Undergraduate Catalog 2025-2026

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International Affairs B.A. – International Political Economy Concentration

Program Overview

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Location: McKee 318

Email: HSS@unco.edu

Website: www.unco.edu/hss/political-science-international-affairs

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

This concentration area will develop a broad understanding of international issues through the study of international political economy. Foreign language study as well as political science and economics are the main focus. Course requirements also involve classes from a number academic departments.

This concentration area promotes the development of analytical, research, writing and language skills that are necessary to think critically and reflect upon contemporary international issues.

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing

Program Requirements:

Students are required to be orally proficient in a foreign language. There are three ways to fulfill the language proficiency requirement:

  1. Three credits in a foreign language at the 300 level or above;
  2. Demonstrated proficiency at the intermediate/low level on the ACTFL/ETS Oral Proficiency Interview;
  3. Other evidence approved by the student's departmental advisor.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

Written Communication — 6 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Written Communication courses

Mathematics — 3 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.

One of the following two courses are recommended, but not required.

GEOG 100World GeographyLAB2LAISGT-SS2

3
or
GEOG 200Geographies of Peoples and PlacesLAB2GT-SS2

3

See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 36 credits

Take all of the following courses:

PSCI 105Fundamentals of PoliticsLAB1GT-SS1

3
PSCI 110Global IssuesLAB1LAISGT-SS1

3

Choose one of the following courses:

PSCI 415Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics

3
PSCI 425Senior Seminar in International Relations

3

NOTE: Students should be aware that PSCI 415 and PSCI 425 are only offered in fall semesters. Students enrolled in Study Abroad or an Internship conflicting with fulfillment of the PSCI 415 or PSCI 425 requirement may substitute another PSCI course with the approval of their PSCI Advisor.

Choose 3 of the following courses — 9 credits minimum:

ENST 205Environment, Politics and Law

3
PSCI 200Introduction to Comparative Politics

3
PSCI 220Introduction to International Relations

3
PSCI 230The Evolution of the Modern State

3
PSCI 240Globalization

3
PSCI 270Nationalism, Ethnicity and RaceLAB1LAMSGT-SS1

3

PSCI 286Value Issues in Political Economy

3
PSCI 296Study Abroad Experience

3
PSCI 315Comparative Public Policy

3
PSCI 317Dictatorship to Democracy

3
PSCI 318The Politics of the Developing States

3
PSCI 320American Foreign Policy

3
PSCI 321War and Peace

3
PSCI 323Politics of Religion

3
PSCI 326International Political Economy

3
PSCI 327Politics of Migration

3
PSCI 328International Law and Organizations

3
PSCI 350Politics and Film

3
PSCI 351Screening for PSCI 350

0
PSCI 392Internship

1-13

NOTE: No more than 3 credits of internship can be used toward the major.

Take all of the following courses:

ECON 203Principles of MacroeconomicsLAB1GT-SS1

3
ECON 205Principles of MicroeconomicsLAB1GT-SS1

3
ECON 303Intermediate Macroeconomics

3
ECON 305Intermediate Microeconomics

3

Choose 1 of the following courses:

ECON 301Money and Banking

3
ECON 344International Economics

3
ECON 360Economics of Growth and Development

3
ECON 377Industrial Organizations

3
ECON 452Econometrics

3
BA 251International BusinessLAB1LAISGT-SS1

3
ENST 335Environmental and Resource Economics

3

Choose 1 of the following courses:

GEOG 296Study Abroad Experience

3
PSCI 210European Politics

3
PSCI 215Post-Communist Russian Empire

3
PSCI 316Latin American Politics

3
PSCI 319Asian Politics

3
PSCI 325Conflict in the Middle East

3

3. University-Wide Credits — 53 credits

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 53 credits.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance. 

Year 1 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

GEOG 100World GeographyLAB2LAISGT-SS2

3
or
GEOG 200Geographies of Peoples and PlacesLAB2GT-SS2

3

PSCI 105Fundamentals of PoliticsLAB1GT-SS1

3
PSCI 110Global IssuesLAB1LAISGT-SS1

3
University-Wide Elective

3
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
University-Wide Elective

3
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Year 2 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

ECON 205Principles of MicroeconomicsLAB1GT-SS1

3
PSCI 220Introduction to International Relations

3
University-Wide Elective

3
University-Wide Elective

3
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

ECON 203Principles of MacroeconomicsLAB1GT-SS1

3
Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
Liberal Arts Curriculum

4
University-Wide Elective

5
Total Credit Hours:15

Year 3 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

ECON 305Intermediate Microeconomics

3
PSCI 320American Foreign Policy

3
PSCI 321War and Peace

3
PSCI 326International Political Economy

3
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

ECON 303Intermediate Macroeconomics

3
ECON 344International Economics

3
Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
Liberal Arts Curriculum

3
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Year 4 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

PSCI 317Dictatorship to Democracy

3

PSCI 415Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics

3
or
PSCI 425Senior Seminar in International Relations

3

University-Wide Elective

3
University-Wide Elective

3
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Spring Semester

PSCI 319Asian Politics

3
University-Wide Elective

3
University-Wide Elective

3
University-Wide Elective

3
University-Wide Elective

3
Total Credit Hours:15

Advising Notes –

  • Those who complete an approved 3-credit internship may petition to use it as a substitute for PSCI 415 or PSCI 425.

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