Department of International Affairs

A pioneering, interdisciplinary and career-focused degree backed by Bush School excellence for global citizens with an interest in public service.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Affairs gives students a strong foundation in key areas such as international economics, global politics and transnational social processes and issues. Students have the advantage of tailoring their coursework to align with their passions, enabling a truly personalized educational experience, whether students’ interests lie in East Asian political systems; women, peace and security; European economic policies; African societies; or Middle Eastern conflicts. Students take courses from International Affairs scholars as well as former professionals to earn a degree that combines academic rigor with experiential knowledge.

Foreign language

Achieving competency in a foreign language is a fundamental part of our curriculum. This skill not only enhances students’ abilities to communicate globally but also deepens regional understanding, essential for a successful career in international fields and public service.

International study experience

Students also participate in an immersive international study experience. This opportunity allows students to experience a different culture and gain firsthand insights into global affairs, enriching academic, professional, and personal growth. With strong language skills and extensive international experience, BA graduates in International Affairs are well placed to pursue graduate degrees, work internationally in the private sector, or embark on careers in public service. Students can combine language study and coursework with international internships, which provide valuable work-related and language development. Academic advisors at the Bush School are ready to support your journey!

International Affairs (INTA)

INTA 204 Professional Writing for Public Service

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Development of essential communication skills tailored for the unique demands of public service careers; combination of traditional writing techniques with modern AI literacy to master strategies to craft impactful messages, manage collaborative projects, and optimize productivity; emphasis on practical application including writing and revision processes, enhanced by AI tools; crafting and organizing messages using analytic frameworks and the BLUF approach; editing for clarity, coherence, and impact; collaborating on team projects to produce high-quality deliverables; leveraging both foundational writing skills and cutting-edge AI capabilities. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENGL 104; admission to the BUSH school.

INTA 205 Current Issues in International Studies

Credit 1. 1 Lecture Hour. Exploration of current issues and problems in International Studies through attendance of events, lectures by noted international academics and professionals, and in-class discussions. May be taken three times for credit. Prerequisite: International studies major.

INTA 211 Introduction to International Social Issues

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Introduction to the basic concepts, theories and frameworks for analyzing the social and cultural dimensions of international affairs. Prerequisites: Freshman and transfer international affairs majors.

INTA 216 World Cinema and International Politics

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Investigation of film as political discourse; overview of how films and filmmakers from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and/or the Middle East frame and represent international politics and explore how the influence of film becomes a powerful form of political speech.

INTA 221 Principles of International Affairs

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. An overview of the study of international relations; exploration of theories of international politics, war, nuclear weapons, terrorism, trade, finance, globalization, international law and human rights, and the environment. Prerequisites: International Affairs major.

INTA 231 Principles of the Global Economy

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Instruction in three fundamental aspects of the global economic environment including economics of trade and international trade policies, international finance issues, introduction of international economic issues in developing countries; exposure to analytical tools and concepts in international economics and development economics. Prerequisites: International Affairs major.

INTA 251 Contemporary Issues in the Middle East

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Exploration of current political and cultural issues in the Middle East.

INTA 261/AFST 261 Contemporary Issues in the Global South

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Exploration of current political and cultural issues in the Global South. May be repeated once for credit. Cross Listing: AFST 261/INTA 261.

INTA 285 Directed Studies

Credits 0 to 3. 0 to 3 Other Hours. Individual supervision of readings or assigned projects in international studies. May be taken two times for credit. Prerequisites: Approval of instructor and department head.

INTA 289 Special Topics in...

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Other Hours. Introduction to the broad range of disciplines and issues explored in the international studies curriculum. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Freshman or sophomore classification.

INTA 300 International Experience

Credits 0. 0 Other Hours. Language immersion program abroad; minimum of ten weeks; completed after the fourth semester of the target foreign language; study abroad program, internship, volunteer service work, or a combination of these options with department approval. Must be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in INTA 211; grade of C or better in ARAB 202, CHIN 202, FREN 202, GERM 202, ITAL 202, JAPN 202, RUSS 202, SPAN 202, or SPAN 203; major in international studies; junior or senior classification.

INTA 301 Theories of Globalization

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Diverse global and international cultural processes in their economic and political contexts; analyses of theoretical lenses on transnationalism including diaspora, hybridity, liminality, marginality, cyborgism, nomadism, scapes and flows and others; case studies of global cultures. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

INTA 321 Political Islam

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Study of the interaction between Islamic movements and politics in various Middle Eastern countries; examination of the role of Islam as a tool for political and social mobilization. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor; INTA majors. Cross Listing: HUMA 321 and RELS 321.

INTA 323 International Law

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. The course provides an overview of International Law; sources, organization, and adjudicating bodies of international law; examination of topics such as use of force, humanitarian law, economic law and environmental law from an international perspective. Prerequisites: International Affairs major; junior or senior classification.

INTA 330 Governing Capitalism

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Exploration of the interaction between economics and politics; examination of some of the foundational theorists of political economy over the last three centuries. Prerequisites: INTS and INTA majors; junior or senior classification; prior background in introductory economics recommended.

INTA 352 Cyberpolicy

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Exploration of the intersection of technology, policy, strategy and national security, focusing on the national security implications of cyberspace and cyber-enabled technologies, including cyber-enabled influence operations, in support of national security interests. It is not a technical course, but will provide the background necessary for students to understand, discuss and analyze relevant issues related to cyberspace and cyber-enabled operations and activities. The course will also introduce and examine the cyberspace aspects of a number of disruptive technologies in a national security context, including artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous weapons systems, biotechnology and others. Prerequisites: INTS and INTA majors; junior or senior classification.

INTA 401/GLST 401 The City and its Global Contexts

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Examination of rural and urban environments affected by global currents in culture, politics, and society; exploration of urbanism as represented by artists, writers, and filmmakers; study of such topics such as urban design. Prerequisites: INTA 211 or GLST 201; junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: GLST 401/INTA 401.

INTA 403 Nations and Nationalisms

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Interdisciplinary approach where nation is understood as modern political entity distinct from country; examination of historical and philosophical origins of idea of nationalism; theories on nationhood, national identity and rise of nationalism; global variety of concrete test cases to highlight actual functions (wars, decolonization, symbolic representations in film, etc.). Prerequisites: International studies major; INTA 211.

INTA 405 War and Memory

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Examination of world wars, colonial wars, genocides, and historical crimes from the late nineteenth century until the present; analysis of the changing memory of those traumatic events as evident in historical accounts, commemorations, film, and literature. Prerequisites: International studies major; INTA 211.

INTA 406 Technology and Global Change

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Interdisciplinary examination of the transformative impact of new technologies on global social, economic, political and cultural reality; focus on changes in the exercise of power and state sovereignty, labor and economic transactions, war and social activism, subjectivity and social interactions, surveillance and anonymity, internet of things and artificial intelligence. Prerequisite: INTA 211; international studies major; junior or senior classification.

INTA 409 Culture, Neoliberalism and Globalism

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Examination of largely North Atlantic cultural forms and meanings that arise in the context of neoliberalism from the late 1970’s to the present; cultural studies and broad-based social analysis to identify and interrogate the many relational contexts where power circulates through cultural objects and meanings. Prerequisites: INTA 211; international studies major; junior or senior classification.

INTA 410/GLST 410 Gender and Globalization

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Concepts of gender from a global perspective; global theories of gender and sexuality across media. Prerequisites: INTA 211 or GLST 201; junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: GLST 410/INTA 410.

INTA 412 International Economic Development

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Examines theories of economic growth and development; explains concepts and methods commonly used when evaluating the effectiveness of international development programs. Prerequisites: International Affairs Major and junior or senior classification.

INTA 415 American Foreign Policy

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Examination of political, economic, cultural, and military dimensions of the United States’ interactions with the world since the 19th century; focus on how interests of soldiers, business people, missionaries, civilians within the United States and in combat zones impact policy. Prerequisites: International Affairs major; junior or senior classification.

INTA 418 Economic Statecraft

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Introduction to emerging field of economic statecraft; use of economic tools of national power; overview of important seminal works on economic statecraft; instruction in theoretical and empirical aspects of economic statecraft. Prerequisites: International Affairs major, junior or senior classification, and ECON 202, ECON 203, INTA 301, and INTA 231 or approval of instructor.

INTA 443 International Organizations

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Theoretical and empirical aspects of the role, potentials, and limitations of major International Organizations (IO) in world politics; study of norms and rules that govern international relations and institutions where those rules are formulated and implemented; survey of IOs in areas of peace operations, human rights, environment and international trade. Prerequisites: International Affairs major; junior or senior classification.

INTA 445 Women and International Affairs

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Overview of important dimensions of women and international affairs; stratification of human society by sex, women and international political economy, women and national/international security, women and international human rights; examination of international efforts to improve women’s situation worldwide and other international policy initiatives. Prerequisites: International Affairs major; junior or senior classification.

INTA 452 Intelligence and National Security

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Examination of historical and contemporary Intelligence capabilities as a part of the National Security environment, study of teamwork used by multiple organizations to inform world leaders; understanding of the major intelligence disciplines; instruction in how the intelligence cycle collects, analyses, and informs decisions related to National Security matters. Prerequisites: International Affairs major; junior or senior classification.

INTA 455 European Politics

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Historical examination of the evolution of the European Union and its contemporary politics; overview of formation of the European Union and its integration processes, contemporary European Politics in Western and Eastern Europe and security developments in the European Union. Prerequisites: International Affairs major; junior or senior classification.

INTA 473 Chinese Politics

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Study of Chinese domestic political history; instruction in the origins and development of the contemporary political system of China; overview of the history and foundational experiences of the Chinese Communist Party and its leaders. Prerequisites: International Affairs major; junior and senior classification.

INTA 476 International Politics of the Middle East

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Examination of interactions among states of the region, the region’s non-state actors and outside powers in the post-World War II period; topics include power distributions within the region and globally, effects of transnational ideological and identity movements, domestic political institutions in the region’s states, regional economic systems, outside power policies in the region, war and peace decisions, alliance and alignment patterns, and regional modes of statecraft. Prerequisites: International Affairs major; junior or senior classification.

INTA 481 Senior Seminar

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Capstone course designed to produce in-depth research projects; based on student's international experience and specific area of expertise acquired in major. Prerequisites: International Studies major; INTA 211; 6 hours of INTA 401/GLST 401, INTA 403, INTA 405, INTA 406, INTA 407, INTA 409, INTA 410/GLST 410, INTA 412, INTA 415, INTA 418, INTA 443, INTA 445, INTA 452, INTA 455, INTA 473, INTA 476, INTA 484, INTA 485, INTA 489, INTA 491, INTA 494, or INTA 497; senior classification; INTA 300.

INTA 484 Directed Internship

Credits 0 to 3. 0 to 3 Other Hours. Directed internship in a private firm, government or non-profit agency outside the United States; provide on-the-job experience appropriate to the student's program of work and career objectives. To be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Maximum of 3 credit hours may count towards degree. Prerequisites: INTA 211; approval of internship coordinator.

INTA 485 Directed Studies

Credits 0 to 3. 0 to 3 Other Hours. Research problems and readings for students majoring in international studies; directed independent study of an international issue related to student's area of interest. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.

INTA 486 Russia and the Former Soviet Union

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Investigation of how history, institutions, and political culture in Russia influences choices that elites and ordinary people make about politics; overview of Tsarist Russian imperialism, Soviet experiment in modernization and multinational governance, collapse of Soviet Union and creation of 15 independent states; examination of processes of political change and governance in post-communist Russia, and factors that influence processes. Prerequisites: International Affairs major; junior or senior classification.

INTA 489 Special Topics in...

Credits 1 to 4. 1 to 4 Other Hours. Selected topics in an identified area of international affairs. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor; INTS and INTA majors.

INTA 491 Research

Credits 0 to 3. 0 to 3 Other Hours. Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in international studies. Prerequisites: INTA 211; junior or senior classification and approval of instructor.

INTA 494 Inter-American Affairs - U.S. Interventions in Latin America and Beyond

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. Study of the dynamics of contemporary Inter-American political relations; introduction of policy and security issues relevant to the Americas (US, Canada, Caribbean, and Latin America). Prerequisites: International Affairs major; junior or senior classification.

INTA 497 Independent Honors Study

Credits 3. 3 Other Hours. Directed independent studies designed to produce a senior honors thesis; based on international experience and interdisciplinary expertise acquired in major. Prerequisites: INTA major; honors candidate; completed international experience.

Altman, Daniel, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
MS, Joint Military Intelligence College, 2003

Bartel, Fritz, Associate Professor
International Affairs
PHD, Cornell University, 2017

Bearce, David, Professor
International Affairs
PHD, The Ohio State University, 2001

Blackwell, James A, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, Tufts University, 1984

Brown, Gary Duane, Professor Of The Practice
International Affairs
JD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1987
LLM, University of Cambridge, 1988

Carley, Robert F, Associate Professor
International Affairs
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2012

Castillo, Jasen J, Associate Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of Chicago, 2003

Cerrato, Maddalena A, Assistant Professor
International Affairs
PHD, Italian Institute for Human Sciences, 2013

Chinchilla, Alexandra, Assistant Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of Chicago, 2021

Daly, Sara A, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
MA, The George Washington University, 1997

Denly, Michael, Assistant Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of Texas at Austin, 2022

Dyson, Dana, Visiting Professor of the Practice
International Affairs
JD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1990

Espinoza Bardales, Luis, Assistant Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of Michigan, 2024

Fischer, Karalyn, Visiting Associate Professor of the Practice
International Affairs
BS, Oklahoma State University, 2006

Garritano, Carmela, Professor
International Affairs
PHD, Michigan State University, 2001

Gentile, Philip David, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
MA1, John Hopkins University, 2020

Golsan, Richard J, Distinguished Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1981

Hamie, Silva, Instructional Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of York, 2007

Helms, Ben, Assistant Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of Virginia, 2022

Hennessey-Niland, John, Professor Of The Practice
International Affairs
MA, Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, 1987

Holmes, Amy Kristine, Instructional Associate Professor
International Affairs
PHD, The John Hopkins University, 2009

Howell, Michael W, Associate Professor Of The Practice
International Affairs
MA, U.S. Naval War College, 2009

Huang, Reyko, Professor
International Affairs
PHD, Columbia University, 2012

Hudson, Valerie M, Professor
International Affairs
PHD, The Ohio State University, 1983

Jackson, Michael L, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
MS, National Defense University, 2012

Johnson, Brian, Visiting Professor of the Practice
International Affairs
MA, King's College, London, 2007

Kappiaruparampil, Justin, Assistant Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of Texas at Dallas, 2016

Karasipahi, Sena, Instructional Assistant Professor
International Affairs
PHD, Universiteit Leiden, 2006

Kaspar, Wendi A, Professor
International Affairs
MS, Texas A&M University, 2010

Kelly, Michael James, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
MA, University of Arizona, 1996

Latif, Sahibzada Amer, Visiting Professor of the Practice
International Affairs
PHD, Catholic University of America, 1999

Laurienti, Jerry, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, University of Denver, 2006

Layne, Christopher, Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 1981

Lederman Horwitz, Daniel, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, Johns Hopkins - SAIS, 2001

Lee, Sumin, Assistant Professor
International Affairs
PHD, Rutgers University, 2022

Marin Thornton, Gabriela, Instructional Associate Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of Miami, 2006

Morriss, Andrew P, Professor
International Affairs
JD, University of Texas at Austin, 1984
PHD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1994

Mu, Ren, Professor
International Affairs
PHD, Michigan State University, 2004

Natsios, Andrew S, Executive Professor
International Affairs
MPA, Harvard University, 1979

Neff, Brandon, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
MA1, Harvard University, 2006

Norris, William J, Associate Professor
International Affairs
PHD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2010

Onder, Stefanie, Assistant Professor
International Affairs
PHD, London School of Economics and Political Science, 2011

Pino, Alan, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
MA, University of Virginia, 1981

Pugel, Jim, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, George Mason University, 2016

Puglisi, Anna, Visiting Professor of the Practice
International Affairs
MS, Indiana University, 1997

Raisor, Cynthia M, Lecturer
International Affairs
MA, Texas A&M University, 1986

Robertson, Raymond E, Professor
International Affairs
PHD, The University of Texas at Austin, 1997

Russell, Richard L, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, University of Virginia, 1997

Sakiev, Azamat, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, Syracuse University, 2011

Schroeder, Tambria Lynn, Visiting Assistant Professor of the Practice
International Affairs
MA, Queen's University of Belfast, 2022

Schuessler, John M, Associate Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of Chicago, 2007

Serra, Danila, Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of Oxford and Centre for the Study of African Economies, 2009

Shandley, Robert R, Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 1996

Shynkaruk, Kateryna, Senior Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv, 2011

Sievert, Ronald J, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
JD, The University of Texas at Austin, 1977

Smith, James M, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, The University of Alabama, 1993

Tabaar, Mohammad A, Associate Professor
International Affairs
PHD, Georgetown University, 2012

Talbot, Brent J, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, University of Denver, 2003

Taylor, Michelle Carron, Visiting Associate Professor of the Practice
International Affairs
BS, North Carolina State University, 2001

Teague, Aileen T., Assistant Professor
International Affairs
PHD, Vanderbilt University, 2018

Teitelbaum, Lorne, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, RAND School of Public Policy, 2005

Triplett, Holden, Visiting Professor of the Practice
International Affairs
JD, University of California, Berkeley, 2003

Usher, William, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
MS, National War College, 2015

Vickers, Michael, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
BDS, University of Alabama, 1983
PHD, Johns Hopkins University, 2010

Vincent, Kenneth Rumsey, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, George Washington University, 2017

Vogle, Gregory, Professor Of The Practice
International Affairs
BA, The Citadel, 1981

Wallace, James C, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
PHD, Boston University, Graduate School of Arts/Science, 2018
PR1, Samford University, Beeson Divinity School, 2006

Wasielewski, Philip, Visiting Lecturer
International Affairs
MA, U.S. Army War College, 2005

Weary, Katherine T, Associate Professor Of The Practice
International Affairs
MA, The George Washington University, 2005

Weissgold, Linda, Professor Of The Practice
International Affairs
BS, Georgetown University, 1984

White, Suzanne, Visiting Professor of the Practice
International Affairs
MA, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 1996

Wilder, Dennis, Visiting Professor of the Practice
International Affairs
MS, Georgetown University, 1979

Wilder, Ursula M., Visiting Professor of the Practice
International Affairs
PHD, George Washington University, 1992

Zarate Barrera, Tatiana, Assistant Professor
International Affairs
PHD, University of British Columbia, 2023