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

Program Overview

The Politics and International Relations program explores how people make collective decisions through government. From a Christian perspective, politics is part of God's provision for Creation, a means of reconciling self-interest and social interaction. The major nurtures the analytical, verbal, and written abilities that are the hallmark of the liberal arts. 

Faculty encourage students to think independently, engage opposing points of view, and develop an abiding concern for public life in the interest of social justice. These perspectives prepare students for thoughtful and meaningful participation in democracy to solve problems facing society.  Moreover, students analyze the forces of globalization—the power relationships responsible for an increasingly integrated world.

Students have the opportunity to pursue internships in a variety of sectors, conduct specialized research, and apply their learning through off-campus study in the US and abroad. Our graduates have served in various capacities in both the public and the private sphere including but not limited to: law, consulting, business administration, data analytics, government relations, journalism, think tanks campaign management, non-profit creation and administration, foreign service, national security, and, of course, government service.

The International Relations curriculum includes courses in comparative and international politics that provide a foundation in International Relations; training in a range of issue-areas like foreign policy, conflict, trade, and human rights; and a regional focus to develop expertise in an area of the globe.

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 representative democracy, human rights and freedoms, civic engagement, rule of law, and government accountability.
  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 212International Politics

3
POLI 213Comparative Politics

3
POLI 243Political Research Methods

3
POLI 494Politics Seminar

3

POLI 212 and 213: Writing in the major requirement.

International Relations Concentration (27)

ECON 120Principles of Macroeconomics

3
ECON 220Principles of Microeconomics

3
POLI 362Theories of International Relations

3

Nine credits from the following Issue Expertise:

POLI 330Terrorism

3
POLI 366Causes of War

3
POLI 375Applied Topics in International Relations

3
ECON 312Economic Development I

3

Nine credits from the following Regional Expertise:

POLI 235US-Latin American Relations

3
OR
POLI 222Politics in Latin America

3
 
POLI 312Politics of China

3
POLI 340Topics in Regional Politics

3
POLI 346Russia after Communism

3
POLI 354Poland: Nationalism and Identity

3
Up to three credits of approved study abroad courses may count towards this requirement.

QuEST Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement 0
QuEST requirements Credits
First Year Seminar 3
Oral Communication 3
Created and Called for Community (W) 3
Mathematical Sciences 3 or 4
Laboratory Science 3 or 4
Science, Technology & the World 3
Social Science (POLI 113) met/major
European or United States History 3
Literature 3
Philosophy and Religion 3
Arts 3
First Semester of Language 3
Second Semester of Language 3
Third Semester of Language or Cross Cultural 3
Non-Western Studies1 0-3
Bible 3
Christian Beliefs 3
Wellness course 1
Ethics, World Views or Pluralism2 3
QuEST requirements 51-54
Major requirements (inclusive of concentration) 42
Free electives 30-27
Total credits 123
1Could be met by major if student selects POLI 222, 312, or 346.
2Could be met by major if student selects POLI 333 or 366.