International Relations
Director: Jonathan DiCicco, PhD
Introduction:
The International Relations program at Canisius College is a multidisciplinary program that is anchored in the Departments of History, Modern Languages and Political Science but also includes courses in international business, economics, religious studies, philosophy and other academic disciplines. The goals of the program are to provide the International Relations major with a basic understanding of the issues, functions and theories of the international system and to cultivate skills in research, writing, critical thinking and oral presentation that are necessary for success in a career in the fields of international affairs, international business, law, education and academia. Students majoring in International Relations must also satisfy a requirement for an International Educational Experience. Each student’s program is structured to maximize options after graduation. Completion of the major program will lead to a bachelor of arts degree in International Relations.
Goals
Qualifications:
The International Relations major and minor are open to any student who has completed PSC 140 (Introduction to International Relations) with a minimum grade of C. A minimum overall average of 2.00 in all courses taken to complete the major or the minor is required for program completion.
Advisement:
Advisement is the responsibility of the Director of the International Relations Program, who may share this responsibility with other members of the International Relations Advisory Council. All International Relations majors and minors are expected to consult with their advisor in the program at least once each semester.
Curricular Requirements for the Major:
Core: All students complete Core Curriculum requirements as part of their overall Canisius education. These requirements can be found at www.canisius.edu/core_curriculum/default.asp
Free Electives:
Free electives are courses in addition to the Core Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. Students may graduate with more but not less than 120 credit hours.
Major Courses:
All International Relations majors must take a core of nine courses in history, political science and economics, including an upper-level course in international business, and seven electives that have been approved by the International Relations Program Advisory Council for major credit. In addition, all International Relations majors must demonstrate proficiency in a modern foreign language through the Intermediate High level according to guidelines established by the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages and take at least one 300-level foreign language course beyond the Intermediate High level. All International Relations majors must also satisfy an international experience requirement that includes but is not limited to study abroad in a foreign university or an approved short-term program. Major course requirements: (17 courses)
Major Courses
| Course | Credits | |||
| Choose one of the three course groupings | 6 | |||
| Group 1 | ||||
| HIS 107 | History of Modern Europe to 1815 | 3 | ||
| HIS 108 | History of Modern Europe since 1811 | 3 | ||
| Group 2 | ||||
| HIS 109 | History of Asia to 1800 | 3 | ||
| HIS 110 | History of Asia since 1800 | 3 | ||
| Group 3 | ||||
| HIS 131 | Latin American History to 1800 | 3 | ||
| HIS 131 | Latin American History since 1800 | 3 | ||
| ECO 101 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 | ||
| PSC 140 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 | ||
| PSC 150 | Introduction to Comparative Politics and Government | 3 | ||
| HIS 300 | Histotical Geography | 3 | ||
| HIS 399 | History of U.S. Foreign Relations | 3 | ||
| or | ||||
| PSC 245 | American Foreign Policy | 3 | ||
| PSC 442 | Seminar in International Relations | 3 | ||
| Business: one 300 or 400-level international business course | 3 |
Major electives: seven courses chosen from approved list in Economics, Finance, History, International Business, Modern Languages, Political Science, and Religious Studies. (21 credits) Modern language training through the Intermediate-High level (ML 215-21) (6 credits)
300-level course in a Modern Foreign Language (3) The modern foreign language requirement in the International Relations major is not a course but a proficiency requirement that at Canisius is normally satisfied by successfully completing ML 215-216. If students are not placed at the 215-216 level when they enroll at Canisius, it will take them two extra semesters in the foreign language to meet this requirement. In other cases students may already have taken the equivalent of these courses in high school and therefore do not have to take them at Canisius but should continue their language preparation with a 300-level course in the language they have studied in high school. Students who study abroad in a country where the spoken language is a language other than English and take courses in that language as part of their study abroad experience may use this to satisfy the modern language requirement in the International Relations major.
Major Electives:
All International Relations majors must take seven Major Electives in addition to a 300 or 400-level course in a modern foreign language. Courses that have been approved as International Relations Major Electives are:
2011-2013 Courses
| Course | Credits | |||
| ECO 360 | International Economics | 3 | ||
| ENT 312 | International Entrepreneurship | 3 | ||
| FIN 460 | International Finance | 3 | ||
| HIS 213 | Twentieth-Century Europe | 3 | ||
| HIS 230 | Holocaust in Historical Perspective | 3 | ||
| HIS 260 | Canada and the World | 3 | ||
| HIS 263 | Wars of Latin America | 3 | ||
| HIS 280 | Making a Modern Africa | 3 | ||
| HIS 309 | World War I | 3 | ||
| HIS 335 | Britian in the Era of Total War | 3 | ||
| HIS 336 | Modern Mexico | 3 | ||
| HIS 338 | Britian's Empire | 3 | ||
| HIS 339 | Nazi Germany, World War II, and the Holocaust | 3 | ||
| HIS 345 | 20th-Century Russia | 3 | ||
| HIS 346 | Age of European Fascism, 1919-45 | 3 | ||
| HIS 347 | History of Marxism | 3 | ||
| HIS 348 | Twentieth-Century Marxism | 3 | ||
| HIS 350 | 20th-Century Eastern Europe | 3 | ||
| HIS 351 | Cold War in Global Perspective | 3 | ||
| HIS 352 | The Cuban Revolution | 3 | ||
| HIS 354 | Post-War Europe 1945 to the Present | 3 | ||
| HIS 356 | Twentieth-Century China | 3 | ||
| HIS 359 | History of Modern Japan 1858 to the Present | 3 | ||
| HIS 365 | U.S.-Latin American Relations since 1898 | 3 | ||
| HIS 366 | Modern Brazil | 3 | ||
| HIS 380 | America and the Cold War | 3 | ||
| HIS 394 | Contemporary Middle East | 3 | ||
| HIS 399 | History of US Foreign Relations | 3 | ||
| HIS 440 | Holocaust in International Perspective | 3 | ||
| HON 220 | War and Society in Modern Europe | 3 | ||
| HON 223 | Revolutions in Latin America | 3 | ||
| HON 225 | Empires and Their Aftermath | 3 | ||
| HON 231 | War and Peace After 9/11 | 3 | ||
| HON 247 | Islam: Religion, History and Culture | 3 | ||
| HON 298 | US Foreign Policy in a New Age | 3 | ||
| HON 394 | Imperialism and Decolonization | 3 | ||
| IBUS 301 | Fundamentals of International Business | 3 | ||
| MGT 380 | International Business Seminar | 3 | ||
| MGT 440 | Global Supply-Chain Management | 3 | ||
| MGT 472 | Comparative Management Systems | 3 | ||
| MGT 473 | Culture, Language and Managment | 3 | ||
| MGT 475 | Doing Business in Latin America | 3 | ||
| MGT 477 | Transitional Management in Gateway Regions | 3 | ||
| MGT 480 | International Law in Business Transitions | 3 | ||
| MKT 474 | Doing Business in Canada | 3 | ||
| MKT 475 | International Marketing | 3 | ||
| MKT 478 | Global Logistics and Transportation | 3 | ||
| PHI 262 | Philosophy of International Law | 3 | ||
| PSC 241 | Human Rights and Globalization | 3 | ||
| PSC 242 | International Organizations | 3 | ||
| PSC 244 | War: Causes and Consequences | 3 | ||
| PSC 245 | American Foreign Policy | 3 | ||
| PSC 250 | Politics in Latin America | 3 | ||
| PSC 343 | Aid and Development | 3 | ||
| PSC 345 | International Crime after 9/11 | 3 | ||
| PSC 346 | National Security Council | 3 | ||
| PSC 355 | European Union | 3 | ||
| PSC 360 | Political Economy of the Developing World | 3 | ||
| PSC 370 | Domestic Conflict and Peace | 3 | ||
| PSC 445 | Seminar in European Politics | 3 | ||
| RST 332 | Islam: Tradition and Modernity | 3 |
Major Experiences:
All students majoring in International Relations must satisfy a requirement for International Education Experience. The most popular, but by no means the only way in which this requirement is satisfied, is by studying abroad. The International Relations Program strongly encourages its majors to fulfill the international experience requirement by spending at least one semester abroad studying at a foreign university. The director of the International Relations Program works closely with the director of International Student Programs at Canisius College to set up and monitor study abroad programs for Canisius students at a wide range of universities throughout the world. Canisius students may study at the following institutions under articulation agreements that have been approved by Canisius College and the host university abroad: the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia; the University of Antwerp in Belgium; the Beijing Center in Beijing, China; La Casa in San Salvador, El Salvador; the Catholic University of Lille in France; the University of Dortmund and the Catholic University of Eichstaett in Germany; the National University of Ireland in Galway, Lorenzo DéMedici in Florence and Rome in Italy, Sophia University in Japan; the University of Oviedo and the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain; and London Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom. Students may also study at an accredited university abroad other than those listed above. Students doing this have recently studied at universities in Egypt, New Zealand, Poland, Senegal, and the Ukraine. Students who spend a semester abroad at a foreign university may count up to three courses as International Relations major electives as long as these courses have been pre-approved by the director of the International Relations Program. Students who spend a year studying at a foreign university may be able to count more than three courses as International Relations major electives, but this will require special permission from the director of the International Relations Program. As a general rule, students must complete the International Relations Core of eight courses at Canisius College. Exceptions to this rule may be approved by the International Relations Program Advisory Council.
Additional Course Considerations:
Within the International Relations major a student may pursue one of four distinct tracks in International Business, International History, International Politics, and Language and World Culture. A student may also opt to pursue none of these tracks but fulfill the program major requirements listed above without concentrating in any particular area of the program. If a student chooses to pursue one of these four tracks, this will affect his or her choice of major electives. A student pursuing one of these tracks would still be required to take a modern foreign language through the Intermediate High level and one 300-level course in that language and to satisfy the international experience requirement. For further information, contact the director of the International Relations Program. For further information on each of these tracks, consult /international-relations/program.asp
Recommended Semester Schedule for Major Course Requirements
| Year | Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
| Freshman | PSC 140 | PSC 150 | ||
| HIS 107 or | HIS 108 or | |||
| HIS 109 or | HIS 110 or | |||
| HIS 131 | HIS 132 | |||
| Modern Lanuage at appropraite level | Modern Lanuage at appropraite level | |||
| ECO 101 | ||||
| Sophomore | PHI 101 | IR Major Elective | ||
| Modern Lanuage 300-level | IR Major Elective | |||
| HIS 399 or PSC 245 IR Major Elective | ||||
| Junior | HIS 300 | IR Major Elective | ||
| IR Major Elective | IR Major Elective or 300-400 level Business | |||
| IR Major Elective or 300-400 level Business |
Dual Majors:
Double majors have been developed between the International Relations Program and the Departments of History, Modern Languages, and Political Science as well as with the programs in European Studies and International Business. It is also possible to pursue a double major with other academic programs such as Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, Sociology/ Anthropology, and Women’s Studies. For further information on double majors, contact the director of the International Relations Program. Students pursuing a double major in International Relations and another major may double count as many courses as possible toward the satisfaction of International Relations major requirements.
Minors:
A minor in International Relations consists of nine courses, of which two may be used to satisfy requirements in Fields 4 and 5 of the Canisius College core curriculum. A student pursuing a minor in International Relations must also demonstrate competence in a modern foreign language through the Intermediate Mid-Level (ML 115-116) according to guidelines established by the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages
Major Courses needed for IR Minor
| Course | Title | Credits | ||
| Chose one of the three course groupings | 6 | |||
| Group 1 | ||||
| HIS 107 | History of Modern Europe to 1815 | 3 | ||
| HIS 108 | History of Modern Europe since 1815 | 3 | ||
| Group 2 | ||||
| HIS 109 | History of Asia to 1800 | 3 | ||
| HIS 110 | History of Asia since 1800 | 3 | ||
| Group 3 | ||||
| HIS 131 | Latin American History to 1830 | 3 | ||
| HIS 132 | Latin American History since 1830 | 3 | ||
| ECO 101 | Principles of Macro Economics | 3 | ||
| PSC 140 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 | ||
| PSC 150 | Introduction to Comparative Politics and Government | 3 | ||
| HIS 300 | Historical Geopgraphy | 3 |
Minor electives: three courses chosen from approved list in economics, finance, history, international business, modern languages, political science, and religious studies (9 credits) Course in International Business (3 credits)
Note:
International Relations Majors are encouraged to satisfy their Core Curriculum requirements in Fields 1, 2, and 3 by taking courses that provide a cultural dimension to the study of international relations. Under the current IR major curriculum students may take one or two of these courses – depending upon the particular track they may be following – as IR major electives. Courses recommended for this purpose are:
2011-2013 Courses
| Course | Credits | ||
| FRC 333 | Survey of French and Francophone Literature I (In French) | 3 | |
| FRC 334 | Survey of French and Francophone Literature II (In French) | 3 | |
| FRC 337 | Francophone History and Culture in Film I (In French) | 3 | |
| FRC 339 | Francophone History and Culture in Film II (In French) | 3 | |
| GER 353 | German Literature Since 1945 (In German) | 3 | |
| GER 361 | Germany Before Unification (In German) | 3 | |
| GER 362 | Germany Today (In German) | 3 | |
| GER 472 | Contemporary German Film (In German) | 3 | |
| GER 473 | Literature and Film (In German) | 3 | |
| HIS 226 | History of Ireland | 3 | |
| HIS 331 | The British Monarchy | 3 | |
| HIS 344 | Imperial Russia | 3 | |
| HIS 355 | Chinese Culture and Civilization before 1900 | 3 | |
| HIS 358 | Traditional Japan | 3 | |
| HIS 387 | Repersentations of the Holocaust in Literature, Film, Music, and Art | 3 | |
| HON 130 | Religious Experiences of the East | 3 | |
| RST 220 | Introduction to Eastern Religions | 3 | |
| RST 222 | African Religions | 3 | |
| RST 228 | Introduction to Mayahana Buddhism | 3 | |
| RST 327 | Modern Global Christinaity | 3 | |
| RST 331 | Religious China | 3 | |
| RST 362 | Fundamentalism | 3 | |
| RST 421 | Hinduism | 3 | |
| SPA 333 | Survey of Peninsular and Latin American Literature I (In Spanish) | 3 | |
| SPA 334 | Survey of Peninsular and Latin American Literature II (In Spanish) | 3 | |
| SPA 351 | Junior Spanish Seminar (In Spanish) | 3 | |
| SPA 451 | Senior Spanish Seminar (In Spanish) | 3 |