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 Majors 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.
Bachelor of Arts
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), Data Analysis (DA) and Technology (TECH). These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below.
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW)
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 & Secondary Specialization
If International Relations & Diplomacy is your Primary Specialization, choose five courses (15 hours). You will choose an additional 3 courses (9 hours) for your Secondary Specialization.
If International Relations & Diplomacy is your Secondary Specialization, choose three courses (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)
Embedded Literacies: 3 course (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing, Data Analysis and Technology. These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below.
Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)
- Geography 3701 - Making of the Modern World
- INTSTDSs 2800 - Introduction to Peace Studies
- Political Science 4300 - Theories of International Relations
- Political Science 4331 - The United Nations System
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours), must include one EL Technology, one EL Advanced Writing & one EL Data Analysis
- Economics 4600 - International Economic Relations
- Geography 3600 - Space, Power, & Political Geography
- History 3500 - U.S. Diplomacy From Independence to 1920
- History 3501 - U.S. Diplomacy, 1920-Present
- History 3526 - 20th Century European International History
- INTSTDS 3400 - Analysis & Display of Data (EL Data Analysis)
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in the Information Age (EL Technology)
- INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism (EL Advanced Writing)
- INTSTDS 4701 - The Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (EL Technology)
- INTSTDS 4704 - 9/11 Wars
- INTSTDS 4800 - Cultural Diplomacy
- INTSTDS 4801 - Model United Nations
- INTSTDS 4803 - Intervening for Peace: Peacekeeping & Collective Security
- INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Accessing Leadership Style
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (EL Advanced Writing)
- Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization (EL Data Analysis)
- Political Science 4320 - Strategies for War & Peace
- Political Science 4330 - Global Governance
- Political Science 4381 - Comparative International Political Economy
Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)
- Geography 3701 - Making of the Modern World
- International Studies 2800 - Introduction to Peace Studies
- Political Science 4300 - Theories of International Relations
- Political Science 4331 - The United Nations System
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours)
- Economics 4600 - International Economic Relations
- Geography 3600 - Space, Power & Political Geography
- History 3500 - U.S. Diplomacy From Independence to 1920
- History 3501 - U.S. Diplomacy, 1920-Present
- History 3526 - 20th Century European International History
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS - 4700 Terror & Terrorism
- INTSTDS - 4704 9/11 Wars
- INTSTDS 4800 - Cultural Diplomacy
- INTSTDS 4801 - Model United Nations
- INTSTDS 4803 - Intervening for Peace: Peacekeeping & Collective Security
- INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Accessing Leadership Style
- INTSTDS 5800 - International Law
- Political Science 4320 - Strategies for War & Peace
- Political Science 4330 - Global Governance
- Political Science 4381 - Comparative International Political Economy
Electives: Choose 2 courses (6 hours)
For electives, students can choose any combination of two courses from other International Studies specializations, the list below and unused courses from the Critical Perspectives.
- Communications 3443 - Global Media
- Comparative Studies 3608 - Representations of the Experience of War
- COMPSTD/INTSTDS 3661 - The City & Culture
- COMPSTD/INTSTDS 4873 - Contemporary Religious Movements in Global Context
- Geography 5601 - Geographies of Governmentalities
- History 3525 - 19th Century European International History
- History 3560 - American Military History, 1607-1902
- History 3561 - American Military History, 1902 to the Present
- History 3590 - Wars of Empire
- INTSTDS 3400 - Analysis & Display of Data
- ECON/INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
- INSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
- INTSTDS 5702 - Research on Organized Violence
- INTSTDS 5801 - Children & War
- Political Science 4210 - Politics of European Integration
- Political Science 4310 - Security Policy
- Political Science 4315 - International Security & the Causes of War
- Public Affairs/INTSTDS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
Bachelor of Science
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), and Technology (TECH), and complete a 3- course sequence in Data Analysis (DA). These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below.
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW)
Data Analysis: 3 courses (9 hours), Choose 1 3-course sequence
- 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
- Statistics 2450.01 or 2450.02 Introduction to Statistical Analysis I
- Statistics 3301 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery I
- C- or above in 3202; or 4202 and 5732. Prereq or concur: Math 2568; or permission of instructor.
- 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)
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing, Data Analysis, and Technology. These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below. The Stats 2450.01 prerequisite satisfies the EL Data Analysis.
Required Minor:
Students must complete one of the following minors, or a second major in the same field:
- Agribusiness: 4-5 courses (minimum 12 hours)
- Prerequisite: AEDECON 2001, or Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02
- Business: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Prerequisites: Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02, CSE 1110 or higher, Math 1130 or 1148 or math placement in M or L.
- City and Regional Planning: 4 courses (12 hours)
- Environmental Science: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Geographic Information Science: 6 courses (18 hours)
- Global Public Health: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Information Security: 6 courses (16 hours)
- Consult INTSTDS advisor for prerequisites and scheduling
- International Business: 6 courses (15 hours)
- Quantitative Economics: 5 courses (15-16 hours)
Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)
- Geography 3701 - Making of the Modern World
- International Studies 2800 - Introduction to Peace Studies
- Political Science 4300 - Theories of International Relations
- Political Science 4331 - The United Nations System
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours), must include one EL Technology & one EL Advanced Writing
- Economics 4600 - International Economic Relations
- Geography 3600 - Space, Power & Political Geography
- History 3500 - U.S. Diplomacy From Independence to 1920
- History 3501 - U.S. Diplomacy, 1920-Present
- History 3526 - 20th Century European International History
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in the Information Age (EL Technology)
- INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism (EL Advanced Writing)
- INTSTDS 4701 - The Development and Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (EL Technology)
- INTSTDS 4704 - 9/11 Wars
- INTSTDS 4800 - Cultural Diplomacy
- INTSTDS 4801 - Model United Nations
- INTSTDS 4803 - Intervening for Peace: Peacekeeping & Collective Security
- INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Accessing Leadership Style
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (EL Advanced Writing)
- Political Science 4320 - Strategies for War & Peace
- Political Science 4330 - Global Governance
- Political Science 4381 - Comparative International Political Economy
Electives: Choose 1 course (3 hours)
For the elective, students can choose from the list below, unused courses from the Critical Perspectives, or a courses from other International Studies specializations.
- Comparative Studies 3608 - Representations of the Experience of War
- COMPSTD/INTSTDS 3661 - The City & Culture
- COMPSTD/INTSTDS 4873 - Contemporary Religious Movements in Global Context
- Geography 5601 - Geographies of Governmentalities
- History 3525 - 19th Century European International History
- History 3560 - American Military History, 1607-1902
- History 3561 - American Military History, 1902 to the Present
- History 3590 - Wars of Empire
- INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
- INTSTDS 5702 - Research on Organized Violence
- Political Science 4310 - Security Policy
- Political Science 4315 - International Security & the Causes of War
- Public Affairs/INTSTDS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing, Data Analysis, and Technology. These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below. The Stats 2450.01 prerequisite satisfies the EL Data Analysis.
Required Minor:
Students must complete one of the following minors, or a second major in the same field:
- Agribusiness: 4-5 courses (minimum 12 hours)
- Prerequisite: AEDECON 2001, or Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02
- Business: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Prerequisites: Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02, CSE 1110 or higher, Math 1130 or 1148 or math placement in M or L.
- City and Regional Planning: 4 courses (12 hours)
- Environmental Science: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Geographic Information Science: 6 courses (18 hours)
- Global Public Health: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Information Security: 6 courses (16 hours)
- Consult INTSTDS advisor for prerequisites and scheduling
- International Business: 6 courses (15 hours)
- Quantitative Economics: 5 courses (15-16 hours)
Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)
- Geography 3701 - Making of the Modern World
- INTSTDS 2800 - Introduction to Peace Studies
- Political Science 4300 - Theories of International Relations
- Political Science 4331 - The United Nations System
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours)
- Economics 4600 - International Economic Relations
- Geography 3600 - Space, Power & Political Geography
- History 3500 - U.S. Diplomacy From Independence to 1920
- History 3501 - U.S. Diplomacy, 1920-Present
- History 3526 - 20th Century European International History
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism
- INTSTDS 4704 - 9/11 Wars
- INTSTDS 4800 - Cultural Diplomacy
- INTSTDS 4801 - Model United Nations
- INTSTDS 4803 - Intervening for Peace: Peacekeeping & Collective Security
- INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Accessing Leadership Style
- INTSTDS 5800 - International Law
- Political Science 4320 - Strategies for War & Peace
- Political Science 4330 - Global Governance
- Political Science 4381 - Comparative International Political Economy
Electives: Choose 1 course (3 hours)
For the elective, students can choose from the list below, unused courses from the Critical Perspectives, or a courses from other International Studies specializations.
- Communications 3443 - Global Media
- Comparative Studies 3608 - Representations of the Experience of War
- COMPSTD/INTSTDS 3661 - The City & Culture
- COMPSTD/INTSTDS 4873 - Contemporary Religious Movements in Global Context
- Geography 5601 - Geographies of Governmentalities
- History 3525 - 19th Century European International History
- History 3560 - American Military History, 1607-1902
- History 3561 - American Military History, 1902 to the Present
- History 3590 - Wars of Empire
- INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
- INTSTDS 5702 - Research on Organized Violence
- INTSTDS 5801 - Children & War
- Political Science 4310 - Security Policy
- Political Science 4315 - International Security & the Causes of War
- Public Affairs/INTSTDS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States