The comparative political, economic, and social systems concentration focuses on the comparative analysis of a wide range of political, economic, and social issues within nations and across national borders. Key concerns include variations in political regimes, how political institutions shape economic policy and practice, and state-society relations. The concentration enables students to develop deep knowledge of the histories, politics, economics, and social systems of specific countries.
Students in the BA in international affairs program must complete at least five courses (15 credits) to fulfill their concentration requirements, as indicated below. These courses must be taken in at least two different academic departments.
Students in the BS in international affairs program must complete at least three courses (9 credits) to fulfill their specialization requirements, as indicated below. It is not required that these courses be taken in two different academic departments.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| One course from the following: | ||
| PSC 2330 | Comparative Politics of Western Europe | |
| PSC 2331 | Comparative Politics of Central and Eastern Europe | |
| PSC 2339 | Comparative Political Economy | |
| PSC 2373 | Comparative Politics of Southeast Asia | |
| PSC 2377 | Comparative Politics of the Middle East | |
| PSC 2381 | Comparative Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa | |
| PSC 2383 | Comparative Politics of Latin America | |
| For students in the BA in international affairs program, four courses selected from the following: | ||
| For students in the BS in international affairs program, two courses selected from the following: | ||
| ANTH 3506 | Politics, Ethnicity, and Nationalism | |
| ANTH 3513 | Anthropology of Human Rights | |
| or IAFF 3513 | Human Rights and Ethics | |
| ECON 2169 | Introduction to the Economy of China | |
| GEOG 2000 | Sophomore Colloquium (Migrants and the City) | |
| GEOG 2148 | Economic Geography | |
| GEOG 3146 | Political Geography | |
| GEOG 3165 | Geography of South Asia | |
| GEOG 3195 | Special Topics in Human Geography (Race, Ethnicity, and Place) | |
| GEOG 3198 | Special Topics (Climate Change and Social Change) | |
| GER 3188 | The Lives of East Germans | |
| HIST 3001 | Special Topics (From Asia to America: Diasporas) | |
| HONR 2047 | Self and Society Seminar (Holocaust Memory. Same as IAFF 3190 or JSTD 2002: Holocaust Memory) | |
| HONR 2047 | Self and Society Seminar (Humanitarian Governance) | |
| HONR 2047 | Self and Society Seminar (Humanitarianism. Same as IAFF 3190 and PSC 2454: Humanitarianism) | |
| HONR 2047 | Self and Society Seminar (Nationalism, Ethnicity & Identity) | |
| HONR 2047 | Self and Society Seminar (Transitional Justice) | |
| HONR 2053 | Arts and Humanities Seminar (The History of Coups D'Etats in the 20th Century) | |
| IAFF 2090 | Latin America: Problems and Promise | |
| IAFF 2091 | East Asia-Past and Present | |
| IAFF 2092 | Russia and Eastern Europe: An Introduction | |
| IAFF 2093 | Africa: Problems and Prospects | |
| IAFF 2094 | Europe in Transition | |
| IAFF 2095 | The Middle East in International Affairs | |
| IAFF 2190 | Special Topics (Politics and Culture in Africa) | |
| IAFF 2190W | Special Topics (Arab Politics) | |
| IAFF 2190W | Special Topics (Politics and Culture in the Middle East) | |
| IAFF 2201W | Women in Global Politics | |
| IAFF 2202W | Critical Issues in U.S.-Asia Relations | |
| IAFF 3177 | Political Economy of Latin America | |
| IAFF 3180 | Special Topics in Security Policy (Global Energy Markets) | |
| IAFF 3183 | Special Topics in Development Policy (Globalization and Sustainable Development) | |
| IAFF 3186 | Special Topics in Asian Studies (Asian Order and Community Building) | |
| IAFF 3186 | Special Topics in Asian Studies (Women in Asia) | |
| IAFF 3187 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Argentina in a Global Context. Same as HIST 3701: Argentina in Global Context) | |
| IAFF 3187 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Climate Change & Environmental Politics in Latin America) | |
| IAFF 3187 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Cuba in the Global Arena) | |
| IAFF 3187 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Democracy Under Siege) | |
| IAFF 3187 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Economic & Social Development in Latin America) | |
| IAFF 3187 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Latin American Migration) | |
| IAFF 3187 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Mexico Since Independence) | |
| IAFF 3187 | Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Racial & Ethnic Politics in Latin America) | |
| IAFF 3188 | Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Israeli Society and Politics) | |
| or JSTD 2002 (Israeli Society and Politics) | ||
| IAFF 3188 | Special Topics in Middle East Studies (State and Society in Egypt) | |
| IAFF 3189 | Special Topics in African Studies (Africa: Declassified) | |
| IAFF 3189 | Special Topics in African Studies (Ethnic and Religious Conflict in Africa) | |
| IAFF 3189 | Special Topics in African Studies (Foreign Influence in Senegal) | |
| IAFF 3189 | Special Topics in African Studies (International Affairs in Africa) | |
| IAFF 3190 | Special Topics in International Affairs (Arab Politics) | |
| IAFF 3190 | Special Topics in International Affairs (Climate Change and Developing Countries) | |
| IAFF 3190 | Special Topics in International Affairs (Climate Change and Social Change) | |
| or GEOG 3198 (Climate Change and Social Change) | ||
| IAFF 3190 | Special Topics in International Affairs (European Economies and Crisis of Integration) | |
| IAFF 3190 | Special Topics in International Affairs (Humanitarianism. Same as HONR 2047 and PSC 2454: Humanitarianism) | |
| IAFF 3190 | Special Topics in International Affairs (Illiberalism and Democracy) | |
| IAFF 3190 | Special Topics in International Affairs (International Business and Modern Slavery) | |
| IAFF 3190 | Special Topics in International Affairs (International Conflict and Politics Research Seminar. Same as IAFF 4191W: International Conflict and Politics Research Seminar) | |
| IAFF 3190 | Special Topics in International Affairs (U.S. Foreign Policy Decision Making) | |
| IAFF 3190 | Special Topics in International Affairs (Women, Rights, and Gender Equality) | |
| IAFF 3201W | China’s Rise and Its Implications | |
| IAFF 3205 | Holocaust Memory | |
| or JSTD 2002 (Holocaust Memory) | ||
| or HONR 2047 (Holocaust Memory) | ||
| IAFF 3402 | Oil: Industry, Economy, Society | |
| or IBUS 4403 | Oil: Industry, Economy, and Society | |
| IAFF 3513 | Human Rights and Ethics | |
| or ANTH 3513 | Anthropology of Human Rights | |
| IAFF 3633 | Gender, Conflict, and Security | |
| IAFF 3752W | Equitable Development in Southeast Asia | |
| IAFF 3753 | International Relations of South Asia | |
| IAFF 3757 | North Korean Society and Culture | |
| or KOR 4190 | North Korean Society and Culture | |
| IAFF 3758 | China and the World | |
| IAFF 4191W | Research and Writing Seminar (International Conflict and Politics Research Seminar) | |
| IAFF 4192 | Team-Based Applied Learning Seminar (Applied Research on Africa) | |
| IAFF 4192 | Team-Based Applied Learning Seminar (Conflict Stabilization Applied Research) | |
| IBUS 4403 | Oil: Industry, Economy, and Society | |
| or IAFF 3402 | Oil: Industry, Economy, Society | |
| JSTD 2002 | Topics in Judaic Studies: Modern (Holocaust Memory. Same as HONR 2047 and IAFF 3205: Holocaust Memory) | |
| KOR 4190 | North Korean Society and Culture | |
| or IAFF 3757 | North Korean Society and Culture | |
| PSC 2333 | Reunification, Reconciliation, and Resentment | |
| PSC 2993 | Special Topics in Comparative Politics (Civil Wars) | |
| PSC 2330 | Comparative Politics of Western Europe | |
| PSC 2331 | Comparative Politics of Central and Eastern Europe (Politics of Russia and Central and Eastern Europe) | |
| PSC 2334 | Global Perspectives on Democracy | |
| PSC 2336 | State–Society Relations in the Developing World | |
| PSC 2338 | Nationalism | |
| PSC 2339 | Comparative Political Economy * | |
| PSC 2366 | Russian Politics | |
| PSC 2367 | Human Rights | |
| PSC 2368 | Politics in the Two Koreas | |
| PSC 2371 | Politics and Foreign Policy of China | |
| PSC 2373 | Comparative Politics of Southeast Asia | |
| or IAFF 3186 (Comparative Politics of Southeast Asia) | ||
| PSC 2374 | Politics and Foreign Policy of Japan | |
| PSC 2377 | Comparative Politics of the Middle East | |
| PSC 2381 | Comparative Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa | |
| PSC 2383 | Comparative Politics of Latin America | |
| PSC 2454 | Humanitarianism (Same as HONR 2047 and IAFF 3190: Humanitarianism) | |
| PSC 2476 | The Arab-Israeli Conflict | |
| PSC 2990W | Selected Topics (British Politics) | |
| PSC 2993 | Special Topics in Comparative Politics (Politics of Modern Iran) | |
| PSC 2993 | Special Topics in Comparative Politics (Ukrainian Politics) | |
| PSC 3192W | Proseminar: Political Science (British Politics) | |
| PSC 3192W | Proseminar: Political Science (Political Violence) | |
| PSC 3500 | Advanced Topics in Political Science (Democratic Experiments in Latin America) | |
| PSC 3500W | Advanced Topics in Political Science (China's Communist Party) | |
| SMPA 3195 | Selected Topics in Journalism and Mass Communication (Media and Peacebuilding) | |
*This course may be taken as an additional course option only if it was not previously taken under "One from the following."