INST.BA - BA in International Studies

International Studies Major

General Information

International Studies aims to educate global citizens. The major promotes global understanding and lifelong learning through an international, intercultural, and interdisciplinary curriculum. It is designed to foster understanding of world societies and global issues from varied disciplinary perspectives, including cultural diversity and norms, economic interconnectedness, conflict and war, environmental degradation, human rights violations and solutions. Students learn the communication, research, and critical thinking skills necessary to assess cultural, economic, political, and social systems in a global context. Majors learn to understand and communicate with diverse communities at home and abroad, a foundation of work and life in the twenty-first century, by studying complex international issues, including the dynamic global economy and the expectations of global citizenship.

International Studies majors shape their own course of study from a curriculum that balances depth and breadth of international and regionally comparative courses in different academic specializations. Majors are encouraged to choose a relevant minor to focus their course of study. Majors are encouraged to study abroad or to pursue international or globally related internships and service learning opportunities. International Studies advances awareness of global issues on campus by promoting participation in student organizations that support international understanding and diversity education, especially the Model United Nations and United and Mutually Equal.

Career and Community Opportunities

International Studies prepares students to participate creatively in a global exchange of ideas and to be successful in a dynamic global economy. The major opens a wide variety of career paths, ranging from public service, diplomacy, management, and communications to the arts, community service, entrepreneurship, health care support, and teaching. It prepares interested students for a variety of graduate programs, including those in international affairs, law, business, and public policy. The major helps students meet the challenges of the global economy by requiring at least twelve credits of foreign language(s). The major also encourages studying, volunteering, and interning abroad to sharpen students’ critical thinking and communication skills, which most employers consider fundamental in the twenty-first century economy.

Program Objectives

1. To provide students with breadth of knowledge of cultural, economic, political, and social systems in a global context.

2. To provide students with analytical tools to explain complex global issues in different disciplines.

3. To expose students at an advanced level to different disciplinary perspectives on global issues and international context.

4. To acquire proficiency in a language or languages other than one’s own.

5. To gain awareness of the connection between global problems and global citizenship, particularly, but not necessarily, through international study, internships, or service learning, or through globally related internships, service learning, or domestic academic exchange.

6. To develop skills in critical reading, research, argumentation, and presentation.

International Studies majors are encouraged to fulfill General University Requirements with courses that have international, global, or comparative focus.

Degree Requirements

Group A: Core courses required (15 credit hours):

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Group B: Choose at least four courses; these cannot also count as Core courses (12 cr.):

ART 212/HIST 212
ART 202
CJ 260
COMM 235
EC 111
EC 112
*ENGL 215
*ENGL 232
GEOG 102
GEOG 103
HIST 133
HIST 171
HIST 212/ART 212
HIST 261
INST 100
INST 190
INST 290
INTB 251
LSOC 203
MUS 240
PH 120
PH 214
PH 230
PH 240
POSC 201
POSC 235
POSC 2XX

Subtotal: 12

Group C: Choose at least seven courses; note any prerequisites (21 cr.):

COMM 348   
COMM 356   
EC 315  
EC 321  
EC 371   
EC 372   
EC 3XX   
EC 39X   
*ENGL 336   
*ENGL 341   
*ENGL 343   
*ENGL 376   
ENTR 380   
FILM 312   
FIN 322   
HIST 320   
HIST 332   
HIST 341   
HIST 343   
HIST 345   
HIST 346       
HIST 372  
HIST 373   
HIST 374/INST 374  
HIST 375   
HIST 380   
HIST 39X  (topics vary; INTLS Dir. approval) 
*HIST 490  (topics vary; INTLS Dir. approval)   
INST 390   
INST 480
LSOC 344   
MAN 311   
MK 311   
PH 316   
POSC 310   
POSC 312   
POSC 316   
POSC 318   
POSC 340   
*POSC 345   
POSC 346   
POSC 350   
POSC 355
POSC 356   
POSC 39X  (topics vary; INTLS Dir. approval)
POSC 490   (topics vary; INTLS Dir. approval) 
SPMN 420   

 *Fulfills Writing Intensive Requirement. Two courses must be designated as writing intensive.

 Subtotal: 21

Foreign Languages requirement (12 cr.)

At least 12 credits (four semesters) of a foreign language or languages are required. A student may earn exemption from up to two semesters of a foreign language and up to two semesters of a different native language other than English. Exemptions may be earned through a proficiency test administered and/or approved by an appropriate University faculty member or the Director of International Studies.

Students who earn the maximum language exemption will be required to take one course from Group C above. The remaining credits will become general electives.

Subtotal: 12

Total Credit Hours: 60

International Studies Suggested Sequence of Courses

Freshman Year - Fall Semester

Subtotal: 15

Freshman Year - Spring Semester

Subtotal: 15

Sophomore Year - Fall Semester

Subtotal: 18

Sophomore Year - Spring Semester

Subtotal: 15

Junior Year - Fall Semester (Study Abroad Encouraged)

Subtotal: 15

Junior Year - Spring Semester (Study Abroad Encouraged)

Subtotal: 15

Senior Year - Fall Semester

Subtotal: 16

Senior Year - Spring Semester

Subtotal: 15

Total Credit Hours: 124