International Studies Major

The International Studies major is 36 credit hours and is intended to foster a specifically international orientation. It is primarily designed to acquaint students with the history, culture, institutions and political process in countries and regions outside of the United States. The program is organized to provide a foundation for understanding global issues within an international context and to enable students to concentrate in a region of particular interest. The major includes three components: an international studies core of general requirements, an international studies context drawn from the humanities and social sciences, and a regional area focus. In addition, the major requires students to demonstrate competence in a foreign language. The major is particularly useful for students who plan to live abroad or who seek careers in business, government, teaching and journalism. Majors are encouraged to consider study abroad programs; program faculty will assist students in planning such experiences.

Admission

For admission as an International Studies major, a student must have completed at least six (6) credit hours in the intended major with a grade-point average of 2.5. The student must also have an overall grade-point average of 2.5. Interested students should apply for admission to the division director. Once admitted, students will be assigned an advisor with whom they should consult each semester about their course of study. Majors and minors must earn a grade of C or better in all major courses, all general education courses and all professional education courses. Courses in which a student earns a grade of D will not count toward the fulfillment of program requirements except by written permission from the division director.

Requirements

Core (18 credit hours)

*NOTE: Nine (9) credit hours count towards University General Education requirements in history and social sciences.

• ANTH 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
• HIST 101: World History to 1500
• HIST 102: World History Since 1500
• POLSC 102: World Politics
• SOCSC 101: World Geography
• TBD Senior Seminar in relevant discipline

International Context (9 credit hours)

Choose three courses, at least one drawn from each of the two areas below:

Global Politics and Economics

• ANTH 245: Third World in a Global Context
• ANTH/SOC 309: Gender and Globalization
• MGMT 340: International Business
• FINC 330: International Finance
• CJ 318: Globalization and Crime
• POLSC 211: International Organization
• POLSC 213: National Security Policy
• POLSC 228: Politics of Developing Areas
• POLSC 324: Contemporary Democracy
• POLSC 334: War, Peace and Alliances
• POLSC 336: Global Money and Power
• SOC 275: Women, Change and Society

Cultural Encounters

• ANTH 214: Language, Culture and Society
• ANTH 235: Sex, Culture and Society
• ENGL 155: Introduction to Literature: Global
• ENGL 205: World Literature to 1500
• ENGL 206: World Literature Since1500
• ENGL 330: Folklore
• ENGL 349: Studies in World Literature
• HIST 364: Environmental History
• MUS 150: Special Topics: World Music Cultures
• MUS 217: Perspectives on non-Western Music
• RELST 252: Third World Religious Views
• RELST 240: The Religious Other
• SPAN 312: Literary Response to Armed Conflict

Area Specialization (9 credit hours)

*Choose three courses from one regional area listed below

Additional courses may be offered as special topics courses; consult an advisor.

Africa

• ENGL 333: Modern African Literature
• HIST 242: History of Africa
• HIST 351: Colonial Legacy in Africa
• POLSC 227: African Politics

Asia

• ENGL 236: Chinese Literature280
• ENGL 239: Japanese Literature
• HIST 244: History of East Asia
• HIST 245: History of Modern Japan
• PHIL 280: Chinese Philosophy
• RELST 241: Hindu Tradition
• RELST 242: Buddhist Tradition
• RELST 244: East Asian Religious Traditions

Europe

• ART 222: Art of the Renaissance through the Enlightenment
• ART 223: Modern and Contemporary Art
• HIST 208: Modern Europe, 1789-Present
• HIST 211: Women in Modern European History
• HIST 213: History of Modern Germany
• HIST 215: History of Modern Russia
• HIST 251: Topics in European History
• HIST 321: Old Regime and French Revolution
• FRNCH 231: Introduction to French Culture and Civilization
• MUS 330: Music History 1: Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque
• MUS 331: Music History 2: Classical, Romantic, Modern
• POLSC 220: European Politics
• POLSH 261: Introduction to Polish Culture and Civilization
• POLSH 263: Introduction to Polish Literature
• SPAN 307: Golden Age of Poetry
• SPAN 314: Realism at the Turn of the Century
• SPAN 319: Cervantes' Don Quijote

Latin America

• ANTH 250: Modern Latin America
• ART 244: Latin American Cinema
• ART 245: Latin American Visual Culture
• HIST 234: Colonial Latin American
• HIST 240: Latin American History
• HIST 247: History of Mexico
• LS 101: Introduction to Latino Studies
• POLSC 225: Latin American Politics
• SPAN 217: Women in Mexican Culture
• SPAN 231-232: Introduction to Hispanic Culture and Civilization
• SPAN 312: Literary Responses to Armed Conflicts of the 20th Century
• SPAN 315: Imaginary Caribbean: Literature of Cuba and Puerto Rico
• SPAN 316: Latin American Responses to Colonization
• SPAN 317: Narrative and Spectacle of the Mexican Revolution
• SPAN 391-392: Selected Topics in Hispanic Cultures and Civilization

Middle East

• ANTH 265: People and Cultures of the Middle East
• ENGL 233: Middle Eastern Literature
• HIST 243: History of the Middle East
• MES 260: Topics in Middle Eastern Studies
• MES 265: Middle East Cultures
• MES 360: Topics in Middle Eastern Studies
• POLSC 230: Regional Politics: Middle East Politics
• RELST 247: The Jewish Tradition
• RELST 249: The Islamic Tradition

Explanations and Recommendations

1. Proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to four semesters of college study is required. This can be fulfilled either through examination, or by taking 12 credit hours of a foreign language.
2. Courses taken to fulfill various components of the major and the language requirement also fulfill the University General Education requirements wherever applicable, such as history, social sciences and global studies.
3. Students are required to meet all pre-requisites for the senior seminar in which they enroll and should consult their advisor early in their program to plan accordingly.
4. Majors are strongly encouraged to spend at least a semester in a study abroad program. Every effort will be made to ensure that hours taken at a foreign university transfer back to Saint Xavier University.