Overview

The international relations program at Calvin features courses in history, economics, politics, business, sociology and more. As an international relations major/minor, you'll be invited to:

• spend a semester interning in Washington D.C.
• compete in the Model U.N. conference in Chicago gain valuable leadership and problem solving skills while studying under Christian faculty members

Careers in International Relations

• Diplomat
• Peace Corp Volunteer
• International Businessperson
• NGO Worker
• More

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Study development in Honduras or spend a semester in China, Ghana and Thailand; Help plan the student-led Faith and International Development Conference; Intern with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee; Participate in Rangeela; Apply for the Grassroots Living-Learning Community.

Course Requirements 2012-13

International Relations major

(33 to 36 semester hours)

• POLS-207 Introduction to International Politics
• POLS-304 International Peace and Security
• POLS-319 International Political Economy
• POLS-272 Global Democratization
• POLS-251 Methods in Political Analysis or completion of a foreign language course beyond the 202 level
• One course from:
  • POLS-101 American Politics
  • POLS-208 Urban Politics
  • POLS-212 American Public Policy
  • POLS-310 Constitutional Law and Judicial Process
  • POLS-314 The President and Congress
• One course from:
  • POLS-240 Political Ideas in Historical Perspective
  • POLS-306 History of Modern Political Thought
  • POLS-312 Men, Women, and the Law
  • POLS-320 Contemporary Political Thought
• One set of courses from:
  • ECON-151 Principles of Economics
  • ECON-221 Principles of Microeconomics and ECON-222 Principles of Macroeconomics
• Three of the following courses, at least one from each category:
  • International politics:
    • POLS-285 Model United Nations
    • POLS-307 Terrorism
    • POLS-308 Principles of American Foreign Policy
    • POLS-309 International Organizations and Law
    • POLS-328 The Global Politics of Human Rights
    • POLS-399 The Christian Faith and Public Life*
  • Comparative politics:
    • POLS-102 Canadian Politics
    • POLS-271 Religion and Politics in Comparative Perspective
    • POLS-275 European Politics
    • POLS-276 Latin American Politics
    • POLS-277 Asian Politics
    • POLS-279 African Politics
    • POLS-399 The Christian Faith and Public Life*
  • *POLS-399 (The Christian Faith and Public Life) may count in either comparative politics or international politics, depending on the substance of the semester project, but may not be the only course in its elective category.
• POLS-285 may not be the ONLY course in its elective category for the international relations major.
• One approved interim course may count as an elective in the international relations major. Cognates (9-12 semester hours) Three courses from a list of approved cognates (see the department website for a complete IR cognate list) OR completion of an approved off-campus semester program

International Relations minor

(21 semester hours)

• POLS-207 Introduction to International Politics
• One course from:
  • POLS-272 Global Democratization
  • POLS-309 International Organizations and Law
• Two courses from:
  • POLS-102 Canadian Politics
  • POLS-271 Religion and Politics in Comparative Perspective
  • POLS-272 Global Democratization
  • POLS-275 European Politics
  • POLS-276 Latin American Politics
  • POLS-277 Asian Politics
  • POLS-279 African Politics
  • POLS-304 International Peace and Security
  • POLS-307 Terrorism
  • POLS-308 Principles of American Foreign Policy
  • POLS-309 International Organizations and Law
  • POLS-319 International Political Economy
  • POLS-328 The Global Politics of Human Rights
• One course from:
  • POLS-101 American Politics
  • POLS-110 Persons in Political Community
  • POLS-208 Urban Politics
  • POLS-212 American Public Policy
  • POLS-240 Political Ideas in Historical Perspective
  • POLS-310 Constitutional Law and Judicial Process
  • POLS-312 Men, Women, and the Law
  • POLS-314 The President and Congress
  • POLS-317 Parties and Elections
  • POLS-318 American Politics and Mass Media
• Six additional semester hours within the department, which may include the semester in Washington, D.C. program and/or one (advisor-approved) interim course

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.

DeKryger-Monsman Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,400
• freshman, sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need required; demonstrate academic excellence
• apply through the political science department

Peace and Justice Scholarship

• award amount: $2,000
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need not required; be actively involved with global peace and justice issues
• apply through the political science department

Dr. James Penning Scholarship

• award amount: $3,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.2+
• financial need not required; be interested in a career in state and local government
• apply through the political science department

Charles Strikwerda Scholarship in Political Science

• award amount: $2,000
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need not required
• apply through the political science department

Lyle and Barbara (Duimstra) Voskuil Family Scholarship

• award amount: $2,600
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to those interested in international and global relationships
• apply through the political science department or the economics department

Dr. Bernard Zylstra, S.J.D., Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $3,600
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required
• apply through the history department, the philosophy department or the political science department

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty