The Five College International Relations Certificate Program offers an opportunity for students to pursue an interest in international relations as a complement to their majors.
Course requirements for the certificate cover the following areas of study:
(Click on the requirements for the approved courses for the international relations certificate program)
1. A course on introductory world politics
2. A course on 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. Proficiency in a contemporary foreign language through the completion of two years of the language at the college level or its equivalent
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.
A list of the courses which may be counted for each of these requirements follows. Please note that no more than four of these courses in any one discipline can be counted towards the Certificate, and no single course can satisfy more than one requirement. 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. Please note that not all of the courses listed are presented every year. Consult your college catalogue and relevant departments in this regard.
There is at least one advisor on each campus for the International Relations Certificate:
Amherst: Pavel Machala, William Taubman (on leave Fall 2008), Ronald Tiersky
Hampshire: Michael Klare
Mount Holyoke: Vincent Ferraro, Jon Western, Kavita Khory
Smith: Mlada Bukovansky, Gregory White
University: M.J. Peterson, Audrey Altstadt, Laura Reed.
Once you have satisfied the 7 requirements, you should fill out a Student Record Sheet and have the grades verified by your home institution's Registrar. Then bring the verified record sheet to your advisor and have it signed. The form should then be sent to Vincent Ferraro, International Relations Program, 103 Skinner Hall, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075. Typically none of the certificates are mailed to students' addresses until some time in August. The notation on your transcript, however, appears much more quickly.
