CAS: International Relations
Sample Pathway
Below is an example of a four-year plan of a College of General Studies student pursuing a degree in international relations. Students will work with their CGS academic advisors and the international relations department to plan their own pathway to an international relations degree.
| Semester I | Semester II | |
| Freshman Year | CGS Required Courses CAS IR 271 CAS EC 101 or CAS EC 102 |
CGS Required Courses (London or Boston-New England semester) |
| Sophomore Year | CGS Required Courses* CAS EC 102 or CAS EC 101 Second Language (if needed) |
CGS Required Courses** Second Language (if needed) |
| Junior Year | CAS IR 349 Elective*** Elective*** Second Language (if needed) |
CAS IR regional track course (1) CAS IR functional track course (1) CAS IR 292 (QST IM 345 or CAS EC 392 or CAS IR 399)† Second Language (if needed) |
| Senior Year | Elective*** CAS IR regional track course (2) CAS IR functional track course (2) CAS IR functional track course (3) |
CAS IR regional track course (3) CAS IR regional track course (4) CAS IR functional track course (4) Elective*** |
*Regional track credit may be granted for CGS SS 201 after review of the syllabus. Please consult with Dean Selin in the international relations department. A grade of ‘C’ or higher is required in all track courses.
**All students must take CAS IR 350. Majors will be given credit for CGS SS 202 as a substitute for CAS IR 350. A grade of ‘C’ or higher is required in all principal courses.
***Choose your electives carefully to fulfill any remaining BU Hub requirements. External courses are not eligible for Hub general education credit. To learn more about how courses in your International Relations major will help you fulfill Hub requirements, please see the Pardee School’s Undergraduate programs webpage. Majors may wish to enroll in CGS HU 202 in the spring of sophomore year to fulfill one of the two required Hub units in Creativity/Innovation.
†Majors can take QST IM 345, CAS EC 392, or IR 399 in place of CAS IR 292. Students who select the “International Economics, Business, and Politics” functional track must take one of the alternatives to CAS IR292. Students should consult with a Pardee advisor for the most suitable IR 292 equivalent.
College of General Studies Program Requirements
- Two rhetoric courses: CGS RH 103 and CGS RH 104
- CGS RH 104 is taken during the London semester
- Two natural science courses: CGS NS 201 and CGS NS 202
- Three social science courses:
- CGS SS 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
- Students select at least two additional SS courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
- Three humanities courses:
- CGS HU 104 is required and is taken during the London semester
- Students select at least two additional HU courses and will work with their academic advisor to determine course selection
Major Requirements
International relations majors must complete four required principal courses, a functional track of four courses, a regional track of four courses, and two prerequisite courses: CAS EC 101 and CAS EC 102. A grade of ‘C’ or higher is required in all principal and track courses. For required principal and track courses, please see the CAS Bulletin. Each semester, the Pardee School compiles a list of available courses that will apply to the major. Please see the Pardee courses page for more information.
If study abroad is a consideration, language courses should be taken early. Students taking courses abroad should consult with the international relations department about what courses will count for the major. For more information, please see the Pardee School’s Undergraduate programs webpage.
Pardee School students are assigned an academic advisor based on the first letter of the student’s last name:
- A – Gi: Sophia Gish
- Gj – Pa: Alethea Cono
- Pb – Z: Sophia Gish
Continuation Requirements
- Completion of the CGS required courses and appropriate electives
- Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00
Graduation Requirements
Boston University students completing a degree in CAS must also complete the following requirements.
- BU Hub requirements
- CAS requirements:
- International Relations major requirements
- CAS requires a minimum of 128 credits, excluding PDP, ROTC, and CAS FY and SY courses.
This is a sample pathway to be used in consultation with your CGS Academic Advisor.
It is subject to change according to course availability and individual circumstances.
Last revised: 02/07/2025