IR Minors

The International Relations minor compliments any major; introducing the conceptual tools you will need to thrive in the fast-changing world of tomorrow and providing an understanding of how global developments affects your lives and work.  This is an ideal minor for those interested in entering the public policy realm or the business world. It is an excellent stepping stone toward graduate programs in foreign affairs, law, public administration, public policy, urban planning, political science and business.

IR 210: International Relations: Introductory Analysis provides a comprehensive review of analytical and theoretical developments in international relations. The critical thinking skills learned in IR 210 provide a valuable base to build on in upper division IR courses. 

IR upper division courses examine issues related to specific regions, theory and methods, international political economy (IPE), security studies, foreign policy analysis, global issues and institutions, and gender, culture and society.

Minor Requirements – 20 units

One Lower Division Course                   

• IR 210: International Relations: Introductory Analysis

Four Upper Division Courses

• One Regional Course
• One 400 level Course  (not including 491 or 499)
• Two IR Upper Division Courses

Additional Requirements

• Maximum two courses (8 units) of IR 499 Special Topics courses may be applied toward the minor.

The Global Communication minor is a joint program consisting of courses offered by the School of International Relations in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences and the Annenberg School of Communication. The rise of global firms and international changes that followed the end of the cold war raise new opportunities and challenges.  This provides students from fields such as business, journalism, engineering and political science an understanding of the dynamic nature of global relations, communications, and technology.

Minor Requirements – 24 units

Two Core Courses

• IR 305: Managing New Global Challenges
• COMM 487: Communication and Global Organizations

Two International Relations Electives

• One Regional/Elective Upper Division Course
  IR 303:  Leadership and Diplomacy
  IR 325:  Rich and Pool States in the World Political Economy
  IR 326:  U.S. Foreign Economic Policy
  IR 327:  International Negotiation
  IR 330:  Politics of the World Economy
  IR 333:  China in International Affairs
  IR 337:  The Impact of Remittances and Development in Mexico
  IR 345:  Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy
  IR 346:  Foreign Policy of Eastern Europe and the Balkans
  IR 358:  The Asia Pacific in World Affairs
  IR 360:  International Relations of the Pacific Rim
  IR 361:  South and Southeast Asia in International Affairs
  IR 362:  The International Relations of the Contemporary Middle East
  IR 363:  Middle East Political Economy
  IR 364:  The Political Economy of Latin American Development
  IR 365:  Politics and Democracy in Latin America
  IR 366:  Mexico and its Relations with the United States
  IR 367:  Africa in International Affairs
  IR 368:  French Foreign Policy:  1945 to the Present
  IR 369:  Contemporary European International Relations
  IR 376:  U.S. - Japan Encounters: War, Trade, and Culture
  IR 383:  Third World Negotiations
  IR 384:  Introduction to Asian Security
  IR 385:  European Foreign Policy and Security Issues
  IR 389:  Islam in France (USC Paris Semester Only)
  IR 439:  Political Economy of Russia and Eurasia
  IR 442:  Japanese Foreign Policy
  IR 464:  U.S. Policy towards the Middle East: 1950 to the Present
  IR 465:  Contemporary Issues in U.S. - Latin America Relations
  IR 466:  Contemporary Issues in Latin American Politics
  IR 468:  European Integration
• One Upper Division Course (select any upper division IR course)

Two Communication Electives

• Select two from the following:
  COMM 324: Intercultural Communication
  COMM 339: Communication Technology and Culture
  COMM 345: Social and Economic Implications of Communication Technologies
  COMM 371: Censorship and the Law: From the Press to Cyberspace
  COMM 385: Survey of Organizational Communication
  COMM 430: Global Entertainment (Prerequisite: COMM 300)
  COMM 431: Global Strategy for the Communications Industry

Additional Requirements

• Students may take any interdisciplinary minor in which their major unit participates as long as at least four courses (at least 16 units) required for the minor are not courses offered by the major department.
• Students must take at least four courses (at least 16 units) which are unique to the minor (i.e. not required to fulfill the student’s major, another minor of general education requirements.
• International Relations majors must take four non-IR courses (16 units) for this minor.

The minor in International Policy and Management brings together courses from the School of International Relations in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences and the School of Policy, Planning, and Development.  This minor is ideal for those who picture themselves running multinational corporations, negotiating with foreign governments, or those interested in the policy and management issues that affect different regions of the world.  This program will provide students with an understanding of the changes transforming the world and a taste of the policy and management skills to deal with them.  Students will look at how those implications change when applied to other cultures, countries, or regions of the world.  To put these techniques to practice, students are required to participate in an internship with an international focus.

Minor Requirements – 26 units

International Relations Courses – 12 units

• IR305: Managing New Global Challenges
• One Upper Division Regional Course (list of electives below)
• One Upper Division Elective (list of electives below)

Policy, Planning, and Development Courses – Select one track

Policy, Planning, and Development (12 units)

• PPD 225: Public Policy and Management                            
• Select two from the following: 
  PPD 357: Government and Business
  PPD 371: The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest
  PPD 373: Public Policy and Planning Analysis
  PPD 476: Politics and Administration
  PPD 482: Comparative Public Administration

OR

Public Management (12 units)

• PPD 402: Management of Public and Non-profit Organizations
• Select two from the following:
  PPD 313: Finance of the Public Sector
  PPD 407: Financial Management of Public and Non-profit Organizations
  PPD 411a: Sacramento Semester
  PPD 476: Politics and Administration

Internship – 2 units

• Duration of internship must be one-semester long at 8-10 hours per week.
  Enroll in 2 units of IR 491: Field Study

Additional Requirements

• Students may take any interdisciplinary minor in which their major unit participates as long as at least four courses (at least 16 units) required for the minor are not courses offered by the major department.
• Students must take at least four courses (at least 16 units) which are unique to the minor (i.e. not required to fulfill the student’s major, another minor of general education requirements.
• International Relations majors must take four non-IR courses (16 units) for this minor.

Select one Regional Course from the following:

• IR 333:  China in International Affairs
• IR 337:  The Impact of Remittances and Development in Mexico
• IR 345:  Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy
• IR 346:  Foreign Policy of Eastern Europe and the Balkans
• IR 358:  The Asia Pacific in World Affairs
• IR 360:  International Relations of the Pacific Rim
• IR 361:  South and Southeast Asia in International Affairs
• IR 362:  The International Relations of the Contemporary Middle East
• IR 363:  Middle East Political Economy
• IR 364:  The Political Economy of Latin American Development
• IR 365:  Politics and Democracy in Latin America
• IR 366:  Mexico and its Relations with the United States
• IR 367:  Africa in International Affairs
• IR 368:  French Foreign Policy:  1945 to the Present
• IR 369:  Contemporary European International Relations
• IR 376:  U.S. - Japan Encounters: War, Trade, and Culture
• IR 383:  Third World Negotiations
• IR 384:  Introduction to Asian Security
• IR 385:  European Foreign Policy and Security Issues
• IR 389:  Islam in France (USC Paris Semester Only)
• IR 439:  Political Economy of Russia and Eurasia
• IR 442:  Japanese Foreign Policy
• IR 464:  U.S. Policy towards the Middle East: 1950 to the Present
• IR 465:  Contemporary Issues in U.S. - Latin America Relations
• IR 466:  Contemporary Issues in Latin American Politics
• IR 468:  European Integration

Select one IR Upper Division Elective Course from the following:

• IR 306:  International Organizations
• IR 307:  Contemporary International Politics
• IR 310:  Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies
• IR 315:  Ethnicity and Nationalism in World Politics
• IR 316:  Gender and Global Issues
• IR 318:  Conflict Resolution and Peace Research
• IR 323:  Politics of Global Environment
• IR 324:  Multinational Enterprises and World Politics
• IR 325:  Rich and Poor States in the World Political Economy
• IR 326:  U.S. Foreign Economic Policy
• IR 330:  Politics of the World Economy
• IR 341:  Foreign Policy Analysis
• IR 343:  U.S. Foreign Policy Since World War II
• IR 344:  Developing Countries in World Politics
• IR 381:  Introduction to International Security
• IR 382:  Order and Disorder in Global Affairs
• IR 427:  Seminar on Economics and Security
• IR 441:  Comparative Analysis of Foreign Policy
• IR 444:  Issues and Theories in Global Society

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