International Relations (M.S.)

International Relations (M.S.)

Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2024 through summer 2025. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.

Core Courses
INTL 500Fundamentals of International Relations3
INTL 502Global Governance3
PPOG 506Introduction to Geopolitics and International Diplomacy3
PPOG 641U.S. Middle East Foreign Policy3
PPOL 650International Law, Policy, and Politics3
PPOL 652U.S. Foreign Policy and Sovereignty Issues3
PSCI 600Comparative Politics3
Total Hours21
Elective Courses 1
Choose nine credit hours of elective courses9
Total Hours9
1

Choose from the following courses: Any 500-600 level course offered by the Helms School of Government. Other 500-600 level courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Thesis or Elective Courses 1,2
INTL 688Thesis Proposal3
INTL 689Thesis Research 33
INTL 690Thesis Defense 40
Total Hours6
1

Choose from the following courses: Any 500-600 level course offered by the Helms School of Government. Other 500-600 level courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis

2

Students may take two elective courses1 instead of INTL 688 Thesis Proposal (3 c.h.), INTL 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.), & INTL 690 Thesis Defense (3 c.h.).

3

While INTL 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements

4

Any thesis student who is not ready for enrollment in INTL 690 Thesis Defense (3 c.h.) after completing INTL 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) may be required, as determined by the student’s thesis chair, to repeat INTL 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) until deemed ready for enrollment in INTL 690 Thesis Defense (3 c.h.)

All applicable prerequisites must be met

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete 36 hours
  • A maximum of 50% of the program hours may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
  • 3.0 GPA
  • No more than two grades of C may be applied to the degree (includes grades of C+ & C-)
  • No grade of D or below may be applied to the degree (includes grades of D+ & D-)
  • Degree must be completed within 5 years
  • Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date

Program Offered in Online Format

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterHours
INTL 500 Fundamentals of International Relations 3
PPOG 506 Introduction to Geopolitics and International Diplomacy 3
Elective 1 3
 Hours9
Second Semester
PPOG 641 U.S. Middle East Foreign Policy 3
PPOL 650 International Law, Policy, and Politics 3
PSCI 600 Comparative Politics 3
 Hours9
Third Semester
INTL 502 Global Governance 3
PPOL 652 U.S. Foreign Policy and Sovereignty Issues 3
Elective 1 3
 Hours9
Fourth Semester
INTL 688 Thesis Proposal 3
INTL 689 Thesis Research 2,3,4 3
INTL 690 Thesis Defense 3,4 0
Elective 1 3
 Hours9
 Total Hours36
1

Choose from the following courses: Any 500-600 level course offered by the Helms School of Government. Other 500-600 level courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

2

While INTL 689 may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements.

3

Any student who is not ready for enrollment in INTL 690 after completing INTL 689 may be required, as determined by the student's thesis chair, to repeat INTL 689 until deemed ready for enrollment in INTL 690.

4

Students may take two elective courses1 instead of INTL 688, INTL 689, and INTL 690

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