The Bachelor of Science in International Relations (IR-B.S.) is designed for students who wish to develop a deep understanding of today’s complex international politics. The major offers a broad range of courses on conflict, political economy, international development, international organization, comparative institutions, identity, and regional politics in East Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, among other topics. The IR-B.S. track emphasizes a rigorous, social scientific study of the most pressing challenges currently facing the world, including climate change, pandemics, and economic crises. The Bachelor of Science in International Relations provides students with the tools to produce political science research focused on international relations and comparative politics through advanced training in political methodology and data analysis.

There are five major components of the IR-B.S. major: Benchmark courses, Foundational Courses, Methods Requirement, GVPT Courses of Choice, and the Skills Requirements. All major requirements must be taken under the regular grading method and must be completed with a grade of C- or higher. No course may be used to satisfy more than one major requirement. Additionally, at least 12 upper-level GVPT credits (4 upper-level GVPT courses) for the major must be completed in-residence at UMD.

Every student must also complete their General Education requirements as well as 120 total credits to graduate with a degree in GVPT. Please reference the following major card:

Students Matriculating to the University of Maryland Fall 2025 or Later: General Education IR-BS Major Card

International Relations, B.S. Benchmark Requirements

Benchmark 1

Students must complete the following four courses within two semesters of entering the major:

  • GVPT170 American Government with a grade of C- or higher
  • GVPT201 Scope and Methods for Political Science Research with a grade of C- or higher
  • One of STAT100, MATH107, MATH113, MATH115, MATH120, MATH135, MATH136, or MATH140 with a grade of C- or higher
  • Academic Writing with a grade of C- or higher

Benchmark 2

Students must complete the following course within one semesters of completing Benchmark 1:

  • GVPT320 Advanced Empirical Research with a grade of C- or higher
Foundational Courses

All students must complete the following foundational courses (9 credits total):

  • GVPT200 International Political Relations (3 credits)
  • GVPT280 The Study of Comparative Politics (3 credits) or GVPT282 The Politics of Global Development (3 credits)
  • 1 GVPT IR/Comparative Course of Choice, lower-level (100/200) (3 credits) from approved list:

Courses used to satisfy the Foundational Courses requirement may not be double counted as GVPT Courses of Choice (see requirement category below).

Methods Requirements 
GVPT Courses of Choice 

GVPT Courses of Choice Policies:

  • No more than 6 experiential/non-traditional GVPT credits may apply towards the GVPT major requirements. Experiential/non-traditional courses include approved internship programs (GVPT377 [previously GVPT388W], Federal/Global Fellows Fall seminar courses), GVPT research and independent studies (GVPT388), the GVPT Undergraduate TA program (GVPT386/389), Mock Trial (GVPT217 and 317), and Moot Court (GVPT439L, GVPT439M, and GVPT439N). No course that is taken pass/fail may apply towards the GVPT major requirements.
  • All GVPT Courses of Choice must be satisfied by 3-credit courses.
Skills Requirements

The skills category for the Bachelor of Science track has four components:

  1. ECON200 Principles of Microeconomics
  2. Entire level of elementary foreign language
  3. Quantitative Skills-B.S. track course
  4. Additional Skills Requirement

Students may not apply courses used to fulfill the skills category toward any other major requirement. 

  1. Microeconomics: All students must complete ECON200 Principles of Microeconomics.
  2. Elementary Foreign Language
    • Students must complete a foreign language through the entire elementary level. The entire elementary level of a language can be 4-12 total credits, depending on the language. If the entire elementary level of the language is comprised of multiple courses (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Russian, etc) students must complete all courses in the elementary sequence to satisfy this requirement, not just the first.
    • Click here for a list of foreign language courses offered at UMD that satisfy the entire elementary level of the language.
    • It is possible for students who have completed level 3 of a language in high school or who are proficient through the elementary level of a language to exempt from this requirement. Please see “Foreign Language Exemption” at the bottom of the page for more information.
  3. Quantitative Skills-B.S. track Requirement
    • Students must choose a quantitative skills courses from the approved list of B.S. track options found here.
    • This course cannot be the same course that was used to satisfy the math benchmark requirement.
    • When selecting a course please refer to the course description on the Schedule of Classes to ensure any prerequisites/restrictions have been met and the course is not a duplicate of something previously completed.
  4. Additional Skills Requirement
    • To satisfy Additional Skills, students must complete an additional quantitative skills-B.S. track course from the approved list OR students must complete an intermediate level foreign language course.
    • Note: Choosing to take an intermediate foreign language course may require students to first complete an elementary level course, depending on proficiency with the language. Language placement is determined by the World Language Placement Exam.
      • Click here for a list of approved intermediate-level foreign language courses offered at UMD.
      • If the intermediate level of the language is comprised of multiple courses, students only need to complete the first course in the sequence to satisfy this requirement (although we strongly encourage students to complete both).
    • It is possible for students proficient through the intermediate level of a foreign language to be exempt from this requirement. Please see "Foreign Language Exemption” at the bottom of the page for more information.
Foreign Language Exemption:

Students proficient in a foreign language may exempt from the elementary and/or intermediate foreign language requirement(s) via the options below. Please contact a GVPT Advisor with questions.

a. High School Proficiency - Elementary only

Students who have completed the full level 3 of a foreign language in high school (e.g. Spanish 3, French 3) with a “C-” or higher may be exempted from the Elementary Foreign Language skills requirement. To request this exemption, students should email GVPTAdvising [at] umd.edu with their name and UID. If UMD does not have a high school transcript on file, students can bring an official sealed copy of their transcript to the GVPT Advising office, or request their high school mail an official copy to: ATTN GVPT Advising, 3140 Tydings Hall, 7343 Preinkert Drive, College Park, MD 20742

*Note: Exemption from the Elementary Foreign Language requirement does not guarantee placement into the intermediate or advanced level of the language. Students who wish to complete a language while at UMD should take the Foreign Language Placement Test through the College of Arts and Humanities and will need to complete whichever course they place into before moving onto more advanced language classes.

b. Completion of an intermediate level course (or higher)

Students who complete or bring in transfer credit for an intermediate language course will be waived from the Elementary Foreign Language requirement. Equivalencies for prior learning credit, such as AP and IB credit, can be reviewed here.

c. Demonstrating Proficiency

Students proficient through the elementary level of a foreign language may seek an exemption from the requirement by identifying a testing center or submitting official documents as evidence. If UMD offers the language, one such option is to take the proctored in-person Foreign Language Placement exam. Students who place into the intermediate level will be waived from the Elementary requirement. 

If UMD does not offer the language, an option for native/heritage speakers to be exempt from the requirement is an oral interview through ACTFL; please see the following document for specific instructions (there is a fee for this service). The other option is to submit a letter or documentation from a non-family member testifying to the student’s language speaking abilities. Letters or documentation can be from religious or cultural leaders, government agents, ambassadors, etc. Such individuals can e-mail GVPT advisors directly or provide the student with a sealed letter to drop off at the GVPT advising office.

For questions, or to discuss other options for demonstrating proficiency, please speak with a GVPT advisor.