School of Arts and Sciences
International Relations Program

BA in International Relations

Required Courses 

To fulfill the International Relations major requirements, all students must complete the following:

I. Core Requirements
The five Core Requirements constitute a foundation of knowledge for all majors in International Relations, regardless of Thematic Concentration. They are comprised of broad introductory courses that cover the major themes of and debates within each discipline on the study of international affairs.

  1. PS 61: Introduction to International Relations
  2. EC 5: Principles of Economics or EC 8: Principles of Economics with Environmental Applications
  3. International Economics (one course from approved list)
  4. The Historical Dimension (one course from approved list)
  5. Critical Theories of Society and Culture (one course from approved list)

The International Relations Program has launched a new concentration - TC1: World Regions and Identities. Students matriculating in Fall 2025 and beyond will follow TC1: World Regions and Identities, while students in the Class of 2026, Class of 2027, or 2028 have the option to select TC1: World Regions and Identities or one of the TC1A-E Regional and Comparative Analysis sub-concentrations or TC6 Identity.

II. Thematic Concentration Requirement
Thematic Concentrations are designed to provide students with substantial, in-depth, and focused study of an aspect of international relations. Students choose one concentration and take seven (7) or six (6) courses from that concentration, depending on which class year curriculum they are following. Click on a concentration below for more information. 

Classes of 2026, 2027, or 2028 ONLY

III. IR Major Language Requirement
Thorough language study is an essential tool for developing cultural literacy and sensitivity—important goals of the major. International Relations majors must therefore display advanced oral and written proficiency in a second language other than English: eight semesters of instruction or the equivalent. Students entering Tufts with secondary language experience may complete the requirement in fewer than eight semesters.