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This major prepares individuals for careers or graduate coursework that will require a deep and nuanced understanding of the cultural, economic and political forces driving contemporary global issues and relations among societies.
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Contact the Office of Admissions
Faculty and Staff
Faculty and Staff
Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 97983 [post_author] => 53 [post_date] => 2021-06-03 16:20:17 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-06-03 20:20:17 [post_content] => Webpage: https://marksetzler.org   Professor Setzler has been at HPU since 2004. He grew up on a mule ranch outside of Boise, Idaho. He earned his B.A. in Political Science and Spanish Literature at Oregon’s Pacific University, and his Ph.D. in political science is from the University of Texas at Austin. Before completing his doctorate, he worked as a staffer on Capitol Hill, with a law firm in Washington, and as a research analyst for an urban issues political think tank in Austin. Prior to coming to HPU, he was a visiting professor at the University of Portland and Lewis & Clark College.   Professor Setzler’s research focuses primarily on how democracies can be made more responsive to historically marginalized groups. Much of his scholarship explores political behavior in Latin America, especially Brazil, where he has interviewed hundreds of state deputies, city councilors, bureaucrats, and community leaders. He also examines political behavior and public policy in the US, where his work has centered on attitudes, behaviors, and policies that adversely affect immigrants, women, Latinos, and African Americans. His scholarship has been supported by grants from the Ford Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Boren Fellows Program. He is the co-author of a study that received the Theodore Lowi Award from the Policy Studies Association and was named article of the year by the Policy Studies Journal. His other published research and scholarship in print includes articles in The Brazilian Political Science Review, PS: Political Science & Politics, Social Science Quarterly, Political Science Quarterly, Politics & Gender, Religion and Politics, International Migration Review, and Politics, Groups, and Identities. He has published multiple studies in The Latin Americanist and now serves as an Associate Editor at this journal.   Outside of the classroom, Professor Setzler enjoys spending time with his family, pleasure reading books in Portuguese that he would never find the time for otherwise, and fly fishing in the Appalachians. [post_title] => Mark Setzler [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => mark-setzler [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2021-08-30 14:01:05 [post_modified_gmt] => 2021-08-30 18:01:05 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?p=97983 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 94344 [post_author] => 62 [post_date] => 2021-05-25 15:12:29 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-05-25 19:12:29 [post_content] => Martin J. Kifer joined the department in Fall 2009. He is the Director of High Point University’s new interdisciplinary Survey Research Center. Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Martin graduated from Earlham College. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota.   Prior to graduate school, Martin served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa and as a Legislative Assistant in the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Congressman Baron Hill. After completing his graduate coursework, he worked as an Analyst for the international and corporate team at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, a political consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. His assignments included managing nationwide surveys, focus groups, and in-depth interviews in the U.S. and Eastern and Central Europe. Martin focused on education and health care policy at his most recent job as a Survey Researcher for Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.   Martin’s research and teaching interests include U.S. foreign policy, political campaigns and new media, survey research methods, and American political opinion and behavior. He is currently working on a long-term project with James N. Druckman (Northwestern University) and Michael Parkin (Oberlin College) that examines how congressional candidates campaign on-line. Articles based on this research have appeared in the The American Political Science Review; Journal of Elections, Public Opinion, and Parties; Social Science Computer Review; and Political Communication.   Martin teaches American Politics and International Relations as well as seminars addressing social science research methods, political behavior, and U.S. foreign policy. He is the director of HPU’s interdisciplinary Survey Research Center and coordinates internship placements for the department. [post_title] => Martin Kifer [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => dr-martin-kifer [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2021-08-30 14:13:24 [post_modified_gmt] => 2021-08-30 18:13:24 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?post_type=faculty-staff&p=94344 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 98172 [post_author] => 53 [post_date] => 2021-06-03 16:22:51 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-06-03 20:22:51 [post_content] => Sam Whitt received his Ph.D. in political science from Vanderbilt University. He holds a B.A. with majors in Russian and German from Sewanee and a second B.A. in political science from the University of Tennessee. Before coming to High Point, he spent an exciting year at the State Department in Washington working on public opinion research.   Much of his dissertation research and subsequent scholarship examines the effects of violent conflict on individual and group behavior using experimental methods. He has conducted field research in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Tajikistan, and is currently engaged in research projects in Syria, Ukraine, and Iraq. His research has been published in several journals, including the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, Journal of Peace Research, Journal of Conflict Resolution, International Studies Quarterly, and Journal of Experimental Political Science.   When he is not teaching or working on research, he is usually playing baseball, soccer, and/or basketball with his two sons, Henry and Andrew, who also make periodic campus appearances.   Curriculum Vitae [post_title] => Samuel Whitt [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => samuel-whitt [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-07-06 11:38:09 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-07-06 15:38:09 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?p=98172 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) )
Professor of Political Sciences and Director of International Relations Program
Chair and Associate Professor of Political Science; Director of the Survey Research Center
Associate Professor of Political Science

The major prepares individuals for careers or graduate coursework that will require a deep and nuanced understanding of the cultural, economic and political forces driving contemporary global issues and relations among societies. Students in the program work closely with a faculty comprised of regional, foreign language and international issue experts who collectively offer a remarkably broad variety of course and instructor choices. HPU students whose coursework has focused on international political and economic issues have gone onto successful careers in many different fields, including international business, law, economic analysis, secondary and higher education, political consulting, policy analysis, and in various other professions that require strong analytical, writing and intercultural skills.

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Course Requirements
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations
Degree Requirements Credits
Major Requirements 36-44
University Core Requirements 36-44
Electives 30-38
Total 128
Requirements for B.A. in International Relations
Requirements for B.A. in International Relations
Course Course Title Credits
ECO 2030 Principles of Macroeconomics 4
PSC 2019 Political Science Research Methods 4
PSC 2710 International Relations 4
Foreign language: 2020-level or higher.

After fulfilling the University’s general educational requirement for foreign language, majors will complete at least four additional hours in the same language. At least one foreign language course must be taken at the Intermediate-II level or higher.

Select two courses from the following list (8):
PSC/GBS 2510 Comparing Foreign Political Systems 4
ECO/GBS 3460 International Economics 4
ECO/GBS 4430 Comparative Economics 4
Select one course from the following list (4):
HST 1102 Foundations in Western Civilizations since the Enlightenment 4
HST 1401 Foundations of African History 4
HST 1501 Introduction to East Asian Civilization 4
HST 1601 Foundations of Latin American Civilization 4
HST 1701 Foundations of Middle Eastern History 4
Select two courses, outside of those taken to meet the requirements above, from the following list (8):
ECO/GBS 3460 International Economics 4
ECO/GBS 4430 Comparative Economics 4
HST 2103 The Second World War: A Global History 4
HST 2235 U.S. in the World: American Foreign Relations 4
HST 2602 Revolutionaries and Dictators: Modern Latin America 4
HST 2701 The Modern Middle East 4
HST 3107 The Age of Revolutions and the Birth of Modern Europe, 1815-1914 4
HST 3108 Europe in Crisis, 1914-1945 4
HST 3191 European Economic History 4
HST/GBS 3501 United States and East Asia 4
HST/GBS 3511 Revolutionary China 4
HST/PSC 3701 The United States and the Middle East Since 1945 4
HST 3702 The Arab-Israeli Conflict 4
PSC 3510 Latin American Politics 4
PSC 3511 Ethnic Politics 4
PSC 3512 Democracy, Development and Conflict 4
PSC 4099 Senior Seminar 4
PSC 4510 Democracy and Authoritarianism 4
PSC 4710 International Conflict and Security 4
PSC 4720 U.S. Foreign Policy 4
Select one of the following three options:
1. PSC 4099. Senior Seminar.

2. Four credits earned in INR 4810-4815 Student Internship. The internship must be undertaken in the junior or senior year, and credit is subject to departmental approval.

3. Four credits earned in the completion of a semester-long study abroad experience undertaken in the junior or senior year. The hours used to fulfill this requirement may not satisfy other requirements in the major.

Other Requirements:
1. At least three courses at the 3000-level or higher (at least one of these three must be at the 4000-level);

2. No more than four classes may count toward both a major in International Relations and Political Science;

3. International Relations majors may not minor in Political Science.

For additional program information, please contact Dr. Mark Setzler (msetzler@highpoint.edu)
Career Opportunities
Our typical program alumnus possesses at least intermediate-level proficiency in a foreign language, has studied abroad, is familiar with quantitative research methods, and has completed advanced coursework in several different disciplines. Not surprisingly, these graduates are well prepared to stand out in numerous fields. In recent years our alumni have been accepted into the Peace Corps, joined PRA International as a proposal analyst, been commissioned as an Air Force intelligence officer, become an intelligence analyst at AT&T, and gone to work for major financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank in Europe.

Nationally, most international relations graduates seeking a long-term career in foreign affairs will go on to seek highly specialized training at the graduate level. Many of our recent program alumni thus have headed directly to graduate and professional schools, pursuing advanced degrees in international affairs, economics, international marketing, law, international business, political science, international security, and international development. Students with degrees in international relations can enter careers as:
Student Outcomes
Brooke Smith
Advanced Technology International

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Sophia Mahachek

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Sarah Westin

  With another Commencement behind us, High Point University graduates will be commencing prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law,…

Tyler Murray

With another Commencement quickly approaching, High Point University graduates will be commencing prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law,…

Johanna Moore

With another successful Commencement behind us, future High Point University graduates are commencing prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law,…

Tucker Wilson

With another successful Commencement behind us, future High Point University graduates are commencing prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law,…

With commencement just around the corner, recent High Point University graduates are already preparing to commence prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems,…

With another successful commencement behind us, recent High Point University graduates are preparing to commence prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier…

With another successful commencement behind us, recent High Point University graduates are preparing to commence prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier…

Name: Kristen Schapowal Hometown: Hicksville, New York Major: Schapowal will graduate with degrees in International Relations and History on May 6. Post-graduation plans: Schapowal will attend George Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs and pursue…

Study Abroad
At High Point University, our emphasis on global perspectives is designed to provide students with opportunities to enhance their international awareness and to develop their cross-cultural communication skills. Study abroad is strongly encouraged as a part of this emphasis on global studies. With a variety of extraordinary options at some of the most prestigious universities in the world, students at High Point University are encouraged to study abroad as early as the summer after their freshman year. Employers are looking for more than just a degree; they want well-rounded individuals who have familiarity with diverse cultures, special skills, and knowledge of the world around them.
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