The World Politics concentration equips students with the knowledge and analytical skills needed to understand political systems, institutions, and power relations across nations and regions. Students explore how globalization, culture, economics, and security shape state behavior and international cooperation. Coursework emphasizes comparative and international perspectives on government, development, political economy, conflict, diplomacy, and global governance, while cultivating skills in research, data analysis, cross-cultural communication, and policy evaluation.
This concentration prepares students for careers that engage the international dimensions of politics, including foreign and civil service, global policy research, humanitarian and development work, and graduate study in international relations or area studies. Graduates are prepared to interpret global trends, evaluate emerging transnational challenges, and contribute to informed decision-making in an increasingly interconnected world.
The World Politics concentration, the American Government concentration, and the Political Science major combined with a minor all share a common 18-hour core consisting of the following required courses: POLS 2000, POLS 2010, POLS 2070, POLS 3000, POLS 3760, and POLS 4999 (see Guidelines for Program Length, Components, Definitions, and Criteria for Development, October 13, 2022, p. 7).
Students pursuing the World Politics concentration complete this shared core and then take:
- A required intermediate course, POLS 3010 – Comparative Politics;
- Nine (9) hours of upper-division guided concentration electives in international politics and comparative government; and
- Nine (9) additional hours of major guided electives drawn from courses in international politics, comparative government, general political science, or approved offerings in National Security Studies, Criminal Justice, or Public Management (see the attached side-by-side curriculum chart for the full course list).
Students who complete internships with an international affairs focus may apply up to six (6) hours of internship credit toward their major guided electives. (Under the current Political Science major, internship credit is not applicable to the major.)
The Political Science major with the World Politics concentration totals 39 credit hours, the same overall length as the current major.
Students may add a minor to their World Politics concentration , but may not count more than nine (9) hours from any minor towards their major and concentration.