"Finality is not the language of politics."
BENJAMIN DISRAELI, statesman

International Relations at Webster University Thailand

International politics and the relationships between states is a profoundly important variable in how our world works. International Relations and world politics cannot be ignored. They affect all aspects of human civilization. They impact the lives of nation-states, communities and individuals.

Understanding the international system is critical to surviving it, either individually or collectively. We live in the age of global communication, nuclear weapons, environmental crises, transnational criminality, inter-state war, international terrorism, food and energy security issues and economic uncertainty. We live in a time when the nation-state is a critical player in politics, but when its dominance is being challenged as never before. The problems of the twenty-first century are as acute as they have been at any point in human history. This is a both a very different world compared to a few decades ago, but also one where age old problems between human communities remain constant.

The study of IR confronts the fundamental aspects of the human condition in all its manifest urgency. From the ‘high politics’ of a G8 summit to the implementation of an irrigation scheme in a developing economy, politics, power and conflict demand our serious attention.

At Webster Thailand the primary objective of the IR program is to equip students interested in the vital field of International Relations and world politics with vital skills, which are transferable beyond the learning environment provided by university. International Relations is not relevant merely to the study of politics, it infuses a range of other crucial areas of human endeavor. Whether considering a career in media and communications, international business, working with NGOs, working for government agencies or international bodies, grasping the various dimensions of international politics is an indispensible asset. Students who undertake IR will be rewarded with notably increased skills in critical thinking, techniques of analysis and critical writing, evaluation of sources and data, as well as theoretical and conceptual literacy. IR at Webster University Thailand provides students with an ‘edge’. Graduates will emerge as innovatively inclined students instilled with the passion and skills for lifelong knowledge enhancement, so that they may successfully meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Perhaps no academic major benefits more from Webster’s international network of campuses and faculty than the International Relations program. With campuses in North America, Europe and Asia, Webster provides International Relations students a myriad of opportunities to enrich their degree with international learning.

You can earn your international relations degree completely in Thailand alone. Or you can mix it up: augment your curriculum by studying abroad at more than one of our campuses. No matter where you study, Webster IR professors will give you unique insight into the field, and you will graduate as a truly “global citizen.”

Small class sizes and engaging discussion are a hallmark of our courses. Faculty are friendly and always keen to have a thought-provoking discussion. Their first priority is your success.

At Webster Thailand, we have a dedicated team of professional academics to help you explore the complexity of International Relations. Each of them combines their in-depth and specialized knowledge of the IR discipline with real-world experience, bringing added value to your degree. Most classes and faculty offices are in the Cha-am/Hua Hin undergraduate campus, where you will find a shared sense of scholarship and community with your faculty and peers.

Professional Opportunities

A degree in International Relations gives student an edge in a world labor market that demands flexibility, adaptability and critical thinking skills. Webster’s International Relations program offers a diverse curriculum that combines tradition and innovation. The department is loyal to the concept of a traditional liberal arts education, and at the same time believes that a student’s academic program should be preparation for a productive professional career. A degree in international relations is ideal for careers in commerce, journalism, business, education, public affairs, diplomacy, or law school and other graduate study.

Webster’s international relations program offers a diverse curriculum that combines tradition and innovation. The department is loyal to the concept of a traditional liberal arts education, and at the same time believes that a student’s academic program should be preparation for a productive professional career. A degree in international relations is ideal for careers in commerce, journalism, business, education, public affairs, diplomacy, or law school and other graduate study.

Degree Requirements
A minimum of 128 credit hours consisting of the following:

• 42 required credit hours
• 12 international language credit hours
• Applicable university global citizenship or general education program hours
• Electives

Students are required to complete 42 credit hours within the department, including methods, a research requirement (fulfilled by taking the seminar, senior thesis, or a designated upper-division course), and senior overview. A minimum of 18 credit hours of international relations at Webster University is required. At least 12 credit hours of upper-level (3000 or above) coursework in the department with an international focus must be completed in addition to methods and overview. Note: In Europe, the research requirement and overview is satisfied by the seminar course: INTL 4600.

There is a study residency requirement of at least one term (eight weeks) outside the United States or an international relations practicum in the United States. To satisfy the residency, students may study at one of Webster University’s international campuses or at an approved alternative location. Students unable to study outside the United States must take the international relations practicum (3-6 credit hours), which does not apply to the 420total credit hours.

Students are required to have significant international language experience. This requirement can be met by taking 12 sequential credit hours in an international language or by passing an advanced-level proficiency examination. This requirement will be waived for students whose native language is not English and who are studying in English. Their mastery of English as a second language fulfills the requirement.

Required Courses
There is a required minimum distribution of coursework as well as the above requirements: