INTL2501 · International Studies
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
This course provides an introduction to international relations. It is required for international studies majors and assumes no prior coursework in related disciplines. The course lays the theoretical and empirical groundwork for understanding the ways in which international influences shape the world's economies, polities, societies, and cultures and the consequences for global conflict and cooperation.
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.6 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.7 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.8 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.5 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
~5
hours per week
Estimated from the original workload response buckets. Individual sections may differ.
Instructor options
Ratings below reflect only recovered evaluations connected to this course.
Associate Professor, Political Science Department
4.2 / 5
3.9 / 5
Associate Professor, Political Science Department
4.7 / 5
4.5 / 5
Part Time Faculty, International Studies
4.3 / 5
4.3 / 5
Vincent Q. & Mary Ann Giffuni Professor, Political Science Department
3.8 / 5
3.7 / 5
Part Time Faculty, International Studies
4.4 / 5
4.2 / 5
Student perspective
Recovered and new anonymous comments are shown as written and may reflect different course formats.
May 14, 2026 · Historical comment
Professor Erickson definitely has good intentions with her students but this class was way too hard to be an intro course. I got an overall low grade despite putting as much effort as I could, going to office hours very often. Other IR professors would be a better choice.
Across time
Section-level results available in the recovered archive.
Spring 2025
10 sectionsSpring 2024
13 sectionsSpring 2023
10 sectionsSpring 2022
10 sectionsSpring 2021
3 sectionsSpring 2020
3 sections