International Relations BA + MA SF State Scholar Roadmap
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 Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall 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 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GE Area A | 3 | |
| GE Area B: Physical Science (B1) and Laboratory Science (B3) 6 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area C 4 | 3 | |
| GE Area E | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GE Area B: Life Science (B2) and Laboratory Science (B3) 6 | 3-4 | |
| GE Area C 4 | 3 | |
| GE Area D: U.S. History (D2) | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 5 | 6 | |
| Units | 15-16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| I R 208 | Fundamentals of International Relations Theories, Issues, and Perspectives (Major Core) | 4 |
| GE Area C 4 | 3 | |
| GE Area F ± | 3 | |
| GE Area UD-C: Upper-Division Arts and/or Humanities | 3 | |
| U.S. and California Government | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 5 | 6 | |
| Units | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| I R 310 | U.S. Foreign Policy (Major Core, UD-D, AERM, GP) | 4 |
| Major Electives (18 Units Total) - Take One 7 | 4 | |
| GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences | 3 | |
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Spring 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 Total) - Take Two 7 | 8 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 5 | 6 | |
| Units | 6 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| I R 550 | Senior Thesis in International Relations (Major Culminating Requirement) | 6 |
| I R 725 | The Analysis of Foreign Policy (Master's Core) | 3 |
| The International System and its Problems 8 | 3 | |
| Comparative Foreign Policies 9 | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Major Electives (18 Units Total) - Take Two 7 | 8 | |
| Master's Emphasis Elective - Take Two 10 | 6 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Summer Semester | ||
| Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 | 3 | |
| Units | 3 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| I R 720 | Theory and Approaches in International Relations (Master's Core) | 3 |
| Select One (Master's Core): | 3 | |
| Methods and Thesis Selection in International Relations | ||
| Data Analysis and Evaluation Research in International Relations | ||
| Master's Core Option 11 | 3 | |
| Units | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| I R 728 | International Political Economy (Master's Core) | 3 |
| Select One (Master's Culminating Experience): | 3 | |
| Sponsored Graduate Internship in International Relations | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Master's Emphasis Elective - Take One 10 | 3 | |
| Units | 9 | |
| Total Units | 153-155 | |
- 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
Twelve 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.
Note: Courses fulfilling the IR major core requirement may not be taken on a CR/NC basis.
- 6
Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill B3 if not already satisfied.
- 7
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.
- 8
Select a course in the range I R 730 to I R 739
- 9
Select a course in the range I R 740 to I R 749
- 10
Select one emphasis for the following options:
Academic Emphasis (12 units)
Electives (9 units)
Thematic combination of courses (total 9 units) in International Relations or related fields of inquiry and training such as: public administration; international business, management, or finance; international environmental studies; or other fields related to international careers. Approval of graduate advisor required for courses in other departments.
Culminating Experience (3 units)
I R 898 Master's Thesis (3 units)
Professional Emphasis (12 units)
Electives (9 units)
Thematic combination of courses (total 9 units) in International Relations or related fields of inquiry and training such as: public administration; international business, management, or finance; international environmental studies; or other fields related to international careers. Approval of graduate advisor required for courses in other departments.
Culminating Experience (3 units)
I R 892 Sponsored Graduate Internship in International Relations (3 units)
- 11
Select one additional class from either of the above series (I R 730 to I R 739 or I R 740 to I R 749)
- ±
Given catalog rights, fall 2023 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course.