Mission

The Bachelor of Arts program in Political Science and International Affairs trains students in comparative politics, international relations, and political theory, as well as the methodology of political analysis. It also seeks to develop future leaders who recognize and value diversity in a variety of professional settings and prepares students for graduate study.

Program Objectives

Graduates of the program shall be able to:

1. Attain knowledge of facts, theories, and concepts in political science and international affairs at the local, national and international levels;
2. Develop awareness of the diversity of perspectives and life experiences that structure the global political, social, and economic environment
3. Integrate the cultural, social, legal, and ethical issues inherent in the description and analysis of politics and international affairs; and
4. Apply team work and interpersonal skills effectively.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of this program, students can:

1. Describe the basic facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to political science and international affair;
2. Analyze the interrelationship among the historical, political, economic, cultural, and geographic dimensions in political science and international affairs;
3. Apply academic theories and concepts of international relations and relate them to contemporary global issues;
4. Generate research questions and statements pertaining to political science and/or international affairs orally and in writing.
5. Apply research skills to the design of research, description, analysis, interpretation and explanation of aspects of political science and international affairs in written and oral forms;
6. Solve problems related to political science and international affairs in a cooperative manner;
7. Demonstrate ability to analyze complex ethical issues; and
8. Conduct themselves ethically in professional and academic environments.

Admission Requirements

To enter the major, students must meet the general university requirements.

Graduation Requirements

A total of 92 credits are required to graduate, based on:

Program Requirements

A Senior Study Project is required for all students in addition to successful completion of the course of study.

Major Core Requirements (39 credits)

• ECO201 / Microeconomics (3 cr.)
• ECO202 / Macroeconomics (3 cr.)
• POL201 / Introduction to Political Science (3 cr.)
• POL203 / Government & Politics of Lebanon (3 cr.)
• POL210 / Introduction to Political Thought (3 cr.)
• POL240 / Concepts of World Politics (3 cr.)
• POL222 / Comparative Political Systems (3 cr.)
• POL314 / Research Methodology (3 cr.)
• POL312 / Politics of Developing Areas (3 cr.)
• POL322 / Foreign Policy of the Major Powers (3 cr.)
• POL331 / International Organization (3 cr.)
• POL332 / Public International Law (3 cr.)
• POL499 / Senior Study (3 cr.)

Issue Focus (9 credits)

Choose either 9 credits in one of the following tracks (to complement the major requirements) OR take a total of 9 credits from this section overall:

A. Globalization

• ECO311 / Economic Development (3 cr.)
• POL335 / Politics of Multiculturalism (3 cr.)
• POL346 / International Political Economy (3 cr.)
• POL357 / Globalization & Political Change (3 cr.)
• POL437 / Topics in Political Science-International Affairs (3 cr.)
• POL488 / Internship (3 cr.)

B.   Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution

• POL252 / Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution (3 cr.)
• POL415 / Negotiation & Bargaining (3 cr.)
• POL432 / Diplomatic & Consular Service (3 cr.)
• POL437 / Topics in Political Science-International Affairs (3 cr.)
• POL448 / Internship (3 cr.)*

*Internship can only be taken once for credit.

Area Studies (9 credits)

Choose any 9 credits of the following:

• HST240 / History of the Arab Peoples (3 cr.)
• HST241 / History of Islam in the Middle East (3 cr.)
• HST304 / Modern Europe (3 cr.)
• HST305 / Contemporary Europe (3 cr.)
• HST334 / History of North America (3 cr.)
• POL321 / American Government and Politics (3 cr.)
• POL323 / Middle East Government & Politics (3 cr.)
• POL368 / Political Parties and Elections in America (3 cr.)
• POL437 / Topics in Political Science-International Affairs (3 cr.)
• POL422 / The Middle East in World Affairs (3 cr.)
• POL426 / Politics of the European Union (3 cr.)
• SOC321 / Sociology of the Arab World (3 cr.)
• WOS313 / Women in the Arab World (3 cr.)

Free Electives (10 credits)

Sample Study Plan

Year One

Fall: 12 credits

• POL201 Introduction to Political Science*
• ARA2—/3—
• ECO201  Microeconomics
• Remedial English course (if any)—
• Free Elective 

*(also counts as 1 LAC course—Social Sciences)

Spring: 15 credits

• POL2o3 Government & Politics of Lebanon
• POL 210 Introduction to Political Thought
• POL 240 Concepts of World Politics
• ENG 202 Sophomore Rhetoric
• LAC Elective 

Summer: 6 credits**

• ENG203 Fund. Oral Communication
• ETH201 Moral Reasoning
• PED— Physical Education
• CSC201 Computer Applications

**Students who do not need to take remedial English in their first year could avoid taking summer courses by taking ENG203 in Spring after having taken ENG202 in Year One Fall.  ETH201 and PED— could be fit in elsewhere during the fall or spring semesters.

Year Two

Fall: 15 credits

• POL 222 Comparative Political System
• POL 312 Politics of Developing Areas
•  POL331 International Organization
• ECO202 Macroeconomics
• Free Elective

Spring: 15 credits

• POL314 Research Methodology
• POL322 Foreign Policy of Major Powers
• Issue Tracks Course
• Area Studies Course
• LAC Elective 

Year Three

Fall: 16 credits

•  POL332 Public International Law
• Area Studies Course
• Issue Tracks Course
• LAC Elective
• Free Elective
•  HLT201 Basic Health      

Spring: 13 credits

• POL 499 Senior Study
• Area Studies Course
•  Issue Tracks Course
• LAC Electives
• Free Electives

Extracurricular Activities

The program encourages students to get involved in a large variety of extracurricular activities. LAU sends 16 Political Science (PS) and Political Science and International Affairs (PS-IA) students to the Harvard World Model United Nations simulation held each year in a different country. Our students learn and practice political and diplomatic skills that will be invaluable in their future careers. Indeed, Harvard World MUN participants regularly say that their participation in this prestigious international activity was one of the most important in their whole undergraduate career. LAU delegations to the Harvard World MUN are regular award winners and were ranked among the top 10 of more than 110 participating universities from around the world.

Many PS-IA students have the opportunity to participate as organizers and trainers in LAU’s Global Classrooms-Model United Nations which trains around 1300 local and regional high school students in diplomacy.

Furthermore, PS-IA majors have the opportunity to participate in conferences, workshops, simulations and lectures organized by the school, department and affiliated institutes and centers, especially the Institute of Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation, the Institute for Migration Studies, and the Institute of Peace and Justice Education.

PS-IA majors have the opportunity to do a semester abroad at SciencePo (France); additional formal exchange programs are being developed.

Career Opportunities

A B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs prepares students for a variety of professions including diplomacy, international business, international organizations, journalism, and politics, among others, through a rigorous program that emphasizes theory, methodology and practice.  A number of PS-IA graduates also pursue Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Lebanon, Europe, and North America.