Approved by: Undergraduate Course and Curriculum Committee
Implementation Date: Spring 2016
Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.
Catalog Copy
The Department of Global, International, and Area Studies brings together a number of the interdisciplinary programs: International Studies; Islamic Studies; Judaic Studies; and Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies. It promotes global awareness and knowledge of cultural, economic, geographic, political and social issues around the world. Through its various programs, the department seeks to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century.
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
The International Studies major draws upon the faculty and courses of the Department of Global, International, and Area Studies, as well as a number of other departments, and is structured to give students skills and knowledge to understand and analyze societies outside the United States in the context of the rapidly changing and increasingly interdependent world. By integrating courses on area studies and world affairs from a variety of departments disciplines, the program allows students interested in studying other cultures and societies to focus attention across traditional disciplinary boundaries. International Studies is of particular value to those with career objectives in government, law, journalism, teaching, business, trade, or military service. It also serves those who will seek employment with international organizations such as the United Nations or with non-governmental agencies with an international or cross-cultural focus.
International Studies graduates work for employers such as local, state, and federal governments; international organizations; private sector businesses; nonprofit organizations; colleges and universities; elementary and secondary schools; think tanks; the military; newspapers and magazines; law firms; financial institutions; public relations firms; and the travel industry. They also find careers as foreign service officers, policy analysts, international trade specialists, diplomats, United Nations staffers, lobbyists, intelligence specialists, translators/ interpreters, US Customs officers, cultural liaisons, journalists, business managers, government or business consultants, ESL administrators/instructors, professors, teachers, travel/tourism promoters, military officers, and missionaries.
Degree Requirements
A major in International Studies requires a minimum of 30 semester hours in courses approved for International Studies credit. Majors must also complete related work in foreign language and an international experience as stipulated in the core curriculum. Each student, in consultation with an advisor, will prepare a Plan of Study for completion of these requirements upon declaration of the major.
Required Core Course (3 hours)
INTL 1101 Introduction to International Studies (3)
Advanced Core Area Courses (9 hours)
Select one course from each of the following Advanced Core areas designed to enhance global economic, geo/political, and social/cultural awareness. Other courses may be considered if approved by an advisor.
Economic Awareness
INTL 3151 International Political Economy (3) or POLS 3151 International Political Economy (3)ECON 2101 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)ECON 3171 International Business Economics (3)GEOG 3105 Geography of the Global Economy (3)HONR 1702 Economic Welfare and International Communities (or LBST 2102-equivalent Honors Section) (3)
Geo/Political Awareness
INTL 3111 Politics and Culture in Literature (3)*INTL 3131 Diplomacy in a Changing World (3)INTL 3135 Origins of Globalization (3)INTL 3136 Globalization and Resistance (3)GEOG 2165 Patterns of World Urbanization (3)HONR 1701 War, Peace, Justice and Human Survival (or LBST 2101-equivalent Honors Section) (3)POLS 3135 Terrorism (3)POLS 3152 International Organization (3)POLS 3162 International Law (3)POLS 4163 Model United Nations (3)
Social/Cultural Awareness
INTL 3111 Politics and Culture in Literature (3)*INTL 3112 Globalization and Culture (3) or ANTH 3112 Globalization and Culture (3)INTL 3115 Globalization and Digital Media (3) or COMM 3126 Globalization and Digital Media (3)INTL 3120 Women’s Studies International (3) or WGST 4120 Women’s Studies International (3)INTL 3127 Global MediaANTH 2121 Comparative Family SystemsANTH 2122 Beliefs, Symbols and RitualsANTH 2123 Women in Cross Cultural PerspectiveANTH 3111 Culture Change and Applied AnthropologyANTH 3122 Culture, Health and DiseaseANTH 3124 Food, Nutrition and CultureANTH 4120 Intercultural CommunicationCJUS 4103 International Criminal JusticeCOMM 4147 International Public RelationsHONR 3702 Human Rights and Social JusticeRELS 2131 Islam
*INTL 3111 may be used for either the Geo/Political Awareness requirement or the Social/Cultural Awareness requirement.
Foreign Language Requirement
Students are expected to demonstrate competency in a foreign language appropriate to the area studies concentration they have selected by completing the equivalent of two courses at the 3000-level or above. Language courses at the 3000-level offered in English do not apply to the foreign language requirement.
Concentration Requirements (15 hours)
Area Studies
Each student will select an area of concentration one of the following Comparative Studies or Area Studies concentrations, and complete the designated required course designated .
Africa:INTL 2101 Introduction to African Studies (3)Asia:INTL 2201 Introduction to Asian Studies (3)Europe:INTL 2301 Introduction to European Studies (3)Latin America:INTL 2401 Introduction to Latin American Studies (3)*
*No new students admitted to Latin American Studies concentration.
An additional 12 Twelve hours of elective credit from the list of courses approved courses for within the selected area studies concentration must be completed. Other courses may be considered if approved by an advisor. For Comparative Studies concentrations, at least two of the electives should be courses with an INTL prefix. (see list of recommended courses). While there is no formal requirement as to the distribution of courses across departments, the Plan of Study for area studies must address issues that will further economic, geo/political, and social/cultural awareness.
Comparative Studies
Students seeking to focus their study around the comparative analysis of a particular issue or theme may do so with the advice and permission of an advisor. Students seeking to pursue this option must submit a written proposal describing the intended course of study. Approval will be based on the merit of the proposal and the anticipated availability of sufficient courses on a regular basis. A total of 15 credit hours from courses approved for the concentration must be completed. An international experience appropriate to the concentration is required. Competency in a foreign language appropriate to the concentration equivalent to the completion of two courses at the 3000-level or above is also required.
Comparative Studies: Development and Sustainability
Required: INTL 2121 Introduction to Development Studies (3)
INTL 3151 International Political Economy (or POLS 3151) (3)
INTL 3125 Food and Globalization (or ANTH 3125) (3)
INTL 3127 Global Media (3)
INTL 3135 Origins of Globalization (or ANTH 3135) (3)
INTL 3161 Migration and Borders in a Global World (or GEOG 3161) (3)
INTL 3000 Topics in International Studies (3) (If designated for concentration)
AFRS 3155 Health and Healing in Africa (or HIST 3155) (3)
AFRS 3230 Poverty and Discrimination in the African Diaspora in the Modern Era (3)
AFRS 3265 African Economic Development (3)
AFRS 4630 Environmental and Public Health in Africa (3)
ANTH 3222 Culture, Health, and Disease
ECON 2101 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
GEOG 2165 Patterns of World Urbanization (3)
GEOG 2120 Geographic Information Systems: Survey of Applications and Techniques (4)
GEOG 3105 Geography of the Global Economy (3)
GEOG 3250 World Food Problems (3)
HLTH 4280 Global Health Issues (3)
HONR 1702 Economic Welfare and International Communities (or LBST 2102-equivalent Honors
Section) (3)
LTAM 3190 Political Economy of the Caribbean (or AFRS 3190) (3)
POLS 3155 Political Economy of Latin America (or LTAM 3154) (3)
Comparative Studies: Peace, Conflict, and Identity
Required: INTL 2131 Introduction to Peace, Conflict, and Identity Studies (3)
INTL 3111 Politics and Culture in Literature (3)
INTL 3112 Globalization and Culture (or ANTH 3112) (3)
INTL 3115 Globalization and Digital Media (or COMM 3126) (3)
INTL 3116 Cultures and Conflicts (or ANTH 3116) (3)
INTL 3117 Narratives and Conflict (or ANTH 3117) (3)
INTL 3120 Women’s Studies International (or WGST 4120) (3)
INTL 3131 Diplomacy in a Changing World (3)
INTL 3136 Globalization and Resistance (or ANTH 3136) (3)
INTL 3000 Topics in International Studies (3) (If designated for concentration)
INTL 2101 Introduction to African Studies (or AFRS 2221) (3)
AFRS 2207 Pan-Africanism (3)
AFRS 4105 African International Relations (or POLS 3169) (3)
ANTH 2115 Culture and Society in the Middle East (3)
ANTH 2122 Beliefs, Symbols and Rituals (3)
HIST 2216 Modern Middle East (or RELS 2216) (3)
HIST 3179 Authoritarianism in Latin America (or LTAM 3279) (3)
HONR 1701 War, Peace, Justice and Human Survival (or LBST 2101-equivalent Honors Section) (3)
PHIL 3910 Philosophy of War and Peace (3)
POLS 3135 Terrorism (3)
POLS 3143 African Politics (3)
POLS 3144 Latin American Politics (or LTAM 3144) (3)
POLS 3152 International Organization (3)
RELS 2131 Islam (3)
WGST 2123 Women in Cross-Cultural Perspective (or ANTH 2123) (3)
WGST 2170 Gender and Globalization (3)
WGST 4120 Women’s Studies International (3)
Comparative Studies: Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights
Required: INTL 2100 Introduction Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies (or HGHR 2100) (3)
INTL 3137 International Human Rights (or POLS 3137) (3)
INTL 3172 Political Repression and Rebellion in the Contemporary World (or HIST 3172) (3)
INTL 3171 Comparative Genocide (or HIST 3171) (3)
INTL 3120 Women’s Studies International (or WGST 4120) (3)
INTL 3000 Topics in International Studies (3) (If designated for concentration)
HGHR 3050 Topics in Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights (3)
AFRS 3220 The Caribbean from Slavery to Independence (3)
AFRS 3230 Poverty and Discrimination in the African Diaspora in the Modern Era
AFRS 3260 Slavery, Racism, and Colonialism in the African Diaspora (3)
AFRS 3278 Race in the History of Brazil (3)
GERM 3150 Holocaust through German Literature and Film (3)
HIST 2105 American Slavery and Emancipation (3)
HIST 3147 The Third Reich (3)
HIST 3148 The Holocaust (3)
HIST 3218 Racial Violence, Colonial Times to Present (3)
POLS 3162 International Law (3)
RELS 3230 Race, Religion, and Murder (3)
Area Studies: Asia
Required: INTL 2201 Introduction to Asian Studies (or HIST 2201) (3)
HIST 3160 History of Modern China (3)
HIST 3162 Revolutionary Movements in Modern China (3)
HIST 3165 History of Modern Japan (3)
HIST 3169 Central Asia from 1800 to the Present (3)
JAPN 2209 Intro to Japanese Civilization and Culture (3)
JAPN 3130 Business and Culture in Japan (3)
JAPN 3140 Anime and Japanese Popular Culture (3)
JAPN 3160 Topics in Japanese Film (3)
POLS 3148 Chinese Politics (3)
POLS 3165 East Asia in World Affairs (3)
RELS 2102 Introduction to Asian Religions (3)
RELS 2154 Hinduism (3)
RELS 2157 South Asian Buddhism (3)
RELS 2166 Daoism (3)
RELS 2169 Mahãyãna Buddhism in East Asia (3)
RELS 3163 Religious Art and Architecture of India (3)
Area Studies: Europe
Required: INTL 2301 Introduction to European Studies (or HIST 1121) (3)
INTL 3162 Europe in the World (or GEOG 3162) (3)
FREN 2209 French Civilization (3)
FREN 3209 France Today (3)
GERM 3030 Studies in German Culture (3)
GERM 3160 German Film (3)
HIST 2001 Topics in European History (3)
HIST 2152 European Women’s History (3)
HIST 2251 Russian History from 1801 to 1917 (3)
HIST 2252 Russian History From 1917 to the Present (3)
HIST 2261 Britain Since 1688 (3)
HIST 2271 Modern France (3)
HIST 2281 Modern Germany (3)
HIST 3116 20th Century Europe 1914-Present (3)
HIST 3118 Eastern Europe After 1945 (3)
HIST 3140 Irish History (3)
HIST 3141 World War I (3)
HIST 3147 The Third Reich (3)
LACS 3160 European Cinema (3)
POLS 3141 European Politics (3)
POLS 3153 European Union (3)
RELS 2101 Introduction to Western Religions (3)
RUSS 3203 Russian Civilization and Culture (3)
SPAN 3209 Spanish Civilization and Culture (3)
Elective Coursework (At least 9 hours)
Students will complete 9 hours of International Studies electives consisting of three courses with an INTL prefix outside of the student’s concentration..
Seminar Requirement (3 hours)
INTL 4601 International Studies Seminar (3)
Foreign Language Requirement
Students are expected to demonstrate competency in a foreign language appropriate to the area studies
concentration they have selected by completing the equivalent of two courses at the 3000-level or above. Language courses at the 3000-level offered in English do not apply to the foreign language requirement.
International Experience Requirement
Students are required to complete an international experience related to the area studies concentration they have selected. This may be fulfilled through participation in a formal education abroad program or through foreign based work, service, or internship activities. This experience must be specified and approved by an advisor. Academic credits earned may be applied to the requirements of the major. A U.S.-based experience of an international nature or prior international experience may be considered in certain circumstances, subject to the approval of an advisor.
Second Majors
Students pursuing a second major may apply up to nine (9) hours of credit from courses in that major toward requirements for the major in International Studies. Exceptions may be approved by an advisor upon consultation with the other program in question. Without exception, courses that are used to fulfill the foreign language requirement for International Studies cannot be used to fulfill other requirements for the major.
2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog: Courses in International Studies (INTL)
INTL 1101. Introduction to International Studies. (3) An introductory, interdisciplinary survey of the field of international studies. Attention will focus on the economic, geo-political and socio-cultural issues affecting relationships in an increasingly interdependent global system. (Fall, Spring)
INTL 2100. Introduction to Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies. (3) Cross-listed as HGHR 2100. This course examines the Nazi Holocaust and its origins in Western thought and practice. It also analyzes the psychological, cultural, and political roots of other genocides and forms of mass violence. It explores modern concepts of human rights and the role of human rights activism. (Yearly)
INTL 2101. Introduction to African Studies. (3) Cross-listed as HIST 2211/AFRS 2221. A survey of major developments in 19th and 20th century Sub-Saharan Africa, with emphasis on the European conquest, the colonial period, and the triumph of modern African nationalism. (Fall)
INTL 2121. Introduction to Development Studies. (3) Cross-listed as GEOG 2121. This course reviews the history of development as a discourse and the different economic and political models that have shaped it. Historical models and contexts of development are addressed in order to understand the evolution of development practice. Different agents and institutional architectures of development are examined as are current issues of debate in global development such as: gender and microloans; climate change politics; and the impacts of migration. (Yearly)
INTL 2131. Introduction to Peace, Conflict, and Identity Studies. (3) Cross-listed as ANTH 2131. This course asks what identity is and why it matters in people’s lives. It will offer a cross-cultural examination of the role of different forms of identity including race, ethnicity, gender, nationalism, and class in causing and resolving conflicts. Case studies from different parts of the world will be explored. (Yearly)
INTL 2201. Introduction to Asian Studies. (3) Cross-listed as HIST 2201. Focus on the rise of modern Asia from the period just prior to the armed intervention of Western European nations. Emphasis will be placed on the impact of imperialism, colonialism, and the rise of Asian nationalism on Asian societies. (Spring)
INTL 2301. Introduction to European Studies. (3) Cross-listed as HIST 1121. European history from the Age of Absolutism to the present. (Fall, Spring, Summer) (Evenings)
INTL 2401. Introduction to Latin American Studies. (3) Cross-listed as HIST 2207. A survey of Latin American history from 1826 to the present with emphasis on the economy and society. Special attention to twentieth-century revolutions and the role of the United States in Latin America. (Spring)
INTL 3000. Topics in International Studies. (1-3) Analysis of a selected topic related to international studies. The particular topic of the course may vary from semester to semester. A student may repeat the course for credit as topics vary. (On demand)
INTL 3111. Politics and Culture in Literature. (3) (W) An exploration of different types of political systems across the world and the ways in which the cultures and values of those systems are reflected in literature. The relationship between politics and literature will be examined with particular reference to such topics as human rights, gender roles and war. The political systems selected for consideration will be representative of different geographic regions and philosophies. (Yearly)
INTL 3112. Globalization and Culture. (3) Cross-listed as ANTH 3112. Explores the relationship between processes of globalization and cultural change. It will consider the breakdown of the connection between lived cultural experience and territorial location. Of special interest will be issues of cultural homogenization, cultural hybridization and emergent cultural identities brought about by the flows of people, ideas and objects in the contemporary world. (Yearly)
INTL 3115. Globalization and Digital Media. (3) Cross-listed as COMM 3126. An analysis of the role and impact of digital media on globalization. Considers how the internet and social networks have changed our connection from a physical global society to a virtual culture and explores the ways in which digital communication has fostered the globalization of artistic styles, cultural forms, political relationships and economic transactions. (Yearly)
INTL 3116. Cultures and Conflicts. (3) Cross-listed as ANTH 3116. This course will consider historical ties, geographical inter-connections and economic relationships that underlie contemporary issues involving culture and conflict. It will discuss issues of race, class, gender, religion, nationality and citizenship among variously situated population groups and the complicated issues that arise both in the international arena and inside today's multicultural societies. (Yearly)
INTL 3117. Narratives and Conflicts. (3) Cross-listed as ANTH 3117. In conflict situations, competing interpretations of the past can become part of the struggle itself as each side vies for recognition of its version of events. This course focuses on the role these stories play in the historical development of conflicts and the effects they have on efforts to resolve them. It will focus initially on the role of narratives in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Students will also have the opportunity to explore other cases, including Northern Ireland, Bosnia and South Africa. (Yearly)
INTL 3120. Women’s Studies International. (3) Cross-listed as WGST 4120. Explores policies affecting women’s lives across international borders and looks at a range of topics from divorce, marriage, violence against women and abortion to work and poverty. (Fall)
INTL 3125. Food and Globalization. (3) Cross-listed as ANTH 3125. This course explores the relationship of the modern food system to larger complex economic, political, and cultural processes. It considers how increasing global interaction and interdependence has transformed how we grow, distribute, and consume food. Specific topics include the development of the agro-industrial complex; the formation of new food preferences, eating practices, and taste publics; and, the emergence of alternative fair trade, organic, local, and slow food movements. (Yearly)
INTL 3127. Global Media. (3) Cross-listed as COMM 3127. Examines the theories and practices of globalization as related to mediated communication and the operation of global media, its consumption and impact. Specific issues studied include global media conglomeration, global media law, media systems, and international development. (Annually)
INTL 3131. Diplomacy in a Changing World. (3) Cross-listed as POLS 3159. Diplomacy, a means to resolve disputes between sovereign states short of war, will be analyzed through case studies drawn from historical context and through a survey of contemporary crises. The American diplomatic process will also be reviewed with particular attention to how policy is shaped, how an embassy functions and how Americans train for the professional diplomatic service.
INTL 3135. Origins of Globalization. (3) Cross-listed as ANTH 3135. An analysis of European colonial expansion from the 16th through the 19th centuries, emphasizing the creation of the first global systems of political, economic, and cultural interaction that form the foundation of modern globalization. Using a cross-cultural approach, the course explores the competition and conflict among the great powers and the effects of conquest and colonialism on the indigenous peoples of Africa, Asia and the Americas. (Yearly)
INTL 3136. Globalization and Resistance. (3) Cross-listed as ANTH 3136. A cross-cultural analysis of changing patterns of resistance by indigenous peoples to the political, cultural and economic effects of globalization from the colonial period to the present. Using case studies from the Americas, Africa and Asia, the course examines a variety of indigenous resistance strategies and movements and the socio-political dynamics that have driven them and impacted on their effectiveness.
INTL 3137. International Human Rights. (3) Cross-listed as POLS 3137. Introduces students to the historical foundations and current practices of the international human rights regime. Discussions center primarily on three topics: 1) the conceptual and historical origins of the international regime designed to protect human rights, 2) patterns of and explanations for human rights violations over time and space, and 3) potential international and domestic solutions to protect human rights. During the discussion of these topics, students learn about contemporary issues in human rights, as well as how theory applies to current events and individual cases.
INTL 3151. International Political Economy. (3) Cross-listed as POLS 3151. An analysis of the political dynamics of economic relationships among countries. Attention is focused on the political aspects of monetary, trade and investment relationships, and the difficulties involved in coordinating policy and maintaining effective international management.
INTL 3161. Migration and Borders in a Global World. (3) Cross-listed as GEOG 3161. Even as globalization promises a world of increasing flows, borders -and their most visible manifestation as fences - are on the rise. This course focuses on the dynamics of diversifying flows of people with the multiplication of borders within and beyond countries. It will explore key policy debates such as: the relationship between migration and development; increased demand for migrant workers; the upswing in migrant detention and deportation; and the Right to Freedom of Movement. (Yearly)
INTL 3162. Europe in the World. (3) Cross-listed as GEOG 3162. This course focuses on the shifting political, economic and cultural geographies of Europe. It addresses how current transformations in Europe influence global processes and how broader global trends translate into European societies. The expansion and consolidation of the European Union; a ‘borderless’ Europe versus ‘Fortress Europe’; post-socialism and post-fascism in Central and Southern Europe; economic globalization; and post-colonial immigration are among the topics covered. (Yearly)
INTL 3171. Comparative Genocide (3). Cross-listed as HIST 3171. The term “genocide” is often used imprecisely in popular and political discourse. Through examinations of several case studies – the Armenian genocide, the Holocaust, and post-war genocides in Cambodia, Guatemala, and Rwanda, among others - this course explores the roots and the psychological, cultural, and political impacts of genocide and other forms of mass violence. (Yearly)
INTL 3172. Political Repression and Rebellion in the Contemporary World. (3) Cross-listed as HIST 3172. Modern history has given rise to various forms of repression, but no system has succeeded in extinguishing the desire for greater freedom. This course examines scholarly and popular conceptions of rebellion and other forms of collective defiance. Through the use of memoirs, contemporary accounts, and other texts, it analyzes a variety of case studies of resistance from across the world. (Yearly)
INTL 3400. International Studies Internship. (1-3) Prerequisite: Permission of the director. Practical experience and/or training related to the field of international studies. A minimum of 45 hours per credit. (Fall, Spring)
INTL 3800. Independent Study. (1-3) Prerequisite: Permission of the director. Supervised investigation of an issue related to the field of international studies that is of special interest to the student and that is not covered in existing or available courses.(Fall, Spring)
INTL 4601. International Studies Seminar. (3) (O, W) Prerequisite: advanced junior or senior class status. A capstone seminar involving in-depth research and analysis of topics of common interest to all majors, yet specific to each student's area studies concentration. (Fall, Spring)