The study of international relations provides an integrated approach to the understanding of economic, political, and social interactions among states, supranational organizations, transnational business firms, and other non-governmental organizations operating in the transnational arena. Students of international relations investigate the factors that shape the global milieu within which interstate and transnational activities are conducted, including the concept of state sovereignty; competing state ideologies and interests; differing political, economic, and social systems; and inequalities among states resulting from variations in size, location, population, resources, infrastructure, history, and position in the international division of labor.
The study of international relations is, of necessity, a multidisciplinary undertaking. A recognized scholar in the field once described a student of international relations as “a person who regrets that he does not better understand psychology, economics, history, law, jurisprudence, sociology, geography, perhaps language, comparative constitutional organization, and so on down the list.” The curriculum of Trinity College includes a sizable number of courses in a variety of disciplines that are appropriate to a program in international relations.
Although the College offers no formal major in international relations, students may, in consultation with one or more of the faculty named below, construct a coherent sequence of courses that provides grounding in international relations or one of its subfields. Such a sequence will often be taken by students majoring in economics, history, political science, or international studies, but it may also be pursued in conjunction with various other majors. Alternatively, students may, with the sponsorship of faculty members from two different disciplines and the approval of the Curriculum Committee, carry out an individually tailored, interdisciplinary major in international relations. Students interested in this option should consult the general guidelines on student-designed majors in the Student Handbook and the specific guidelines on international relations given below.
Participating faculty
Sonia Cardenas, Professor of Political Science and Dean of the Faculty
Carol Clark, Associate Professor of Economics
Dario A. Euraque, Professor of History and International Studies
Andrew Flibbert, Associate Professor of Political Science
Samuel D. Kassow, Charles H. Northam Professor of History
Anthony M. Messina, John R. Reitemeyer Professor of Political Science
Miguel D. Ramirez, Ward S. Curran Distinguished Professor of Economics
The individually tailored, interdisciplinary major in international relations—The following guidelines govern proposals for individually tailored, interdisciplinary majors in international relations. Students should read them in conjunction with the section on student-designed majors, which specifies the format in which proposals are to be presented to the Curriculum Committee. As a first step in preparing a major proposal, the student should consult with Professor Clark in economics, or Professor Messina in political science, or the chair of economics or political science.
Guidelines—Proposals for individually tailored, interdisciplinary majors in international relations must include:
A total of 15 to 18 courses drawn from at least three different disciplines.
A six-course international relations core, as follows:
ECON 101. Principles of Economics
ECON 315. Theories of International Trade or ECON 316. International Finance
Another pertinent economics course at the 200- or 300-level
POLS 104. Introduction to International Relations
POLS 322. International Political Economy
Another pertinent political science course
A group of at least eight courses drawn from a minimum of three different disciplines that examines a broad theme in international relations, such as:
Relations among industrialized nations
Relations among industrialized and post-colonial states
Relations with post-communist states
Regional conflicts
Regional integration and international regimes
Theoretical models of international relations
Typically, courses in the thematic group are chosen from the offerings in international studies, economics, history, political science, and sociology. But courses in other departments and programs may also be applicable to the student’s particular thematic focus.
A synthesizing agent, which may be either a) a one- or two-course-credit thesis, or b) an appropriate senior seminar in economics, history, or political science, or c) a general examination.
Foreign language—Students majoring in international relations must complete a minimum of two years of college-level work in a pertinent foreign language or submit evidence of equivalent preparation. Language courses do not count toward the 15 to 18 courses required for the major.
Research methods—Students of international relations are encouraged to familiarize themselves with social science research methods, typically by taking one of the following as part of the major: ANTH 301. Ethnographic Methods & Writing, ECON 318L. Basic Econometrics, POLS 241/242. Political Science Research Methods, or SOCL 201L Research Methods in the Social Sciences. It is particularly important that students contemplating graduate work in international relations or closely related fields include one of these courses in their program.
Study away—Studying in another country can strengthen a student’s understanding of the subject matter of international relations. Thus, students are strongly encouraged to take courses in an approved program in another country that may, with the concurrence of the faculty sponsors and the Curriculum Committee, be counted toward the requirements of an international relations major.