Program Requirements

Requirements for the International Studies Major

Core courses (15)
ISPR 100D P3 Introduction to International Studies
Choose four: ANTH 203D P3 Studying World Cultures
ECON 105C P3 Principles of Microeconomics
HIST 102D P3 Europe and the World Since 1815
POSC 218 P3 International Relations
REST 152D CC World Religions
Elective courses: (15)
Two concentration courses from Functional Studies
Two concentration courses from Area Studies
One additional concentration course from either Functional or Area Studies
Additional courses (6-7)
ISPR 498 Senior Thesis
Modern Language 103D or higher* (3-4)
One semester in a study-abroad program
Total (36-37)

*The choice of language may necessitate additional competency prerequisites.

Note: Qualified students may substitute ISPR 498H Honors in International Studies for ISPR 498.

For students majoring in International Studies, all courses required for the major program and all electives which may be applied to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.

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 College community. 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.

Study Abroad Requirement

ISPR majors who enter the College 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 as part of the Foreign Study Program. 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 then approved by the Director of the International Studies program prior to the start of the junior year. Transfer students or 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 major, 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. Students may substitute courses successfully completed as part of the foreign study experience for part of the list below with the written permission of the director.

Functional Studies

ECON 207C Current Economic Issues
ECON 315C Comparative Economic Systems
ECON 316 Economics of Development
ECON 340C International Economics
ISPR 270D CC Global Gender Studies
MGMT 312 International Business Management
MKTG 414 International Marketing
POSC 208D CC Introduction to Comparative Politics
POSC 220 P3 Global Political Economy
POSC 250 P3 International Security
POSC 280 P3 Terrorism and Politics
POSC 399 Advanced Topics in Political Science*
SPST 365D CC International Sport

*When topic is appropriate and approved by program director.

Area Studies

ANTH 207D P3 Peoples of Africa
ANTH 208D P3 Peoples of China
HIST 260D American Diplomatic History
HNRS 209 CC Understanding Contemporary Africa
ISPR 201D Understanding China
ISPR 210 Cultural Identity: Southeast Asia
LFRN 321 French Civilization Since 1789
LSPN 301 Latin American Literature and Civilization
LSPN 302 Spanish Literature and Civilization
LSPN 303D La Generación del 98
POSC 206 P3 United States Foreign Policy
POSC 232 Politics of Developing Nations
POSC 235D P5 European Politics
POSC 240 CC Middle East Politics

Program Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

Goal #1 Students will be able to think theoretically about the meaning of a changing world and the events that shape the world by exposing students to the major paradigm/theories of International Studies.

  • Understand fundamental concepts of political science as evidenced by defining the paradigms of international relations (e.g., Realist, Liberalist/Idealist, Marxist, Constructivist).
  • Understand the fundamental concepts of economics, as evidenced by being able to develop and comprehend key aggregative economic relationships that are central to the study of neoclassical open economy macroeconomics.
  • Understand fundamental concepts of history, as evidenced by describing and citing examples of revolution and counter-revolution, civil war, independence, nationalism, socialism, fascism, communism, imperialism, decolonization, cold war, welfare state and perestroika.
  • Understand fundamental concepts of anthropology as these pertain to understanding human cultures; especially modes of interpreting local cultural forms and how they change over time and how to conduct and cross-cultural comparisons with attention to grounded meanings.
  • Understand fundamental concepts of languages by communicating in one of several foreign languages; studying the literatures of one or several foreign literary traditions; and or by fostering an appreciation/respect for foreign cultures.
  • Understand fundamental concepts for the analysis of human cultures broadly understood; this includes primarily forms of expression of the human condition via the arts (literature, music) or the social sciences (Anthropology, Sociology).

Goal #2 Students will develop critical minds through exposure to rival theories/literature and contending perspectives of world and will engage in international and intercultural learning.

  • Analyze rival theories/literature and various perspectives of world politics.
  • Analyze rival theories/literature and various perspectives of international law.
  • Analyze rival theories/literature and various perspectives of international business.
  • Analyze rival theories/literature and various perspectives of political economy.
  • Analyze rival theories/literature and various perspectives of sociology.
  • Analyze rival theories/literature and various perspectives of cultural anthropology.
  • Analyze rival theories/literature and various perspectives of foreign languages.
  • Analyze rival theories/literature and various perspectives of cultures.

Goal #3 Students will be prepared to foster global citizenship and cosmopolitanism.

  • Have knowledge of global polities
  • Have knowledge of a variety of political institutions
  • Have knowledge of foreign languages and cultures
  • Study abroad

International Studies


For More Information

Admissions
(585) 385-8064
admissions@sjfc.edu