Major in International Studies
School of Arts and Sciences
(Bachelor of Arts Degree)
The major in International Studies provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to the study of nations, people, and culture. It is designed for students with interests in international political relations and economics, government, law, foreign service, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, developmental and environmental studies, language, literature, culture, and education.
Students considering public school teaching as a career should refer to the programs in education - click here for details.
Total credit hours required for degree: 120
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
(See also General Education Core)
| Course | Credit Hours | Year Taken | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | 34-55 | ||
| Major Course Requirements | |||
| Government and Politics 203 | Introduction to Comparative Politics. | 3 | 1,2 |
| Government and Politics 261 | International Relations | 3 | 1,2 |
| International Studies 101 | World Regional Geography | 3 | 1 |
| Choose one senior seminar: | |||
| Human Rights Advocacy 464 | International Protection of Human Rights | 3 | 3,4 |
| International Studies 400 | Contemporary International Problems* | 3 | 3,4 |
| International Studies 487 | Senior Seminar in International Studies | 3 | 3,4 |
* Must be a three credit (3) seminar | |||
| Major Electives | |||
| Select two courses (6 hours) in each area. Courses taken here cannot be used to fulfill concentration requirements. | |||
Policy in a Global Setting | |||
| Government and Politics 363 | International Organizations | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 364 | International Law | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 365 | American Foreign Policy | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 368 | International Political Economy | 3 | 2,3,4 |
Comparative Societies | |||
| Anthropology 254 | Peoples and Cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 371 | European Politics | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 372 | Modern Russia | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 373 | African Politics | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 374 | Latin American Politics | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 266 | Modern Europe | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 335 | History of Modern South Africa | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 343 | Modern Japan | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 344 | Modern China | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 367 | Central Europe | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Foreign Language Requirement | |||
| Students must take 6 hours in any modern foreign language, 201 and 202, or the equivalent. | |||
| Concentration | |||
| Students must take at least 15 hours of study in an area of concentration. Courses taken for core or to satisfy major required or major elective courses cannot be used to satisfy concentrations. | |||
LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND LITERATURE | |||
| This concentration is designed to help students further their understanding of global cultures, societies, and literature. | |||
| Anthropology 251 | Native American Culture and History | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Anthropology 351 | Language and Culture | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Anthropology 551 | Contemporary Issues in Native American Life and Culture | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| English 357 | Modern British Literature | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| French 288 | Introduction to French Literature (taught in French) | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| French 300 | Topics in French and Francophone Cultures and Literature (taught in French or English) | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| French 311 | French Film (taught in French or English) | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| French 347 | Masterpieces of French Literature | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| International Studies 225 | Chinese Civilization and Culture | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| International Studies 235 | Russian Civilization and Culture | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| International Studies 300 | Select Topics in International Studies | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Literature 358 | World Literature in English | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Philosophy 225 | Eastern Thought and Culture: Buddhism | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Philosophy 226 | Eastern Thought and Culture: Confucianism | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Spanish 311 | Spanish and Latin American Film (taught in Spanish or English) | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Spanish 347 | Introduction to Spanish Culture (taught in Spanish) | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Spanish 348 | Latin America Civilization and Culture | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Spanish 388 | Introduction to Literature in Spanish (taught in Spanish) | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Approved select topics courses, 200-level or above in ANT, ENG, FLM, FRE, IST, LIT, PHI, SPA | |||
| 15 | |||
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, COMPARATIVE POLITICS, AND COMPARATIVE HISTORY | |||
| This concentration will help students gain a greater understanding of how societies manage relations—diplomatic, economic, and legal—in an international setting. | |||
| Economics 443 | International Trade ‡ | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 363 | International Organizations | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 364 | International Law | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 365 | American Foreign Policy | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 366 | International Criminal Law | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 368 | International Political Economy | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 371 | European Politics | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 372 | Modern Russia | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 373 | African Politics | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 374 | Latin American Politics | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 375 | Political Change in Developing Nations | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 266 | Modern Europe | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 334 | History of Colonial Africa | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 335 | History of Modern South Africa | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 343 | Modern Japan | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 344 | Modern China | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 347 | Japanese Imperialism and the Pacific War | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 367 | Central Europe | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 376 | British History | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 372 | Modern Russia | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| History 381 | Germany in the Nazi Era | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Approved select topics courses, 200-level or above, in ECN, GOV, HIS, IST | |||
| 15 | |||
ECONOMICS, DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ENVIRONMENT | |||
| This concentration will allow students to pursue a comparative approach for exploring the relationship between the economy, culture, and the environment. | |||
| Chemistry 103 | Chemistry and Society | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Economics 443 | International Trade ‡ | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Economics 445 | Environmental Economics‡ | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Environmental Science 201 | Introduction to Environmental Issues | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Environmental Science 393 | Seminar in Environmental Science ‡ | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Geology 105 | Society, Earth, and the Environment | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Geology 225 | Physical Geology | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Geology 226 | Historical Geology | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Geology 323 | Hydrology and Society | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 368 | International Political Economy | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 373 | African Politics | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 374 | Latin American Politics | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 375 | Political Change in Developing Nations | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Philosophy 503 | Environmental Ethics | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Approved select topics courses, 200-level or above, in ANT, CHE, ECN, GOL, GOV, IST, PHI | |||
| 15 | |||
INTERNATIONAL LAW, SECURITY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS | |||
| This concentration gives students greater understanding of the issues of law, security and human rights in the international arena. | |||
| Government/Social Studies 235 | Civil Rights, Public Policy, and Social Change | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 281 | Political Ideas and Ideologies | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 346 | Civil Liberties | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 363 | International Organizations | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 364 | International Law | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 366 | International Criminal Law | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government and Politics 375 | Political Change in Developing Nations | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government/Human Rights Advocacy 211 | Introduction to Human Rights Advocacy | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Government/Human Rights Advocacy 211 | International Protection of Human Rights | 3 | 2,3,4 |
| Approved select topics courses, 200-level or above, in ECN, GOV, HIS, HRA, IST | |||
| ‡ note prerequisites | 15 | ||
| Study abroad and internships are highly recommended for all International Studies majors and should be discussed with the student’s adviser and the director of international programs as early as possible. | |||
| Electives | |||
| The student must complete sufficient elective courses to earn at least the minimum credit hours required for this degree, and at least 90 credit hours of the 120 required must be in the liberal arts and sciences. | |||
