We are attempting to reimagine our Department minor(s).  Currently a student can take almost any combination of political science courses for the minor, so it is possible to take only international politics courses and receive a Political Science minor.  This has two problems: (2) prospective students don’t realize this unless they do a lot of careful investigating or receive some personal advising, and (2) many students (Global Studies, global business, community development, and Rubenstein majors, and prospective students now in high school) want a minor that has the word “international” in the title, whether it is international relations, international affairs, or international politics.

So we are proposing a new minor that allows students to take only international politics courses and receive a minor called International Politics.  This will require no new resources (although it might make our university and department more attractive to some of the applicants for our new tenure-track position!), but it will provide a minor that clarifies for students what is available and gives them the credential they want and need.

Approved by the Board of Trustees February 2016