Bachelor of Arts in Global and Foreign Policy

Conceptual courses:

• GFPL100 War, Peace and Crisis: Foundations of Global and Foreign Policy
• GFPL102 Global Order and Policy Structures: Power, Access and Influence
• GFPL203 Ethics of Global Action
• GFPL302 Identities in Global and Foreign Policy Across Time and Place OR SLLC200 Global Movements
• AREC345 Global Poverty and Economic Development
• Global History course offered by History (options could include: HIST113, HIST120, HIST123, HIST240, HIST245, HIST251, HIST266, HIST284, HIST285).

Skills courses:

• Two semesters of a world language offered by the School of Languages, Literatures and Culture
• PLCY200 Research Methods for Policy Analysis
• PLCY304 Evaluating Evidence - Finding Truth in Numbers

Students are also required to select a thematic track by taking (a) the required anchor course for a given track and (b) two electives linked to that track. An additional two electives can be taken within the selected track and/or from among other tracks including anchor courses.

Track 1: Security, Conflict and Diplomacy

Anchor Course: Foundations of Security, Conflict and Diplomacy
Introduces major concepts, debates and challenges in international security policy. Some of today's problems have existed in various forms for centuries, such as potential conflicts between great powers, violence by governments against their own people and by terrorist organizations, and the disruptive effects of powerful new technology. Some are more recent, such as nuclear deterrence and nonproliferation, humanitarian crises and human security. And others, including cyber security, drones and climate change, are the leading edge of future security challenges. Fundamental questions about how to make the world safer will be a major theme of this course. 

Track 1 electives should delve into topics introduced in the anchor course and can be courses offered by SPP or elsewhere on campus.

Track 2: Human Security and Migration

Anchor Course: Foundations of Human Security and Migration
Today's most pressing problems do not stop at national borders. Meeting these challenges requires a range of state and non-state actors to work together. In this course, students gain familiarity with key actors in the global system and how they approach today's most intractable problems, including violent conflict, human rights, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, migration, trade, climate change and global health. How do countries, international organizations, multinational corporations and nongovernmental organizations find ways to cooperate when their interests and capabilities sometimes differ drastically? What barriers exist that impede such cooperation?

Track 2 electives should delve into topics introduced in the anchor course and can be courses offered by SPP or elsewhere on campus.

Track 3: Development and Sustainability

Anchor Course: PLCY/AGNR 301 Sustainability
Designed for students whose academic majors would be enhanced by the complementary study of a widely shared but hard-to-operationalize aspiration: that present choices should preserve or improve future options rather than foreclose or degrade them. How should we understand sustainability? How might we achieve it? How would we know if we had achieved it? And how could sustainability activists of a rising generation lead by example?

Track 3 electives should delve into topics introduced in the anchor course and can be courses offered by SPP or elsewhere on campus.

Students are also required to take an additional two electives, these can be from within the selected track and/or from among other tracks including anchor courses. 

The Global and Foreign Policy major requires students to receive credit for an experiential learning course by choosing one of the below opportunities.

PLCY400 Senior Capstone

Students will take the skills and knowledge gained through their curriculum and apply them through their senior capstone course. Students will work in teams on problems and issues presented by outside clients, with guidance from faculty facilitators and interaction with the clients. Each team will work with the client to address a particular problem and produce a mutually agreed upon outcome. These hands-on projects will advance students' understanding of the analytical, leadership, communication and problem solving skills necessary to address today's policy problems while allowing them to gain professional level experience that could contribute to their success in their post UMD endeavors. The course will conclude with an event that allows all teams to present their findings and outcomes to their client while being evaluated by faculty and public policy professionals. Restricted to students who have earned a minimum of 90 credits. Prerequisite: PLCY200.

PLCY309 Internship Credit

PLCY309 provides a basis for reflection upon and evaluation of a student’s practical, substantive work experience in a professional environment of global and foreign policy. While no in-person class meetings occur, the academic curriculum spans the duration of the semester, comprising journal entries and a final reflection paper. Internship site supervisors sign an internship contract and complete a mid-semester and final evaluation of students’ performance.

Study Abroad Opportunities

A global policy-related study abroad course fulfills the experiential learning requirement for the Public Policy major. The School of Public Policy directly sponsors education abroad experiences; however, a range of other courses and programs can also provide a rich public policy experience. 

Every student must also complete their University General Education requirements as well as 120 total credits to graduate with a degree in GFPL.

Learn more about the General Education Program at the University.