What is the International Security Minor?

International security focuses on war, conflict, the foreign policies of states, as well as new threats to human security, such as those posed by climate change and pandemics. The international security minor will provide students with the opportunity to explore the many dimensions of international security through course work in political science, history, and other closely related disciplines. You will study critical issues impacting global peace and stability including terrorism, ethnic conflict, nuclear weapons, drug-related violence, human security, technology and war, and much more.

Why study international security at UNH?

Faculty at UNH have expertise in international security and foreign policy; violence in Latin America; gender and the military; war and infrastructure in the Middle East; ethnic conflict in South Asia; the United Nations system; energy and environmental history; and the rise of China. Students who elect this minor can highlight their focus on international security to potential employers and graduate schools.

Potential Career Areas

Foreign Policy Analyst
International consulting firms
USAID, International Rescue Committee or other aid organizations
Government agencies (E.g. CIA, DoD, State Dept)
Researcher (think tanks)
Risk analysis
Journalism

Curriculum & Requirements

Program Description

The International Security minor will provide students with the opportunity to explore the many dimensions of international security through course work in political science, history, and other closely-related disciplines. Students will work with and learn from faculty conducting novel research on topics such as: the arms trade, ethnic conflict, drug-related violence, human security, and conflicts in regions throughout the war.

Students who successfully complete this major will be well-versed in contemporary international security issues and will learn critical thinking and analysis skills applicable to a wide range of careers. Leaders at all levels count on staff with analytical skills who can communicate effectively with policy-makers. Career paths open to our graduates include: the foreign service, intelligence agencies, international organizations, the UN, journalism, think tank research, law, risk analysis, and business.

Requirements for the Program

Academic policies related to Minors.

The minor consists of completing five courses (20 credits).

Students must receive a grade of C or better for a course to count toward the minor requirements.
Political science majors pursuing the minor can only double count up to two of the three required Political Science courses below. The third required course must be taken in addition to courses taken to fulfill major requirements.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Course
Select one core POLT course from the following:		4
POLT 560	World Politics
POLT 562	Strategy and National Security Policy
POLT 568	International Security
Electives
Select four courses from the following:		16
POLT 403	United States in World Affairs
POLT 404	Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLT 513	Civil Rights and Liberties
POLT 545	People and Politics in Asia
POLT 546	Wealth and Politics in Asia
POLT 548	Drug Wars
POLT 551	Ethnicity ,Violence, Democracy
POLT 554	Revolution and Protest in Latin America
POLT 556	Politics in China
POLT 559	Comparative Politics of the Middle East
POLT 560	World Politics ¹
POLT 562	Strategy and National Security Policy ¹
POLT 566	International Security in Asia
POLT 568	International Security ¹
POLT 569	The Rise of China
POLT 588	Selected Topics in Comparative Politics
POLT 592	Selected Topics in International Politics
POLT 595	Smart Politics
POLT 740	States and Societies in the Middle East
POLT 742	Beyond Bollywood: Politics of India & South Asia
POLT 751	Comparative Environmental Politics and Policy
POLT 760	Theories of International Relations
POLT 762	International Political Economy
POLT 778	International Organization
POLT 797C	Seminar in Comparative Politics
POLT 797E	Seminar in International Politics
CMN 456	Propaganda and Persuasion
CS 408	Living in a Networked World: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
GEOG 670	Climate and Society
HIST 537	Espionage and History
HIST 619	Foreign Relations of the United States
HIST 620	Foreign Relations of the United States
HUMA 525	Humanities and the Law
IA 501	From Ideas to Evidence: Researching Global Issues
JUST 405	Technology, Crime, and Society: A Forensic Exploration of High-Tech and Digital Crime
SOC 450	Contemporary Social Problems
SOC 693	Global Change and Social Sustainability
Total Credits		20

¹: If not selected to fulfill the core required course.