Overview

The Minor in Political Science & International Affairs prepares students for areas on the job market such as diplomacy, international business, international organizations, journalism, and politics.

Mission

The mission of the Minor in Political Science/International Affairs is to advance an academic understanding of contemporary political science and international affairs and address its complexities. It prepares students for graduate studies and/or a variety of entry-level careers.

Program Objectives

The purpose of the Minor in Political Science & International Affairs is to:

1. enhance the political and global knowledge of students who are not majoring in political science/international affairs,
2. prepare students for the job market by adding to their majors a minor in political science/international affairs,
3. enhance students’ research and writing skills through active learning and the promotion of critical thinking.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Minor in Political Science & International Affairs, students should be able to:

1. identify the nature of government processes, the function of political systems, the structures and roles of institutions and constitutions,
2. apply academic theories and concepts of international relations and relate them to contemporary global issues,
3. demonstrate ability to act ethically in professional and academic environments,
4. Analyze the interrelationship among the historical, political, economic, cultural, and geographic dimensions in political science and international affairs.

Curriculum

For a Minor in Political Science and International Affairs, a student must complete a total of 18 credits, distributed as follows:

• Core Courses (6 credits)
• Elective Courses (12 credits)

Core Requirements (6 credits)

• POL201   Introduction to Political Science (3 cr.)
• POL242   Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.)

Elective Courses (12 credits)

• POL203   Government and Politics of Lebanon (3 cr.)
• POL210   Introduction to Political Thought (3 cr.)      
• POL222   Comparative Political System (3 cr.)
• POL252   Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution (3 cr.)
• POL321   American Governments and Politics (3 cr.)
• POL323   Middle East Governments and Politics (3 cr.)
• POL324   Foreign Policy Analysis (3 cr.)
• POL325   Diplomatic and Consular Service (3 cr.)
• POL326   Politics of the European Union (3 cr.)
• POL327   Fundamentals of Security Studies (3 cr.)      
• POL328   Fundamentals of Public Policy (3 cr.)
• POL331   International Organization (3 cr.)        
• POL332   Public International Law (3 cr.)
• POL334   Negotiations and Bargaining (3 cr.)   
• POL335   Politics of Multiculturalism (3 cr.)
• POL336   Politics of Global South (3 cr.)
• POL346   International Political Economy (3 cr.)
• POL357   Globalization and Political Change (3 cr.)
• POL422   The Middle East in World Affairs (3 cr.)
• POL434   Topics in Global Governance (3 cr.)      
• POL435   Topics of Comparative Politics (3 cr.)
• POL436   Topics in Middle Eastern Studies (3 cr.)

Extracurricular Activities

The program encourages students to get involved in a large variety of extracurricular activities. Students with a Minor in Political Science and International Affairs have the opportunity to participate in the Harvard World Model United Nations simulation held each year in a different country where they learn and practice political and diplomatic skills that will be valuable in their future careers. Testimonials from the Harvard World MUN participants state that their involvement in this prestigious international activity was one of the most important in their whole undergraduate career.

Also, students with a Minor in Political Science and International Affairs have the opportunity to participate in conferences, workshops, simulations and lectures organized by the school, department and affiliated institutes and centers, especially the Institute for Social Justice and Conflict Resolution and the Institute for Migration Studies.