Requirements for a Major in International Studies
Bachelor of Arts
The Common Core
The international studies major consists of five core courses, two additional requirements, and seven courses from one of two concentrations. The concentrations include Culture & Society and International Relations. The Culture & Society concentration allows emphases in area studies. The International Relations concentration allows an emphasis in Political Science or Economics/Business. Some courses in this program may be counted as part of the collegiate requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Common Core | ||
| INST 261 | Introduction to Theory and Method in the Study of Culture | 3 |
| INST 321 | International Relations | 3 |
| INST 422 | Senior Seminar in International Studies 1,2 | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Principles of Economics-Micro | 3 |
| Select one Language Conversation course above 212 or 215 (where offered) 3 | 3 | |
| Concentration | ||
| Select one of the following: | 21 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
- 2
Students who are unable to complete INST 422 may substitute INST 448/INST 449, INST 452/INST 453, INST 483/INST 484, INST 493/INST 494 or INST 496/INST 498 with the approval of the director of the International Studies Program.
- 3
If one is not available, another course will be substituted with the approval of the director of the International Studies Program. Arabic language courses are currently not available. Students concentrating in the Middle East must successfully complete one language conversation course above the intermediate (212 or 215) level in another language.
Additional Requirements
Must complete a study abroad experience approved by the International Studies Council.
Foreign Study/Travel Requirement
Students are encouraged to apply for admission into any of the current college-sanctioned study abroad programs (semester or year-long experiences). They may also satisfy this requirement by participating in programs organized by other colleges and universities with the prior approval of the director of the International Studies Program. Two general conditions govern the acceptability of a January-term travel course for the International Studies Program. First, there must be an inherent reason for the course to travel. Second, the course must include a series of organized activities that facilitate direct contact with a distinct culture and its peoples. This series of activities must represent a significant portion of the course and the resulting grade. If a student is unable to meet either of these requirements, an immersion in a “distinct” culture may be substituted. An immersion in a “distinct” culture is defined as an academic experience in a culture significantly different from the student’s own. The use of such an experience to satisfy the foreign study/travel requirement requires prior approval of the director of the International Studies Program. Courses taken to satisfy this requirement may count toward the major.
The Concentrations
Select one of the two concentrations:
- Culture & Society
- International Relations
- Political Science Emphasis
- Economics/Business Emphasis
Concentration in Culture & Society
Students who select a concentration in culture and society are encouraged to seek out a faculty adviser with an expertise in the appropriate geographic area. The student and the adviser will develop an appropriate curriculum supporting the geographic area of study. In addition to the core courses a concentration in culture and society of a specific region requires: two courses drawn from literature, art history, religion, philosophy, film, and/or courses in “civilization”; two courses drawn from history, political science, sociology, psychology, and/or gender, sexuality, and women’s studies; and three related courses (not necessarily limited to the selected geographic area).
Culture & Society Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one geographic area of study from the following: | 12 | |
| Africa and African Diaspora | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| African and Oceanic Art | ||
| Modern African Literature | ||
| Algerian Cinema | ||
| African and Middle East Literature and Film | ||
or FREN 448 | African and Middle East Literature and Film | |
Select two of the following: | ||
| African-American History since 1865 | ||
| The Problem of Slavery | ||
| The Antebellum South | ||
| The Black Novel as History | ||
| African Politics | ||
| Peoples of Africa | ||
| Asia | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| Asian Art | ||
| Islamic Art | ||
| East Asian Visual Culture | ||
| Introduction to Asian Studies | ||
| Japanese Film as History:The Works of Kurosawa Akira | ||
| Traditional Japanese Literature | ||
| Culture of Japan | ||
| Japan Past and Present | ||
| Philosophy East and West | ||
| Confucian Tradition | ||
| Chinese Politics | ||
| World Religions:Indian, Buddhist, Chinese, Japanese | ||
| Hinduism:History, Teachings, Practice | ||
| Buddhism:History, Teachings, Practice | ||
| Islam | ||
| New Religious Movements | ||
| Religions on Japan:Land of Kami, Land of Buddhas | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| T:Special Topics | ||
| Modern China, 1800-1949 | ||
| Modern China, since 1949 | ||
| Early to Premodern Japan | ||
| Modern Japan | ||
| Comparative Legislatures | ||
| Chinese Politics | ||
| Europe | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| The History of Art II | ||
| Italian Art 1260-1500 | ||
| Baroque Art | ||
| Revolutions in 19th Century European Art | ||
| Modern Art | ||
| Britain in the International Economy | ||
| The 18th Century Novel | ||
| Gothic Terror and the Romantic Sublime | ||
| Victorian Afterlives | ||
| Dublin, Literary Capital | ||
| 20th Century British Literature | ||
| The Holocaust in German and European Film | ||
| Holocaust and Jewish Culture in Germany & Austria | ||
| French "Pirates of the Carribean": Conquest, Colonization and Slavery | ||
| Modern Drama of the German-speaking World in English Translation | ||
| 20th Century German Narrative Fiction in English Translation | ||
| German Cinema | ||
| Women in French Literature | ||
| The Berlin Republic | ||
| Women in French Film | ||
| Paris- Old and New | ||
| Civilization | ||
| French Cinema | ||
| Survey of French Literature I | ||
| Survey of French Literature II | ||
| Modern French Civilization | ||
| 17th Century French Literature | ||
| 18th Century French Literature | ||
| 19th Century French Literature | ||
| 20th Century French Literature | ||
| Women in French Film | ||
| Topics in German Literature | ||
| Culture and Civilization | ||
| Modern Drama of the German-Speaking World | ||
| The German Novelle | ||
| Modern & Postmodern Philosophy | ||
| 19th Century European Philosophy | ||
| 20th Century European Philosophy | ||
| The Holocaust | ||
| History of Christianity from the Protestant Reformation to Present | ||
| Introduction to Literature of Spain | ||
| Spain's Civilization | ||
| The Two Spains | ||
| Mapping Theatre in Ireland | ||
| History of Theatre since 1800 | ||
| Select two of the following: | ||
| England to 1690 | ||
| England since 1690 | ||
| Royal France | ||
| The Renaissance | ||
| Religious Revolution in Europe | ||
| The History of Witchcraft | ||
| Inside the Third Reich | ||
| European Politics | ||
| Russian Politics | ||
| Contemporary Spanish Culture through Film and Music | ||
| Middle East | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| Art and Archaeology of Egypt and the Ancient Near East | ||
| Islamic Art | ||
| Water Resources and Politics in the Middle East | ||
| New Turkish Cinema | ||
| African and Middle East Literature and Film | ||
| World Religions:Judaic, Christian, Islamic | ||
| Islam | ||
| Prophecy in Ancient Israel | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| T:Special Topics | ||
| T:Special Topics | ||
| Modern Egypt | ||
| Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | ||
| Middle Eastern Politics | ||
| Latin America and Caribbean | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| Martinique:The Identity of a Carbbean Island | ||
| Latin America's New Historical Novel | ||
| Peoples of Latin America 1 | ||
| Liberation Theology | ||
| Introduction to Latin-American Literature | ||
| Regional Approaches to Topics in Modern Latin American Lit & Film | ||
| Latin-American Civilization | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Modern Latin American History | ||
| Geographical History | ||
| Peoples of Latin America 1 | ||
| Gender and Development | ||
| Gender and Change in the Maya Diaspora | ||
| Latin American Politics | ||
| Revolution, Politics and Policy in Cuba | ||
| Mexican Politics | ||
| Select three approved additional related courses 2 | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
- 1
INST 331 Peoples of Latin America/SOCI 331 Peoples of Latin America may be used to satisfy only one requirement, not both.
- 2
Regardless of geographic area chosen, courses are not necessarily limited to the selected geographic area.
Concentration in International Relations
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Areas of Emphasis | ||
| Select one of the following Area of Emphasis: | 21 | |
| Political Science Emphasis | ||
Foreign and Comparative Government: | ||
Select three of the following: | ||
| Comparative Legislatures | ||
| European Politics | ||
| Russian Politics | ||
| Latin American Politics | ||
| African Politics | ||
| Chinese Politics | ||
| Revolution, Politics and Policy in Cuba | ||
| Mexican Politics | ||
| Middle Eastern Politics | ||
| Politics of Nationalism | ||
International Relations: | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| International Organization: Model United Nations | ||
| U.S. Intelligence and Foreign Policy | ||
| International Terrorism | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| International Law:Model United Nations | ||
International Economics and/or Business: | ||
Select two of the following: | ||
| International Economics | ||
| International Economic Development | ||
| Britain in the International Economy | ||
| International Business Concepts | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Economics/Business Emphasis | ||
| Principles of Economics-Macro | ||
| Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | ||
Select three of the following: | ||
| International Economics | ||
| International Economic Development | ||
| Britain in the International Economy | ||
| International Business Concepts | ||
or BUSN 370 | International Finance | |
Select one or two of the following: | ||
| Comparative Legislatures | ||
| European Politics | ||
| Russian Politics | ||
| Latin American Politics | ||
| African Politics | ||
| Chinese Politics | ||
| Revolution, Politics and Policy in Cuba | ||
| Mexican Politics | ||
| Middle Eastern Politics | ||
| Politics of Nationalism | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| International Organization: Model United Nations | ||
| U.S. Intelligence and Foreign Policy | ||
| International Terrorism | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| International Law:Model United Nations | ||
| Total Hours | 21 | |
Other Courses
With the permission of the director of the International Studies Program, students may substitute appropriate honors courses, internships, independent study, special topics, senior projects, or courses taken as part of an overseas academic experience for courses on the international studies major.