International Relations and Diplomacy

Program Outcomes

The New England College Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy (BAIRD) program prepares students for opportunities in both the public and private sector for positions in and out of government, particularly in foreign policy, think tanks, or in any industry that an in-depth knowledge of the foreign policy process is desired. Students who successfully complete the BAIRD program are also well prepared for graduate level work. 

The BAIRD curriculum consists of 44 credits in addition to general education requirements, and focuses on the intersection between theory, policy and politics by taking advantage of faculty who are scholar practitioners in the world of foreign policy and diplomacy.

BAIRD students will gain an understanding of the intellectual foundations for key foreign policy discussions and how the outcomes affect and are changed by the political process. They will develop analytical and advocacy skills and will be prepared to enter or continue careers in the public, private, and non-profit foreign policy and national security sectors.

Our graduates are prepared to begin careers and make a difference in the realm of foreign policy, national security, and related fields. The program builds and integrates the student’s intellectual interest and experience, small group dialogue, and interaction with theoreticians and practitioners in the field. The value of this experience, opportunity to network and apply knowledge developed through asynchronous interaction in the online classroom, all while earning academic credit, is at the heart of this degree program.

Graduates from the BAIRD should be able to:

• Collect, synthesize, and analyze information to better understand historical and contemporary issues in international relations and diplomacy; 
• Contribute to teams working on foreign policy research and formulation;
• Apply negotiation tools to collaboratively reach consensus and identification of common objectives in diverse populations with diverging interests;
• Become familiar with the key governmental and non-governmental institutions that formulate and implement foreign policy;
• Articulate the nuances of national level politics, and how they influence the formulation and implementation of public policy and diplomacy;
• Provide alternative theoretical perspectives to the analysis of international relations and diplomacy;
• Obtain direct experience in the field, working for a policy organization/shop or an institution of foreign policy, diplomacy, or national security;
• Carry out applied research to support writing and communicating effectively in the international relations and diplomacy realms.

Programs

• International Relations and Diplomacy, B.A.

Courses

• HS 2430 - American Diplomatic History
• PO 1520 - Introduction to International Politics
• PO 1920 - Comparative Politics
• PO 2040 - Research Methods
• PO 2420 - World Geography
• PO 2810 - Global Issues
• PO 2850 - International Relations Theory
• PO 2910 - International Political Economy
• PO 3450 - US Foreign Policy
• PO 3580 - Global Security
• PO 3910 - Understanding the Causes of Terrorism
• PO 3990 - Topics in International Studies
• PO 4110 - Regional Politics
• PO 4220 - International Organizations
• PO 4810 - Directed Study in International Relations and Diplomacy
• PO 4830 - Independent Study in International Relations and Diplomacy
• PO 4950 - Capstone