International Relations

College Majors
1

Hi everyone, I want to ask about Intro to International Relations 101. This course consists of game theory. Is game theory in this course challenging? How many pages do we have to write for our essays?

I am really anxious because I am a junior in high-school and this summer I am thinking of taking Intro to International Relations at the University of Rochester, I will basically be a senior. I heard game theory was really math intensive, and I hate math. I always thought International Relations covered current events and world issues, I never knew we needed to know a significant amount of mathematics. Are their any math perquisites needed for game theory? I am really scared of failing this class. I have a strong passion for International Politics but I don’t know how I will do on the mathematical aspect of it. I hope to work in the UN someday, I hope to focus my studies on the Middle East and combating terrorism.

I would appreciate it so much if someone who actually took Intro to IR could explain the course for me, and the rigor expected. This would decrease my fears by so much. I really need to know if I am cut out for this course.

2

This is going to entirely depend on the teacher who is teaching the class and your own level of preparation.

Yes, game theory is math-intensive - it’s the “study of mathematical models of conflict and cooperation between intelligent, rational decision-makers.” It’s math. I haven’t personally studied it; my understanding is that it’s more on the pure-math side of the spectrum - where it almost feels more like a logic class than a math class with numbers and equations - but it’s still math.

Can you talk to someone at URochester who has taken the class? Can you talk with the professor?

Why are you so afraid of failing this class? Can you take it pass-fail, or audit it?