01
A verifiable degree
A diploma issued by USA Open University, paired with a public verification record at our certificate portal.
Manifesto · Vol. II
Est. 2010
Political Science and International Relations Bachelor.
This online program is delivered fully asynchronously to learners worldwide. Coursework blends recorded seminars, live cohort sessions across timezones, and project-based assessment, so working profes…
I
The catalog entry
A standard built for working learners.
Everything you need to budget your time, your tuition, and your transcript before you apply.
01
Degree Level
Bachelor
02
Duration
4 years
03
Total Courses
38
04
Total Credits
117
05
ECTS Credits
233
06
Delivery
Online · Asynchronous
07
Language
English
08
Intakes / year
3
Programme overview
What you will study — and how.
A self-paced syllabus with weekly checkpoints, asynchronous lectures, and live cohort rooms across timezones.
This online program is delivered fully asynchronously to learners worldwide. Coursework blends recorded seminars, live cohort sessions across timezones, and project-based assessment, so working professionals can balance study with their existing responsibilities.
Faculty are drawn from partner institutions across multiple continents. Every term opens with a syllabus, a clear assessment ledger, and direct access to academic advising — no commute required, no campus assumed.
II
Chapter III · The curriculum ledger
Course breakdown, semester by semester.
38
courses · 117 Credits
Across 8 semesters
Across 8 semesters
I
Semester 1 · term 1
Code
Course
Type
Theory
Practice
Credits
ECTS
ENG101
Academic English I
University-level reading, writing, and presentation skills.
Core
3
0
3
5
INT101
Introduction to International Relations
States, systems, and the major IR theories at a glance.
Core
3
0
3
7
PHI101
Introduction to Political Philosophy
Plato to Rawls — central debates in political thought.
Core
3
0
3
5
POL101
Introduction to Political Science
Foundational concepts, ideologies, and the study of politics.
Core
3
0
3
7
HIS101
Modern World History
Key political events from 1789 to the contemporary order.
Core
3
0
3
6
II
Semester 2 · term 2
Code
Course
Type
Theory
Practice
Credits
ECTS
ENG102
Academic English II
Argumentation and academic writing for political analysis.
Core
3
0
3
5
POL102
Comparative Politics
Regimes, institutions, and methods of cross-country comparison.
Core
3
0
3
7
LAW101
Introduction to Law
Legal systems, sources of law, and the rule of law.
Core
3
0
3
6
ECO101
Principles of Economics
Micro and macro foundations for political analysis.
Core
3
0
3
6
SOC101
Sociology
Social structures, stratification, and political behavior.
Core
3
0
3
6
III
Semester 3 · term 3
Code
Course
Type
Theory
Practice
Credits
ECTS
POL202
Comparative Constitutional Systems
Presidential vs. parliamentary regimes; federal vs. unitary states.
Core
3
0
3
6
LAW201
International Public Law
Sources, subjects, treaties, and state responsibility.
Core
3
0
3
5
POL201
IR Theory
Realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical approaches.
Core
3
0
3
7
POL203
Public Policy Analysis
Agenda setting, policy design, evaluation, and implementation.
Core
3
0
3
6
STT201
Statistics for Social Science
Descriptive, inferential, and basic regression for political data.
Core
3
0
3
6
IV
Semester 4 · term 4
Code
Course
Type
Theory
Practice
Credits
ECTS
POL214
Diplomacy & Negotiation
Diplomatic practice, track-2 diplomacy, and negotiation skills.
Core
3
0
3
6
POL212
Foreign Policy Analysis
Decision-making models, leaders, and bureaucratic politics.
Core
3
0
3
6
POL221
Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
UDHR, ICCPR/ICESCR, and IHL frameworks.
Core
3
0
3
5
POL211
International Organizations
UN system, regional bodies, and multilateral governance.
Core
3
0
3
7
POL213
Political Economy
States and markets, regulation, and global capitalism.
Core
3
0
3
6
V
Semester 5 · term 5
Code
Course
Type
Theory
Practice
Credits
ECTS
POL332
Gender & Politics
Women in politics, gender mainstreaming, and intersectional analysis.
Elective
3
0
3
5
POL303
Global Governance
Climate, trade, and digital regimes in a multi-stakeholder world.
Core
3
0
3
6
POL302
Middle East Politics
Regional history, conflicts, and contemporary political dynamics.
Core
3
0
3
6
POL331
Political Communication
Media, public opinion, and digital political campaigns.
Elective
3
0
3
5
POL301
Security Studies
Traditional and human security; conflict and peace studies.
Core
3
0
3
7
VI
Semester 6 · term 6
Code
Course
Type
Theory
Practice
Credits
ECTS
POL312
Conflict Resolution & Mediation
Theories of conflict, negotiation, and post-conflict peacebuilding.
Core
3
0
3
6
POL313
Democratization & Regime Change
Transitions, hybrid regimes, and democratic backsliding.
Core
3
0
3
6
POL311
European Union Politics
EU institutions, decision-making, and external relations.
Core
3
0
3
6
POL341
Geopolitics & Energy
Oil, gas, and the politics of the energy transition.
Elective
3
0
3
5
POL342
Migration & Refugee Policy
Forced displacement, asylum regimes, and border governance.
Elective
3
0
3
6
VII
Semester 7 · term 7
Code
Course
Type
Theory
Practice
Credits
ECTS
POL471
Cyber & Space Security
Emerging domains of conflict and the evolving security order.
Elective
3
0
3
6
INT401
Internship/Practicum
Placement at an NGO, ministry, embassy, or research institute.
Core
0
6
3
7
RES401
Research Methods in Political Science
Qualitative and quantitative methods; case study design.
Core
3
0
3
6
POL401
Strategic Studies
Grand strategy, deterrence, and contemporary military thought.
Core
3
0
3
6
VIII
Semester 8 · term 8
Code
Course
Type
Theory
Practice
Credits
ECTS
POL482
Asia-Pacific Politics
Indo-Pacific dynamics, China–US competition, and regional orders.
Elective
3
0
3
6
POL483
Climate & Environmental Politics
UNFCCC, COPs, and climate governance under uncertainty.
Elective
3
0
3
6
CAP402
Senior Thesis
Independent research thesis defended before a faculty committee.
Core
0
8
6
12
POL481
US Foreign Policy
Doctrine, institutions, and the conduct of US foreign relations.
Elective
3
0
3
6
Chapter IV · What graduates leave with
A degree built to be used.
Every outcome below is part of the program contract — not a marketing add-on.
02
A global cohort
Study alongside peers from dozens of countries — every cohort is intentionally international.
03
Async & live blend
Recorded seminars you watch on your timezone, plus optional live rooms each week with faculty.
04
Transferable credit
ECTS-aligned credits accepted by partner institutions for transfer or further graduate study.
05
Career-aware mentoring
Every program pairs you with an academic advisor and access to the alumni mentoring network.
06
Accredited and audited
Curricula reviewed annually against accreditation standards listed on our charter page.
Chapter V · Admissions snapshot
Tuition, intakes, and the paperwork.
Numbers you can budget against. Every figure routes through admin settings — what you see here is what the bursar publishes.
$20 / cr
Per-credit rate
Locked for the length of your degree at admission.
$50
Application fee
Non-refundable; waived for partner-agency referrals.
3 / yr
Intakes per year
Rolling admissions, three terms a year.
60 days before each term
Application window
Apply early to lock the published rate.
Chapter VI · Common questions
Before you apply.
The answers most working learners ask first — collected and updated by admissions.
Is the degree fully online — or are there required visits?
Every part of this program is delivered online. Lectures are recorded for asynchronous study, live cohort rooms run across multiple timezones, and assessments are completed through the student portal. No in-person attendance is required to enroll, study, or graduate.
How is the diploma issued and verified?
A physical diploma is mailed to the address on file once the degree is conferred. A verifiable digital credential is also published to our certificate verification portal — anyone can confirm authenticity using the document number and the student’s name.
Can I transfer credits in or out?
Yes. Credits earned at accredited institutions are evaluated against the curriculum on a course-by-course basis. Outgoing credits are ECTS-aligned and accepted by partner universities for graduate study or transfer.
What is the time commitment per week?
A typical full-time term load is 12 credit hours and runs about 18–22 hours of study per week, including recorded lectures, readings, and assignments. Part-time pacing is supported — you set the load each term within your degree window.
What support do online students receive?
Each student is paired with an academic advisor at admission. You also have access to the digital library, an alumni mentor network, and admissions video sessions across timezones for any administrative question — every channel is online.
Is the program accredited?
Yes. The full list of accrediting bodies and partner memberships is maintained on our accreditation page and reviewed annually. The page is the canonical source — please refer to it for the most current accreditors.
Closing · Vol. II
Begin the next chapter — on your timezone.
Submit an application for Political Science and International Relations, or speak to admissions in a video session at a time that suits you.