International Relations (BA)

This program is offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences/Social Sciences Department. It is available at the St. Louis main campus and at select international campuses. Please see the Locations Offering Undergraduate Programs section of this catalog for a list of campuses where this program is offered.

Program Description

The International Relations program equips students with the knowledge and skills to navigate today’s complex and interconnected global landscape. Combining rigorous study of diplomacy, security, international law, political theory, and global governance with experiential learning opportunities such as research projects, simulations, and applied policy analysis, the program prepares students to critically examine and address pressing international challenges. Students build expertise through research methods, political argumentation, and specialized pathways such as the Human Rights Emphasis, while developing practical skills that translate into careers in the private sector, non-governmental organizations, international institutions, and public service, or serve as a strong foundation for graduate and professional study. Graduates of the program emerge with a strong foundation in both the theory and practice of international affairs, supported by faculty who are active scholars and practitioners in fields such as global security, diplomacy, human rights, and political economy.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the major theories, methods, and subfields of international relations.
• Identify and evaluate the roles of key global actors and institutions in shaping international policy and decision-making.
• Analyze complex global challenges from diverse cultural, ethical, and theoretical perspectives to develop informed, policy-relevant solutions.
• Demonstrate global engagement and practical readiness through familiarity with global policy issues, foreign cultures, languages, and international experiences.

Degree Requirements

For information on the general requirements for a degree, see Baccalaureate Degree Requirements under the Academic Policies and Information section of this catalog.

• 37 required credit hours with the Department of History, Politics and International Relations
• A study abroad experience outside the student's country of origin or 6 international language credits (or advanced proficiency) 
• Applicable University Global Citizenship Program hours
• Electives

Courses completed with a grade of D+ or below do not count toward fulfilling the specific course requirements of the major.

Students are required to complete 37 credit hours within the department, including methods and a research requirement (fulfilled through a research paper).

Students must complete a Careers in History, Politics and International Relations course. Note: In Leiden, Geneva, Athens,Tbilisi, and Uzbekistan, the research requirement and careers course are satisfied by the seminar course (INTL 4600).

A minimum of 18 credit hours of international relations at Webster University is required.

At least 12 credit hours of upper-level (3000-level or above) coursework in the department with an international focus must be completed in addition to methods and senior overview. 

To satisfy the study abroad residency or international language requirement, students may either study at one of Webster University’s international campuses or at an approved alternative location. International students who have lived outside of the country of origin have met the study abroad requirement.

Students opting for a  significant international language experience instead of study abroad must complete 6 credit hours of the same language at the elementary and intermediate levels. Students must earn a grade of C- or better at both levels. Students may also pass an advanced level proficiency examination. Students whose native language is not English and who are studying in English already meet this requirement. 

Curriculum

Introductory and Skills Courses (All 18 hours required)
If Human Rights Emphasis, students must take the HRTS 1100 course and all other courses in this category.

• INTL 1050 Introduction to International Relations (3 hours)
  or POLT 1050 Introduction to International Relations (3 hours
• POLT 1070 Introduction to Political Theory (3 hours)
• INTL 2700 Methods of Political Inquiry (3 hours)
• POLT 1550 Political Argumentation and Debate (3 hours)
• POLT 3310 Conduct of Foreign Policy (3 hours)
• POLT 1080 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 hours)
  or POLT 1060 Introduction to American Politics (3 hours)
  or POLT 2250 Politics in the Industrialized World (3 hours)
  or POLT 2550 The Politics of the Developing World (3 hours)
  or HRTS 1100 Introduction to Human Rights (3 hours)

Global Affairs Analysis (choose 18 hours)
If Human Rights emphasis, student must take all of the HRTS courses and 6 additional hours)

• INTL 1500 The World System since 1500 (3 hours)
• INTL 2030 International Law (3 hours)
• INTL 3800 International Security (3 hours)
• INTL 3500 Environmental and Energy Security (3 hours)
• INTL 3700 International Organizations: Structure and Political Conflict (3 hours)
• INTL 4600 International Relations Seminar (3 hours)
• HRTS 3086 Advanced Topics in Human Rights
  or HRTS 3200 Human Rights Area Studies (3 hours)
• A 2000-level or above HIST course with an international focus (3 hours)
• HRTS 2500 Current Problems in Human Rights (3 hours)
• INTL/POLT/HIST elective which must have an international focus (6 hours)
  or 6 hours of HRTS credits

Critical Assessment and Career Development

• INTL 4000 Research Requirement (0 hour)
  (to be taken in conjunction with a designated 3000-level or 4000-level course)
• INTL 1200 Careers in History, Politics and International Relations (1 hour)

Language Requirements
3 College of Humanities and Social Sciences Language Credits, plus 3 language credits in same language. Language requirements can be fulfilled with a study abroad experience. To satisfy the study abroad residency or international language requirement, student may either study at one of Webster University's international campuses or at an approved alternative location. International students who have lived outside the country of origin have me the study abroad requirement. 

Special Requirements

Students studying at the Vienna campus have the following additional requirements. They complete these courses in addition to the core requirements listed above:

• POLT 1070 Introduction to Political Theory (3 hours)
  and INTL 2680 International Relations Theory (3 hours) (3 additional hours; 6 hours total)
• ANSO 2720 Introduction to Measurement and Statistics (3 hours)
• ECON 2030 Principles of Macroeconomics (3 hours)
  or ECON 2000 Survey of Economics (3 hours)
• Complete two additional courses from the sub-field course list in the core requirements. Only one security course (INTL 3500 Environmental and Energy Security or INTL 3800 International Security) can be used. (6 hours)
• Two additional department electives (6 hours)
• INTL 4700 Senior Thesis (4 hours)

Special Study Opportunities

With permission of the student's advisor, the following courses offered by other areas of study at Webster University may be applied toward the elective credit hours required in international relations:

• HRTS 1100 Introduction to Human Rights (3 hours)
• ECON 3700 Economics of Development (3 hours)
• JOUR 3080 Global Journalism (3 hours)
• MNGT 3320 Business Law: International (3 hours)
• BUSN 4650 International Business (3 hours)

Courses in the emphases (international economics; migration and refugee studies ) are also considered pre-approved electives for the international relations major. Qualified students may take selected graduate-level courses in international business and international relations and security studies, as part of an international relations major with permission of the department and the instructor of the course.

Emphasis in International Economics (42 hours)

This emphasis is available only at the Geneva campus.

Emphasis-Specific Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Identify the costs and the benefits of the global economy.
• Demonstrate their ability to define and critically analyze economic problems.
• Understand basic macroeconomic and microeconomic concepts.

Required Courses for the Emphasis in International Economics

Students in Geneva may elect an emphasis in international economics by fulfilling the above core requirements for international relations and by structuring five of their courses (15 hours) around the following list:

• ECON 2030 Principles of Macroeconomics (3 hours)
  or ECON 2000 Survey of Economics* (3 hours)
• ECON 2020 Principles of Microeconomics (3 hours)
  or ECON 2000 Survey of Economics* (3 hours)
• ECON 3030 Intermediate Macroeconomics (3 hours)
• ECON 3700 Economics of Development (3 hours)
• ECON 3720 International Trade and Finance (3 hours)
• ECON 4600 Comparative Economic Systems (3 hours)
• INTL 4280 International Economics (3 hours)
• INTL 3290 Politics of International Economic Relations (3 hours)
• INTL 3330 International Economic Integration (3 hours)
• HIST 3000 Ideas in History: History of Economic Thought (3 hours)
  or ECON 4900 History of Economic Thought (3 hours)

*Students using credit for ECON 2000 cannot count ECON 2020 or ECON 2030 toward the emphasis.

Emphasis in Human Rights 

Offered only in St. Louis

The Human Rights Emphasis allows students to explore the principles, laws, and practices that shape the global human rights system while developing the skills to advocate for and protect fundamental freedoms worldwide. Through coursework on human rights theory, ethics, and law, paired with opportunities for applied research and field experience, students examine contemporary issues such as humanitarian crises, migration, corporate responsibility, and social justice movements. This emphasis prepares graduates to critically analyze human rights challenges and pursue impactful careers in advocacy, policy development, international organizations, and other sectors where protecting and advancing human dignity is central.

Emphasis Learning Outcomes

• Analyze and evaluate the origins, evolution, and implementation of international human rights norms, treaties, and institutions, and their impact on global and local governance.
• Apply human rights frameworks to assess and address contemporary challenges such as humanitarian crises, migration, discrimination, and corporate social responsibility in global contexts.
• Integrate ethical reasoning and field-based experience to design informed, practical approaches to advancing human rights advocacy, policy development, and organizational decision-making. 

Emphasis Required Courses

Human Rights Emphasis Selection (15 Credit-Hours); Incorporated into the 37-credits of BA International Relations. 
All students in the emphasis begin with HRTS 1100 Introduction to Human Rights and then select additional courses.

• HRTS 1100 Introduction to Human Rights (3 hours)
• HRTS 2086 Topics in Human Rights (3 hours)
• HRTS 2500 Current Problems in Human Rights (3 hours)
• HRTS 3086 Advanced Topics in Human Rights (3 hours)
• HRTS 3200 Human Rights Area Studies (1-3 hours)
• HRTS 3340 Global Ethics (3 hours)
• HRTS 3700 Human Rights and Business (3 hours)
• HRTS 4500 Human Rights Field Experience (3 hours)