INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND EUROPEAN STUDIES (EN) – IRES
01/02/2023 2025-09-23 18:27INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND EUROPEAN STUDIES (EN) – IRES
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND EUROPEAN STUDIES (IRES)
180 ECTS
Profile
This is a 3-year (6 semesters) undergraduate program dedicated to training future experts and leadership in European affairs and international relations.
Linguistic openings for a global labour market
- All courses are taught and examined in English throughout the entire program ;
- All students are also enrolled in specialized English language courses, which help them consolidate their basic language skills and allow them to acquire the relevant vocabulary and linguistic proficiency required by top international employers;
- Students can enroll in other foreign language classes for extra credits;
- Many professors speak at least another foreign language apart from English and their native language.
A truly international experience for a global future
- Around 10-15% of students in each class are foreign nationals who are enrolled for a degree or an exchange mobility ;
- All students can benefit from at least one semester of European mobility in one of the over 70 universities and programs with which the faculty has bilateral agreements (in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey);
- Every year, for courses or special lectures the program receives guest professors from the US and other countries in Europe and Asia;
- Most professors studied abroad in world class institutions and a part of the teaching staff is also conducting international research projects and has done fieldwork abroad in Europe, Asia and Latin America, often involving students in their research activities;
- Each year, there are several international events organized for the students and to which students can contribute.
Content
The curriculum provides the foundations of international relations with introductory courses on the scientific study and history of international relations, international politics, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, European Union institutions, European Union policies, international political economy, International public law, research design and methodology for international relations, as well as more specialized topics such as global social movements or international conflict management, and area studies – Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, US. All students are enrolled for one full academic year in internship activities with governmental and non-governmental partners, such as embassies, ministries, media outlets, and top Romanian and international NGOs. All students are also enrolled in specialized English language courses, which help them consolidate their basic language skills and allow them to acquire the relevant vocabulary and linguistic proficiency required by top international employers.
Career opportunities
All students are enrolled for one full academic year in internship activities, which are recognized as part of their curriculum and workload for their degree. The organizations targeted for these internship programs are also those in which they can further develop careers in International relations, in Europe or elsewhere:
- governmental institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign embassies in Bucharest;
- representations of various intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations agencies and the EU institutions;
- top national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs);
- media outlets with sections dedicated to European or international affairs;
- national and transnational companies;
- academic and/or policy research centers with projects relevant for international relations and/or European studies.
The activities pursued during these internships allow students
- to develop their practical skills in matters related to international relations and/or European affairs;
- to test several areas of interest and find the most appropriate one for them;
- to understand what is expected from them within the labour market;
- to have direct access to potential employers;
- to build professional networks relevant for their future careers, in similar organizations.
Academic coordinator: Conf.univ.dr. Luciana Alexandra GHICA
COURSES 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR
1ST SEMESTER [1ST YEAR, 1ST SEMESTER]
Compulsory courses
Introduction to Political Science [5 ECTS, code SP1401] – Silvia Marton (course) & drd. Celina Ferenț (seminar)
International Political Economy [4 ECTS, code SP1402] – Ana Maria Bârsan
Politics and Society in Modern Europe [5 ECTS, code SP1403] – Victor Rizescu
Introduction to European Studies [5 ECTS, code SP1404] – Mihai Sebe
Academic Writing and Computer Skills [3 ECTS, code SP1405] – Brândușa Nicolaescu
Introduction to Political Communication [5 ECTS, code SP1409] – Irina Matei
English for Political Science I [2 ECTS, code SP1407] – Brândușa Nicolaescu
3RD SEMESTER [2ND YEAR, 1ST SEMESTER]
Global Civil Society [5 ECTS, code SP1419, code SP1421] – Claudiu Tufiș
International Governance, Institutions and Organisations [4 ECTS, code SP1420] – Dragoș Mateescu
Research Methods in IRES [5 ECTS, code SP1421] – Claudiu Tufiș
Global Justice [5 ECTS, code SP1422] – Camil Pârvu
International Politics: International Affairs and Diplomacy [4 ECTS, code SP1423] – Ruxandra Ivan (course) & Octavian Sofronea (seminar)
Internship I [4 ECTS, code SP1424] – Octavian Sofronea
English for Political Science III [3 ECTS, code SP1425] – Brândușa Nicolaescu
5TH SEMESTER [3RD YEAR, 1ST SEMESTER]
Compulsory courses
Theories of International Relations [5 ECTS, code SP1436] – Ruxandra Ivan (course) & Octavian Sofronea (seminar)
Common Policies of the European Union [5 ECTS, code SP1437] – Radu Carp
Optional courses (mandatory to choose 5)
Global Issues: Political Violence, Social Inequality, Ethnic and Religious Conflicts [4 ECTS, code SP1440] – Cristina Petrescu
Politics and Governance in Asia and Australasia [4 ECTS, code SP1438] – Luciana Ghica
Political Science and Open Source Analysis [4 ECTS, code SP1439] – Gabriel Sebe
Economic Nationalism [4 ECTS, code SP1464] – Sergiu Delcea
Introduction to EU as a Global Digital Actor [4 ECTS, code SP1446] – Luciana Ghica [This is a Jean Monnet module supported by the European Commission and offers an additional certificate]
European Political Cultures [4 ECTS, code SP1445] – Dragoș Petrescu
FACULTATIVE COURSES 1ST SEMESTER
Dileme ale politicii externe și de securitate a Ucrainei [4 ECTS, cod SPX05] – Angela Grămadă
Etică și integritate academică [4 ECTS, cod SPX07] – Camil Pârvu
Turkish Foreign Policy after 1923 [4 ECTS, SPX09] – Enis Tulca
2ND SEMESTER [1ST YEAR, 2ND SEMESTER]
Compulsory courses
History of European Integration [4 ECTS, code SP1410] – Mihai Sebe
History of International Relations [4 ECTS, code SP1411] – Sergiu Delcea
Politics and Society in 20th Century Europe [5 ECTS, code SP1412] – Dragoș Petrescu
Introduction to International Studies and Global Governance [5 ECTS, code SP1413] – Luciana Ghica & Emanuela Ignățoiu-Sora (seminar)
Introduction to Constitutional Law [5 ECTS, code SP1414] – Bogdan Iancu
The Romanian Political System [5 ECTS, code SP1417] – Andreea Zamfira
English for Political Science II [2 ECTS, code SP1416] – Brândușa Nicolaescu
4TH SEMESTER [2ND YEAR, 2ND SEMESTER]
Compulsory courses
Political Parties and Ideologies [4 ECTS, code SP1427 ] – Alexandra Iancu & drd. Maria-Francesca Cristea (seminar)
Elements of International Law and Human Rights Law [4 ECTS, code SP1428] – Ioan Stanomir
EU Governance: Theories and Practices [4 ECTS, code SP1429] – Radu Carp
Applied Research Methods in IRES [4 ECTS, code SP1430] – Claudiu Tufiș
Geopolitics [4 ECTS, code SP1433] – Sergiu Delcea
Statistics [4 ECTS, code SP1434] – Claudiu Tufiș
Internship II [4 ECTS, code SP1431] – Octavian Sofronea
English for Political Science IV [2 ECTS, code SP1432] – Brândușa Nicolaescu
6TH SEMESTER [3RD YEAR, 2ND SEMESTER]
Compulsory course
Academic Tutoring [10 ECTS, code SP1444] – Prof. coord.
Optional courses (to choose 5)
Cultural Diplomacy [4 ECTS, code SP1447] – Oana-Valentina Suciu
The Conservative Mind [4 ECTS, code SP1449] – Ioan Stanomir
German Politics after World War II [4 ECTS, code SP1458] – Irina Matei
Colonial Government [4 ECTS, code SP1459] – Cătălin Avramescu
Taiwan, the forbidden nation [4 ECTS, code SP1460] – Radu Carp
External Action of the EU [4 ECTS, code SP1463] – Luciana Ghica
Efficiency and Resilience in Governance and Public Policy [4 ECTS, code SP1462] – Mirela Cerkez