major and the General Education requirements is unlimited. The plan below shows a very conservative view of double counting.
| First-Year | Second-Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| 84-101 Introduction to Political Science | 84-110 The Economics of Politics and Technology | 84-266 Research Design for Political Science | 84-250 Writing for Political Science and Policy |
| 84-104 Decision Processes in American Political Institutions | 84-226 International Relations or 84-275 Comparative Politics | 36-202 Methods for Statistics & Data Science | Language Course* |
| 36-200 Reasoning with Data | Disciplinary Perspectives: Humanities | IRPS Elective | IRPS Elective |
| First-Year Writing | Language Course* | Language Course* | General Education |
| Language Course* | Grand Challenge Seminar | General Education | General Education |
| 99-101 Core@CMU | |||
- *
If starting a Modern Language at the Elementary I level, four semesters of language study are required for the IRPS major. AP credit or a language placement exam may allow students to begin at CMU in a level higher than Elementary I and have fewer required semesters of language study.
| Third-Year | Fourth-Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| 84-369 Decision Science for International Relations | CMU/WSP or STUDY ABROAD* | IRPS Elective | 84-500 Senior Seminar |
| IRPS Elective | Explore | IRPS Elective | IRPS Elective |
| General Education | Explore | IRPS Elective | General Education |
| General Education | Explore | General Education | Explore |
| Explore | Explore | General Education | Explore |
- *
All students are strongly encouraged to participate in the CMU/WSP and/or in a study abroad program. Spring semester of the junior year is a popular semester to study off-campus. However, International Relations and Political Science majors may participate in the CMU/WSP or study abroad in spring of sophomore year, either semester of junior year or senior year. Students should consult the deputy director when planning their curricular program.