Program Details

Why International Political Economy and Diplomacy?

A Learning Community Committed to International Understanding
and Academic Excellence

In an era where there is a growing focus on economic diplomacy, UB’s B.A. in International Political Economy and Diplomacy (IPED) fills a crucial niche. The major provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the global political economy and with the analytical skills needed to evaluate change and direction. The study of the international economic system provides insight into how it produces and distributes wealth as well as how institutions and rules govern social and economic development.

Political economy describes the nexus between politics and economics, and international political economy studies the arena where international politics and international economics meet.  It represents an investigation of the political basis of economic action and the economic basis of political action. An important additional consideration is the role of international law in developing universal principles and norms in the conduct of international relations, and governing of relations between states and their citizens. Because diplomatic negotiations form the basis of new international law, and because diplomacy operates within the framework of extant international law, the study of diplomacy is an important component in the study of international political economy.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

SoSc 207 World Regional Geography 3
Rel 101 Intro to World Religions 3
Soc 231 Cultural Anthropology 3
PS 103 Intro to Political Science and
Political Science Research Methods 3
Econ 201 Macro Economics 3
or IPED 201 Economics and Development
Econ 202 Micro Economics 3
or IPED 202 Intro to Political Economy
IPED 206 Pol. Eco. of North/South Relations 3
TWO OF THE FOLLOWING
IPED 203 Political Economy of North America 3
or IPED 345 Political Economy of EU
or IPED 329 Political Economy of China
IPED 330 Political Economy of East Asia 3
IPED 340 Political Economy of Latin America 3
IPED 341 Political Economy of the Middle East 3
IPED 343 Political Economy of CIS & Eastern Europe 3TWO OF THE FOLLOWING
PS 204 Government and Politics Abroad 3
PS 203 U.S. Foreign Policy 3
PS 305 International Relations 3
or PS 207 World Politics 3
PS 208 Intro to International Law 3
Students may, in consultation with their advisor, choose a
minor or a concentration by taking 15 to 18 credit hours of
course work in one of the following areas; however this is
POLITICAL SCIENCE
PS 101 American Government 3
or PS 103 Intro to Political Science and
Political Science Research Methods 3
PS 204 Government and Politics Abroad 3
PS 207 World Politics 3
PS 208 Intro to International Law 3
IPED 206 Pol. Eco. of North/South Relations 3
or PS 209 Intro to United Nations Studies 3
SoSc 207 World Regional Geography 3
PS 323 Classics in Political Theory 3
ASIA-PACIFIC STUDIES
PLUS ANY FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:
IPED 329 Political Economy of China 3
PS 203 U.S. Foreign Policy 3
IPED 390 Multinational Corporations in IPE 3
WREL 229 Confucianism and Daoism 3
WREL 102 Introduction to East Asian Religions 3
WREL 205 Buddhism 3
JAPN 101 Japanese 1 or more advance level of 3 the language
or KORN 101 Japanese 1 or more advance level of 3 the language
or CHIN 101 Japanese 1 or more advance level of 3 the languagePEACE AND DEVELOPMENT
PLUS ANY FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:
IPED 392 Geopolitics of Oil 3
IPED 330 Political Economy of East Asia 3
IPED 393 Political Economy of Environment 3
IPED 391 Sustainable Development 3
WREL 275 Religion, Conflict and Mediation 3
WREL 278 Religion, Peace, and War 3
WREL 305 Comparative Religious Ethics 3
THE AMERICAS
IPED 203 The Political Economy of North America

PLUS ANY FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:
IPED 340 Political Economy of Latin America
PS 203 U.S. Foreign Policy 3
PS 101 American Government 3
IPED 330 Political Economy of East Asia 3
MCOM 290 Intercultural Communication 3
IPED 392 Geopolitics of Oil 3
ISLAM & THE MIDDLE EAST STUDIES PROGRAM
PLUS ANY FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING COURSES:
PS 203 U.S. Foreign Policy 3
IPED 392 Geopolitics of Oil 3
WREL 103 Introduction to Religions of Middle Eastern Origin 3
WREL 374 Religion and Politics in the Middle East 3
WREL 209 Islam 3
WREL 275 Religion, Conflict and Mediation 3
FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
All IPED majors must demonstrate a working knowledge
of at least one world language besides English or complete
through the 104 level of one of the following languages currently
offered at the University: Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese,
THESIS AND INTERNSHIP GUIDELINES
A senior thesis is voluntary but strongly encouraged. Depending
on the scope of the project, a thesis may account
for 3 to 6 credit hours. While not required, students are encouraged
to write on a subject related to their field of concentration,
should they have elected one. In addition, one
semester of internship is also strongly encouraged. Internship

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Engl C101 Composition & Rhetoric 3
Math C105 Intermediate Algebra or above 3
FYS 101 First Year Seminor
Hum Humanities 6
Sci C101/C102 Natural Sciences 6
Social Sciences 6
FA Fine Arts 3
Caps C390 Capstone Seminar 3