International Relations & Diplomacy
The International Relations & Diplomacy major is intended to provide students with an introduction to the relations between sovereign states in a continuously evolving international system. Focusing on the post-World War II period, it looks at the historical genesis of the current international system and the relations, conflictual and cooperative, between states in areas like collective problem-solving, diplomacy, and trade. It also examines the role of international organizations, like the United Nations, in mediating these relations.
In addition to the course requirements below, International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English. To learn more about the language requirement, visit the World Language Requirement page.
To learn more about major requirements, check out the links below. Requirements and course offerings do change, so if you have any questions please reach out to internationalstudies@osu.edu or contact your academic advisor.
International Relations & Diplomacy Major Requirements
Bachelor of Arts
For students admitted to OSU prior to Autumn 2023, please schedule an appointment with an advisor.
World Language Requirement: All International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English (2000 level)
International Studies is an 11 course major (33 hours) (World Language does not count toward this total)
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), Data Analysis (DA) and Technology (TECH) as part of the major.
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization (AW) - ideally taken sophomore year
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW) - ideally taken senior year
Methods & Analysis: Choose one course (3 hours)
- Geography 4103 - Introductory Spatial Data Analysis (DA)
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data (DA)
- Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization (DA)
- Sociology 5650 - Presenting & Communicating Quantitative Data (DA)
Primary Specialization, any 5 courses from list below (15 hours)
Secondary Specialization: any 3 courses from list below (9 hours)
- COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- COMPSTD 3608 - Representations of the Experience of War
- GEOG 3600 - Space, Power & Political Geography
- GEOG 3701 - Making of the Modern World
- HISTORY 3501 - U.S. Diplomacy, 1920 – Present
- HISTORY 3505 - U.S. Diplomacy in the Middle East
- HISTORY 3590 - Wars of Empire
- INTSTDS 2800 - Introduction to Peace Studies
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Topics in International Studies
- INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism
- INTSTDS 4701 - Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4704 - A Global War on Terror
- INTSTDS 4800 - Cultural Diplomacy
- INTSTDS 4801 - Model United Nations
- INTSTDS 4803 - Intervening for Peace: Peacekeeping & Collective Security
- INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Assessing Leadership Style
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
- INTSTDS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
- POLITSC 3225 - Post-Conflict Reconstruction
- POLITSC 3460 - Global Justice
- POLITSC 4300 - Theories of International Relations
- POLITSC 4305 - International Theory
- POLITSC 4310 - Security Policy
- POLITSC 4315 - International Security & the Causes of War
- POLITSC 4320 - Strategies for War & Peace
- POLITSC 4330 - Global Governance
- POLITSC 4331 - The United Nations System
- POLITSC 4381 - Comparative International Political Economy
- SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
Bachelor of Science
For students admitted to OSU prior to Autumn 2025, please schedule an appointment with an advisor.
World Language Requirement: All International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English (2000 level)
International Studies is an 11 course major (33 hours) (World Language does not count toward this total)
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
These courses are part of the major - one course in Advanced Writing (AW); one in Technology (TECH); and complete a 3-course sequence in Data Analysis (DA).
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization (AW) - ideally taken sophomore year
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW) - ideally taken senior year
Data Analysis: 3 courses (9 hours)
Choose one 3-course Series, and complete the 3 courses from that one Series
- Series 1
- Geography 4103 - Introductory Spatial Data Analysis
- Geography 5103 - Intermediate Spatial Data Analysis
- Geography 5210 - Fundamentals of Geographic Information System
- Series 2
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data or Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization
- Political Science 4781- Data Literacy in Political Science I
- Political Science 4782 - Data Literacy in Political Science II
- Series 3 (check course catalog for prerequisites for 3301 and 3302)
- Statistics 2450.01 or 2450.02 Introduction to Statistical Analysis I
- Statistics 3301 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery I:
- Prerequisites: MATH 2568 and STAT 3202 and 3201
- Statistics 3302 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery II
Specialization: Choose 6 courses (18 hours)
- COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- COMPSTD 3608 - Representations of the Experience of War
- GEOG 3600 - Space, Power, & Political Geography
- GEOG 3701 - Making of the Modern World
- HISTORY 3501 - U.S. Diplomacy, 1920 – Present
- HISTORY 3505 - U.S. Diplomacy in the Middle East
- HISTORY 3590 - Wars of Empire
- INTSTDS 2800 - Introduction to Peace Studies
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS/GEOG 3650 - A World Divided? Place, Space, and Regions in World Affairs
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Topics in International Studies
- INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism
- INTSTDS 4701 - The Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4704 - A Global War on Terror
- INTSTDS 4800 - Cultural Diplomacy
- INTSTDS 4801 - Model United Nations
- INTSTDS 4803 - Intervening for Peace: Peacekeeping & Collective Security
- INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Assessing Leadership Style
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
- INTSTDS/PUBAFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
- POLITSC 3225 - Post-Conflict Reconstruction
- POLITSC 3460 - Global Justice
- POLITSC 4300 - Theories of International Relations
- POLITSC 4305 - International Theory
- POLITSC 4310 - Security Policy
- POLITSC 4315 - International Security & the Causes of War
- POLITSC 4320 - Strategies for War & Peace
- POLITSC 4330 - Global Governance
- POLITSC 4331 - The United Nations System
- POLITSC 4381 - Comparative International Political Economy
- SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)