Course Catalog: 2020-21

The Five College International Relations Certificate Program encourages students interested in international re­lations but majoring in other fields to develop a coherent approach to the study of this subject. With challenges such as globalization, regional and ethnic conflict, environmental degradation, resource scarcity, demographic stress, global climate change and wide disparities in global economic development and global public health among others, the world is increasingly more complex. Now more than ever, students need to be prepared to confront the complexities of these international challenges with interdisciplinary understandings. The Five College IR certificate program is designed for students who want to make connections between their field of study and the global challenges.

An Amherst student qualifies for the certificate by satisfactorily completing the following seven requirements:

1. A course in introductory world politics;
2. A course concerning global institutions or problems;
3. A course on the international financial and/or commercial system;
4. A course concerning the historical development of the international system since 1789;
5. A course on contemporary American foreign policy;
6. Two years of college-level study of a foreign language or languages during which they must complete the second year in at least one language. (Please note that this is a requirement specific to Amherst College students. This requirement is waived for non-native speakers of English).
7. Two courses on the politics, economy and/or society of foreign areas, of which one must involve the study of a Third World country or region.

Here are a few basic things to consider:

1. There are seven requirements.
2. No more than four courses in any one discipline can be counted toward the certificate.
3. No single course can satisfy more than one requirement.
4. Candidates must complete the required courses (with the exception of the foreign language courses) with grades of at least B or better (no Satisfactory-Unsatisfactory grades). Non-Hampshire students should request grades for Hampshire courses. The Hampshire advisor will certify that Hampshire students have satisfied the requirement.
5. Not all of the courses listed are presented every year. Consult your college catalogue and relevant departments in this regard.

The Certificate Program is administered by the Five College International Relations Committee whose members also serve as faculty advisors concern­ing the program on the five campuses. Amherst students’ selection of courses to satisfy the requirements for the certificate is monitored and approved by Amherst’s faculty advisor. Further information about the Five College Interna­tional Relations Certificate Program is available at https://www.fivecolleges.edu/international/certificate. 

In 2020-21 the Amherst faculty advisors will be Professors Javier Corrales, Pavel Machala, Eleonora Mattiacci, Ruxandra Paul, and Kerry Ratigan of the Political Science Department.