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, and a fifth course from either area. Students may substitute courses successfully completed as part of the foreign study experience for part of the lists below with the written permission of the director.
Functional Studies
| COMM 347 | P3 International Communications and Media |
| ECON 207C | Current Economic Issues |
| ECON 315C | Comparative Economic Systems |
| ECON 316 | Economics of Development |
| ECON 340C | International Economics |
| FINA 413 | International Banking and Finance |
| HIST 300 | Modern World: Geography and Politics |
| HIST 445 | Diplomatic History of Modern Europe |
| ISPR 270D | CC Global Gender Studies |
| MGMT 312 | International Business Management |
| MKTG 414 | International Marketing |
| POSC 208D | CC Introduction to Comparative Politics |
| POSC 112C | P3 World Politics |
| POSC 220 | P3 Global Political Economy |
| POSC 245 | CC Russian/Post-Soviet Politics |
| POSC 280 | P3 Terrorism and Politics |
| POSC 350 | International Security |
| POSC 399 | Advanced Topics in Political Science* |
| PSJS 260P | P5 Global Issues in Peace & Social Justice Studies |
| PSJS 270 | CC Ethics and World Ecology |
| SPST 265 | P5 International Cultures and Sport |
| SPST 365D | CC International Sport |
*When topic is appropriate and approved by program director.
Area Studies
| HIST 170D | WWII in the Pacific |
| HIST 234 | Rise of Asian Economies |
| HIST 260D | American Diplomatic History |
| HIST 291D | P3 Japan Since 1800 |
| HIST 292D | P3 China Since 1800 |
| HIST 303 | P1 Indian History Through Film |
| HIST 450 | Russian Foreign Relations |
| HNRS 209 | CC Understanding Contemporary Africa |
| ISPR 205 | CC Contemporary Ireland |
| ISPR 210 | Cultural Identity: Southeast Asia |
| ISPR 212 | CC Introduction to Contemporary Africa |
| ISPR 220 | CC Latin America in Global Context |
| LFRN 210D | CC French Culture and Civilization |
| 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 232 | Politics of Developing Nations |
| POSC 235D | P5 European Politics |
| POSC 240 | CC Middle East Politics |
| POSC 335 | Politics of the European Union |
| REST 116D | P2 Asian Religions |
| REST 179C | P2 Intro to Islam |