Course Overview
International relations can be defined as the study of relationships among countries, the roles of sovereign states, inter-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations as well as multinational corporations. It is both an academic and a public policy field which analyzes and formulates the foreign policy of a given State. The field of international relations gives a structured approach towards understanding, analyzing as well as shaping the foreign policy of nations, functioning of regional & international organizations, activities of non-governmental organizations, significance of new challenges towards international peace and security, issues of social justice, human rights, poverty among other issues. Diplomacy on the other hand is an activity or a profession that entails managing international relations abroad either for a state (county) or international organizations. Professionals in this field may be referred to as international relations officers or diplomats among other titles. The rising globalization as a framework for the conduct of the affairs of the state and non-state actors has necessitated proper understanding of how these actors relate among themselves. The field of international relations and diplomacy has become an important field to understand the dynamism and complexity of issues involved among cross borders. Studying the field of International Relations offers students an unparalleled opportunity to understand the cross-border factors that are shaping our societies at local, national and global levels.
The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, with IT is a four year course that is aimed at equipping students with theoretical and practical skills that can aid in addressing the concerns of public and private institutions that deal with but not limited to the fields of; International Relations, Foreign policy, Diplomacy, International Economics and Development Studies, Peace Studies, Security Studies, International Law, Conflict Management among others. The curriculum coursework covers crucial areas such as; Fundamentals of International Relations, Introduction to Diplomacy, Theories of International Relations, International Political Economy, Ethics in International Relations, Foreign policy, Human Rights in International Relations, Third World Politics, Conflict Resolution and Management, African States in International Relations, Security in International Relations, International Organizations in a regional & global perspective, Major Powers in the International system among other important subjects. The programme will produce highly skilled international relation officers, policy makers, diplomats, scholars and administrators who can serve effectively in inter-governmental agencies, government institutions, non-governmental organizations and international institutions among other areas. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will be equipped with sufficient blend of skills and knowledge that will prepare them for research and sound decision making within the framework of International Studies and technical aspects of diplomatic engagements as well as being able to advocate for good governance, articulate social justice and promote interests of the society both at national and global stage.
Entry Qualifications
For self sponsored students, at least a mean grade of C+ in KCSE. For Government sponsored students, the minimum cut point which is announced annually applies. The students should in addition have good performance in the following cluster subjects; Subject 1 ENG/KIS, Subject 2 MAT A / MAT B or any GROUP II, Subject 3 any GROUP III, Subject 4 a GROUP II or 2nd GROUP III or any GROUP IV or any GROUP V.
Becoming an international relations officer
If you are interested in the processes and effects of globalization, human rights, economic development, International Political Economy and security among other related aspects, then pursuing this course might be a good choice for you. In addition, you should be prepared to develop skills that can help you grow and succeed in this field.
Excellent language and communication skills are paramount in this field; fluency in English and other foreign languages as well as being able to speak a local language of the country in which you begin your international relations career is paramount in this profession. International relations officers are highly organized people able to prioritize tasks as working in this field can expose one to a very busy work load, meaning an ability to prioritize tasks is very important. Good analytical skills are quite important as being able to analyze situations using all your academic tools is very useful. International relations is all about building relationships, starting with individuals, smaller groups to nations, good interpersonal skills is therefore very crucial in this field.
Professionals in this field must also be able to work comfortably across multicultural environments. Another crucial trait is being a leader in your work. Professionals in this field must also have the ability to research, source and examine information thoroughly, have the capacity to critically analyse evidence and construct coherent arguments as well as having an intellectual independence and autonomy combined with a flexible and open-minded approach to work.
Work environment.
Graduates of this course work mostly in offices.
Career opportunities
Careers in international relations and diplomacy can be found across three sectors: public, private and non-profit/NGOs. Graduates of this course can therefore find jobs within politics & government, diplomacy, business & law, journalism, development consulting firms, retail and media companies, multinational companies, international companies and NGOs among other areas. Graduates can also start their own businesses.
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Bachelor of Arts (BA)
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