B.A. (Hons) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
March 27, 2023 2024-10-09 5:16B.A. (Hons) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
B.A. (Hons) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
FOUR YEARS PROGRAMME
About The Programme
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy is a four-year degree programme offered by the Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA) at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU). This programme is designed to equip undergraduates with a detailed, practical understanding of how foreign policy is conceived, formulated and implemented, as well as how the individual or allied foreign policies of countries strive to work in harmony based on shared interests.
The B.A. (Hons.) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy programme aims to provide students with an overview of the various instruments a state may use to pursue its foreign policy in a complex and challenging world order. It takes into consideration the constraints and limits that states face in the international domain, such as the rise and fall of globalization, social and economic rights, and communication technologies which are central to media-based public diplomacy.
What is Diplomacy?
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations and communication between states and other actors in the international system. Diplomacy aims to influence the decisions and behavior of others in a peaceful and cooperative manner, and to advance the interests and values of one's own country or organization.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in diplomacy, you can enroll in a bachelor degree in diplomacy or a BA in diplomacy, which are undergraduate programs that provide you with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary education in international relations, foreign policy, and diplomacy.
Scope of the Course
The scope of BA in Diplomacy course is to prepare students for careers in the field of international relations, foreign policy, and diplomacy. The course covers various topics, such as the history, theory, and practice of diplomacy, the role of international organizations, the challenges and opportunities of global governance, and the skills and techniques of negotiation and communication.
Benefits of the Course
Students who pursue BA in Diplomacy can work in various sectors and domains, such as government, business, media, education, and non-governmental organizations. They can also opt for higher studies or specialization in international relations or related disciplines, such as law, public policy, economics, or sociology.
BA in Diplomacy is a dynamic and diverse course that can offer students a rewarding and meaningful career in the field of international affairs.
What Makes It Different at JGU
The B.A. (Hons.) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy programme from JSIA offers numerous advantages to students interested in international relations and world politics. One of its key benefits is its comprehensive approach to teaching foreign policy and diplomacy, which provides students with a unique opportunity to learn about contemporary global challenges and the role of diplomacy in stabilizing or changing international orders. This programme is therefore ideal for students who aspire to join the foreign services of their country or work in regional and international organizations and private corporations with operations in multiple countries.
The programme is designed to prepare students for careers as foreign affairs journalists and editors, lawyers, civil society activists, government relations executives in multinational corporations, and many other pathways. By thoroughly studying various aspects of diplomacy, including motives, objectives, methods, and treaty-making, students will gain a full understanding of complex power relations, geopolitics, geo-economics, bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, negotiations, armed conflicts, and diplomatic crisis management.
In addition, this programme offers students the opportunity to develop their linguistic and cultural competencies by studying foreign languages, engaging in cross-cultural exchanges and field trips, and participating in international internships and research projects. Such experiences can help students to broaden their perspectives, deepen their understanding of different cultures, and develop the cross-cultural communication skills necessary to succeed in today's globalized job market.
To be eligible for the B.A. (Hons.) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy programme at JSIA, candidates must have successfully completed their Class XII examination or equivalent, such as CBSE, State Boards, IB, Cambridge and other Government-recognized school leaving exams.
The admissions process for this programme is designed to evaluate each application in its unique context. It consists of three rounds, which include submitting a personal statement, answering a supplemental question, providing Class 10 and 12 marks, participating in a faculty interview, and meeting the JSAT/SAT/ACT score requirements.
The B.A. (Hons.) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy curriculum includes 23 core courses over eight semesters, elective courses from Semester 2 onwards, and an option to undertake a guided research paper or semester abroad pathway from semester 5 onwards. Mandatory internships are also required, and the Office of Career Services supports students in obtaining internships based on merit.
During the first year, the programme focuses on introducing students to foundational concepts and issues of foreign policy. In the second year, students develop skills in diplomatic correspondence and report-writing and move towards specialising in their chosen sub-fields. In the third year, students are deeply immersed in contemporary foreign policy issues and problems, culminating in the requirement to write research papers, essays, and summaries that prepare students for practical skills.
Students must complete a total of 185 credits to earn the B.A. (Hons.) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy degree, with three mandatory industry internships to be completed in any of the first five semesters. Students can opt for a guided research paper or semester abroad pathway from semester 5 onwards and can also undertake an independent research study along with electives in the fourth year.
Year 1 | ||||
Course Type | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Details | Credits | Details | Credits | |
I. Mandatory Courses | ||||
A. Core | Five courses | 20 | Four courses | 16 |
B. Skill-Based | Two courses | 7 | Two courses | 7 |
C. Practice-Based | – | – | One course | 4 |
II. Elective Courses* | One optional course | 4 | ||
A. General Electives | One cross elective from other JGU Schools | |||
B. Specialized Electives | Or One JSIA Elective/Cross Elective | |||
III. Internship | Mandatory Industry Internship I | 2 | Mandatory Industry Internship II | 2 |
29 | 29 | |||
* Elective courses are optional in semester two.
Year 2 | ||||
Course Type | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Details | Credits | Details | Credits | |
I. Mandatory Courses | ||||
A. Core | Three courses | 12 | Two courses | 8 |
B. Skill-Based | One course | 3 | One course | 3 |
C. Practice-Based | One course | 4 | One course | 4 |
II. Elective Courses | Two courses | 8 | Two courses | 8 |
A. General Electives | Cross elective from other JGU Schools | Cross elective from other JGU Schools | ||
B. Specialized Electives | JSIA Elective/Cross Elective | JSIA Elective/Cross Elective | ||
III. Internship | Mandatory Industry Internship III | 2 | Mandatory Industry Internship IV | 2 |
29 | 25 | |||
Year 3* | ||||
Course Type | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Details | Credits | Details | Credits | |
I. Mandatory Courses | ||||
A. Core | Three courses | 12 | Three courses | 12 |
B. Skill-Based | One course | 3 | – | – |
C. Practice-Based | – | – | – | – |
II. Elective Courses | Two courses | 8 | Three courses | 11 |
A. General Electives | Cross elective from other JGU Schools | Cross elective from other JGU Schools | ||
B. Specialized Electives | JSIA Elective/Cross Elective | JSIA Elective/Cross Elective | ||
23 | 23 | |||
* Students can apply for Dual degree from semester 5 or Semester Exchange in Semester 5 or 6
Course Type | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Details | Credits | Details | Credits | |
II. Elective Courses | Six Courses | 24 | Six Courses | 24 |
A. General Electives | Cross elective from other JGU Schools | Cross elective from other JGU Schools | ||
B. Specialized Electives | JSIA Elective/Cross Elective/ IRS* (Min. three courses) | JSIA Elective/Cross Elective/IRS* (Min. three courses) | ||
24 | 24 | |||
* Students can opt for an Independent Research Study of 4 credits in Year 4.
Credit Summary for BA [Hons.] Diplomacy & Foreign Policy [4 Years]
Course Type | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Total credits |
I. Mandatory Courses | |||||
A. Core | 36 | 20 | 24 | – | 80 |
B. Skill-Based | 14 | 6 | 3 | – | 23 |
C. Practice-Based | 4 | 8 | – | – | 12 |
II. Elective Courses | 16 | 19 | 48 | 83 | |
III. Internship | 4 | 4 | – | – | 8 |
Total | 58 | 54 | 46 | 48 | 206 |
Details of Programme for Mandatory Courses
Year 1 |
I. Mandatory Courses |
A. Core |
1. Understanding Our World (Semester 1) – 4 credits 2. International History I – (Semester 1) – 4 credits 3. Introduction to Political Science – (Semester 1) – 4 credits 4. Introduction to Statistics – (Semester 1) – 4 credits 5. Introduction to Microeconomics – (Semester 1) – 4 credits 6. International History II – (Semester 2) – 4 credits 7. Introduction to Macroeconomics – (Semester 2) – 4 credits 8. War, Peace and Diplomacy – (Semester 2) – 4 credits 9. Foreign Policy Analysis – (Semester 2) – 4 credits |
B. Skill-Based |
10. Academic Reading and Writing I (Semester 1) – 4 credits 11. Language – level 1 (Semester 1) – 3 credits 12. Academic Reading and Writing II (Semester 2) – 4 credits 13. Language – level 2 (Semester 2) – 3 credits |
C. Practice-Based |
1. Introduction to Diplomatic Practice – (Semester 2) – 4 credits |
Year 2 |
I. Mandatory Courses |
A. Core |
1. IR Theory & Concepts – (Semester 3) – 4 credits 2. Comparative Politics – (Semester 3) – 4 credits 3. Indian Foreign Policy I – (Semester 3) – 4 credits 4. Indian Foreign Policy II – (Semester 4) – 4 credits 5. International Security – (Semester 4) – 4 credits |
B. Skill-Based |
1. Language – level 3 (Semester 3) – 3 credits 2. Language – level 4 (Semester 4) – 3 credits |
D. Practice-Based |
1. Public Diplomacy and the News Media (Semester 3) – 4 credits 2. Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis (Semester 4) – 4 credits |
Year 3 |
I. Mandatory Courses |
A. Core |
1. Introduction to International Organizations & UN System (Semester 5) – 4 credits 2. Conflict Management & Peace Negotiations (Semester 5) – 4 credits 3. Economic Diplomacy – (Semester 5) – 4 credits 4. Defense, National Security & Foreign Policy – (Semester 6) – 4 credits 5. Cultural Diplomacy: Cross Cultural Communication (Semester 6) – 4 credits 6. Contemporary Political Economy – (Semester 6) – 4 credits |
7. Skill-Based |
1. Language – level 5 (Semester 5) – 3 credits |
Elective Courses
JSIA Elective Policy
- BADFP students are offered elective courses from their second semester of study (as an optional course).
- Elective courses are categorized into:
- General Electives: They are cross elective courses offered by other JGU These courses are interdisciplinary in nature.
- Specialized Electives: Offered by JSIA (as school elective or cross elective). They are grouped into five main clusters:
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Economics and Foreign Policy
- Defence and National Security Studies
- Human Rights and International Development
- Global South Studies
- Students can select three electives worth 12 credits from one cluster to specialize in a given
- The three cluster elective courses can be taken in one semester or may be spread over two or more semesters.
Guidelines and Rules for Electives
- Students can take a maximum of 51 credits outside JSIA in case they choose to opt for other school’s cross elective which is 25% of the minimum credit requirement for graduation (206 credits).
- External JSIA Credits exceeding 25% will imply the approval of the Dean of the School and Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs for Undergraduate programmes.
- The removal of an elective with an (F) grade is possible only after the final semester if the student is fulfilling the mandatory credit requirement of 206 credits.
B.A. (Hons.) with Research in Diplomacy & Foreign Policy Programme Structure
Students with 7.0 CGPA have the option of taking the research pathway in the fourth year and get awarded B.A. (Hons.) with Research in Diplomacy & Foreign Policy degree.
Course Type | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Details | Credits | Details | Credits | |
I. Mandatory Courses | ||||
A. Skill-Based | Research Writing and Design Colloquium | 4 | ||
B. Research Based | – | – | B.A. Thesis | 16 |
II. Elective Courses | Six Courses | 24 | One course | 4 |
A. General Electives | Cross elective from other JGU Schools | Cross elective from other JGU Schools | ||
B. Specialized Electives | JSIA Elective/Cross Elective/ IRS* (Min. three courses) | Or JSIA Elective/Cross Elective | ||
28 | 20 | |||
* Students can opt for an Independent Research Study of 4 credits in Year 4.
Credit Summary for BA [Hons.] with Research in Diplomacy & Foreign Policy [4 Years]
Course Type | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Total credits |
I. Mandatory Courses | |||||
A. Core | 36 | 20 | 24 | 80 | |
B. Skill-Based | 14 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 27 |
C. Practice-Based | 4 | 8 | – | 12 | |
D. Research Based | 16 | 16 | |||
II. Elective Courses | 16 | 19 | 28 | 63 | |
III. Internship | 4 | 4 | – | – | 8 |
Total | 58 | 54 | 46 | 48 | 206 |
Details of Mandatory Courses in the Year 4 of the for BA [Hons.] with Research in Diplomacy & Foreign Policy
Year 4 |
I. Mandatory Courses |
A. Skill-Based |
1. Research Writing and Design Colloquium – (Semester 7) – 4 credits |
B. Research Based |
2. B.A. Thesis – (Semester 8) – 16 credits |
The B.A. (Hons.) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy programme offers students a range of elective courses from their second semester of study. These interdisciplinary courses involve law and other social sciences and humanities disciplines. In addition to JSIA elective courses, students can also bid for cross electives offered by other schools at JGU.
Elective courses are categorized into five main clusters: Peace and Conflict Studies, Economics and Foreign Policy, Defence and National Security Studies, Human Rights and International Development, and Global South Studies. Students can specialize in a given concentration by selecting three electives worth 12 credits from one track and will receive a certificate of specialization after graduation.
Students may take a maximum of 46 credits outside of JSIA if they opt for cross electives. This represents 25% of the minimum credit requirement for graduation (185 credits). Approval from the Dean of the School and Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs for Undergraduate programmes is required for external JSIA credits exceeding 25%.
The B.A. (Hons.) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy programme from JSIA offers a diverse range of career opportunities for its graduates. Students who complete the mandatory guided internships can explore career streams in Peace and Conflict Resolution, International Justice, International Economic Development, Humanitarian Relief, Human Rights Advocacy, Political and Economic Risk Analysis, and many more. A Career Director also assists students in finding suitable internships in various intergovernmental, regional and non-governmental organisations, financial institutions, think tanks, and diplomatic missions.
JSIA Alumni have gone on to work in various sectors such as news media, consulting/corporate, think tanks/research, embassy/government, INGO & NGO/social venture, and United Nations/international organisations. Some of the major employers of JSIA students/alumni include Amnesty International, Brookings, BBC Monitoring, Carnegie India, Embassy of People’s Republic of China, Greenpeace India, Human Rights Watch, Indian Council of World Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, NITI Aayog, United Nations Development Programme, and many more. Graduates of JSIA have become versatile international affairs professionals, making a significant impact in the global arena.
Completing the B.A. (Hons.) Diplomacy and Foreign Policy programme at JSIA provides students with a range of opportunities to continue their education and enhance their career prospects. One such opportunity is the chance to progress directly to the M.A. DLB programme at JSIA, provided the student has achieved high academic performance during their undergraduate studies. This allows students to build on the skills and knowledge they have acquired and gain further expertise in diplomacy, law, and business.
In addition to the M.A. DLB programme, students can choose to pursue a second M.A. from prestigious universities in the UK and Poland, expanding their educational and professional horizons. JSIA’s Career Director is also available to assist students in finding internships in various organizations, including the United Nations, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, financial institutions, think tanks, and diplomatic missions.
JSIA-JSBF Minors Programmes
Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA) and Jindal School of Business and Finance (JSBF), have launched a minor programme of 24 credits for JSIA students.
JSBF is offering two minor programmes to JSIA students: (1) Business and Finance and (2) Entrepreneurship.
I. Business and Finance Minor programme
The minor programme in the Banking and Finance trackway for JSIA students is composed of core courses of 16 credits and electives of 8 credits with a total of 24 credits as follows:
Course names |
| |
Core courses (Students will select core courses of 16 credits total) | Semester | Credits |
Financial Accounting | Fall | 4 |
Foundations of Finance | Fall | 4 |
Effective Business Communication | Fall | 2 |
Principles of Management | Fall | 4 |
Macroeconomics | Fall | 4 |
Tech Law | Fall | 4 |
Business Statistics and Decision Science | Spring | 4 |
Corporate Governance | Spring | 4 |
Marketing for Financial Services | Spring | 4 |
Global Financial Markets | Spring | 4 |
Corporate Finance | Spring | 6 |
Business Law | Spring | 4 |
Total core courses credits |
| 16 |
Electives (Two Electives of 4 credits) |
| 8 |
Total credits |
| 24 |
II. Entrepreneurship Minor programme
The minor programme in the Entrepreneurship trackway for JSIA students is composed of core courses of 16 credits and electives of 8 credits with a total of 24 credits as follows:
Course names |
|
|
Core courses (Students will select core courses of 16 | Semester | Credits |
Principles of Management | Fall | 4 |
Accounting Essentials for New Ventures | Fall | 4 |
Entrepreneurial Marketing | Fall | 4 |
Entrepreneurial Economics | Fall | 4 |
Macroeconomics | Fall | 4 |
Foundations of Entrepreneurship, and Start up Eco system | Fall | 6 |
Financial Statements for Entrepreneurs | Spring | 4 |
Economics II | Spring | 4 |
Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment | Spring | 4 |
Total core courses credits |
| 16 |
Electives (Two Electives of 4 credits) |
| 8 |
Total credits |
| 24 |
Students Selection Criteria
- Students must be full-time enrolled in the four-year UG programs of JSIA. The students can start the minor program from semester three (III) onwards.
- Must have consistently achieved a high standard of academic standing of 6.0 GPA
- The applicant must not have any judgment against them in either the DC/UMC/SHC
Guidelines and Regulation
- Before opting for any course, students must read the course manual and consult the course instructor.
- In case of any doubt, students can approach JSBF Academic Affairs for advice.
- Please note that some of the courses listed in the minor programme may be added or deleted, and the students shall be informed about it before the start of the semester.
JSIA-JSAA Minor in Urban and Community Studies
Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA) and Jindal School of Art and Architecture (JSAA) have launched minor programme of 24 credits for JSIA students.
The minor programme in the “Urban-Community Studies” trackway is composed of five- core courses with a total of 25 credits as follows:
Course names |
| |
Core courses (Students will select core courses of 25 | Semester | Credits |
The Politics and Histories of Planning | Fall | 5 |
Geospatial Technologies for Urban and Regional Area Analysis | Fall/Spring | 5 |
The City: A multiple perspective (Intro to urban studies) | Spring | 5 |
Development & Sustainability (Introduction to Community Planning & Development) | Spring | 5 |
Land: Perceptions; prejudices and politics | Spring | 5 |
Total credits |
| 25 |
Selection Criteria
- Students must be full-time enrolled in the four-year UG programs of JSIA. The students can start the minor program from semester three (III) onwards.
- Students must have consistently achieved a high standard of academic standing of 6.0 GPA.
- The applicant must not have any judgment against them in either the DC/UMC/SHC.
Guidelines and Regulation
- Before opting for any course, students must read the course manual and consult the course instructor.
- In case of any doubt, students can approach JSAA Academic Affairs for advice.
- Please note that some of the courses listed in the minor programme may be added or deleted, and the students shall be informed about it before the start of the semester.
