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.
Student Learning Goals
International Relations majors will:
A. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the components and dynamics of the international system.Qualifications for the major
B. Develop competence in the skills that are appropriate to the discipline and that are necessary for success.
C. Demonstrate the attainment of values that refer not to what they learn in terms of measurable content but in terms of their view of the world in which they live and the people that populate it.
The International Relations major and minor must have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 in all courses taken for the major or minor, a grade of C or better in PSC 140 (Introduction to International Relations), and an overall GPA of 2.0 for all courses taken.
International Relations Requirements
All International Relations majors must take a core of eight courses in history, political science and economics and eight electives that have been approved by the International Relations Program Advisory Council for major credit. These electives must include at least one course in the field of international business. 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 advanced 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.
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 in 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 University of Eichstätt in Germany; the National University of Ireland in Galway, Lorenzo De’Medici 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 must be approved by the International Relations Program Advisory Council.
Co-Curricular Opportunities
Students majoring in International Relations, International Business, European Studies, or a foreign language will have ample opportunity to attend guest lectures and special cultural events together, enjoy social activities with an international theme and, most importantly, live and learn with individuals who share a global perspective. In the spring semester the Canisius College Office of International Student Programs hosts an International Fest that provide the Canisius community with an opportunity to sample the cuisine and culture from different parts of the world.
The International Relations Program at Canisius College organizes a Model United Nations Conference for area high school students in the fall semester of each year. Students from the Canisius College International Affairs Society play an important role in planning, organizing and conducting the conference. Members of the International Affairs Society also attend Model UN Conferences for college students at different sites during the year and sponsor an annual Human Rights Conference in the spring of each year.
Every spring the International Affairs Society hosts the Human Rights Student Conference. The conference, which normally lasts three days, provides students with a forum from which they may present the results of their research on a variety of human rights issues and thus help educate the community about the threats to human rights in today's world. The conference is open to participation by any student, undergraduate or graduate, who wishes to present his or her human rights-related research in a conference setting. For further information contact 888-2190 or ias@canisius.edu
Awards
Each year the International Relations Program makes two awards, the Award for Academic Excellence to the graduating International Relations major with the highest cumulative grade point and the Award for Global Understanding to the graduating International Relations majors who have distinguished themselves by their commitment to promoting international understanding at home and abroad.
International Relations Curriculum
1. Core Curriculum Requirements:
See pages 38-40 of this catalog or go to /academics/core.asp for the Core Curriculum requirements. All students complete these requirements as part of their overall Canisius education.
2. Major course requirements: (17 courses)
| A. Major Requirements (8 courses) | ||
| Choose one of the three course groupings | 6 credits | |
| Group 1 | ||
| HIS 107 History of Modern Europe to 1815 | ||
| HIS 1082 History of Modern Europe since 1815 | ||
| or | ||
| Group 2 | ||
| HIS 109 History of Asia to 1800 | ||
| HIS 110 History of Asia since 1800 | ||
| or | ||
| Group 3 | ||
| HIS 131 Latin American History to 1830 | ||
| HIS 1322 Latin American History since 1830 | ||
| ECO 101 Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 credits | |
| PSC 140 Introduction to International Relations | 3 credits | |
| PSC 150 Introduction to Comparative Politics and Government | 3 credits | |
| HIS 300 Historical Geography | 3 credits | |
| HIS 399 History of U.S. Foreign Relations | 3 credits | |
| or | ||
| PSC 245 Foreign Policy | 3 credits | |
| PSC 442 Seminar in International Relations | 3 credits | |
| Business: one 300 or 400-level international business course | 3 credits | |
| Modern language training through the Intermediate-High level (ML 215-216) |
15 credits | |
| 300-level course in a Modern Foreign Language | 3 credits | |
| B. Major electives (7 courses) Electives chosen from approved list in Economics, Finance, History, International Business, Modern Languages, Political Science and Religious Studies |
21 credits | |
3. 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.
Recommended Schedule:
| Fall | Spring | |||||
| Freshman Year | ||||||
| PSC 140 | 3 credits | PSC 150 | 3 credits | |||
| HIS 107 or HIS 109 or HIS 131 |
3 credits | HIS 108 or HIS 110 or HIS 132 |
3 credits | |||
| Modern Language 215 | 3 credits | Modern Language 216 | 3 credits | |||
| ECO 101 | 3 credits | |||||
| Sophomore Year | ||||||
| Modern Language 300 | 3 credits | IR Major Elective | 3 credits | |||
| IR Major Elective | 3 credits | IR Major Elective | 3 credits | |||
| HIS 399 or PSC 245 | 3 credits | |||||
| Junior Year | ||||||
| IR Major elective | 3 credits | IR Major Elective | 3 credits | |||
| IR Major elective or 300-400 level Business |
3 credits | IR Major elective or 300-400 level Business |
3 credits | |||
| HIS 300 | 3 credits | |||||
| Senior Year | ||||||
| IR Major elective | 3 credits | PSC 442 | 3 credits |
Students pursuing a dual major in another discipline will use their free electives to satisfy requirements in those majors. In this case, the recommended schedule for the sophomore, junior and senior years may differ from that described above.
Tracks within the International Relations Major
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. Or a student may 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 advanced level and one course in that language beyond the advanced level and to satisfy the international experience requirement. For further information, contact the director of the International Relations Program.
International Politics: A student pursuing the track in International Politics would take in addition to the eight IR core courses listed above 1) four political science courses in the fields of international relations or comparative politics approved as IR major electives by the International Relations Program Advisory Council, 2) one course in international business, 3) one IR major elective in either international business or history, and (4) one course in any field except foreign language as either an IR major elective or a designated world culture course.
International History: A student pursuing the track in International History would take in addition to the eight IR core courses listed above 1) five history courses in the field of international history approved as IR major electives by the International Relations Program Advisory Council, one course in international business, one IR major elective in either international business or political science, and one course in any field except foreign language as either an IR major elective or a designated world culture course.
International Business: A student pursuing the track in International Business would take in addition to the eight IR core courses listed above 1) five courses in international business approved as IR major electives by the International Relations Program Advisory Council, including IBUS 301 (Fundamentals of International Business), MGT 472 (Comparative Management), MKT 475 (International Marketing) and FIN 460 (International Finance); 2) two courses in history and/or political science approved by the International Relations Program Advisory Council as IR major electives; and 3) one course approved by the International Relations Program Advisory Council as an IR major elective in a field other than international business or a course in history, political science, religious studies, or another area designated as a world culture course.
International Relations Major Electives
ECO 360 International Economics
ENT 312 International Entrepreneurship
FIN 460 International Finance
HIS 213 Twentieth-Century Europe
HIS 230 The Holocaust in Historical Perspective
HIS 240 Wars of Latin America
HIS 260 Canada and the World
HIS 327 History of Ireland
HIS 335 Britain in the Twentieth Century
HIS 336 Modern Mexico
HIS 338 The British Empire
HIS 339 Nazi Germany, World War II, and the Holocaust
HIS 341 Europe: The World War II Era, 1936-48
HIS 345 The Soviet Union and After
HIS 346 The Age of European Fascism, 1919-45
HIS 347 History of Marxism
HIS 350 20th-Century Eastern Europe
HIS 352 The Cuban Revolution
HIS 354 Post-War Europe 1945 to the Present
HIS 356 Twentieth-Century China
HIS 359 History of Modern Japan, 1858 to the Present
HIS 365 U.S.-Latin American Relations since 1898
HIS 366 Modern Brazil
HIS 380 America and the Cold War
HIS 393 The Making of Modern Africa
HIS 394 Contemporary Middle East
HIS 399 History of US Foreign Relations
HON 220 War and Society in Modern Europe
HON 223 Revolutions in Latin America
HON 225 Empires and Their Aftermath
HON 247 Islam: Religion, History, and Culture
HON 298 US Foreign Policy in a New Age
HON 335 War and Peace After 9/11
HON 394 Imperialism and Decolonization
IBUS 301 Fundamentals of International Business
MGT 440 Global Supply-Chain Management
MGT 472 Comparative Management Systems
MGT 473 Culture, Language and Management
MGT 478 Global Logistics and Transportation
MKT 475 Doing Business in Latin America
PSC 242 International Organizations
PSC 244 War: Causes and Consequences
PSC 245 American Foreign Policy
PSC 253 Politics in North America
PSC 343 International Law
PSC 345 International Crime after 9/11
PSC 346 National Security Council
PSC 355 European Union
PSC 359 International Political Economy
PSC 445 Seminar in European Politics
RST 332 Islam: Tradition and Modernity
International Relations World Culture Courses
FRC 333 Survey of French and Francophone Literature I (In French)
FRC 334 Survey of French and Francophone Literature II (In French)
FRC 337 French History and Culture Through Film I (In French)
FRC 339 French History and Culture Through Film II (In French)
GER 353 German Literature since 1945 (In German)
GER 361 Germany Before Unification (In German)
GER 362 Germany Today (In German)
GER 363 1989: The Fall of the Wall (In German)
GER 472 Contemporary German Film (In German)
GER 473 Literature and Film (In German)
HIS 355 Chinese Culture and Civilization before 1900
HIS 358 Traditional Japan
HON 130 Religious Experience of the East
HON 313 Representations of the Holcoaust in Literature, Film, Music and Art
HON 399 Building a British Identity
RST 220 Introduction to Eastern Religions
RST 222 African Religions
RST 228 Introduction to Mayahana Buddhism
RST 327 Modern Global Christianity
RST 362 Fundamentalism
SPA 333 Survey of Peninsular and Latin American Literature I (In Spanish)
SPA 334 Survey of Peninsular and Latin American Literature II (In Spanish)
SPA 350 Hispanic Short Stories (In Spanish)
SPA 451 Selected Contemporary Works by Women Writers in Spanish (In Spanish)
SPA 473 Mexican Crafts and Culture (In Spanish)
Internships
The International Relations Program offers a wide variety of internship programs in the Buffalo area, as well as the foreign policy Washington Semester Program at American University and a Summer Internship Program in Washington, D.C. Each program is designed to permit students to broaden their international relations education through contact with a diverse array of political participants.
Dual Majors
Dual 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 dual major with other academic programs such as Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, Sociology/Anthropology and Women’s Studies. For further information on dual majors, contact the director of the International Relations Program.
Students pursuing a dual major in International Relations and another major may double count as many courses as possible toward the satisfaction of International Relations major requirements.
Dual Major in International Relations and International Business
The director of the International Relations Program has worked closely with the director of the International Business Program to develop a double major in the two disciplines. A student pursuing a double major in International Relations and International Business must complete the core curriculum in the School of Business and take IBUS 301 (Fundamentals of International Business), FIN 460 (International Finance), MGT 472 (Comparative Management) and MKT 475 (International Marketing), as well as three international business electives. Of those courses offered under the auspices of the International Relations Program, the following — HIS 300 (Historical Geography), PSC 355 (European Union) and PSC 442 (Seminar in International Relations)— are among those that have been approved for International Business major credit. For further information, consult the statement on the Double Major in International Business and International Relations in the catalog description of the International Business Program.
International Relations Minor
Total (9 courses plus language competence).
Choose one of the three course groupings (6 credits)
Group 1
HIS 107 History of Modern Europe to 1815
HIS 1084 History of Modern Europe since 1815
or
Group 2
HIS 109 History of Asia to 1800
HIS 110 History of Asia since 1800
or
Group 3
HIS 131 Latin American History to 1830
HIS 1325 Latin American History since 1830
PSC 140 Introduction to International Relations (3 credits)
PSC 150 Introduction to Comparative Politics and Government (3 credits)
HIS 300 Historical Geography (3 credits)
Minor electives: three courses chosen from approved list in economics, finance,
history, business, modern languages, political science and religious studies (9 credits)
Course in International Business (3 credits)
Language Competence: 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
1. A student may substitute HIS 213 (Twentieth-Century Europe) or HIS 230 (The Holocaust in Historical Perspective) for HIS 108. A student in the All-College Honors Program may substitute HON 220 (Problems in Modern European History) for HIS 108.
2 A student in the All-College Honors Program may substitute HON 223 (Revolutions in Latin America) for HIS 132.
3 A student may substitute HIS 213 (Twentieth-Century Europe) or HIS 230 (The Holocaust in Historical Perspective) for HIS 108. A student in the All-College Honors Program may substitute HON 220 (Problems in Modern European History) for HIS 108.
4 A student in the All-College Honors Program may substitute HON 223 (Revolutions in Latin America) for HIS 132.