International Affairs Major (B.A.)

International affairs is the focused study of global issues drawing on approaches from political science, history, economics, anthropology, and related fields. Students acquire the substantive knowledge, practical skills, and real-world experience to address critical issues in international affairs, such as war and diplomacy, climate change and biodiversity, human rights and women’s rights, refugees and migration, and inequality and poverty. 

Students can focus their studies in one of the following thematic tracks: global development and environment; international security; global ethnic, race, and diversity studies; global health and education; regional or transnational studies in the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, or Asia.  The major in IA thus provides students theoretical approaches grounded in the empirical study of places and peoples.

Degree Requirements

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

All majors must complete 40 hours of IA core courses and departmentally approved IA electives, with a grade of C or better and a grade point average of 2.5 or better.

International Affairs majors may use two major-required courses to satisfy two Discovery Program category requirements.

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International Affairs Language Requirement
IA majors must demonstrate functional reading, writing, and speaking ability equivalent to an intermediate II level (504). Students may take placement tests to establish proficiency. Native second language speakers are exempt from this requirement - speak to an IA advisor. Language study may be pursued at UNH; through study abroad in the summer, J-term, or academic year; or through transfer credits from other institutions with the permission of an IA advisor.

• Apply different disciplinary approaches to the study of international affairs, including key themes and theoretical frameworks employed in these disciplines;
• Use critical thinking skills to analyze and discuss important global issues;
• Engage with cultural diversity and complexity through the international experience;
• Demonstrate familiarity with different types of data and sources and their appropriate use in analyzing selected topics in international affairs;
• Demonstrate competence in research design. Students will develop inquiry-based research questions, conduct a literature review, employ appropriate methods and data collection, and interpret their findings accurately.