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 an advisor in your major program for further guidance.
| First Semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 114 | Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) 1 | 3 |
| I R 104 | Introduction to International Relations: Politics, Economics, Environment, and People (Major Core, D1, ES, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| GE Area A 2 | 3 | |
| GE Area B: Quantitative Reasoning (B4) 3,4 | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| GE Area A | 3 | |
| GE Area B: Physical Science (B1) and Laboratory Science (B3) 6 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area D: U.S. History (D2) | 3 | |
| GE Area E 4 | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| GE Area B: Life Science (B2) and Laboratory Science (B3) 6 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area C 4 | 3 | |
| 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 C - Take Two 4 | 6 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Two 5 | 6 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| I R 310 | U.S. Foreign Policy (Major Core, UD-D, AERM, GP) | 4 |
| Major Electives (18 units) - Take One 7 | 3 | |
| GE Area F ± | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 | 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 7 | 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 7 | 6 | |
| GE Area UD-C: Upper-Division Arts and/or Humanities | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| Major Electives (18 units) – Take Two 7 | 6 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Three 5 | 8 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Total Units | 120-122 | |
- 1
ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses.
- 2
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.
- 3
To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.
- 4
Recommended GE Courses:
GE Area B4
I R 112/HIST 112/LCA 112/MATH 112/PHIL 112/PLSI 112 Quantitative Reasoning for Civic Engagement (3 units) (B4, SJ)
GE Area C2
I R 260/PRSN 260 History and Cultures of Iran (3 units) (C2, GP)
GE Area E
I R 259 Children and Youth in International Relations (4 units) (E, GP, SJ)
- 5
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.
- 6
Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill B3 if not already satisfied.
- 7
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 IR courses can be used for these 6 units; otherwise, upper-division courses are required.
- ±
Given catalog rights, fall 2023 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course.