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International Studies Curriculum
Major
CORE POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES (2)
POSC 170: International Relations
POSC 280: American Foreign Policy
CORE ECONOMICS COURSES (3)
ECON 111: Introduction to Microeconomics
ECON 112: Introduction to Macroeconomics
INBM 200 Global Economy; or
ECON 248 World Economy (in Bologna); or
ECON 348 International Economics
CORE HISTORY COURSE (1)
One course in diplomatic history. The following diplomatic history courses would satisfy this requirement: HIST 358, HIST 382 or HIST 315 (when the topic is World Diplomatic History). Alternatively, the student may take a history course which emphasizes diplomacy, such as US-Latin American Relations (HIST 283); US Relations with Japan (HIST 315) or The Cold War (HIST 315).
COURSES IN THE TARGET LANGUAGE (2)
2 courses in foreign language beyond the intermediate level. American Sign Language cannot be used to fulfill the foreign language requirement for the International Studies curriculum.
GENERAL ELECTIVES (4)
Four courses from one of three areas of concentration:
1) Country or region of specialization: four electives
2) Globalization and Sustainability: four electives
3) Security Studies: POSC 281 and three electives
A list of courses will be posted regularly and updated on the International Studies webpage. The four electives must come from at least two departments.
Note: International Studies majors pursuing the concentration in Security Studies are not eligible for a certificate in Security Studies.
CAPSTONE COURSES (2)
401: Senior Seminar
404: Integrated Study culminating in the International Studies Oral Exam
SENIOR ORAL EXAMINATION
One especially challenging part of the major is the comprehensive oral examination at the end of the senior year. The exam lasts one hour, and involves questions relating to all four components of the International Studies Program.
Suggested Four-Year Program
First Year: POSC 170; ECON 111 and 112; foreign language
Second Year: POSC 280; INBM 200 or required Diplomatic History; elective in area of concentration; foreign language
Third Year: complete INST language requirements; complete electives in area of concentration; complete INST core requirements
Fourth Year: 401 and 404; complete any remaining major requirements
Honors in the Major
A student will be awarded Honors if the student has a 3.50 average overall and in the major, an A or A- in International Studies 401, and Honors in the oral examination.
Opportunities for Off-Campus Studies
Though not required, study abroad is very strongly encouraged, and most majors spend at least a semester abroad. Choice of study abroad program should be selected in consultation with your major advisor.
Courses
170 International Relations
An introduction to global politics which examines the interaction of states, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in the world arena. Topics covered include traditional concerns such as war, balance of power, the UN and international law along with the more recent additions to the agenda of world politics such as international terrorism, human rights, and economic globalization.
This course is cross-listed as POSC 170.
200 Global Economy
Concentration upon strategies pursued by nation states in their interaction with international business enterprises and nongovernmental organizations. Students will work from an interdisciplinary perspective, with case studies of episodes in U.S. economic history and of selected countries from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. To facilitate their analysis, students will study concepts drawn from trade theory, commercial and industrial policy, balance of payments accounting, exchange rate determination, and open-economy macroeconomics. As such, the course will draw heavily from the introductory economics courses. This approach will help develop an appreciation for the complex environment in which both political leaders and corporate managers operate.
Prerequisite: ECON 111 and 112; concurrent enrollment in ECON 112 by permission of the instructor. This course is cross-listed as INBM 200. This course fulfills the QR graduation requirement.
260 History of International Relations
This course is designed to give students an opportunity to apply theories of international relations to major events and issues in world history. Concepts such as balance of power, appeasement and imperialism will be studied against the backdrop of world historical events such as the Congress of Vienna, World War II, and the Algerian War.
Prerequisite: 170 or POSC 170.
270 European Union
The European Union (EU) remains a work-in-progress, and this course will help students to contextualize the EU's development since the mid-1950s, understand the way that it currently functions, and think about how it is likely to evolve in the future. Substantively, the course covers the theory and history of European integration; the EU's unusual (and evolving) institutional structure and political processes; the major policy areas of the EU; and the power dynamics between the EU and its member states.
This course is cross-listed as POSC 270. This course fulfills the DIV II social sciences distribution requirement.
271 Ethics and International Security
A course in applied ethics that examines the role ethical considerations both do and should play in the pursuit of national and international security objectives. Among the specific topics to be examined are the decision to go to war, rules governing how wars are fought, the ethics of weapons of mass destruction, the ethics of terrorism, the torture debate, economic sanctions, and humanitarian intervention.
Prerequisite: POSC 170, or permission of the instructor. This course is cross-listed as POSC 271.
273 International Political Economy
This course examines the politics of global economic relations. Specific topics discussed include: trade and protectionism, international monetary relations, foreign direct investment, global institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and World Trade Organization (WTO), regional economic integration (e.g., the European Union [EU] and North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA]), economic development, and the economic emergence of China and India. The larger issue serving as the backdrop to all of this is economic globalization-- its significance, sources, and consequences.
Prerequisite: POSC 170, or permission of the instructor. This course is cross-listed as POSC 273.
277 International Politics of the Middle East
This course examines key factors and events in the formation of the modern Middle East state system and evolving patterns of conflict and cooperation in the region. Students will apply a range of analytical approaches to issues such as the conflicts between Arabs and Israelis, Iraq's wars since 1980, and the changing place of the region in global politics and economics.
This course is cross-listed as POSC 277 and MEST 266. This course fulfills the DIV II social sciences distribution requirement and Comparative Civilizations graduation requirement.
280 American Foreign Policy
A survey of U.S. foreign policy. American approaches to such issues as containment, detente, arms control, deterrence, international law, and third world economic development will be discussed. Students will also address issues of U.S. foreign policy formulation, including the roles of the public, Congress, and the president in the foreign policy process.
Prerequisite: 170 or POSC 170. This course is cross-listed as POSC 280.
281 American National Security Policy
Analysis of formulation and implementation of American national security policy within the context of American society and the international system. National security will not be considered simply in a military/strategic sense but as connoting the preservation of the core values of a society.
Prerequisite: 170 or POSC 170 or POSC 120. This course is cross-listed as POSC 281.
282 Diplomatic History of the United States
Description and analysis of the nation's role in world affairs, from the earliest definitions of a national interest in the 18th century, through continental expansion, acquisition of empire, and world power, to the Cold War.
This course is cross-listed as HIST 282.
390 Topics in International Studies
Various topics of interest will be taught on an occasional basis.
Prerequisite dependent upon topic.
401 Interdisciplinary Seminar Research
Integrated the various disciplines in the major, normally involving the student's geographic area.
404 Integrated Study
The purpose of the course is to help students review and integrate the diverse components of the International Studies major.
Prerequisites: senior standing in the INST major and prior completion of 401.