Curriculum and 2023 study plan
The full course structure for the BIR programme (Curriculum 2021, 2023 revision) and the recommended four-year study plan.
Last updated: 26 July 2026
About this chapter
This chapter reproduces the 2023 revision of Curriculum 2021 (B.E. 2564), the BIR Academic Handout that sets out the current course structure and study plan. The exact general education courses you take, and the order you take them in, can vary depending on your English-exemption result and each term's course arrangement.
Plan your own degree
This chapter describes the curriculum in general. To turn it into a plan for you specifically, with your own cohort, your own minor and what you've already taken, use the study plan service.
Curriculum structure
The BIR programme requires a minimum of 127 credits, made up as follows.
| Component | Credits |
|---|---|
| General education courses | 30 |
| Major requirements | 91 |
| Free elective courses | 6 |
| Total | 127 |
General education courses are split into two parts:
| Part | Credits |
|---|---|
| Part 1 (Thammasat University requirements) | 21 |
| Part 2 (Faculty of Political Science requirements) | 9 |
General education courses
Part 1 (21 credits)
You must complete the following courses in accordance with the requirements of Thammasat University.
Sociology:
- TU100 Civil Education
- TU101 Thailand, ASEAN and the World
Anthropology:
- TU102 Life & Aesthetics
Science and Mathematics:
- TU103 Life and Sustainability
Languages:
- EL105 English Communication Skills
- LAS101 Critical Thinking, Reading and Writing
- TU106 Creativity and Communication
Part 2 (9 credits)
You must complete the following courses in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty of Political Science.
- PI121 Introduction to Social Science
- PI122 Introduction to Humanities
- Select one course from: AH208 Exercise for Good Health and Well-Being, or EL295 Academic English and Study Skill 1
Major requirements
The major requirements total 91 credits, made up of core courses, required and elective courses in your concentration, one required course in the Faculty of Economics, and the minor courses covered in the next section.
2.1 Core Courses (30 credits)
- PI210 Introduction to Political Philosophy
- PI211 Introduction to Political Science
- PI241 Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy
- PI271 Introduction to International Relations
- PI280 International Relations Theories and Current Affairs
- PI282 Reading and Analysis in International Relations
- PI300 Social Science Methodology
- PI320 Comparative Politics
- PI321 Thai Politics and Government
- PI390 Global Political Economy
2.2 Required Courses in Concentration (19 credits)
- PI370 Thai Foreign Affairs
- PI270 Diplomatic History
- PI272 Foreign Policy Analysis
- PI291 International Law
- PI292 International Organizations and Regimes
- PI470 Seminar: International Relations Theories
- PI574 Internship in Politics and International Relations (1 credit)
2.3 Required Course in Faculty of Economics (3 credits)
- EE210 Introductory Economics
2.4 Elective Courses in Concentration (18 credits)
Area Studies Group: select 3 courses (9 credits) from the following.
- PI364 Middle East in Global Politics
- PI365 Russia in Global Politics
- PI366 The United States of America in Global Politics
- PI367 Europe in Global Politics
- PI368 South Asia in Global Politics
- PI369 Africa in Global Politics
- PI374 China in Global Politics
- PI375 Latin America in Global Politics
- PI378 Japan in Global Politics
- PI474 East Asia in Global Politics
- PI475 Southeast Asia in Global Politics
- PI476 ASEAN in Global Politics
Approaches and Issues Group: select 3 courses (9 credits) from the following.
- PI376 Alternative Approaches in International Relations
- PI377 Security Studies
- PI379 Religion and Global Politics
- PI477 Global Geopolitics
- PI478 Political Psychology and International Relations
- PI479 Global Politics through Film
- PI483 Seminar: Non-Western International Relations Theories
- PI484 Seminar: International Regimes, Institutions, and Governance
- PI485 Selected Topics in Political Science
- PI486 Comparative Regionalism
- PI487 The International Relations of Rising Powers
- PI488 Classical Theories in International Relations
- PI489 Epistemology and Global Politics
Minor courses
Minor Courses make up 21 credits of your major requirements. You'll choose one of the following three minors. Each minor has Required Courses (9 credits), Elective Courses within the minor (select 2 courses, 6 credits), and Elective Courses in other minors (6 credits).
Governance and Transnational Studies
Required Courses (9 credits):
- PI380 Nation-State and Transnationalism
- PI381 Globalization and Global Governance
- PI382 Politics of International Development
Elective Courses, select 2 courses (6 credits) from:
- PI313 Media and Global Politics
- PI373 Transnational Crime and Global Governance
- PI383 Ethics and International Relations
- PI384 Selected Topics in Global Governance
- PI385 Peace Studies
- PI386 Gender Studies
- PI387 Environment and Global Politics
- PI388 Human Security in Global Politics
- PI389 Global Civil Society
- PI413 Seminar: Globalization, Regional Grouping and the State
- PI414 Seminar: International Conflict and Resolutions
Elective Courses in other Minors (6 credits).
Public Administration and Public Policy
Required Courses (9 credits):
- PI340 Public Policy and Management in the Global Context
- PI341 Policy Analysis and Evaluation: Concepts and Techniques
- PI342 Organization and Human Resource Management: Theories and Practices
Elective Courses, select 2 courses (6 credits) from:
- PI343 Strategic Planning and Management
- PI344 Environmental Management and Policy
- PI345 Disaster and Emergency Management
- PI346 Urban Planning and Development Policy
- PI347 Fiscal and Budgeting
- PI348 Comparative Public Administration
- PI349 Information Technology Management in the Public Sector
- PI443 Selected Topics in Public Policy
- PI444 Selected Topics in Public Administration
Elective Courses in other Minors (6 credits).
Global Political Economy
Required Courses (9 credits):
- PI392 Comparative Political Economy
- PI480 Seminar: Issues in Global Political Economy
- PI490 Political Economy of Development
Elective Courses, select 2 courses (6 credits) from:
- PI293 Introduction to Political Economy
- PI395 International Political Economy in Asia
- PI396 Game Theory for Political Scientists
- PI397 Public Choice in Global Affairs
- PI398 Politics of International Trade
- PI399 Politics of International Finance
- PI494 Selected Topics in International Political Economy
- PI495 Contemporary Debates in Global Political Economy
- PI496 Economic Diplomacy and Negotiation
- PI497 Politics of International Trade in Services
- PI498 Global Politics of Digital Economy
Elective Courses in other Minors (6 credits).
Free electives
You must select at least 6 credits of Free Elective Courses from any courses offered by Thammasat University.
Four-year study plan
The plan below sets out a typical route through the programme. Courses shown as changeable in the source handout (marked "coloured and underlined" in the original) can be changed or shuffled between semesters, depending on your own decisions and planning.
Year 1
Semester 1
- TU100 Civil Education
- TU101 Thailand, ASEAN and the World
- TU103 Life and Sustainability
- EL105 English Communication Skills
- TU106 Creativity and Communication
- PI121 Introduction to Social Science
Semester 2
- TU102 Life & Aesthetics
- LAS101 Critical Thinking, Reading and Writing
- PI122 Introduction to Humanities
- Select 1 course from: AH208 Exercise for Good Health and Well-Being, or EL295 Academic English and Study Skill 1
- PI211 Introduction to Political Science
- PI271 Introduction to International Relations
TU/PI/EL/LAS courses may differ. This depends on your exemption result and the course arrangement each semester.
Year 2
Semester 1
- PI210 Introduction to Political Philosophy
- PI241 Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy
- PI280 International Relations Theories and Current Affairs
- PI282 Reading and Analysis in International Relations
- PI291 International Law
- EE210 Introductory Economics
Semester 2
- PI270 Diplomatic History
- PI272 Foreign Policy Analysis
- PI292 International Organizations and Regimes
- PI321 Thai Politics and Government
- PI370 Thai Foreign Affairs
- Elective Course in Concentration (Approaches and Issues Group) 1
Summer (optional)
- Minor Elective Course 1
- Minor Elective Course in other minors 1
"Coloured and underlined courses" can be changed and/or shuffled. This depends on your own decisions and planning each semester.
Year 3
Semester 1
- PI300 Social Science Methodology
- PI390 Global Political Economy
- Minor Required Course 1
- Minor Required Course 2
- Elective Course in Concentration (Area Studies Group) 1
- Free Elective Course 1
Semester 2
- PI320 Comparative Politics
- Minor Required Course 3
- Minor Elective Course 2
- Elective Course in Concentration (Approaches and Issues Group) 2
- Elective Course in Concentration (Area Studies Group) 2
- Free Elective Course 2
Summer (compulsory)
- PI574 Internship in Politics and International Relations (1 credit)
The request form for the summer internship opens in the November before it, and the host organisation must be confirmed by the end of April. See Internship for the deadlines and forms.
Year 4
Semester 1
- PI470 Seminar: International Relations Theories
- Elective Course in Concentration (Approaches and Issues Group) 3
- Elective Course in Concentration (Area Studies Group) 3
- Minor Elective Course in other minors 2
"Coloured and underlined courses" can be changed and/or shuffled. This depends on your own decisions and planning each semester.
The BIR Academic Handout for the 2023 revision does not list a Semester 2 for Year 4. Check with the Registrar's Office or your academic advisor for the arrangement of your final semester.
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