MAJOR OVERVIEW
The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (BAIR) at the American College of the Mediterranean prepares students to analyze and navigate the complex challenges of our interconnected world. Building on the Institute for American Universities’ founding mission—training aspiring Foreign Service officers since the 1950s—the program develops future leaders equipped to make informed, ethical decisions in global affairs.
Students examine the political, cultural, and historical forces shaping our time while immersed in the Mediterranean, a region where Europe, Asia, and Africa converge. The curriculum emphasizes the interplay of diplomacy, security, human rights, and international political economy across this strategically vital space. Our accomplished faculty draw on their experience in global politics and deep knowledge of local cultures to help students understand the region’s complexity from the inside.
ACM’s main campus in Aix-en-Provence, together with locations in Spain, Italy, and Morocco, positions students at the crossroads of continents and cultures. Graduates gain the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in diplomacy, international organizations, human rights advocacy, global business, policy research, and graduate study.
ADMISSIONS
ACM candidates submit their applications through the Common App*, a U.S-based platform that allows students to apply to multiple universities simultaneously. Once an application is submitted, an ACM Admissions team member will reach out to the applicant to schedule a brief online meeting to gather more information and to answer any questions about the ACM or the application process.
* Beginning Summer 2026, ACM will no longer accept Common App applications from students requesting application fee waivers via school counselors.
Aug. 3, 2026
Application Available
Jan. 6, 2027
Priority Decision Deadline
May 5, 2027
Regular Decision Deadline
ACADEMICS
ACM’s Bachelor of Arts in International Relations requires students to satisfy the ACM Core Curriculum and the following major requirements.
Lower-Division Courses, 9 credits required
- POL 105—Introduction to Political Science
- IRL 103—International Relations
- PHI/POL 112—Ethics in Society
Upper Division Core Courses, 36 credits required (up to 9 upper division credits may be taken in an approved course in a related field)
- IRL/POL 303—International Relations (3 credits)
- BUS 303—Intercultural Management (3 credits)
- IRL/POL 305—U.S. Diplomacy in an Age of Change: Case Studies and Practical Exercises (3 credits)
- POL 307—The European Union: Integration, Enlargement, Unity (3 credits)
- IRL/POL 308—Geopolitics of the Mediterranean Basin: Security in a Diverse Region (3 credits)
- POL/ENS 309—Global Environmental Politics (3 credits)
- PHI/POL 312—Ethics in Society (3 credits)
- IRL/COM 316—Media and Conflict (3 credits)
- IRL/POL 318—The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (3 credits)
- PHI/POL 319—Contemporary Political Philosophy (3 credits)
- HIS/POL 321—French Colonialism in the Middle East and North Africa (3 credits)
- POL/COM 322—Contemporary French Politics (3 credits)
- IRL/MED 323—Migrations, Borders, Hospitality (3 credits)
- IRL/ENS 334—European Union Environmental Politics (3 credits)
- IRL/BUS 335—Strategic Communication and the Power of Storytelling (3 credits)
- IRL/BUS 337—International Negotiations (3 credits)
- IRL/POL 360—The International Law and Politics of Armed Conflict (3 credits)
- FRE/POL 376—Contemporary French Identities (3 credits)
- POL/FRE 417—Dissent in the Mediterranean: From Albert Camus to Leïla Slimani (3 credits)
- IRL/PHI 448—Global Justice (3 credits)
Upper Division Electives in Related Fields
- FRE/SOC 333—Contemporary France: Society, Politics, and Culture (3 credits)
- Any BUS, ECO, or HIS course listed in this catalog (except Business French)
International Relations Capstone (3 credits)
January Term Seminar (3 credits)
Total Major Credits: 51
International Relations Capstone
The International Relations Capstone is a rigorous project-based course that serves as the culminating experience for the major. Students are required to synthesize theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches acquired throughout their coursework to produce a significant piece of original scholarship or a professional policy analysis.
Working in weekly one-on-one or small-group consultations with a faculty advisor, students will design, research, and execute a substantial project. This project must demonstrate a mastery of international relations, including the ability to construct a coherent argument, critically engage with primary and secondary sources, and address a salient question concerning cross-border phenomena—whether examining interactions among states, international organizations, non-state actors, or global forces.
Project Options:
Students may produce:
- A scholarly research paper (8,000–10,000 words) suitable for presentation at an undergraduate conference or as a writing sample for graduate school.
- A portfolio of 4-5 policy briefs (each approximately 1,500–2,000 words) or a series of op-ed articles clustered around a common theme in global affairs.
- Alternative Media Project: With prior approval from the faculty advisor and the School of Global Affairs, students may propose a sophisticated media project (e.g., a documentary film, a podcast series, or an educational website). This option requires a parallel academic scaffold, including a full literature review, a project bibliography, and a final analytical memo (approximately 4,000 words) that explicitly grounds the creative work in foundational international relations theories, debates, and literature. The written component will be weighted equally with the media project in the final assessment.
J-TERM
As part of their degree, ACM students take part in a January Term program (J-Term), a multi-country traveling seminar. Travel spans from 2-3 weeks and explores the politics, economics, histories, and cultures of the countries visited. All ACM students are required to participate in J-Term within the first academic year of enrollment.
Undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in the Europe & the Islamic World, Great Cities, or Mediterranean Basin seminar in alignment with ACM’s Core Curriculum. Students must meet with their academic advisor to choose a seminar that best fits within their major and academic plan.
HOUSING
ACM has different housing options in Aix-en-Provence available to undergraduate students, including homestays with a local host or student residence apartments.
All undergraduate students must live with a homestay during their first year of study. After their first year, they can request an ACM student residence apartment or non-program housing upon approval. Living in a homestay is a challenging yet enriching experience, and essential for students to immerse themselves in French language and culture at the start of their ACM experience.
TUITION AND AID
|
Bachelor of Arts 2027-2028 |
Fall 12-18 Units |
Spring 12-18 Units |
Academic Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $12,500 | $12,500 | $25,000 |
| Program Fee** | $2,800 | $2,800 | $5,600 |
| Housing & Student Life Fee*** | $5,800 | $5,800 | $11,600 |
| Total | $21,100 | $21,100 | $42,200* |
Commitment Fee (due upon admission): $500
January Term Program Fee (3 Credits): $3,950
*All ACM students are required to complete one January Term course as a graduation requirement.
Summer Program Fee (3-6 Credits): $4,000
*Summer programs are optional for undergraduate students.
Student Life Fee (for students in approved non-program housing): $2,200
*This fee is in lieu of the above stated Housing & Student Life Fee
- Semester: $2,200
- Summer: $1,000
Operational costs are sometimes affected by factors over which ACM has no control. Therefore, the charges and financial aid policies quoted on our website and in the catalog are subject to change without notice.
Scholarships & Aid
The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM) offers several scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities to its students each year. ACM strives to keep its published costs low, especially in comparison to many U.S.-based degree-granting institutions. Additional funding is provided for those who qualify for merit, diversity, and need-based awards.
If you are planning to apply for aid, you will need to submit the required materials along with your program application, as ACM reviews both simultaneously on a rolling admissions basis. To be eligible for ACM scholarships and grants, students must be enrolled full-time and abide by all ACM policies and regulations as stated on the policies page. Please contact admissions@acmfrance.org with any questions.
For details about how ACM awards aid, please read the Financial Aid & Scholarship Process document.
CAREER PATHS
Outcomes and Learning Objectives
Bachelor’s students in the International Relations program will learn to:
- Analyze the key issues, mechanisms, and drivers of international relations in both global and Euro-Mediterranean contexts;
- Differentiate between the various theoretical, ethical, and operational schools of thought that motivate global actors;
- Evaluate contrasting perspectives on multilateral cooperation, conflict resolution, and global justice, with particular attention to North America, Europe, and the MENA region;
- Demonstrate analytical and critical thinking skills by evaluating key global challenges and synthesizing their historical, political, economic, and geographic dimensions;
- Apply robust research methods, refined writing, and confident oral presentation skills to explore and communicate complex concepts relevant to international relations and global politics;
- Formulate informed, ethical, and pragmatic policy responses to contemporary global challenges.
The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations opens doors to a variety of exciting career paths. Graduates can pursue roles in multinational corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Many of our International Relations majors continue on in careers as diplomats in the Foreign Service or in international business. With a strong foundation in international affairs, diplomacy, policy, and law, students are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the global affairs. Whether you aspire to work in diplomacy, law, business, politics, activism, and journalism, this program prepares you for a successful and impactful career in international relations.