FAQ’S
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PROGRAMS
2008-2009
How do I get an adviser?
The International Relations Department does not assign advisers. All regular faculty members are available for both undergraduate and graduate advising. Lists of faculty offices and office hours as well as their specializations are available from the department office and are posted on the department web site. Students are responsible for keeping a record of their progress and having their advisor sign that they approve of their schedule each semester or e-mail them that their schedule is approved. (Always keep such notices of approval in your records, as they can be useful when you apply for graduation.)
What lower division courses are suggested for majors or those thinking of majoring in international relations?
You should take IR 104 International Relations: An Introduction, which is required for the major. Equivalent courses taken in junior college or other colleges can be substituted for this requirement with the approval of your advisor. Students are also urged to take basic courses in geography, world history, economics, and other languages as part of their general education.
What is the recommended sequence of courses to take each semester?
First Semester as Major: IR 104 (if not taken earlier), IR 308, IR 310, and elective
Second: IR 309, IR 312, electives
Third: IR 550, electives
Fourth: electives including an internship or teaching assistantship
All required core courses need to be taken before IR 550.
When do I need to take JEPET and to fulfill my OASIS requirement?
Both should be taken in your first semester as a major. If you should fail to pass JEPET, you will need to take Eng. 414 the following semester. Non-native English speakers can take Eng. 410 or Eng. 411. Successful passage of JEPET or one of the above-mentioned English courses is required before you will be permitted to take IR 550. The OASIS requirement should be fulfilled as soon as possible since it will aid you in successful passage of I.R. courses. You will not be permitted to take I.R. 550 unless you have completed OASIS.
How do I choose my elective emphasis?
Students should consult the list of sample elective programs prepared by the department and available in online advising before conferring with an adviser on how to complete this part of the major. 12 of the 18 units required must be based in International Relations.
How does the IR major relate to the upper division segment of the General Education program?
Segment III, or the Relationships of Knowledge, requires a three course upper division cluster around structured themes of which there are approximately 60. As a general principle, it is preferable to pick a theme which is quite different than one’s major. However, the rules allow two of the three courses in the chosen cluster to overlap with the major. There are several clusters which easily overlap with the International Relations major as they contain international relations courses in one or more of their categories. Those clusters include America and World Affairs, Global Peace and Human Rights, Third World Development, and several in Area Studies.
What do I need to do if I.R. 600 was required in my Bulletin year and is now not being offered?
If you have the required minimum of 43 units in your major, you will not need to do anything more. If you are below the required 43 units because of not taking IR 600, you will need to take an additional course. This can be any elective including an independent study or internship which have variable units so that if you are only 2 units short of minimum required you can take 2 units of I.R. 640 or I.R. 699 in order to meet the minimum required.
Besides meeting the Bulletin requirements for my major, what should I do to make my experience as an I.R. major most rewarding?
You should do an internship with an I.R. related organization which can also help in applying for graduate school or jobs. You should become a member of IRSA, the I.R. Student Association, and be sure to subscribe to the Ir-Net list serve. (see I.R. web page, http://bss.sfsu.edu/ir/studentresources/index1.htm). You can also join the Model United Nations, Model Arab League, or I.R. Journal to meet other students and to learn through active participation in International Relations organizations and activities. You could also investigate Study Abroad opportunities and if possible spend a semester or more studying in another country.
