2024-2025 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Core Requirements | ||
| Required International Studies Courses | ||
| IS 1034 | Introduction to International Studies and Political Science | 3 |
| IS 2084 | The Evolution of World Order | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Selected World Problems | ||
| Selected World Problems | ||
| Required Foreign Language | ||
| Select 12 credits from a single foreign language at the 3000-4000 level. 1 | 12 | |
| The following courses are only offered as Pass/Fail and can be used toward fulfillment of this requirement: | ||
| Arabic for Oral Proficiency | ||
| French for Oral Proficiency | ||
| French for Oral Proficiency | ||
| German Oral Proficiency | ||
| German Oral Proficiency | ||
| Japanese for Oral Proficiency | ||
| Japanese for Oral Proficiency | ||
| Russian for Oral Proficiency | ||
| Spanish for Oral Proficiency | ||
| Spanish for Oral Proficiency | ||
| The following courses are excluded and cannot be used to fulfill this requirement: | ||
| Modern Arabic Literature in Translation | ||
| Topics in Arab Cinema | ||
| Topics in Chinese Cinema | ||
| Study Abroad | ||
| Topics in German Cinema | ||
| Survey of Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature in Translation | ||
| Survey of Twentieth-Century Russian Literature in Translation | ||
| Topics in Russian Literature in English | ||
| The Works of Vladimir Nabokov | ||
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| NSFA Major Courses | ||
| IS 1004 | Nations and Nationalities | 3 |
| IS 2004 | Research and Writing in International Studies | 3 |
| IS 2054 | Introduction to World Politics | 3 |
| IS 2064 | The Global Economy and World Politics | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Security Studies: Theories and Concepts 2 | ||
| International Relations 2 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| National Security 2 | ||
| Foreign Policy and Diplomacy 2 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Seminar in Diplomacy and Security 2 | ||
| Topics in Diplomacy Lab 2 | ||
| The Politics of Cybersecurity 2 | ||
| Theories and Practices of International Conflict Management 2 | ||
| Topics in Multilateral Diplomacy Workshop 2 | ||
| Topics in Multilateral Diplomacy Workshop 2 | ||
| Intelligence Analysis Workshop 2 | ||
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select 15 credit hours of NSFA major courses. Courses selected will not double count toward NSFA major electives. 3,4 | 15 | |
International Studies (IS): | ||
| Comp Gov & Politics | ||
| Geography of Global Conflict | ||
| Europe Country Analysis | ||
| Geography of Europe | ||
| The CIA: Its Capabilities in Todays Geo-Political World | ||
| The Politics of Internet Governance 2 | ||
| The Dark Web and Threat Analytics 2 | ||
| Security Studies: Theories and Concepts 2 | ||
| Global Security 2 | ||
| Intelligence and National Security 2 | ||
| Intelligence and National Security 2 | ||
| Global Conflict and War 2 | ||
| Strategies of Modern Warfare 2 | ||
| Strategies of Modern Warfare 2 | ||
| Nuclear Strategy & Politics 2 | ||
| International Relations | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Foreign Policy and Diplomacy 2 | ||
| US-Russia Foreign Policies 2 | ||
| US-Russia Foreign Policies 2 | ||
| National Security Strategy 2 | ||
| National Security 2 | ||
IS 3735 | 2 | |
IS 3736 | 2 | |
| Global Terrorism and Counterterrorism | ||
| Global Terrorism and Counterterrorism | ||
| European Integration | ||
| The European Union: Institutions and Policies | ||
| European Union's Foreign and Security Policy 2 | ||
| European Union's Foreign Relations 2 | ||
| European Union's Foreign Relations 2 | ||
| European Security Governance 2 | ||
| European Geopolitics | ||
| NATO & European Security | ||
| Seminar in Diplomacy and Security 2 | ||
| Topics in Diplomacy Lab 2 | ||
| Capstone Research Project in European Studies | ||
| Topics in Multilateral Diplomacy Workshop 2 | ||
| Topics in Multilateral Diplomacy Workshop 2 | ||
| Intelligence Analysis Workshop 2 | ||
| Field Study 5 | ||
A maximum of 6 credits from the following can be used toward the 15 credits of required NSFA electives: 3,4 | ||
International Studies (IS): | ||
| Introduction to Transatlantic Studies | ||
| Food, War and Conflict | ||
| Transatlantic Political Frameworks | ||
| Geography of the Global Economy | ||
| Religion and Violence | ||
| Professionalism and Careers in Political Science and International Studies 2 | ||
| Global Governance and Public Policy 2 | ||
| Topics in Global Public Policies 2 | ||
| Global Trade: Structures and Policies 2 | ||
| Monetary Foundations of the World Economy 2 | ||
| Global Development 2 | ||
| Global Development 2 | ||
| Human Security 2 | ||
| Topics in Middle East Politics and International Relations | ||
| Human Rights: Global Issues 2 | ||
| Transatlantic Relations Since 1945 | ||
| Theories of Transatlantic Relations | ||
| International Enrollment | ||
| Study Abroad | ||
| International Development 2 | ||
| International Communication 2 | ||
| Seminar in Global Political Economy 2 | ||
| Seminar in Global Development 2 | ||
| Topics in Transatlantic Relations | ||
| Capstone Project Transatlantic Studies | ||
| Senior Seminar in International Relations 2 | ||
| Theories and Practices of International Conflict Management 2 | ||
| Independent Study 6 | ||
| Special Study 6 | ||
| Undergraduate Research 6 | ||
Political Science (PSCI): | ||
| Introduction to United States Government and Politics | ||
| Congress 2 | ||
| The Presidency 2 | ||
| Global Environmental Issues: Interdisciplinary Perspectives | ||
| Latin American Government and Politics 2 | ||
| European Political Systems 2 | ||
| European Political Systems 2 | ||
| Politics of Post-Communist Systems 2 | ||
| African Government and Politics 2 | ||
| The State of Israel: A Political History 2 | ||
| Violent Political Change 2 | ||
| Government and Politics of Japan 2 | ||
| Governments and Politics of Asia 2 | ||
| Indigenous Peoples and World Politics 2 | ||
| The U. S. Policy Process 2 | ||
| Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics 2 | ||
| Subtotal | 15 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Select remaining credit hours to fulfill remaining credits required for graduation. | 30 | |
| Subtotal | 30 | |
| Pathways to General Education 7 | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| Pathway 1a fulfilled with IS 2004 | ||
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
| Pathway 3 fulfilled with IS 2054 and IS 2064 | ||
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 4 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 5f | 6 | |
| Select three credits in Pathway 5a 8 | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select three credits in Pathway 6a | 3 | |
| Select three credits in Pathway 6d | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
| Pathway 7 fulfilled with IS 1004 | ||
| Subtotal | 33 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Please note that not all courses are offered each semester. Check with the department offering the course to find out when courses are offered.
Check the Undergradate Course Catalog or the Timetable of classes for the most up to date course restrictions and prerequisites.
The content of the Independent Study or Special Study, as well as the topic of the Undergraduate Research should be relevant to the International Relations major. Please ask the International Studies advisor whether the proposed Independent Study or Special Study or Undergraduate Research topic qualifies.
IS 4964 is only offered as Pass/Fail and can be used toward fulfillment of a major elective from the corresponding list.
To proceed satisfactorily toward a degree, a student must complete IS 1004 Nations and Nationalities, IS 1034 Introduction to International Studies and Political Science, IS 2004 Research and Writing in International Studies, IS 2054 Introduction to World Politics, IS 2064 The Global Economy and World Politics, IS 2084 The Evolution of World Order, and Foreign language 2105 & 2106 by the end of the semester in which 60 hours have been attempted; must maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and must maintain an in major GPA of 2.0.
A total of 120 hours is required to graduate with an International Studies degree of which there are fifty-seven (57) required hours for the National Security & Foreign Affairs major.
All of the courses in the core and major requirements and major electives are included in the in-major GPA calculation. A GPA of 2.0 or above both overall and in-major GPA is required for graduation.
In accordance with the State Council guidelines, courses used to fulfill the SCHEV approved degree core (Core Degree Requirements) may not also be used to meet the Pathways to General Education or major requirements.
Due to overlapping of courses, students cannot pursue another major within the Department of Political Science. However, they can pursue any of the minors offered by the department except the minor in Political Science.
Some courses listed on this checksheet have prerequisites; please consult the University Catalog and/or check with your advisor.
This is a requirement that is separate from the International Studies requirement.
Completion of this requirement will not fulfill your International Studies Language Requirement.
Print this page.
The PDF will include all information unique to this page.