Programs

International Studies Major

This major gives students a broad view of the world with an emphasis on developing regions. The core ensures that students have broad exposure to major world religions, international politics and government, recent global history and relationships between geography, culture, arts and society. This major is a good point of departure for pursuing an international-related master’s degree and/or many careers, including international business, diplomacy and fields related to human development.

Please note that in addition to the course requirements listed below, International Studies majors must also meet the following requirements:

1. Study Abroad
International Studies majors must have a study abroad experience, normally in a non-English speaking country, for at least ten weeks, including a minimum of eight weeks of study through an approved college-level institution. Many of the credits earned can be applied to the major. Students who attended high school in another country may petition the international studies advisory committee for exemption from the requirement for study abroad.

2. Language Proficiency
International studies majors must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English at the 202 level or higher. This can be accomplished by completing a 202 (or 300 or higher) course in a language or by verification through the Languages, Literatures and International Studies Department (i.e. determined by examination or through some other means of confirming proficiency).

3. Program Approval
A program approval for international studies majors must be prepared and approved by an academic advisor from the Languages, Literatures and International Studies Department and a copy forwarded to the Registrar’s Office. A degree evaluation will not be performed until approval is received.

For department information or additional degree requirements, click here

For related information from the bureau of labor statistics, click here

For course description, click on the course.

Total Credits Required for Degree
120
General Education
30-40

Required Courses in Major
36
Major Core
16
GC 164 Human Geography [SOCR]
4
IP 190 Introduction to International Studies [SOCR]
4
IP 490 International Studies Seminar
4
PL 270 World Religions [SOCR]
4
Concentration*
20
Global Concentration
20
Required Course
4
HS 201 World History to 1520 [SOCR]
4
Electives
16
No more than 12 credits may come from any prefix. Choose 16 credits from the following:
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad (1-12 cr.)
AD 230 History of World Art: Ancient to Medieval (4 cr.)
AD 240 History of World Art: Renaissance to Modern (4 cr.)
AD 265 Art and Architecture of Japan (4 cr.)
AD 300 Art and Ideas in Asian Civilizations (4 cr.)
AD 330 History of Renaissance Art (4 cr.)
AN 100 Introduction to Socio-Cultural Anthropology (4 cr.) [SOCR]
AN 210 Ecological Anthropology: People, Culture and Nature (4 cr.)
BC 415 Intercultural Communication (4 cr.) [SOCR]
BC 420 Global Communication (4 cr.)
CJ 426 International Crime and Comparative Criminal Justice Systems (4 cr.)
EC 201 Microeconomic Principles (4 cr.)
EC 425 International Economics (4 cr.)
EC 460 Economic Development (4 cr.)
EN 225 History of World Cinema (4 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR]
EN 326 National Cinema (4 cr.)
EN 360 Modern British Literature (4 cr.)
EN 382 British Literature 1960 to Present (4 cr.)
EN 411 Topics in World Literature (3-4 cr.) [SOCR]
FR 310 Introduction to French Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
FR 438 Cultural and Artistic Heritage of Europe (4 cr.)
GC 220 Economic Geography (4 cr.)
GC 300 Regional Studies: World Cultures (4 cr.) [SOCR]
GR 310 Introduction to German Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
GR 311 Central European Culture and Civilization (4 cr.) [PERS]
HL 322 International Health Issues (4 cr.) [SOCR]
HL 386 Interdisciplinary Study in Global Health Care - Latin America (3 cr.) [SOCR]
HN 362 Cultural Food Patterns (4 cr.) [PERS]
HS 251 Latin American History (4 cr.)
HS 252 History of the Middle East since 600 (4 cr.) [SOCR]
HS 254 History of Africa (4 cr.) [SOCR]
HS 308 Themes in Modern Europe (4 cr.)
HS 311 Central European Culture and Civilization (4 cr.)
HS 314 Modern Britain,1485-Present (4 cr.)
HS 315 Imperialism (4 cr.)
HS 316 The Holocaust (4 cr.)
HS 359 Themes in Global History (4 cr.)
HS 362 History of Mexico (4 cr.)
LG 317 World Studies through Literature in Translation (4 cr.) [PERS]
MGT 475 International Business (4 cr.)
MKT 466 International Marketing (4 cr.)
MU 325 World Music (4 cr.) [HUME]
NAS 342 Indigenous Environmental Movements (4 cr.) [INTT]
PS 203 Comparative Government and Politics (4 cr.)
PS 206 International Relations (4 cr.)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.)
PS 312 War and Peace in the 21st Century (4 cr.)
PS 321 Politics in Islamic Nations (4 cr.)
PS 340 International Organizations (4 cr.)
PS 404 Politics of East and Southeast Asia (4 cr.)
PS 415 Politics of American Foreign Policy (4 cr.)
SN 310 Introduction to Spanish Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
SN 312 Introduction to Spanish America (4 cr.) [PERS]
SN 314 Contemporary Latin American Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
SO 351 Social Change (4 cr.) [PERS]
Other Courses as Approved by Languages, Literatures and International Studies
Regional Concentration: Africa
20
Required Course
4
HS 254 History of Africa [SOCR]
4
Electives
16
Choose 16 credits from the following:
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad to Africa (1-12 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR] (African Topics)
HS 359 Themes in Global History (4 cr.)
LG 317 World Studies through Literature in Translation (4 cr.) [PERS] (Africa)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.) (African Focus)
Non-Regional Courses from List (4-8 cr.)
Other Courses as Approved by Languages, Literatures and International Studies
Regional Concentration: Asia
20
Required Course
4
SO 353 Globalization and Asian Societies [PERS]
4
Electives
16
Choose 16 credits from the following:
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad to Asia (1-12 cr.)
AD 265 Art and Architecture of Japan (4 cr.)
AD 300 Art and Ideas in Asian Civilizations (4 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Asian Topics)
EN 411 Topics in World Literature (3-4 cr.) [SOCR] (Asian Topics)
GC 300 Regional Studies: World Cultures (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Asian Topics)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.) (Asian Focus)
PS 404 Politics of East and Southeast Asia (4 cr.)
Non-Regional Courses from List (4-8 cr.)
Other Courses as Approved by Languages, Literatures and International Studies
Regional Concentration: Europe
20
Required Course
4
HS 202 World History since 1400 [SOCR]
4
Electives
16
Choose 16 credits from the following:
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad to Europe (1-12 cr.)
AD 330 History of Renaissance Art (4 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR] (European)
EN 326 National Cinema (4 cr.)
EN 360 Modern British Literature (4 cr.)
EN 382 British Literature 1960 to Present (4 cr.)
FR 310 Introduction to French Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
FR 438 Cultural and Artistic Heritage of Europe (4 cr.)
GR 310 Introduction to German Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
GR 311 Central European Culture and Civilization (4 cr.) [PERS]
HS 308 Themes in Modern Europe (4 cr.)
HS 311 Central European Culture and Civilization (4 cr.)
HS 314 Modern Britain,1485-Present (4 cr.)
HS 315 Imperialism (4 cr.)
HS 316 The Holocaust (4 cr.)
LG 317 World Studies through Literature in Translation (4 cr.) [PERS] (Europe)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.) (Europe)
SN 310 Introduction to Spanish Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
Courses taught in French, German and Spanish dealing with Europe
Non-Regional Courses from List (4-8 cr.)
Other Courses as Approved by Languages, Literatures and International Studies
Regional Concentration: Latin America
20
Required Course
4
Choose one course from the following:
4
HS 251 Latin American History (4 cr.) or
SN 314 Contemporary Latin American Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
Electives
16
Choose 16 cedits from the following:
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad to Latin America (1-12 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Latin America)
GC 300 Regional Studies: World Cultures (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Latin America)
HL 386 Interdisciplinary Study in Global Health Care - Latin America (3 cr.) [SOCR]
HS 251 Latin American History (4 cr.)
HS 362 History of Mexico (4 cr.)
LG 317Z World Studies through Literature in Translation (4 cr.) (Latin America)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.)
SN 314 Contemporary Latin American Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
Courses taught in French, German and Spanish dealing with Latin America
Non-Regional Courses from List (4-8 cr.)
Other Courses as Approved by Languages, Literatures and International Studies
Regional Concentration: Middle East
20
Required Course
4
HS 252 History of the Middle East since 600 [SOCR]
4
Electives
16
Choose 16 credits from the following:
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad to Middle East (1-12 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Middle East)
HS 359 Themes in Global History (4 cr.)
GC 300 Regional Studies: World Cultures (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Middle East)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.) (Middle East)
PS 321 Politics in Islamic Nations (4 cr.)
Non-Regional Courses from List (4-8 cr.)
Other Courses as Approved by Languages, Literatures and International Studies
Non-Regional Courses**
AD 230 History of World Art: Ancient to Medieval (4 cr.)
AD 240 History of World Art: Renaissance to Modern (4 cr.)
AN 100 Introduction to Socio-Cultural Anthropology (4 cr.) [SOCR]
AN 210 Ecological Anthropology: People, Culture and Nature (4 cr.)
BC 415 Intercultural Communication (4 cr.) [SOCR]
BC 420 Global Communication (4 cr.)
CJ 426 International Crime and Comparative Criminal Justice Systems (4 cr.)
EC 425 International Economics (4 cr.)
EC 460 Economic Development (4 cr.)
EN 225 History of World Cinema (4 cr.)
GC 220 Economic Geography (4 cr.)
HN 362 Cultural Food Patterns (4 cr.) [PERS]
HL 322 International Health Issues (4 cr.) [SOCR]
HS 359 Themes in Global History (4 cr.)
MGT 475 International Business (4 cr.)
MKT 466 International Marketing (4 cr.)
MU 325 World Music (4 cr.) [HUME]
NAS 342 Indigenous Environmental Movements (4 cr.) [INTT]
PS 203 Comparative Government and Politics (4 cr.)
PS 206 International Relations (4 cr.)
PS 312 War and Peace in the 21st Century (4 cr.)
PS 340 International Organizations (4 cr.)
PS 415 Politics of American Foreign Policy (4 cr.)
SO 351 Social Change (4 cr.) [PERS]

*Concentration - Students must choose the global or a regional concentration (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, or the Middle East) with which to fulfill their electives.

**For students choosing a regional concentration, up to eight of their elective credits may be taken from the list of non-regional courses, while all others must come from within the chosen concentration.

No more than 12 credits per prefix may count toward the major.

This major does not require a minor.

programs