The Bachelor of Arts in International Studies is an interdisciplinary degree program designed to provide a rigorous introduction to the complex interrelationships that exist among societies in the modern world. It combines the study of international relations, global and development issues and contemporary belief systems with a concentration on a major world area. In addition, the degree aims to equip students with the skills in language, analytical thinking, research, and economic literacy that are necessary for graduate study and careers in international fields. Further, students in the International Studies program receive direct exposure to an international environment by participating in a foreign study program or an internationally related internship in this country. Because it is interdisciplinary, this program emphasizes the ways in which the expertise and methodologies of various disciplines contribute to the understanding and resolution of international issues.
The program provides a broad understanding of international issues and world cultures through exposure to the various methodologies of the social sciences and liberal arts. It offers pre-professional study for careers in government, communications, business, law, journalism, and international non-government organizations. Students are encouraged to combine a major in International Studies with a second major or minor in a field appropriate to their career plans.
All International Studies majors are required to develop a program of study in consultation with the program advisor. This program should be balanced among the participating disciplines in order to help the student develop a coherent emphasis in a world region and/or a topical area. Majors should choose their foreign language, foreign study or internship experience, and senior seminar research project to reflect this emphasis. The program director also advises about post-graduate study.
Requirements
A minimum of 45 units in a program approved by the International Studies advisor.
Requirements not included in major
Economic Literacy (units not included in total for major; may be fulfilled as part of General Education): ECON 100 and 101. Or, with prior permission of the International Studies Advisor, ECON 300 may be substituted for ECON 100 and 101.
Foreign Language: Three years of college level study or equivalent proficiency in a language appropriate to the program of study and geographic area concentration selected.
Major Requirements
Area Concentration
Choose 9 units from one of the following six areas:
The Minor in International Studies consists of a minimum of 21 units at least 15 which must be upper division courses, together with at least two years of college level of study (or equivalent proficiency) in a language (other than English) relevant to the student’s program of study in International Studies.
Requirements
Economic Literacy: Three units selected from ECON 100, 101, or with the consent of the International Studies advisor, upper division students may take ECON 300. (Units earned in satisfaction of this requirement may not be counted as part of the unit requirement in the minor.)
Lower Division: Three units of I/ST 200 and three units selected from ANTH 120, HIST 212, GEOG 100 or 160; POSC 215 or 220.
Upper Division: Three units selected from the courses grouped under Cross Cultural Communications or from the courses grouped under Contemporary Belief Systems as those groups are defined for the Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies.
Either six units selected from the Courses grouped under Development Studies or six units selected from the courses grouped under Basics of International Relations as those groups are defined for the Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies.
Six units selected from one of the geographic Area Concentrations defined for the Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies.
