International Studies Program Requirements for 2024-2025

B.A. in International Studies

All courses which may be applied to the ISPR major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.

Requirements

Core Courses – 15 credits

  • ISPR 100D – P3 Introduction to International Studies (3)
  • Choose FOUR from the following:
    • ANTH 209 – World Cultures (3)
    • ECON 105C – P3 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
    • HIST 102D – P3 Europe and the World Since 1815 (3)
    • POSC 218 – P3 International Relations (3)
    • REST 152D – CC World Religions (3)

Electives – 15 credits

  • Two concentration courses from Functional Studies (see below)
  • Two concentration courses from Area Studies (see below)
  • One additional concentration course from either Functional or Area Studies

Additional Courses – 6 credits

  • ISPR 498 – Senior Thesis (3)
  • Modern Language 211 or higher (3) The choice of language may necessitate additional competency prerequisites.
  • One semester in a study–abroad program The course ITDY 250 – Short-term Study Abroad, may substitute for the semester abroad requirement with the approval of the ISPR program director.

Total: 36 credits

Note: Seniors who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 may apply to become honors majors. If accepted, ISPR 498H – Honors in International Studies is taken in place of ISPR 498.

Senior Thesis

ISPR seniors develop a senior project, which enables them to pursue individual research as well as to synthesize the various components selected for the concentrations. Seniors identify project advisors (typically a professor from the student's area of concentration). After consultation with this faculty member, students compose a one- to three-page thesis proposal that is mutually satisfactory and approved by the director (who will also serve as a reader for the paper) and then complete a substantial research paper. At the conclusion of the senior-thesis semester, every senior will make an oral presentation and defense of the project before faculty readers and interested members of the University community.

Study Abroad Requirement

ISPR majors who enter the University as freshmen and declare international studies as a major before the first semester of the junior year are required to spend at least one semester during the junior year studying abroad. In exceptional cases, a student may request that this requirement be waived. To do so, a written petition outlining the justification for the waiver must be submitted to and approved by the director of the international studies program prior to the start of the junior year. Transfer students, students for whom English is not the native language, or students who declare international studies as a major after their first-semester junior year may request a waiver from the program director.

Choosing a Minor

ISPR majors should discuss their choice of a minor with the program director. Students who might pursue careers in the corporate world are encouraged to consider combining their ISPR major with a management minor. This course of study, which blends the strengths of an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree with the vocational and pre-professional skills of management, creates a very appealing course of study both for students and potential employers.

Concentration Courses

International studies majors are required to take two courses from each of the following categories: functional studies and area studies, and a fifth course from either area. Students may substitute courses successfully completed as part of the study abroad experience for part of the lists below with the written permission of the director.

Functional Studies

  • ANTH 226 – P2 Anthropology of Law (3)
  • ECON 207C – Current Economic Issues (3)
  • ECON 315C – Comparative Economic Systems (3)
  • ECON 316 – Economics of Development (3)
  • ECON 340C – International Economics (3)
  • FINA 413 – International Banking and Finance (3)
  • HIST 300 – Modern World: Geography and Politics (3)
  • HIST 445 – Diplomatic History of Modern Europe (3)
  • ISPR 204 – P3 Contemporary Global Issues (3)
  • ISPR 270D – CC Global Gender Studies (3)
  • MGMT 312 – International Business Management (3)
  • MKTG 414 – International Marketing (3)
  • POSC 112C – P3 World Politics (3)
  • POSC 208D – CC Introduction to Comparative Politics (3)
  • POSC 211 – Introduction to Public Policy (3)
  • POSC 245 – CC Russian Politics Today (3)
  • POSC 280 – P3 Terrorism and Politics (3)
  • POSC 350 – International Security (3)
  • POSC 399 – Advanced Topics in Political Science (3)*
  • PSJS 260P – P5 Global Issues in Peace & Social Justice Studies (3)
  • PSJS 270 – CC Ethics and World Ecology (3)
  • SOCI 220 – CC Groups and Diversity (3)
  • SPST 265 – P5 International Cultures and Sport (3)
  • SPST 365D – CC International Sport (3)

*When topic is appropriate and approved by program director.

Area Studies

  • ANTH 106D – P5 Cross-Cultural Interaction (3)
  • HIST 116D – P2 Asian Religions (3)
  • HIST 170D – WWII in the Pacific (3)
  • HIST 234 – China and the New Global Economy (3)
  • HIST 260D – American Diplomatic History (3)
  • HIST 291D – P3 Japan Since 1800 (3)
  • HIST 292D – P3 China Since 1800 (3)
  • HIST 303 – P1 Indian History Through Film (3)
  • ISPR 205 – CC Contemporary Ireland (3)
  • ISPR 210 – Cultural Identity: Southeast Asia (3)
  • ISPR 212 – CC Introduction to Contemporary Africa (3)
  • ISPR 220 – CC Latin America in Global Context (3)
  • LSPN 230P – P1 Hispanic/Latino Film and Literature (3)
  • POSC 232 – Politics of Developing Nations (3)
  • POSC 235D – P5 European Politics (3)
  • POSC 240 – CC Middle East Politics (3)
  • POSC 335 – Politics of the European Union (3)
  • REST 179C – P2 Intro to Islam (3)

Minor in International Studies

A grade point average of 2.00 is required for all courses taken in residence that may be applied to the minor.

Requirements

  • ISPR 100D – P3 Introduction to International Studies (3)
  • Choose THREE courses:
    • ANTH 209 - World Cultures (3)
    • ECON 105C – P3 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
    • HIST 102D – P3 Europe and the World Since 1815 (3)
    • POSC 218 – P3 International Relations (3)
    • REST 152D – CC World Religions (3)
    • Modern Language 211 or higher (3)*
  • TWO courses from the Functional or Area Studies categories (6)

Total: 18 credits

*The choice of language may necessitate additional competency prerequisites.

Note: No more than two courses which are satisfying a student’s major requirements may also be applied to a student's ISPR minor.

Note: The program requirements listed are for the current academic year. Past and future program requirements may differ.