Catalog 2026–2027

International Relations Certificate

Contact: Su-Mi Lee, Ph.D.
Email: sumilee@hawaii.edu

Certificate Description:

The International Relations Certificate is a multidisciplinary program designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of international relations and the complex dynamics that contribute to global challenges and their solutions. The program is organized around five key thematic areas: Peace and Security; Trade, Business, and Economy; Environment and Health; Human Security; and Area Studies. Together, these areas create a broad yet cohesive framework for analyzing and addressing global issues.

This certificate program combines existing coursework in a student's chosen major with a global perspective on world politics, history, and geography. Students will explore the root causes of major international challenges and develop practical, solution-oriented skills to address these issues in real-world contexts. The curriculum emphasizes applied learning and prepares students for careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, both domestically and internationally.

This certificate is particularly advantageous for students pursuing careers in foreign service, international business, global development, and international organizations (both governmental and nongovernmental). It also serves as excellent preparation for graduate studies in international relations, global studies, or related fields.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this certificate, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of international political and economic structures and explain how these frameworks influence international cooperation.
  2. Evaluate the roles and interactions of various international actors, including nation- states, intergovernmental organizations, non governmental organizations, and multinational corporations, in the global system.
  3. Analyze major global issues through multidisciplinary perspectives.
  4. Apply theoretical and practical knowledge to develop informed, viable solutions to complex global problems.

Curriculum (18 credits):

Foundational courses (9 credits):

  • POLS 242 Intro To World Politics (3) or POLS 246 Global Issues (3)
  • HIST 151 World History to 1500 (3) or HIST 152 World History since 1500 (3)
  • GEOG 102 World Regional Geography (3)

Specializations (9 credits):

Select one specialization and complete three courses within that category.

Peace and Security

  • HIST 385 Europe in Era Of World War I (3)
  • HIST 395 Europe in Era Of World War II (3)
  • HIST 422 East Asia and the Cold War (3)
  • HIST 470 US in the World 1865-2003 (3)
  • POLS 262 Intro to Intelligence Studies (3)
  • POLS 264 Intro to Security Studies (3)
  • POLS 340 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)
  • POLS 342 International Law (3)
  • POLS 344 Terrorism and Extremism (3)
  • POLS 346 International Organizations (3)
  • POLS 442 War and the State (3)
  • POLS 443 Int'l Conflict Management (3)

Trade, Business, and Development

  • ECON 100 Intro To Economics (3)
  • ECON 310 Economic Development (3)
  • ECON 361 International Finance (3)
  • ECON 370 Government Finance (3)
  • MGT 333 International Business Mgt (3)
  • MGT 429 Bus. Ethics and Sustainability (3)
  • MKT 333 International Marketing (3)
  • POLS 355 Internatl Political Economy (3)
  • QBA 180 Intro to Prompt Eng. & AI (3)
  • TOUR 317 Mkt & Mgt Of Travel & Tourism (3)
  • TOUR 340 Interntl Travel & Tourism Plcy (3)

Environment and Health

  • AG 230 Sustainable Agriculture (3)
  • AGEC 322 Marketing Ag Products (3)
  • AGEC 360 Tropical Bioeconomy (3)
  • ANSC 223 Intro to Wildlife Science (3)
  • ANSC 323 Captive Wildlife Management (3)
  • AQUA 425 Water Qual & Aquatic Product (3)
  • CHEM 487 Environmental Toxicology (3)
  • COM 344 Sustainability, Com & Culture (3)
  • ENGR 200 Introduction to Energy Science (3)
  • ENGR 240 Conventional Energies (3)
  • ENGR 250 Alternative Energies (3)
  • ENGR 310 Energy Policy Analysis (3)
  • ENGR 340 Sustainable Biofuels (3)
  • FOR 360 Urban Forestry (3)
  • GEOG 103 Geog And Contemp Soc (3)
  • GEOG 301 Global Warming/Climate Change (3)
  • GEOG 328 Culture and Environment (3)
  • GEOG 401 Confronting the Climate Crisis (3)
  • KES 250 Foundation of Public Health (3)
  • MARE 282 Global Change (3)
  • MARE 423 Marine Policy (3)
  • TOUR 350 Intro to Sustainable Tourism (3)

Human Security

  • ANTH 205 Cultural Anthropology (3)
  • ANTH 357 Change in The Pacific (3)
  • ANTH 435 Indig Iss Contemporary Pacific (3)
  • GEOG 312 Food and Societies (3)
  • POLS 348 International Human Rights (3)
  • POLS 349 Human Trafficking (3)
  • SOC 360 Health Care Policy (3)

Area Studies

  • Any courses from CHNS/FIL/JPNS/KOR/SPAN/LANG
  • HIST 314 20th Cent-Present Japan (3)
  • HIST 316 19th C. Pacific (3)
  • HIST 318 Modern China (3)
  • HIST 324 Militarization in the Pacific (3)
  • HIST 415 Indig Iss Contemporary Pacific (3)
  • HIST 421 East Asia and the Pacific Rim (3)
  • HIST 481 Land & Sovereignty in Pacific (3)
  • POLS 251 Intro to Comparative Politics (3)
  • POLS 351 Politics Of China Through Film (3)
  • POLS 353 Politics Of Japan (3)
  • POLS 357 Politics of Pac Rim Thru Film (3)
  • POLS 457 U.S.-China Relations (3)