Core Field

The M.I.S. core field consists of three courses: one each in economics, history, and political science, as described below. If the M.I.S. candidate has taken an equivalent course at the partner institution, the student may transfer credit to satisfy that core field requirement and does not need to take that course at GW.

Political Science (3 GW credits)

The core political science course covers the major theories of international relations and international politics. It identifies the major actors, the forces working upon those actors and various ways of analyzing the relations between nations.

The political science core requirement is satisfied by:

• GW PSc 240 International Politics
  
  OR any one of the following
  (for students with a regional focus major field in a world):
  
  
• GW PSc 230 Theories of Comparative Politics
• GW PSc 234 Democracy and Democratization
• GW PSc 235 Politics and Industrialization
• GW PSc 236 Political Economy of Developing Areas
• GW PSc 237 Theories of Political Development
• GW PSc 288 Selected Topics in Comparative Politics
• Equivalent coursework from the partner institution.

History (3 GW credits)

Through a course on the history of the international system or on the uses of history in international affairs, students learn to place broader trends in world affairs in their historical context and to understand how historical knowledge includes policy decisions.

The history core requirement is satisfied by:

• GW Hist 250 History of International Systems
• GW Hist 251 Uses of History in International Affairs
• Equivalent coursework from the partner institution.

Economics (3 GW credits)

To gain an understanding of the economic forces shaping international affairs, students complete coursework in international macroeconomic theory or the theory of international trade.

The economics core requirement is satisfied by:

• GW Econ 280 Survey of International Economics
• GW Econ 283 Survey of International Trade Theory and Policy and Econ 284 Survey of International Macroeconomics and Finance Theory and Policy or
• Equivalent coursework from the partner institution.

Last updated: 10.16.07