School of Arts and Sciences
International Relations Program

TC4 International Security

The causes and consequences of war and the conditions for peace lie at the heart of the interdisciplinary study of international relations. The International Security concentration examines the use, thereat and control of force in international politics, as well as the strategies available to international actors as they seek to promote their autonomy, security and other interests. It necessarily encompasses the ethical, cultural, philosophical, historical and economic implications of the use of force, as well as the trade-offs that states make between short-term and long-term security imperatives.

Requirements

Beginning in Fall 2024, the number of required courses for each concentration changed from seven (7) to six (6). Specific requirements are listed below, based on year of graduation.

  • In addition to completing the Core Requirements and the IR Major Language Requirement, students must take a total of seven (7) courses to complete a Thematic Concentration. Students concentrating in International Security must take one course from each of the following areas:

     

    Students of Classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027 have the option to follow the Class of 2028 and Beyond curriculum. If students choose this option, they must also take a Core 5 course approved for Class of 2028 and Beyond.

  • In addition to completing the Core Requirements and the IR Major Language Requirement, students must take a total of six (6) courses to complete a Thematic Concentration. Students concentrating in International Security must take one course from each of the following areas:

    • Social Science (2 courses)
    • Research Methods (1 course)
    • History (1 course)
    • Culture (1 course)
    • Capstone (seminar, honors thesis or directed research) (1 course)

Approved Courses

This course listing includes all the courses offered over the last four years that may be applied to the International Security concentration. For a listing of these courses by semester, consult the IR Program Courses page.

Be advised that course ID numbers, titles, and prerequisites often change from semester to semester so consult SIS or individual departments for the most current information. If you have any question about whether a course counts towards your thematic concentration, please contact the IR office.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No.

  • Yes.

  • The Culture requirement may be fulfilled in one of three ways, either by taking a Culture course:

    • Approved for the TC; or
    • Approved for the language used to fulfill the IR major language requirement; or
    • Approved for any language if student is exempt from the IR major language requirement (i.e.native speakers with proof of 8thk semester language proficiency on their transcript)

  • The U.S. Role requirement may be fulfilled in one of two ways, either by taking a U.S. Role course:

    • Approved for the TC; or
    • Approved as meeting the U.S. Role requirement from the list here

  • The Capstone requirement may be fulfilled in one of three ways, either by taking:

    • An upper-level seminar from the list of TC4-approved seminars; or
    • IR senior honors thesis (requires one-year commitment and IR program approval); or
    • Directed Research with an IR Core Faculty member

  • No. If a Tufts course is not on the IR Program’s list of approved courses, it does not count towards the major, even if it seems relevant. To have courses taken abroad considered for credit in the major and to learn more about transfer of credit policies in the major, consult the IR Transfer of Credit page.

  • Yes. Some courses will satisfy two or occasionally three or more thematic concentration (TC) requirements. If you fulfill a TC requirement by using one of these courses, you must select additional courses off the approved course listings as electives to meet the requisite number of courses. See Academic Policies for more details. 

  • Yes. Students of the Classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027 may choose to follow the curriculum for the Class of 2028 and Beyond. Such students will need to take six (6) courses to fulfill their Thematic Concentration requirements and also must take a Core 5 course from the Class of 2028 and Beyond approved list.