International Studies and Diplomacy Program

Curriculum

The ISD is a dual major program.  Students complete a degree in (1) a modern language and (2) international studies.

Language Degree Options

The language degree requires 30 credits. There are five languages available for ISD majors to choose from. More information and curriculum requirements for each language can be found below:

Students must achieve B2-level (CEFR) or Advanced-Low (ACTFL) language proficiency in the target language to graduate from the program. These are the minimum required language proficiency levels for graduate or professional work in that language.

International Studies Degree

The International Studies major requires 33 credits. This major is only open to students in the ISD program.

No more than 50% of credits can come from any one course code (i.e. PSC, ECN, HIS, APG, etc.) and students must take at least one approved 400-level course.

The International Studies major has three core areas:

  • International politics and international relations
  • International economics
  • History, culture, and society

International Relations Core (3 required courses)

  • Required Courses
    • PSC 116G – Introduction to International Politics
    • PSC 211 – Theories and Applications in World Politics
  • Choose at least one course from the following options:
    • PSC 300 – Challenge of Nuclear Arms
    • PSC 312 – Topics in Political Science*
    • PSC 320 – Comparative European Politics
    • PSC 321 – Politics and Problems of Israel
    • PSC 322 – Politics of the Middle East
    • PSC 325 – Political Corruption
    • PSC 350 – From Cold War to Cold Peace
    • PSC 360 – Human Rights
    • PSC 377 – Politics of China
    • PSC 408 – African Government & Politics
    • PSC 415 – Dynamics of Social Change in the Caribbean
    • PSC 416 – Russian Politics and Society
    • PSC 417 – Russian Foreign Policy
    • PSC 419 – Politics in Latin America
    • PSC 421G – Secularism and Islamism in the Modern World
    • PSC 422 – International Political Economy
    • PSC 431 – International Relations
    • PSC 434 – American Foreign Policy
    • PSC 435 – Theories of International Conflict
    • PSC 482 – Political Science Seminar*
    • PSC 492 – Controversies in Political Science

*Course topic must be approved by the ISD Director

International Economics Core (4 required courses)

  • Required Courses
    • ECN 201 – Principles of Economics: Microeconomics
    • ECN 202 – Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics
    • ECN 358 – Globalization and National Economies (online)
      • This course is taken during the student’s study abroad semester.
  • Choose at least one course from the following options:
    • ECN 338 – International Economics
    • ECN 344 – Political Economy of Global Finance
    • ECN 363 – Economic Growth and Development

History, Culture, and Society Core (1 required course)

  • Required Course
    • APG 203 – Cultural Anthropology

Electives

  • Choose at least two additional courses from the following options (400-level courses are in bold):
    • PSC 300 – Challenge of Nuclear Arms
    • PSC 312 – Topics in Political Science*
    • PSC 320 – Comparative European Politics
    • PSC 321 – Politics and Problems of Israel
    • PSC 322 – Politics of the Middle East
    • PSC 325 – Political Corruption
    • PSC 350 – From Cold War to Cold Peace
    • PSC 360 – Human Rights
    • PSC 377 – Politics of China
    • PSC 408 – African Government & Politics
    • PSC/ECN/AAF 415 – Dynamics of Social Change in the Caribbean
    • PSC 416 – Russian Politics and Society
    • PSC 417 – Russian Foreign Policy
    • PSC/RLS 421G – Secularism and Islamism in the Modern World
    • PSC 422 – International Political Economy
    • PSC 431 – International Relations
    • PSC 434 – American Foreign Policy
    • PSC 435 – Theories of International Conflict
    • PSC 482 – Political Science Seminar*
    • PSC 492 – Controversies in Political Science
    • ECN 305 – Competing Traditions in Economics
    • ECN 306 – Introduction to Economic Research Methods
    • ECN 338 – International Economics
    • ECN/PSC 344 – Political Economy of Global Finance
    • ECN 363 – Economic Growth and Development
    • ECN 381 – Radical Critiques of Contemporary Political Economy
    • ECN 390 – Topics in Economics*
    • ECN 445 – Senior Research Seminar
    • HIS 311 – History of Europe Since 1914
    • HIS 333 – Russia Since 1900
    • HIS 353G – The Cold War: History and Current Implications
    • HIS 354 – U.S. and the World, 1890-Present
    • HIS 373 – Environmental Injustice
    • HIS 374 – History of Modern China
    • HIS 375 – History of Modern Japan
    • HIS 379 – The Jews of Islamic Lands
    • HIS 382 – History of Modern Latin America
    • HIS 385 – Revolution and Unrest in Central America and the Caribbean
    • HIS 388 – History of Sub-Saharan Africa
    • AAF/PSC 410 – Issues in African Development
    • APG 200 – Language and Culture
    • APG 315 – Cultures and Societies in Latin America
    • APG 329 -Contemporary Mexican Society
    • APG/SOC 415 – Migration in the Americas
    • APG 465 – Seminar in Cultural Heritage
    • COM 361 – Intercultural Communication
    • FLM 451 – Advanced Topics in International Film Media
    • GWS 401 – Human Trafficking and Contemporary Slavery
    • GWS 430 – Women and Human Rights Policy
    • LAN 220 – Understanding Languages in Cultural Context
    • RLS/PSC 221- Islam and Its Civilization

*Course topic must be approved by the ISD Director

Other Program Requirements

  • Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.5 or above
  • Students must achieve a minimum language proficiency at the Intermediate high (B1.2) level or above upon return from study abroad
  • Students must achieve a minimum language proficiency at the Advanced low (B2) level or above to complete the ISD program.

Five-Year Program (B.A./M.A.)

Students interested in earning a Masters in International Relations using the Five-Year program option may apply to enroll in the second semester of their junior (3rd) year.  To be eligible for this program, students maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or above and a GPA of 3.3 or above in the International Studies major.  Currently, the Five-Year option will require students to take 132 total credits as undergraduate to finish the M.A. degree in 1 year upon completion of the B.A. degree.  Therefore, we strongly recommend that you meet with Professor Marc Hutchison for advising prior to applying to the program.