Skip to content

---

---

Requirements

Course Requirements

These requirements are designed to expose students to a broad range of perspectives in international relations while allowing them to tailor their course selections to specific interests.

Courses throughout the university are grouped into four subject areas:

• International Economics and Development
• World Politics and Foreign Policy
• Transnational Processes and Policies
• Cultural Studies

Courses within these four subject areas are designated as "core" or "elective." Students must complete eight courses selected from the four groups according to one of two strategies.

Option A emphasizes the politics and economics of international relations.

• One core course from each group
• One elective from each group

Option B puts greater stress on culture.

• One core course from each group
• One elective from either Group 1 or Group 2
• One elective from Group 3, one elective from Group 4, and one additional elective from either Group 3 or Group 4

In choosing either option, students should ensure that they acquire familiarity with more than one geographic region or country.

All courses used to fulfill the concentration requirements, including language courses, must be taken for a letter grade.

Language Requirements

IR Concentrators are expected to complete additional language study beyond the College of Arts and Sciences degree requirement of "proficiency." For most languages, proficiency is attained by completing a course at the 200 level, by which point the basic grammar and structure of the language will have been covered.

The requirement can be fulfilled in one of two ways:

• Demonstrated proficiency in two foreign languages, or
• Demonstrated facility in one foreign language (proficiency plus one course that uses the language to explore some aspect of a foreign culture, such as literature or film)

All language courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Study Abroad

IR Concentrators are strongly encouraged to study abroad to bring a practical dimension to their expertise in international issues. Those who choose this option will find the requirements for the concentration highly compatible with courses taken abroad. To learn more about programs available for study abroad, consult Cornell Abroad, and contact the Administrative Coordinator of the IR Concentration to discuss how your study abroad program can help fulfill the concentration requirements.

Enrollment

Students may enroll in the International Relations Concentration at any point but are encouraged to do so early in order to be put on the email list for announcements of news and activities of the program. There is no penalty for withdrawing from or not completing the Concentration. To enroll, please contact the Administrative Coordinator.

Completion

Transcripts reflect successful completion of the requirements for the Concentration. In addition, students receive a certificate and a letter of confirmation signed by the Director of the International Relations Concentration and the Director of the Mario Einaudi Center.