International Affairs Major

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About

International Affairs (IA) majors at Eastern pursue a course of study in world politics that includes classes in International Relations, Political Science, Economics, History, Environmental Politics, Regional Studies, Languages, and other fields.

IA majors may focus on a range of issues, including international security, international trade and finance, political and economic development, human rights and humanitarian policy, democratization, climate change, global health, as well as the politics, history, and cultures of other countries and world regions. All IA majors are encouraged to spend at least one quarter studying abroad and become familiar with a foreign language.

The IA major prepares students for a wide array of graduate studies. Given the broad, interdisciplinary field of International Affairs, top graduate schools consider the major an excellent field for going into Doctoral and Master’s programs, including specialization in law, business, economics, political science, journalism, as well as the fields of diplomacy, humanitarian, military, intelligence, security, and foreign affairs.

Request Info Curriculum & Requirements

As of June 25, 2026, EWU’s International Affairs major has been discontinued. Students already declared in this major do NOT need to change their plans; the classes you need will be offered so you can complete the International Affairs major.

If you were considering the International Affairs major, we suggest the Political Science major. Many of the courses in this major were also in the International Affairs major. Your Political Science Department Advisor can help you design a program of study that still allows you to study the international dimension of politics.

Please contact Kristin Edquist, Chair of Political Science & Public Policy, for more information: kedquist@ewu.edu

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

International Affairs Major, Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Program not accepting new students in 2026–2027.

The EWU Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs (IA) provides a cutting-edge curriculum that focuses on today’s global challenges in security, economics, and environmental issues.  As the only International Affairs Program in the Inland Northwest, the program has a successful record of preparing its graduates for careers in public service, research, international organizations, law, non-governmental organizations, political advocacy, policymaking, academia, and the foreign service, among other areas. 

World Language Requirement: Two years of a single high school world language or one year of a single college-level world language is required.

Core–no substitutions for core courses unless approved by program director.
Required Disciplinary Foundation Courses
POLI 203INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS5
POLI 204INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICS5
Required Disciplinary Core Courses
POLI 321INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS5
POLI 322INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY5
POLI 323U.S. FOREIGN POLICY5
Required Area Studies in Security and Economic Policies, Practices, and Norms. Choose three courses from this category according to regional interest.15
EUROPEAN POLITICS
POLITICS OF DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
POLITICS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
POLITICS OF SOUTH ASIA
TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COMPARATIVE POLITICS
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS
POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
Required Interdisciplinary Courses (With approval from director of the International Affairs Program, choose 25 credits from three of the following disciplines): ANTH, GEOS, HIST, ECON, PLAN, SOCI.25
Required Senior-Year Courses
POLI 490SENIOR CAPSTONE5
POLI 493PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT2
Total Credits72

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits. Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current. Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

This major requires the completion of the World Language requirement. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete two years of a single language in high school or one year of a single language in college.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
ENGL 1015ENGL 2015MATH 1075
Humanities & Arts BACR 115POLI 204 (Global Studies - graduation requirement)5POLI 2035
Social Science BACR 115Humanities & Arts BACR 215Social Science BACR 215
 15 15 15
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
Diversity - graduation requirement15International Affairs Area Studies Electives25International Affairs Area Studies Electives25
Natural Science BACR 115International Affairs Interdisciplinary Electives35International Affairs Interdisciplinary Electives35
Elective - minor or general elective5Natural Science BACR 215International Affairs Interdisciplinary Electives35
 15 15 15
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
International Affairs Area Studies Electives25POLI 3215POLI 3225
International Affairs Interdisciplinary Electives35Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5
Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5
 15 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
POLI 3235International Affairs Interdisciplinary Electives35POLI 490 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement)5
Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5POLI 4932
Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5Elective - minor or general elective5
  Elective - minor or general elective3
 15 15 15
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.  Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Required Area Studies in Security and Economic Policies, Practices, and Norms. Choose three courses from this category according to regional interest.

3

Required Interdisciplinary Courses (With approval from the director of the International Affairs Program, choose 25 credits from three of the following disciplines): ANTH, GEOS, HIST, ECON, PLAN, SOCI.

Students who earn a BA In International Affairs from EWU should be able to:

  • identify major international issues;
  • communicate about global political processes in a professional manner;
  • explain how socioeconomic and political diversity plays a role in international affairs;
  • analyze global security, political, and economic issues;
  • evaluate global security, political, and economic literature;
  • conduct original research on global security, political, or economic dynamics.

Applied Learning Opportunities

  • Classroom-based applied learning/simulation: Practice decision-making through simulations, case studies, role playing, and other hands-on activities in the classroom.
  • Internships: Get real-world experience (and often credit or pay) by working in a professional setting connected to your career goals.
  • Student employment & leadership at EWU: Gain skills, connections, and confidence through on-campus jobs and leadership roles in student government, departments, athletics, or clubs.
  • Study abroad: Travel, learn, and experience new cultures while earning credit and building communication skills that help you thrive anywhere.
  • Undergraduate research: Collaborate with professors on research projects where you ask questions, solve problems, and present what you discover.

Sample Courses

POLI 320. INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS. 5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
A focused study of contemporary theories, debates, and major scholarly traditions in the study of international politics. By studying and analyzing contending perspectives in world politics, the course covers how scholars of international relations differ from each other in their conceptualization of what the system is or ought to be. Enables students to have a comprehensive appreciation of the global issues, difficulties, and challenges that states and non-state actors face in the global arena.

Catalog Listing

POLI 323. U.S. FOREIGN POLICY. 5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
Analysis of important cases in U.S. foreign policy formulation since WW II with particular emphasis on the bureaucratic factors that shape foreign policy decisions.

Catalog Listing

POLI 402. TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COMPARATIVE POLITICS. 5 Credits.

Notes: may be repeated for credit.
Pre-requisites: POLI 203 or POLI 204.
The topic of this course varies from quarter to quarter, depending on student and faculty interests. Topics have included international law, international organizations (especially the European Union), problems of the international political system, comparative analysis of West European gender regimes, causes of political change and political stability, modernization and political development, causes and results of revolutions, the impact of social forces on the political system.

Catalog Listing

POLI 420. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS. 5 Credits.

Pre-requisites: POLI 320, POLI 321 or POLI 322.
Examines the dynamics of environmental politics through the politico- economic international system that includes states, civil society, corporations, international institutions, and treaties. Moving beyond technical fixes to environmental problems it discusses questions of power, agency, the relationship of state and society, and sovereignty over natural resources. It is inclusive of alternative discourses on sustainability, ecological justice, environmental security, and development.

Catalog Listing

Minors to Consider

Eastern offers a wide range of minors that you can choose from based on your concentration. Your choice will require approval from the IA Program Director. Here are some examples of minors that complement the IA major.

Foreign Language

Political Science

Urban and Regional Planning

Philosophy

International Business

Economics

History

Sociology

Career Possibilies

  • Foreign Service Officer
  • Diplomat or Consular Officer
  • Policy Analyst 
  • Intelligence Analyst
  • Political Risk Analyst
  • International Affairs Advisor (for government agencies)
  • Legislative Assistant
  • International Development Specialist
  • Humanitarian Aid Worker
  • Program Officer 
  • Global Health Coordinator
  • International Relations Consultant
  • Emergency Response Coordinator
  • International Trade Analyst
  • Export/Import Specialist
  • International Marketing Manager
  • Global Supply Chain Manager
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Specialist
  • Foreign Investment Analyst
  • International Business Development Manager

 

  • International Lawyer
  • Human Rights Advocate
  • Immigration Attorney
  • International Arbitration Specialist
  • Legal Advisor for Multinational Corporations
  • Environmental Law Specialist
  • International Relations Professor
  • Research Fellow 
  • Political Science Researcher
  • Global Affairs Analyst 
  • International Development Researcher
  • United Nations Peacekeeper
  • Conflict Resolution Specialist
  • Diplomatic Corps Officer
  • Human Rights Officer 
  • Ambassador or Consul
  • Foreign Correspondent
  • International News Reporter
  • Political Reporter 
  • International Affairs Editor
  • Media Relations Specialist
  • Study Abroad Program Coordinator
  • International Student Advisor
  • Cross-Cultural Consultant
  • Educational Outreach Coordinator
  • Language and Cultural Program Specialist
  • Global Advocacy Coordinator
  • Nonprofit Program Director
  • Sustainability Program Manager 
  • International Policy Lobbyist
  • National Security Analyst
  • Military Intelligence Officer
  • Cybersecurity Specialist
  • Defense Policy Advisor
  • Global Risk Consultant
  • Counterterrorism Analyst
  • International Environmental Policy Analyst
  • Global Climate Change Specialist
  • Sustainability Consultant
  • International Environmental Negotiator
  • Environmental Protection Specialist

An International Affairs major focuses on the study of global relations, international politics, economics, diplomacy, and cultural interactions.

This field provides a deep understanding of the complex dynamics of world affairs, including international conflicts, trade, human rights, and global governance. You’ll gain strong analytical, communication, and research skills while exploring topics like international law, security, economics, and environmental issues.

Our hands-on, interdisciplinary program prepares graduates to navigate global challenges and pursue careers in government, NGOs, international business, and policy analysis, where their understanding of global issues is highly valued.

Explore the various International Affairs career paths:

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