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International Studies Program

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2008 - 2009 Catalog

International Studies

Taylor 121
541-552-6281

Coordinator
John Richards

The international studies program is part of the Social Sciences, Policy, and Culture Department. International studies explores global events and the origins of contemporary conditions from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students develop critical thinking skills and a more sophisticated understanding of contemporary economic and political affairs grounded in a cultural, historical, and social context. A combination of academic and experiential learning is encouraged, especially participation in study abroad and international internships. Students select a regional emphasis that reflects their interests and provides a focus for applying theory and concepts. The program requirement of second-language skills further expands students’ worldviews and enriches their cultural understanding.

A major in international studies prepares students for creative work in an increasingly globalized world, including careers in government service, business, law, journalism, social services, and teaching. International studies also provides a broad foundation for graduate study in a variety of social science, interdisciplinary, and regional studies programs.

Majors must work closely with the program coordinator to develop language proficiencies, select courses to meet major requirements, and plan study abroad and internship experiences. Students should note that most upper division courses have prerequisites, and many are taught on a rotating schedule.

Degrees

BA or BS in International Studies

Minors

International Studies
Latin American Studies

Requirements for the Major

  1. Fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements as stated beginning on page 19.
  2. Maintain a 2.5 GPA in all courses taken for the major. Note: Coursework in the major is to be taken for a letter grade (not P/NP).
  3. Complete the required core courses in the international studies major, satisfy the language requirement, and complete the upper division requirements in International Political Economy, as well as Regional and Country Studies.

Required core courses20
Language0–36
International Political Economy courses16
Regional and Country Studies courses16
Total52 (plus language credits)

Note: Many upper division courses have disciplinary prerequisites. Students must carefully plan ahead to ensure they are able to meet them. Lower division prerequisites may include: ANTH 213; EC 201, 202; GEOG 107 or 206; ES 111, 112, or 210; HST 110, 111; PS 110; SOC 204. Upper division prerequisites may also be required for some courses.

Core Courses


(20 credits)

International Scene (IS 250) or Cultural Anthropology: Perspectives on Humanity (ANTH 213)4
Introduction to the International Economy (IS 320)4
World Politics (IS 350) or Global Issues in Politics, Population, Development, and the Environment (IS/GEOG 360)4
Capstone (IS 498)4
Research Methods*4


*The Research Methods requirement is met by successful completion of one of the following courses:

Introduction to Social Research Methods (SOC 326)4
Quantitative Data Analysis (SOC 327)4
Ethnographic Research Methods (ANTH 360)4
Exploratory Data Analysis (EC 232)4
Quantitative Research Methods (EC 332)4
Environmental Data Analysis (GEOG 386)4
Research Methods (PS 398)4

Language


(0–36 credits)

Students must demonstrate proficiency in a second language equivalent to at least three years of instruction at the college level. For students whose first language is English, competency is demonstrated in one of the following ways:

  1. Three years of on-campus foreign language study in a single language.
  2. Two years of on-campus foreign language study, plus a year of immersion in a related foreign culture in a study abroad program.
  3. One year of on-campus language study, plus a one-year study abroad program with an intensive language component in the chosen language.
  4. Successful completion of an examination administered by the SOU foreign languages and literatures program.

Entering majors whose native language is English must meet with a foreign language and literatures advisor to plan their foreign language curriculum. For students whose primary language is not English, demonstrated competency in English fulfills the language requirement. Required language credits vary depending on language proficiency at time of admission to the major.

Upper Division Requirements

Students are required to complete 16 upper division credits in International Political Economy and 16 upper division credits in Regional and Country Studies. No more than 12 credits may be taken in one disciplinary prefix overall in these two upper division categories and no more than 8 credits may be drawn from a single disciplinary prefix in each category (no more than 8 credits from a single disciplinary prefix in the International Political Economy component and no more than 8 credits from a single disciplinary prefix in the Regional and Country Studies component).

Note: Many upper division courses have disciplinary prerequisites. Students must carefully plan ahead to ensure that they are able to meet these prerequisites. Lower division prerequisites may include ANTH 213; EC 201, 202; GEOG 107; HST 110, 111, 112; PS 110; and SOC 204. Upper division prerequisites may also be required for some courses.

International Political Economy


(16 credits, no more than 8 credits in one disciplinary prefix)

Ritual and Religion (ANTH 332)4
Gender Issues (ANTH 340)4
Cultural Change (ANTH 450)4
Ecology of Small-Scale Societies (ANTH 451)4
Cultural Rights (ANTH 464)4
Ethnobotany and Cross-Cultural Communication (BI 384)3
International Marketing (BA 447)4
International Financial Management (BA 473)4
International Business (BA 477)4
International Communication (COMM 441)4
Topics in Communication: Culture, Identity, and Communication (COMM 460C)*4
Comparative Criminal Justice (CCJ 460)4
International Trade and Finance (EC 321)4
Economic Development (EC 379)4
Population, Development, and the Environment (GEOG 360)4
Twentieth-Century Revolutions (HST 372)4
War in the Modern World (HST 380)4
World War I (HST 472)4
Topics in World History (HST 490)4
Native American Topics: Historical (NAS 368)4
Native American Topics: Contemporary (NAS 468)4
The Politics of Mass Media (PS 310)4
Seminar (PS 407)*4
Global Culture and Media (SOC 333)4
Sociology of Globalization (SOC 345)4
Social Inequality (SOC 434)4
Social and Cultural Change (SOC 450)4
International Women’s Movements (WS 301)4

*Topics must be preapproved. Preapproved topics include Communication and Technology; Communication and Third-World Development; and Culture, Identity, and Communication. See the program coordinator for other topics.
**If course content applies. Instructor consent required.

Regional and Country Studies


(16 credits, no more than 8 credits in one disciplinary prefix)

American Culture (ANTH 310)4
Pacific Cultures (ANTH 317)4
Native North America (ANTH 318)4
Cultures of the World (ANTH 319)4
Special Studies: Anthropological Perspectives on the Native American Frontier (ANTH 334)4
America in the Global Economy (EC 389)4
French Culture, Composition, and Conversation (FR 314, 315, 316)4
Topics in French Literature (FR 426)4
Noncontinental Francophone Literature (FR 427)4
Topics in French Culture (FR 428)4
German Culture, Conversation, and Composition (GL 301, 302, 303)4
Topics in Contemporary Hispanic Literature and Society (SPAN 425)4
Topics in Hispanic Culture (SPAN 441)4
Class, Culture, and Feminism in Victorian and Edwardian England (ENG 341)4
Topics in World Literature (ENG 455)4
American Multicultural Literature (ENG 454)4
Postcolonial Literature and Theory (ENG 457)4
Geography of Latin America (GEOG 330)4
Geography of East and Southeast Asia (GEOG 336)4
Geography of Central and Southwest Asia (GEOG 338)4
English History (HST 306)4
Modern Europe (HST 343)4
History of Latin America (HST 352)4
History of Africa (HST 363)4
Nazi Germany and Film (HST 384)4
China: Twentieth Century (HST 396)4
Japan since 1800 (HST 397)4
Environmental History (HST 421)4
Islamic Middle East (HST 432)4
Islamic Middle East (HST 433)4
Hitler and the Third Reich (HST 444)4
Imperial Russia (HST 448)4
Spain since 1808 (HST 450)4
American Foreign Relations (HST 453)4
U.S. Latin American Relations (HST 454)4
Modern Mexico (HST 465)4
Topics in Latin American History (HST 485)4
Topics in European History (HST 487)4
Topics in Middle Eastern History (HST 488)4
Topics in African History (HST 489)4
U.S. Foreign Policy (PS 450)4
Contemporary Issues in Native North America (SOC 338)4

Minors

International Studies Minor


(28 credits)


Students working toward a minor in international studies are required to register with an international studies advisor.


Required courses:

International Scene (IS 250) or Cultural Anthropology (ANTH 213)4
World Politics (IS 350) or Global Issues in Politics, Population, Development, and the Environment (IS/GEOG 360)4


Electives:

20 upper division electives taken from at least three disciplinary prefixes, drawn from the courses listed under the upper division requirements.

Latin American Studies Minor


(24 credits)


Latin American studies is an interdisciplinary, regionally focused minor with a social science emphasis. Students examine aspects of Latin American geography, history, society, economics, politics, and culture to form an integrated understanding of the region. The holistic regional focus provides a valuable support to majors in international studies, Spanish language and culture, and the social sciences, as well as students pursuing careers in education and international business.


Requirements for the minor: 24 upper division credits in at least three disciplinary prefixes.


Required courses:

Geography of Latin America (GEOG 330)4
Choose two Latin American history courses (HST 350, 351, 352, 454, 465, or 485)8


Electives:
Select 12 credits from the following:

World Politics (IS 350) or Global Issues in Politics, Population, Development, and the Environment (IS/GEOG 360)4
Cultures of the World (Latin American topic only) (ANTH 319)4
Ritual and Religion (ANTH 332)4
Global Culture and Media (SOC 333)4
Sociology of Globalization (SOC 345)4
Introduction to the International Economy (EC 320/IS 320)4
Economic Development (EC 379)4
Topics in Latin American History (HST 485)4
Culture Change/Social and Cultural Change (ANTH 450/SOC 450)4

Note: With permission of the program coordinator, students may select appropriate 399, 405, and 407 courses in the social sciences. All papers written in elective courses must be on Latin American topics. The minor permits a maximum of 12 credits in history.

International Studies Courses

See Course Prerequisites Policy

Lower Division Courses

IS 250 International Scene
4 credits
Examines current international relations and global issues. Explores why nations go to war and how war might be prevented. Introduces students to changing world affairs. Approved for University Studies (Explorations.)

Upper Division Courses

IS 320 Introduction to the International Economy
4 credits
Explores global economic relations in the historical and political context of current issues. Focuses on the economic interdependence of nations. Prerequisites: EC 201, 202.

IS 350 World Politics
4 credits
Examines the nature and structure of the modern international state system, with reference to theory and practice. Emphasizes globalization and the impact of international developments on domestic politics. Approved for University Studies (Integration). Cross-listed with PS 350.

IS 360 Global Issues in Politics, Population, Development, and the Environment
4 credits
Examines contemporary global issues and investigates the roles played by cultural values, technologies, infrastructure, and sociopolitical organizations as intermediaries between human population growth, poverty, and environmental degradation. Provides the conceptual tools to formulate questions about how human societies choose to invest wealth in population growth, consumption, economic growth, or environmental preservation. Term projects require students to identify a significant and specific case relating population growth to economic development and environmental degradation and to recommend action goals. Approved for University Studies (Synthesis/Integration). (Cross-listed with GEOG 360.)

IS 398 Research Methods
4 credits
Introduces the basic techniques of political science research and writing. Incorporates the Internet and government documents. Meets the computer literacy requirement for political science and international studies majors.

IS 401/501 Research
Credits to be arranged

IS 403/503 Thesis
Credits to be arranged

IS 405/505 Reading and Conference
Credits to be arranged

IS 407/507 Seminar
Credits to be arranged

IS 409/509 Practicum
Credits to be arranged

IS 450/550 U.S. Foreign Policy
4 credits
Explores the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy from World War II to the present. Prerequisite: IS 350.

IS 498 Capstone
4 credits
A capstone experience in which students demonstrate knowledge of global and regional international affairs. Students prepare a resumé and portfolio showcasing their skills, which may include research and writing, study abroad experiences, and SOU service.

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