International Relations First Year Courses

Director: N. Murshid
Program Site
For students interested in the study of international relations as a major or minor, Colgate offers an interdisciplinary approach to the subject. International Relations majors acquire a broad knowledge of world politics through directed study in political science, economics, diplomatic history, and languages. Students are also invited to participate in on-campus programs supported by the International Relations program.

Students interested in majoring in International Relations should begin language training and take the program’s introductory course, POSC 232. Students who have AP credit for ECON 151 must take one additional elective course. POSC 152 can offer a general introduction to international relations, but does not ordinarily count toward the IR major.

In addition to campus activities and study, students are strongly encouraged to participate in an off-campus study group for a semester. The Political Science department and International Relations program sponsor an annual study group in Geneva, Switzerland. The Geneva study group allows students to study international organizations and global governance, along with Western European politics, history, and culture. Internships are a part of the experience and include placements in international organizations and nongovernmental organizations. Prerequisites for the study group include POSC 232 and FREN 121 or its equivalent, as well as a half-credit preparation course during the fall semester before the study group. Students seeking other opportunities for off-campus study may also consider other Colgate study groups or approved programs.

Colgate University has recently established a five-year, AB+MA program with the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva that may be of interest to students pursuing International Relations. In this program, students can receive a AB from Colgate and an MA from the Graduate Institute by completing three of their final four semesters (years 4 and 5) at the Graduate Institute. For more information on this program, students may contact Professor Ed Fogarty (efogarty@colgate.edu).

Questions about the International Relations program may be directed to the director, Professor Navine Murshid, (nmurshid@colgate.edu) and the program’s web page.