College of Arts and Sciences
School of Multidisciplinary Social Sciences and Humanities
www.kent.edu/multidisciplinary-studies

Contact Information

• Program Coordinator: Julie Mazzei | jmazzei@kent.edu | 330-672-8934
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Fully Offered

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers

• Government, including diplomacy, national intelligence and security agencies, as well as positions in Department of State, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security
• Law
• Business, including finance, communication and multi-national corporations
• International organizations, such as the United Nations and its affiliated agencies
• Non-governmental organizations in such areas as human rights, economic development and immigration

Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations empowers students to make a difference on a global scale. Whether students are interested in human rights, economic development, international law, peacebuilding, climate change or some other global question, the program encourages them to understand international problems from a range of perspectives and see more clearly how they can make an impact on them.

The major is interdisciplinary, which enables students to explore issues from such perspectives as political science, economics and geography, as well as history, literature and Africana studies. Students engage in advanced language study, enhancing their ability to communicate globally, and they are encouraged to study abroad if they are able. The program has permanent arrangements for study in Florence or Geneva, and more customized opportunities are also possible.

Because of their broad exposure to global issues and their language training, International Relations students go on to rewarding careers in almost every imaginable sector, including international organizations, non-profit agencies, business, law and government. To all of those areas, they bring a multifaceted understanding of the global system.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campus to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. Check with a regional campus admissions office to determine application requirements, as they may differ among campuses.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 48 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score; or by completing the ESL level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of global economics, politics, geography, literature and societies.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of at least one foreign language through intermediate II.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students must complete a foreign language offered at Kent State (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish) at the Intermediate II level (or equivalent). This also will satisfy the college's foreign language requirement (see Foreign Language College Requirement below for additional information). In addition, students must either complete two upper-division courses in the same language or complete a second language at the Elementary II level (or equivalent). With approval of the political science undergraduate coordinator, students may apply courses taken in a foreign language abroad and/or by a proficiency exam (e.g., ACTFL) to satisfy all or part of the language requirement.

²

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

³

Maximum three courses in one subject area from the four elective groups (Global Economics, Global Politics and/or Global Societies electives lists above)

⁴

The credit hours depends on if the student completes major requirement ECON 22060 (Social Sciences) or HIST 11051 (Humanities).

Graduation Requirements

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.¹
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options²:

1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
2. Elementary I and II of a second language
3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:

• Intermediate I of the same language
• ARAB 21401
• ASL 19401
• CHIN 25421
• MCLS 10001
• MCLS 20001
• MCLS 20091
• MCLS 21417
• MCLS 21420
• MCLS 22217
• MCLS 28403
• MCLS 28404

¹

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

²

Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.