Major Requirements

View the 2017-2018 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Requirements for a B.A. in International Studies

1. Foundations in Politics, Economics and Culture (five courses):

• ECON1103 Principles of Macroeconomics Or
• POLSC2413 International Law and Institutions

• ECON2113/POLSC2409 The Politics of International Economic Relations
• POLSC1301 Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics
• POLSC1401 Introduction to International Relations
• SOC2129 Cultural Geography

2. Research Methods (one course):

• HIST2701 Historical Records and Reserach OR
• POLSC2701 Research Methods in Political Science OR
• SOC2113 Methods of Social Research

3. Language Skills (two courses):

• Two language courses at the 2000-level or above. Study away or study abroad is strongly recommended.

4. Capstone (one course):

   GLST4100 International Studies Senior Seminar

Electives (seven courses):
 Two courses must be from the 3000-level.

5. History Elective (one course)

• HIST1108 World History to 1500
• HIST1109 Modern World History
• HIST1111 An Introduction to East Asian History
• HIST2104 Age of Atlantic Revolutions, 1763-1820
• HIST2120 Europe in the Era of World War
• HIST2125 History of Modern Latin America
• HIST2140 History of Modern Middle East

6. Theology & Religious Studies Elective (one course)

• THRS2105 Judaism  
• THRS2108 Religion and the Environment: Ethical Explorations
• THRS2135 World Religions 
• THRS2201 War, Peace and Religion
• THRS2202 Hinduism
• THRS2208 Global Christianity  
• THRS2211 Islam  
• THRS2212 Buddhism: Beliefs and Practices
• THRS2213 Liberation Theology
• THRS2217 Women in the World Religions
• THRS3133 Social Justice and Religious Tradition
• THRS3201 World Religions in Conflict and Dialogue

7. Thematic Electives (three courses)

• BIOL1211 Emerging Infectious Diseases And
• BIOL1215 Introduction to Nutrition Or
• PHYS1121 Energy and the Environment

• ECON2203 An Economic View of the World
• ECON3103 The International Economy
• ECON3115 Economics and the Environment
• POLSC2413 International Law and Institutions
• POLSC2417 Statecraft and Globalization*
• POLSC2419 The Geopolitics of Democracy*
• POLSC2421 Model United Nations
• POLSC2503 Revolution and Nationalism
• POLSC2705/SOC2705 Sustainable Development: Paradigms and Policies
• POLSC3301 Comparative Politics of Developing States
• POLSC3303 Street Democracy
• POLSC3403 Human Issues in International Relations 
• POLSC3405 Strategies of War and Peace
• POLSC3407 People and Politics of the Middle East
• SOC2205 War and Peace
• SOC3115 The Sociology of Globalization
• SOC3201 Worlds in Motion: The Causes and Consequences of Migration
• SOC3205 Crimes Against Humanity
• THRS3133 Social Justice and Religious Traditions
• THRS3203 World Religions in Conflict and Dialogue
  *Travel Course

8. Area/Regional Electives: (two courses)
It is recommended that students take two courses in the same region:

Europe

• ENGL2106 Irish Identities: Literature and Culture
• ENGL2417 Literature of the Black Atlantic
• HIST3119 The Individual and Society in European History
• HIST3504 From Lenin to Putin: A History of the Soviet Union and Its Collapse 
• LANG2215 Darkness in the City of Lights: Contrasting Views of Paris in Modern French Literature and Culture*
• LANG2315 Today's Italy: A Journey Through Literature, Cinema and Everyday Life*
• LANG2418 The Art of Spain 
• LANG2605 Spain: A Cultural Approach 
• LANG3427 Contemporary Spanish American Women Novelists 
• LANG3431 Contemporary Spanish Novel
• POLSC2302 European Politics: From Transition to Integration 
• POLSC2415  In the Footsteps of Thucydides*
• POLSC2417 Statecraft and Globalization*
• POLSC2419 The Geopolitics of Democracy*

Latin America

• ENGL/LANG2105 Contemporary Latin American Fiction
• ENGL2417 Literature of Black Atlantic
• ENGL/LANG3421 Spanish Carribean Literature
• HIST2122 History of Colonial Latin America
• HIST3121 Surviving Columbus: History of Native Americans, 1492 to 1992
• HIST3225 Utopias, Dystopias and Revolution in Latin American History
• LANG3411 Latin American Literary Giants
• POLSC2301 Politics of Race and Ethnicity in Latin America
• THRS2013 Liberation Theology

Asia

• HIST1111 An Introduction to East Asian History
• HIST2126 History of Japan since 1600
• HIST2401 Modern China: Continuity and Change
• HIST3404 East Asia Migration and Diaspora in Global Perspective
• THRS2154 India: Religion, Culture, Justice*
• THRS2202 Hinduism
• THRS2212 Buddhism: Beliefs and Practice

Middle East

• HIST2140 History of Modern Middle East
• LANG2664 The Arab World Through Its Literature
• POLSC2411 The Contemporary Middle East: Challenges and Promise
• POLSC3405 Strategy of War and Peace
• POLSC3407 People and Politics of the Middle East

Africa

• HIST1107 African History: Themes
• THRS2305 South Africa: Religion, Gender and AIDS*

*Travel Course

Learning Goals & Outcomes

At the completion of the International Studies degree, the student will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the broad-based foundation of the major in world history, culture, politics, and economics.
• Demonstrate an understanding of international relations, conflict and change and a heightened sensitivity to diverse cultures defines international studies.
• Demonstrate a practical application of concepts and theories of the discipline of international studies.
• Demonstrate the ability to write clearly and effectively in the field of international studies.
• Demonstrate an understanding of research methods and the ability to apply them to international research topics.