INTLR-BA - International Relations (BA)

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International RelationsUndergraduate MatriculatedBA - Bachelor of Arts

The Program in International Relations (IR) offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate major, minor, and honors program, allowing students to explore how global, regional, and domestic factors influence relations between actors in the modern state system. IR majors pursue a course of study in world politics that includes classes in political science, economics, history, environmental policy, languages, and other fields. IR majors may focus on various issues, including international security, international trade and finance, political and economic development, human rights and humanitarian policy, democratization, climate change, global health, and other countries’ and world regions’ politics, history, and cultures. All IR majors must spend at least one quarter studying abroad and achieve high proficiency (through second-year college level) in a foreign language. The IR major prepares students for government, non-government, and private sector careers and admission into graduate programs, including law, international policy, business, political science, economics, and journalism.

Preparing for the Major

Prospective IR majors are advised to consider any introductory seminar taught by IR-affiliated faculty through Stanford Introductory Studies. Students may also want to begin foreign language study. It would also be helpful in the first and second years to complete an introductory economics and/or statistical methods/data science course, both of which are core requirements for the major.

Declaring the Major

Students interested in majoring in IR are encouraged to declare anytime during their first or second year, but you need to declare during sophomore spring if you haven’t already. You are urged to discuss your study plans with the undergraduate Student Services Officer or peer advisors as early as possible. To declare the major, students must complete the Declaration of Major in Axess, choose a faculty advisor, and submit a completed Major Declaration Packet to the IR Office or the IR Student Services Officer. You should meet with the IR capstone coordinator during the declaration process to discuss capstone requirement options. It is recommended that students meet with their faculty advisor at least once per academic year to discuss progress toward degree completion; however, quarterly meetings are highly encouraged.

Minimum Units in the Program

Minimum University Units

180

Core Program Requirements

Completion requirement

Degree Requirements Overview

Requirements Outline

Students majoring in International Relations (IR) must complete a minimum of 70 units (30 units of core courses and 40 units of specialization courses).
At least one of these courses must be a seminar or colloquium-style class.
At least one of these courses must be designated as Writing in the Major (WIM) for IR.
All IR majors must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by completing two years of coursework (through the second year, third quarter) or passing a proficiency exam. Students should be aware that they might need at least 15 language units above the university minimum to complete the two-year IR language requirement. For more information, please visit the IR website.
All IR majors must complete one quarter of academic study overseas through Stanford’s Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP) or an approved non-Stanford program. Non-Stanford programs must be pre-approved by the IR office before the student enrolls. For more information, please visit the IR website.
Beginning with the Class of 2025, IR majors will be required to complete a 5-unit capstone course (see Capstone Experience below for details). Students should be aware that these 5 units do not count towards the minimum 70 units needed to complete the IR major.

Additional Policies

All courses that count towards major unit requirements must be taken for a letter grade, and a minimum grade of C is required. Foreign language units do not count towards the 70-unit minimum for the major and may be taken for a letter grade or CR/NC.
Up to two units of IR pre-approved or petitioned courses not offered for a letter grade may be applied toward IR specializations or filler coursework if completed for S grades.
Upon approval by the IR Faculty Director and University Registrar, a maximum of 15 non-Stanford units may be applied to the major for credit. Transfer courses must receive a B- or better to count toward degree requirements.
A maximum of five units of Directed Reading may be counted toward major units.
Students completing a double major or minor(s) must file a Major-Minor and Multiple Major Course Approval Form by the Final Study List deadline for the term the student intends to graduate.

Required Courses (5 units in each of the 6 categories below for a total of 30 units)

Fulfill ALL of the following requirements:

International Politics

Complete ALL of the following Courses:

1228492
OR 1228491

AND

Comparative Governance

Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:

1150132
OR 1150131
2049952
OR 2049951

course is no longer offered at this time. However, if taken in the past, will still count for Comparative Governance credit.

AND

American Foreign Policy

Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:

2033864
OR 2033861
OR 2033865
OR 2262301
2041613
OR 2041612
OR 2041614
OR 2262291
2134671
OR 2134672
2168951
OR 2168952
2133964
OR 2133963
OR 2133962
2138541
OR 2138542
2148331
OR 2148332

course and course are no longer offered at this time. However, it still counts for American Foreign Policy credit if taken in the past.

INTNLREL 110C or POLISCI 110C can count for the WIM requirement. However, POLISCI 110X does not.

INTNLREL 110D, POLISCI 110D, or AMSTUD 110D can count for the WIM requirement. However, POLISCI 110Y does not.

AND

Introductory Economics

Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:

2144841
1132501
1132521
1132571

AND

Applied Economics Courses

Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:

2205611
1035071
2229111
2228231
1132841
1132921
1133011
2147461
1133571
2067641
2133731
2216731
2092251
2160921
2121091
1133561
1267341
1133661
2078231
1018871
2229641
2104051
2202521
2109461
2012581
2065051
2033864
OR 2262301
2138901
2077281
1045511
2203991
1067481
2169091
2200381
2092581
2021151
1061431
2016561
2157241
2162851
2103201
2252601
2238781
2171611
2136501
1170221
2028751
1244591
2243771

Crosslisted courses may only be taken once for credit.

AND

Skills Class

Complete at least 1 of the following Courses:

2085281
2243447
1132801
2171541
1237821
2180931

Students who took courses in previous years that are not featured in the below table should consult the Stanford Bulletin for the years in which the courses were taken.

Depth in Discipline

Completion requirement

Pathway Courses

Students must take a minimum of 40 units of specialization/pathway courses. A minimum of 20 units must be from the student’s primary pathway and a minimum of 15 units from the secondary pathway. If you complete the minimum 35 primary and secondary pathway units, the remaining five units can be selected from any IR course (pre-approved or petitioned). Primary and secondary pathways/specializations are not declared on Axess or printed on the diploma or transcript.

The eleven pathways are:

Africa
Comparative International Governance
East and South Asia
Economic Development/World Economy
Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources
Europe (East and West) & Russia
International History and Culture
International Security
Latin America and Iberian Studies
Middle East and Central Asia
Social Development/Human Well-Being

Africa Pathway

If this is your primary pathway, complete a minimum of 20 units from the list below; If this is your secondary pathway, complete a minimum of 15 units.