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2025 International Affairs Major w/ Honors - Foreign Policy and Security Studies Curriculum


Code Short Description Description Transcript Description Req Crse Cnt Opt Crse Cnt
PIF0H International Affairs Major w/ Honors - FP and S International Affairs Major w/ Honors - Foreign Policy and Security Studies International Affairs w/ Honors 2 0

2025 International Affairs Major w/ Honors - Foreign Policy and Security Studies Tracks

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Subject Area Description Credit Hour
Program Requirements  
The International Affairs with Honors designation is available to cadets majoring in International Affairs Foreign Policy and Security Studies (PIF0) and International Affairs - Institutions, Governance, and Development (PII0). Awarding of the Honors designation requires the successful completion of a research project in one of three capstone courses, two additional IA courses beyond the 10 course base major (not including the required three CSC courses), and the achievement of a specified grade requirement in both the core curriculum and the IA major. SS489B and SS498B can fulfill the two additional IA course requirement for thesis cadets.
AND
Grade Requirements  
Complete the requirements of the major as shown above, attain an APSC of at least 3.0 in the core curriculum and an APSC of at least 3.5 in the major.





2025 International Affairs Major w/ Thesis - Foreign Policy and Security Studies Curriculum


Code Short Description Description Transcript Description Req Crse Cnt Opt Crse Cnt
PIF0T International Affairs Major w/ Thesis - FP and S International Affairs Major w/ Thesis - Foreign Policy and Security Studies International Affairs w/ Thesis 2 0

2025 International Affairs Major w/ Thesis - Foreign Policy and Security Studies Tracks

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Subject Area Description Credit Hour
 
The International Affairs Thesis Program is available to cadets majoring in International Affairs Foreign Policy and Security Studies (PIF0) and International Affairs - Institutions, Governance, and Development (PII0). In addition to the standard course of study, Cadets admitted to the IA Thesis Program will complete a two-course thesis sequence (SS489B and SS498B), defend their work in front of a three-member committee, and present findings during the Academy's Projects Day.
AND
Required Courses Choose 2 of 2
SS489B Senior Thesis Preparation and SS498B Senior Thesis in International Affairs. 1.0 credit research course offered in the spring of cow year is optional but encouraged.
SS489B SENIOR RESEARCH INTERN AFFAIRS 3.0  
SS498B SENIOR THESIS IN INTER AFFAIRS 3.0  





2025 International Affairs Major: Foreign Policy and Security Studies Curriculum


Code Short Description Description Transcript Description Req Crse Cnt Opt Crse Cnt
PIF0 International Affairs: FP & Security Studies International Affairs Major: Foreign Policy and Security Studies International Affairs 5 8

2025 International Affairs Major: Foreign Policy and Security Studies Tracks

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Subject Area Description Credit Hour
Required Courses Choose 3 of 3
SS360 POL SCI RESEARCH METHODS 3.0  
SS366 COMPARATIVE POLITICS 3.0  
SS386 POLITICAL THOUGHT 3.0  
AND
Thematic Track Gateway Courses Choose 2 of 2
Cadets in the Foreign Policy and Security Studies Track must take these two Thematic Gateway courses.
SS395 INTERNATIONAL SECURITY 3.0  
SS483 NATIONAL SECURITY SEMINAR 3.0  
AND
Thematic Track Elective Choose 1 of 28
Cadets in the Foreign Policy and Security Studies Track must choose one thematic track elective from this list.
CY460 CYBER POLICY, STRATEGY, & OPNS 3.0  
SS372 POLITICS OF CHINA 3.0  
SS374 POLITICS OF NORTHEAST ASIA 3.0  
SS375 POL OF THE POST-SOVIET STATES 3.0  
SS377 POLITICS OF EUROPE 3.0  
SS381 CULTURAL/POLIT ANTHROPOLOGY 3.0  
SS383 POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST 3.0  
SS384 POLITICS OF LATIN AMERICA 3.0  
SS385 HISTORY OF ECONOMICS 3.0  
SS399 SOCSCI INTERNSHIP/PRACTCAL EXP 3.0  
SS457 INTRODUCTION TO GRAND STRATEGY 3.0  
SS458 TOPICS IN GRAND STRATEGY 3.0  
SS462 ECONOMIC GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT 3.0  
SS464 HOMELAND SECURITY 3.0  
SS465 TERRORISM: NEW CHALLENGES 3.0  
SS466 COMBATING TERRORISM 3.0  
SS472 THE AM STATE & THE SOLDIER 3.0  
SS473 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY 3.0  
SS476 CIVIL WARS 3.0  
SS477 ECONOMICS OF NATIONAL SECURITY 3.0  
SS478 DIST PROF OF SECURITY STUD SEM 3.0  
SS479 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION 3.0  
SS483 NATIONAL SECURITY SEMINAR 3.0  
SS485 GOV & POLITICS SUB-SAHARAN AFR 3.0  
SS486 STATE BUILDING 3.0  
SS487 INT'L POLITICAL ECONOMY 3.0  
SS490B COLLOQUIUM (INTERNTL AFFAIRS) 3.0  
SS490C COLLOQUIUM (ECONOMICS) 3.0  
AND
Thematic Breadth Requirement Choose 1 of 2
Cadets in the Foreign Policy and Security Studies Track must select one course from the list of Thematic Track Gateway Courses from outside of their Thematic Track.
SS475 COMP POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS 3.0  
SS487 INT'L POLITICAL ECONOMY 3.0  
AND
Regional Breadth Requirement Choose 1 of 7
SS372 POLITICS OF CHINA 3.0  
SS374 POLITICS OF NORTHEAST ASIA 3.0  
SS375 POL OF THE POST-SOVIET STATES 3.0  
SS377 POLITICS OF EUROPE 3.0  
SS383 POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST 3.0  
SS384 POLITICS OF LATIN AMERICA 3.0  
SS485 GOV & POLITICS SUB-SAHARAN AFR 3.0  
AND
American Politics Elective Choose 1 of 11
SS370 MASS MEDIA & AMER POLITICS 3.0  
SS373 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY 3.0  
SS376 AMERICAN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT 3.0  
SS379 LEGISLATIVE POLITICS 3.0  
SS392 POLITICS-RACE,GENDER,SEXUALITY 3.0  
SS464 HOMELAND SECURITY 3.0  
SS468 POLITICAL PARTICIPATION 3.0  
SS472 THE AM STATE & THE SOLDIER 3.0  
SS480 PUBLIC POLICYMAKING PROCESS 3.0  
SS481 POLITICS OF DEFENSE POLICY 3.0  
SS490A COLLOQUIUM (AMER POLITICS) 3.0  
AND

Complementary Support Courses  
All majors will choose three classes from beyond the discipline of political science as their complementary support courses. Cadets can request courses not in these groupings based on approval of the DAC or Program Director.
 
Cadets should be aware that some of these courses have prerequisites that may be difficult to attain, some courses are only offered at certain times, and course prerequisites may change. If cadets do not meet the prerequisite requirements but still would like to take the course, they are responsible to meet with the course director to see if taking the course will still be feasible.
CSC-Foreign Language Choose 3 of 24
Take three upper division courses in the same language (typically LX371, LX372, and LX475)
LA371 INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE ARABIC 4.0  
LA372 ARABIC FOR ORAL & WRITTEN COMM 3.0  
LA475 ARABIC RDG/WRTG THRU MEDIA 3.0  
LC371 INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE CHINESE 4.0  
LC372 CHINESE FOR ORAL & WRIT COMM 3.0  
LC475 CHINESE RDG/WRTG THRU MEDIA 3.0  
LF371 INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE FRENCH 4.0  
LF372 FRENCH FOR ORAL & WRITTEN COMM 3.0  
LF475 FRENCH RDG/WRTG THRU MEDIA 3.0  
LG371 INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE GERMAN 4.0  
LG372 GERMAN FOR ORAL & WRITTEN COMM 3.0  
LG475 GERMAN RDG/WRTG THRU MEDIA 3.0  
LP371 INTENSIVE INTERMED. PORTUGUESE 4.0  
LP372 PORTUGUESE FOR ORAL/WRIT COMM 3.0  
LP475 PORTUGUESE RDG/WRTG THRU MEDIA 3.0  
LR371 INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE RUSSIAN 4.0  
LR372 RUSSIAN FOR ORAL & WRIT COMM 3.0  
LR475 RUSSIAN RDG/WRTG THRU MEDIA 3.0  
LS371 INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE SPANISH 4.0  
LS372 SPANISH FOR ORAL & WRIT COMM 3.0  
LS475 SPANISH RDG/WRTG THRU MEDIA 3.0  
LZ371 INTENSIVE INTERMEDIATE PERSIAN 4.0  
LZ372 PERSIAN FOR ORAL & WRIT COMM 3.0  
LZ475 PERSIAN RDG/WRTG THRU MEDIA 3.0  
OR
CSC-Regional Studies: Europe Choose 3 of 10
LX300/LX400 = an additional language course in French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, or Russian.
EV365 GEOGRAPHY OF GLOBAL CULTURES 3.0  
EV371 GEOGRAPHY OF RUSSIA 3.0  
EV386 GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE 3.0  
HI343 MODERN GERMANY 3.0  
HI361 MEDIEVAL EUROPE 3.0  
HI364 MODERN WESTERN EUROPE 3.0  
HI367 IMPERIAL AND SOVIET RUSSIA 3.0  
HI368 MOD CENTRAL & E. EUR,1896-1989 3.0  
LX300 3RD SEMESTER FOREIGN LANG 0.0  
LX400 4TH SEMESTER FOREIGN LANG 0.0  
OR
CSC-Regional Studies: Asia Choose 3 of 6
LX300 = an additional language course in Chinese.
EV365 GEOGRAPHY OF GLOBAL CULTURES 3.0  
EV372 GEOGRAPHY OF ASIA 3.0  
HI337 CHINA: EMPIRE, REPUBLIC, & MAO 3.0  
HI346 INDIA, PAKISTAN, & BANGLADESH 3.0  
HI347 ASIAN WARFARE AND POLITICS 3.0  
LX300 3RD SEMESTER FOREIGN LANG 0.0  
OR
CSC-Regional Studies: Middle East and Africa Choose 3 of 7
LX300 = an additional language course in Arabic, Hebrew or Persian.
EV365 GEOGRAPHY OF GLOBAL CULTURES 3.0  
EV375 GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICA 3.0  
EV376 GEOGRAPHY OF THE MIDDLE EAST 3.0  
HI339 THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST 3.0  
HI345 MODERN AFRICA 3.0  
HI383 MIDDLE EASTERN WARFARE 3.0  
LX300 3RD SEMESTER FOREIGN LANG 0.0  
OR
CSC-Regional Studies: The Americas Choose 3 of 9
LX300 = an additional language course in Spanish or Portuguese.
EV365 GEOGRAPHY OF GLOBAL CULTURES 3.0  
EV373 GEOGRAPHY OF LATIN AMERICA 3.0  
EV384 GEOGRAPHY OF NORTH AMERICA 3.0  
HI348 MODERN LATIN AMERICA 3.0  
HI372 US FGN RELATIONS SINCE 1898 3.0  
HI392 AMERICAN HISTORICAL MEMORY 3.0  
HI396 MAKING OF MODERN AMERICA 3.0  
HI397 COLD WAR AMERICA 3.0  
LX300 3RD SEMESTER FOREIGN LANG 0.0  
OR
CSC-Law Choose 3 of 7
LW410 COMPARATIVE LEGAL SYSTEMS 3.0  
LW462 CYBER LAW 3.0  
LW473 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 3.0  
LW474 LAW OF ARMED CONFLICT 3.0  
LW475 ADV CONSTITUTIONAL LAW SEM 3.0  
LW481 INTERNATIONAL LAW 3.0  
LW482 NATIONAL SECURITY LAW 3.0  
OR
CSC-Strategic Studies Choose 3 of 22
DS320 INTRO TO STRATEGIC STUDIES 3.0  
DS345 MILITARY INNOVATION 3.0  
DS360 SPECIAL OPS: THEORY & PRACTICE 3.0  
DS370 STRATEGY AND POLICY 3.0  
DS460 REBELLION, INSURGNCY & CIV WAR 3.0  
DS475 STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING 3.0  
DS485 DOMAINS OF WAR 3.0  
EV482 MILITARY GEOGRAPHY 3.0  
HI338 WARFARE IN AGE OF REVOLUTIONS 3.0  
HI347 ASIAN WARFARE AND POLITICS 3.0  
HI355 WARFARE-AGE OF INDUSTRIALIZTN 3.0  
HI356 WAR AT SEA AND IN THE AIR 3.0  
HI357 DECOLONIZATION & THE COLD WAR 3.0  
HI358 POLICY, STRATEGY & GENERALSHIP 3.0  
HI359 ERA OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR 3.0  
HI370 ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL WARFARE 3.0  
HI376 EARLY MODERN WARFARE 3.0  
HI381 HISTORY OF IRREGULAR WARFARE 3.0  
HI385 WAR & ITS THEORISTS 3.0  
PL471 LEADERSHIP IN COMBAT 3.0  
XH341 INTEL CYBER HISTORY 3.0  
XH397 GRAND STRATEGY FIELD STUDY 3.0  
OR
CSC-United States Foreign Policy Choose 3 of 9
HI340 COLONIAL AMERICA 3.0  
HI369 AMERICAN FRONTIERS 3.0  
HI372 US FGN RELATIONS SINCE 1898 3.0  
HI390 EARLY NATIONAL AMERICA 3.0  
HI394 REVOLUTIONARY AMERICA 3.0  
HI395 HIST OF CIVIL WAR AMERICA 3.0  
HI396 MAKING OF MODERN AMERICA 3.0  
HI397 COLD WAR AMERICA 3.0  
HI398 CIVIL RIGHTS IN AMER HIST 3.0  
OR
CSC-Culture and Philosophy Choose 3 of 11
EN344 CRITICISM 3.0  
HI391 WORLD RELIGIONS 3.0  
HI392 AMERICAN HISTORICAL MEMORY 3.0  
LW461 CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE LAW 3.0  
PL372 SOCIOLOGY OF THE FAMILY 3.0  
PL377 SOCIAL INEQUALITY 3.0  
PL383 EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 3.0  
PL384 SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY 3.0  
PY305 LOGICAL REASONING 3.0  
PY326 CYBER ETHICS 3.0  
PY350 PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE 3.0  
OR
CSC-Research Methods: General Track Choose 3 of 7
For the Design Requirement, you must select 2 courses from DS495, EV367, PL361, PL363. For the Formal Theory Requirement, you must select 1 course from MA383, PY305, SS364. Note that the prerequisite requirements for some of these courses may make this a difficult option for some cadets.
DS495 RESEARCH METHODS STRAT STUDIES 3.0  
EV367 GEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH METHODS 3.0  
MA383 FOUNDATIONS OF MATH 3.0  
PL361 RESEARCH METHODS I 3.0  
PL363 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS 3.0  
PY305 LOGICAL REASONING 3.0  
SS364 GAME THEORY 3.0  
OR
CSC-Research Methods: Quantitative Focus Track Choose 3 of 7
For the Quantitative Focus Track, you must select MA205 and MA367 and choose 1 of EV365, MA376, MA391, PL462, SS468. Note that the prerequisite requirements for some of these courses may make this a difficult option for some cadets.
EV367 GEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH METHODS 3.0  
MA205 CALCULUS II 4.0  
MA367 MATH FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES 3.0  
MA376 APPLIED STATISTICS 3.0  
MA391 MATHEMATICAL MODELING 3.0  
PL462 EXPERIMENTAL APP IN PSYCHOLOGY 3.0  
SS468 POLITICAL PARTICIPATION 3.0  
OR
CSC-Economics and Finance Choose 3 of 17
Cadets in this CSC track must select SS388 and any two of the remaining courses listed.
SS364 GAME THEORY 3.0  
SS368 ECONOMETRICS I 3.0  
SS380 MANPOWER-LABOR ECONOMICS 3.0  
SS382 MICROECONOMICS 3.0  
SS385 HISTORY OF ECONOMICS 3.0  
SS387 PUBLIC FINANCE 3.0  
SS388 MACROECONOMICS 3.0  
SS390 BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS 3.0  
SS394 FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS 3.0  
SS461 INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION 3.0  
SS462 ECON OF STABILIZATION & GROWTH 3.0  
SS463 INVESTMENTS THEORY & APPL 3.0  
SS469 ECONOMETRICS II 3.0  
SS470 MONEY AND BANKING 3.0  
SS484 INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS 3.0  
SS494 PRINCIPLES OF FINANCE 3.0  
SS497 ISSUES IN MICROECONOMIC THEORY 3.0  
AND

Capstone Requirement - Integrative Experience for the Major Choose 1 of 3
Only cadets in the Thesis major can select SS498B to fulfill this requirement.
SS491 SENIOR PROJECT 3.0  
SS495 SENIOR FACULTY COLLOQUIUM 3.0  
SS498B SENIOR THESIS IN INTER AFFAIRS 3.0  
AND
Science Depth  
Cadets in this major may choose any of the authorized courses to satisfy the Science Depth requirement.
CH102 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II 4.0  
CH275 BIOLOGY 4.0  
PH202 PHYSICS II 4.0  
PH206 PHYSICS II 4.0  
PH252 ADVANCED PHYSICS II 4.0  
PH256 ADVANCED PHYSICS II 4.0  
STEM Depth  
Cadets in this major must take CY305/CY355 to satisfy the STEM Depth Requirement.
CY305 CYBER FOUNDATIONS 3.0  
CY355 CYBER FOUNDATIONS - COMPUTING 3.0  
AND

Curriculum Requirements  
This section describes how cadets in this major satisfy various curriculum requirements.
IT/CYBER Requirement  
Cadets in this major will satisfy the IT/CYBER requirement by successfully completing the IT/CYBER content in the core curriculum and CY305/355.
CY305 CYBER FOUNDATIONS 3.0  
CY355 CYBER FOUNDATIONS - COMPUTING 3.0  
Core Engineering Sequence  
Cadets in this major may select any Core Engineering Sequence. This sequence is selected in the fall semester of their third class year.
Writing-in-the-Major  
Cadets in this major satisfy the West Point Writing Program requirement by successfully completing writing requirements in the core curriculum and this course in the major.
SS395 INTERNATIONAL SECURITY 3.0