Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

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Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

  • Course description BOSTON —SAN FRANCISCO—LONDON—DUBAI— SHANGHAI

    As the global media focuses even more intently on worldwide issues, this degree gives graduates the ability to understand and interpret the dynamics of the international system in the 21st century, and to become active players in an increasingly complex and interdependent world.

    Hult’s International Relations Major draws on the techniques and modes of thought of the social sciences, yet reaches out across a range of academic disciplines. It includes elements of Political Science, Economics, Sociology, History, and a number of other disciplines in seeking to understand and explain contemporary world affairs. Beyond the core courses of this degree, students may choose any of the ten Hult concentrations, although electives are typically drawn from Conflict & Security, Global Governance, International Economics, and Public Policy.

    Core International Relations Major Courses
    Year One 
    World Order Since 1945
    The principles & Practices of Global Governance

    Year Two
    The Sources & Dynamics of Conflict
    Global Political Economy
    Key Themes of International Law

    Year Three

    The Politics of the Global South since 1945
    Global Security in the 21 st Century

    Year Four
    Theories of International Relations  
    Contemporary Issues in International Relations

    International Relations Major Learning Objectives:
    • Provides knowledge of key events, processes, and actors that shape International Relations.
    • Develops analytical skills to assess trends and future patterns of global development.
    • Sharpens abilities to make oral presentations, construct arguments and debate contemporary issues in International Relations.
    • Improves abilities to write clearly and to conduct project-based research, including internet-based investigation.
    • Provides experience in group project dynamics.
    • Enhances intercultural communication skills.
    Year 1 Courses: General Education Core Competencies
    All our students undertake Hult’s General Education courses as a foundation for their bachelor degree, gaining the basic knowledge and skills needed in higher education.

    Core Competencies include information literacy, verbal and written communication skills, and numeracy. Students take a foundation course in each of the three majors of Business, International Relations, and Communications, followed by electives in Science, Social Science, Arts & Humanities, and Ethics.

    Course Objectives:
    • To help students develop the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to succeed as active, productive, professional adults.
    • To provide students with a tool kit for intellectual and social inquiry, as a foundation for Hult’s undergraduate programs.
    • To generate skills in critical thinking, and to encourage the development of good research techniques and study habits.
    • To introduce students to a range of academic disciplines and modes of thought.
    • To develop an awareness of the diversity of human thought, culture, and belief systems.
    • To enable students to place economic, social, and political debates into an ethical framework.
    • To highlight the symbiotic relationship between the global and local levels of analysis.
    Hult General Education Courses:
    • Academic English 1 & 2
    • Communications, Creativity & Power
    • Contemporary Ethical Debates
    • Fundamentals of International Relations
    • Group Communication & Teamwork
    • Information Literacy
    • Literature, Arts, & Culture
    • Management Practices & the Business Environment
    • Multicultural London
    • Public Speaking
    • Quantitative Skills
    • Science & Society
    Hult’s General Education courses also include ‘professional communication’ electives. These courses provide transferable skills designed to help assimilate graduates into a professional working environment or continue their university studies after graduation. Employers cite communication skills as the number one criterion when assessing applicants for professional posts. The Hult Professional Communication track is designed to ensure Hult graduates possess these vital skills, satisfying potential employers and giving students a professional edge in a competitive graduate job market.

    Hult Professional Communication Courses:
    • Assessment & Feedback
    • Corporate Communications
    • Cross-cultural Communication
    • Desktop Publishing
    • Group Communication & Teamwork
    • Interviewing & Presenting
    • Mastering the Pitch
    • Negotiations & Problem Solving
    • Professional Development
    • Psychology & Human Relations
    • Public Speaking
    International Relations Major Career Opportunities:
    Students completing this major earn a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and upon graduation can explore career and professional opportunities in:
    • Diplomacy & International civil service
    • Human rights and international law
    • NGO management
    • Policy planning and analysis
    • Public administration
    • The risk industry (e.g. environmental impact assessment)

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