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