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Minor in
International Relations

The minor in International Relations provides an essential insight into how we make sense of the political world, and provides a comparative cultural, economic, historical, and political analysis of how international systems have evolved and functioned.

Goes well with

Related minors

Programme Structure

An undergraduate may complete the requirements of one major and one minor and receive one US degree. A minor is an optional subject of specialisation within the undergraduate degree, which must be outside of the undergraduate major course of study and consist of at least 18 US /72 UK credits. A minor may not be completed independent of an undergraduate degree.

Undergraduates who add a minor to their major degree programme will normally need to complete more than the minimum 120 US/480 UK credits required for graduation. The normal course load for a full-time undergraduate student is 15-16 US/60-64 UK credits a semester. The minimum full-time undergraduate course load is 9 US/36 UK credits a semester.

(Not open to students majoring in International Relations)

Minor in International Relations Programme Specification

US Credits

UK Credits
From this list you must take one Level 4 course and two courses from Level 5/6
  • INTR 4101 Introduction to International Relations

    This course introduces students to both the study of International Relations (IR) and key issues in contemporary global politics. Conflict, cooperation, and power are unpacked and addressed while the course introduces and reflects on the fundamental approaches, concepts, and theories used in the discipline. Issues to which these are applied then include migration, the relationship between humans and the environment, terrorism, security, and disinformation. Throughout, different actors, institutions and ideas are engaged with as the course assesses contemporary global politics through an array of contemporary case studies.

 4 16
  • INTR 5101 International Law and Human Rights

    This course enables students to investigate the international politics of law-making, compliance, and enforcement in various issue areas, and to consider how fragmentation and self-regulation impact upon the effectiveness of international law. The course highlights the intersection of human rights with modern challenges such as public health, national security, and environmental issues. Through critical analysis, students will evaluate the power and limitations of international law systems in protecting human rights and explore potential reforms for enhancing their effectiveness.

 4 16
  • INTR 5102 Conflict and Post-Conflict Studies

    This course provides an overview of theories, approaches, and frameworks for understanding international and sub-national conflict as well as post-conflict societies. In doing so this course also discusses the role of different forms of violence, identity, and material factors in the outbreak and perpetuation of conflict taking into account state and human security, gender-sensitive, and post-colonial concerns throughout. The course then moves on to focus on conflict resolution, including the examination of peace agreements, different types of external interventions, military and non-military, while developing an analytical criterion of success in peace building which is applied to contemporary cases through the course. Finally, the course considers transitional justice and the particular issues that arise in post-conflict societies including those involving trauma, memory, and forgiveness. Case studies of civil and international conflicts, and of related conflict resolution strategies are used throughout.

 4 16
  • INTR 5103 Globalization, Development and Environment

    This course addresses the complex interactions between the phenomenon of globalization and both environmental concerns and objectives for international development. The concept of globalization and the history of this phenomenon are interrogated , along with the political, economic, ideological, and social dilemmas associated with environmental issues. The theory, strategy and methods of global development are addressed in this context, while engaging with a range of relevant global actors and institutions.

 4 16
  • LIBA 5101 SL: Global Citizenship and Migration

 4 16
  • INTR 6101 Diplomatic Studies

    This course offers an overview of the history and practice of contemporary diplomacy. It begins with analysis of what a modern diplomat currently does, both at home and abroad, set within the context of diplomatic history and theory. The normal practice of diplomacy and the various techniques of international negotiation will be addressed by using both historical and contemporary examples. It will familiarize students with the activities of a modern diplomat within a wider historical and theoretical context.

 4 16
  • INTR 6102 Rethinking International Relations

    This course provides students with a set of conceptual and analytical tools in order to acquire a deep and nuanced understanding of the discipline of International Relations (IR) and global politics. It does so by examining IR theories and approaches to international politics, scrutinizing and problematiz ing their historic foundations , and exploring contemporary challenges and critiques. The course begins by introducing philosophical debates regarding the purpose of theorizing and the importance of understanding ontological and epistemological assumptions and examines the difference between and implications of ‘understanding’ and ‘explaining’ in international relations theory. The course then critically evaluates grand and middle range theories of IR as well as approaches focused on everyday global politics. Throughout, the course scrutinizes challenges presented by a multitude of multidisciplinary interventions into IR including post-positivist critiques and approaches centralizing gender and colonialism as key variables in global politics.

 4 16
Minor Requirements 12 48

The University reserves the right to cancel or replace programmes and/or courses for which there is insufficient enrolment or concerns about academic standards, or for which the University cannot provide adequate teaching resources. Reasonable and appropriate effort is made to ensure that the content of courses corresponds with the descriptions in the University’s Programme and Course Listings.

For more detailed information on each of the course specifications, please visit our webpage here.

What is the Liberal Arts?

We understand that not everyone is familiar with the Liberal Arts education system. That is why we have produced a short guide explaining the structure at Richmond as well as the benefits.

THE LIBERAL ARTS
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What our students say

 “Richmond prepared me for my career path through broadening my worldview which has been essential to my professional and personal development.”

– Noah Levenson, BA International Relations

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