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The Faculty of Social Sciences offers an interdisciplinary major in International Relations. The International Relations Major requires careful selection of courses to meet its requirements. The student's course selection must be approved by the Coordinator of the International Relations program. There is no Minor program in International Relations.

It is not possible to complete double major, combined degree or major/minor combinations between International Relations and Economics or History or Political Science.

First Year Admission

In addition to meeting requirements for admission to the Faculty of Social Sciences, first year applicants should note that the International Relations program has a fixed number of places for students. Whenever demand exceeds capacity, enrolment will be limited and students will be admitted on a competitive basis.

Admission for Continuing and Transfer Students

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to the Faculty of Social Sciences, students transferring from other faculties and institutions must meet the competitive admission requirements in place for this program. Students who have already been admitted to the Faculty of Social Sciences but are applying to change their program to International Relations must also meet the competitive admission requirements. All applicants should note that the International Relations program has a fixed number of places for students. Spring and Summer Term courses taken after May 1 in the year of application will not count towards determining admissibility.

The International Relations Major requires:

1. A modern language requirement in a language other than English, consisting of two full-course equivalents, of which at least one full-course equivalent must be at the senior level. Students should elect a language of study which will assist them with their research on an understanding of the world. French 235, 237, 335, 337 and Spanish 235, 237 will not be accepted for the language requirement.

2. One of Political Science 399, Statistics 211, 213, or equivalent.

3. A minimum of eight full-course equivalents in the major field, including:

(a) The common core of four full-course equivalents composed of Anthropology 203, Economics 201, 203, Geography 205 or 213, History 307, Political Science 381, International Relations 301 and 501. Apart from International Relations 501, the core courses should be taken early in a student's program. International Relations 501 is open to all students after their second year, and after they have completed 301.

(b) The International Relations major requires students declare a program in two elective clusters, one regional and one thematic. In each declared cluster, students must complete two full course equivalents, of which one full course equivalent from each declared cluster must be at the 400 or 500-level. Students may take International Relations 597 (Independent Study) or existing Departmental independent study courses from their declared clusters, but only one half-course equivalent may be counted towards the Major. Any proposed syllabus for such independent study, whether International Relations 597 or existing departmental independent study courses, must be approved by the Program Director. Students may include Geography 397 (Regional Geography of Selected World Areas) and 592 (Overseas Field Studies in Social and Economic Geography) in their regional electives, with the permission of the Program Director, provided the region(s) covered are relevant to their declared group electives. Questions about requirements may be directed to the Program Director.

Students must select courses from one thematic and one regional cluster. Each of these clusters requires two full-course equivalents.

The thematic clusters reflect major dimensions of orientation to and foci within International Relations. There are three thematic clusters: international political economy; security and strategy; and international institutions and governance. The regional clusters group courses to give students a deeper understanding of contemporary historical, cultural, political, economic and geographical force at work within the principal area of the world.

The elective clusters are as follows:

A. THEMATIC CLUSTERS (at least two full-course equivalents are required from one of the following clusters, including one full course equivalent at the 400-level):

1. International Political Economy

This focuses on the economic relations of states and other actors in the world economy, and the ramifications of these relations, including their political aspects. Economics 321, 423 and Political Science 485 are strongly recommended.

Additional courses for this cluster are:

Anthropology 303, 337, 379

Development Studies 393, 401, 485

Economics 327, 337, 371, 425, 491, 527, 537

Geography 341, 425

History 432

Philosophy 329

Political Science 279, 463, 579

Psychology 423

Sociology 487, 493

2. Security and Strategy

This focuses on the traditional core concerns of International Relations, including the use and threat of force, and the interaction of states. History 491.01 is strongly recommended.

Additional courses for this cluster are:

Anthropology 343, 467

Geography 365

History 303, 333, 349, 381, 383, 483, 485, 488, 490, 491.02, 492, 527, 543

Political Science 435, 439, 479

3. International Institutions and Governance

This focuses on efforts by states to manage their co-existence through legal, institutional and other devices, both formally and informally. Political Science 483 and 487 are strongly recommended.

Additional courses for this cluster are:

Linguistics 309

Political Science 485, 571, 581

B. REGIONAL CLUSTERS (at least two full-course equivalents are required from one of the following clusters, including one full course equivalent at the 400-level):

1. North America

Economics 325, 339

Canadian Studies 333

History 337, 351, 361, 463, 465, 467.02, 527, 535, 583

Political Science 321, 359, 435, 437, 477, 577

2. Latin America

Anthropology 321, 421

Archaeology 345, 355, 357

Economics 337

Geography 371

History 367, 469, 471, 487, 499, 569

Latin American Studies 201, 301, 401

Political Science 359, 473

3. Western Europe

History 333, 338, 413.02, 415, 421.02, 427, 506

Political Science 359, 463, 464, 561

4. Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States

Central and East European Studies 313

Economics 337, 491

Geography 397.02

History 333, 412, 513

Political Science 359, 464, 476

5. Asia/Pacific

Anthropology 323, 427

Chinese 317

East Asian Studies 317

Economics 337, 491

East Asia 300, 500

History 311, 317, 389, 403, 405, 407.03, 501, 503

Japanese 317

Political Science 279, 359, 465

Religious Studies 303, 329, 357, 359

South Asian Studies 315, 415

6. Middle East and North Africa

Anthropology 319

Economics 327, 337, 527

History 501

Political Science 359, 369, 469, 479, 569

Religious Studies 353, 357

7. Africa

African Studies 301, 400, 501

Anthropology 317

Archaeology 399

Economics 337

Geography 377

History 309, 401, 501

Political Science 359, 371, 471

Religious Studies 339, 353

Students are encouraged to consider a Minor field in a modern language, religious studies, or philosophy to complement the International Relations Major.

Other Minors, Double Majors and combined BA/BA, BComm/BA and BSc/BA degree programs are also possible. However, the same courses may not be used toward the Major and the Minor. Nor is it normally allowed to use the same course in both Majors. A maximum of 10 full-course equivalents is allowed in any disciplinary field.