World Politics Bachelor of Arts

Major requirements for World Politics Bachelor of Arts

The World Politics Bachelor of Arts degree provides an in-depth understanding of political institutions and processes around the world at the national, cross-national, and international levels. This major will prepare students to live and work in a globalized environment in which international events influence domestic politics, and vice versa, with increasing intensity. The World Politics major provides a globally-focused, innovative, unique, high-quality program that is responsive to the needs and interests of a rapidly growing number of Ohio State students.

The world politics major is organized into four specializations: 

  • foreign policy and security
  • political economy and development
  • political institutions and processes in countries outside the United States 
  • international political theory  

Students are required to take at least one course in each of these four specializations, and to acquire depth by taking at least four courses in one of these specializations. 

World politics majors develop critical reasoning, research, and writing skills and receive a degree from a nationally ranked department. They will be prepared to pursue a variety of careers with a global focus, including in intelligence and national security, foreign policy and diplomacy, international business analysis and consulting, international finance and global investment banking, international humanitarian and development organizations (e.g. CARE, Oxfam, USAID), international governance organizations (e.g. the UN, the World Bank, the World Health Organization), conflict mediation and resolution, research institutes and think tanks with a global focus and secondary and higher education. For more information about careers in world politics, click here