Program Description

UW-Parkside provides both a major and minor in International Studies. Drawing on courses from departments throughout the University, the major (36 credits; minor, 18 credits) is a broad, interdisciplinary program with a flexible curriculum that emphasizes the development of knowledge and analytical approaches needed to understand the contemporary global system.

International Studies provides excellent training for persons interested in careers with private and governmental organizations that operate in a global context, as well as for individuals interested in law or graduate school. It is an especially appropriate double major or minor for business students, language majors, and majors in economics, political science, history, sociology-anthropology and the fine arts.

Students interested in majoring or minoring in International Studies, or in completing the Global Skills Certificate, should see the Director of International Studies, Prof. Lillian Trager.

For descriptions of individual courses, please see the department catalog (PDF).

Major in International Studies

Students who enrolled in the CIS major before 2005 should click here for information about the old program requirements.

Students majoring in International Studies must complete a minimum of 36 credits (in addition to prerequisite courses). The requirements are:

  1. Fifteen credits of introductory courses, most of which also satisfy general university requirements.
  2. One year of college-level modern foreign language or the high school equivalent. Additional foreign language work is strongly recommended and, for those electing Option C, intermediate foreign language work is required. Introductory language courses do not count toward the 36-credit requirement.
  3. Twelve credits of core courses.
  4. One of three 15-credit options: Globalization and Development, International Relations, Comparative Cultures and Societies. When appropriate, with Steering Committee approval, an individually designed option may be elected.
  5. Three elective credits from an option outside the option chosen in requirement #4.
  6. INTS 495, Senior Seminar in International Studies — a capstone course to integrate the interdisciplinary perspectives of the major.
  7. Research methods requirement.

Recommended for the Major in International Studies

Study Abroad or other experiential learning activity in International Studies is strongly recommended.

Each student planning to major in International Studies must consult regularly with an International Studies faculty adviser to schedule a coherent program consonant with his/her interests. This is particularly important when selecting options.

Required courses

Fifteen credits of introductory courses are required of all majors, but only one of these — INTS 100 — is required for all majors. The other twelve credits are to be selected from among the groups listed below. These courses provide students with the introductory background knowledge for the wide range of disciplinary perspectives that comprise the International Studies Program. In some cases, these courses are required for upper-level work in a particular discipline. In many cases, these courses fulfill university general education requirements. Only one course can be taken from each group.

Required introductory course

  • INTS 100 Introduction to International Studies 3 cr

Other introductory courses

Twelve Credits from the following groups of courses, with only one course from each group:

Group I

  • ECON 120 Principles of Microeconomics (3 cr)
  • ECON 121 Principles of Macroeconomics (3 cr)

Group II

  • GEOG 105 Introduction to Human Geography (3 cr)
  • GEOG 110 Introduction to Geography World Regions (3 cr)

Group III

  • HIST 118 Pre-Modern World: Ancient and Medieval Civilization (3 cr)
  • HIST 126 Introduction to World History, Antiquity to 1500 (3 cr)
  • HIST 127 Introduction to World History, 1500-1800 (3 cr)
  • HIST 128 Introduction to World History, 1800-Present (3 cr)

Group IV

  • HUM 101 Intro to the Humanities-World Cultures to 1500 (3 cr)
  • HUM 102 Intro to Humanities- World Cultures 1500-Present (3 cr)

Group V

  • POLS 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr)
  • POLS 104 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr)

Group VI

  • SOCA 100 Introduction to Anthropology (3 cr)

Languages

Eight college credits or the high school equivalent of a foreign language are required. The International Studies Program faculty strongly encourages students to gain additional language competence beyond the introductory level.

Core courses

Twelve credits from the following groups of courses, with only one course from each group:

Group I

  • ENGL 246 Introduction to World Literature (3 cr)
  • ENGL 247 Introduction to Modern World Literature (3 cr)

Group II

  • POLS 304 Theories of International Relations (3 cr)
  • POLS 350 Comparative Politics (3 cr)

Group III

  • INTS 210/SOCA 202 Cultural Anthropology (3 cr)

Group IV

  • ECON 280 Comparative Economic Systems (3 cr)
  • INST 310/ECON 310 International Trade (3 cr)
  • INST 311/ECON 311 International Finance (3 cr)

Group V

  • HIST 313 Imperialism and Modernization (3 cr)

Options

Each major in International Studies is required to complete a minimum of 15 credits of work in one of the following options. Selection of an option allows a student to focus on an area of interest within the broad scope of International studies. The courses in the option must be selected in consultation with a faculty adviser from the International Studies Program and include work in at least three disciplines. A list of currently approved courses for each option is available from the Center for International Studies office. Students may propose an individually designed option, subject to approval of the International Studies Steering Committee.

  • Option A — Globalization and Development: Focus on the processes of political, economic and sociocultural change that accompany globalization and development, with an emphasis on developing nations.
  • Option B — International Relations: Focus on the major interactions among nations, including politics, trade and intercultural communication. Also includes consideration of international organizations and non-governmental organizations.
  • Option C — Comparative Cultures and Societies: Focus on cross-cultural and comparative study of societies and cultures, including the arts, literature, politics and social organization.

Elective (3 Credits)

All majors are required to take an additional 3 credits from an option other than the one selected for emphasis.

Senior Seminar INST 495 (3 cr)

The Senior Seminar is a capstone course in which students are expected to integrate their studies, especially from their selected option, and to carry out original research as the basis for a research paper. The Senior Seminar is required of all majors and minors in International Studies.

Research methods

All majors must complete a requirement in research methods. This can be accomplished in either of the following ways and should be completed prior to taking senior seminar.

  1. Successful completion of a research methods course in history, political science, sociology-anthropology or another discipline relevant to International Studies.
  2. Successful completion of a research paper in the context of a 300 or 400 level course in the student's option. Students planning to fulfill the research methods requirement in this way can obtain a list of courses through which this requirement can be fulfilled from the Director of International Studies.

Experiential Learning Activities

All majors in International Studies are strongly encouraged to take part in experiential learning in International Studies. This may be accomplished through Study Abroad, participation in UW-Parkside Study Tours, or working/volunteering with an international agency or non-governmental organization in the international arena.


Minor in International Studies

The following courses are required for the minor in International Studies:

  • INTS 100, Introduction to International Studies
  • Four core courses, with only one from groups 1-5 above
  • INTS 495, Senior Seminar in International Studies

A Minor in International Studies, or a double major, is especially appropriate for majors in business, languages, economics, history, political science, sociology-anthropology and the fine arts.

Global Skills Certificate

The Certificate in Global Skills is designed to assist students to understand and appreciate the impact of international affairs on their daily lives. Students completing the certificate will be expected to value different cultures and political/economic systems, as well as become familiar with the numerous international connections that exist between them (e.g., international trade, technological networks, international and regional organizations).

The certificate is skill-based, accessible to nontraditional students, and can be completed in one year. The Certificate in Global Skills complements any major or minor, and is most effective for students in the social sciences or business.

The certificate also addresses a need for cultural sensitivity and training identified by businesses in our communities. Students not interested in a Baccalaureate degree may use the Certificate in Global Skills to increase their ability to deal with foreign individuals and cultures. Contact CIS for a detailed brochure.

Certificate requirements:

  • INTS 100 Introduction to International Studies (3 cr)
  • INTS 201 Global Skills Practicum - Basic Global Skills (1 cr)
  • INTS 202 Global Skills Practicum - Internationalization vs. Globalization (1 cr)
  • INTS 203 Global Skills Practicum - Political and Economic Systems (1 cr)
  • INTS 204 Global Skills Practicum - Culture and Language (1 cr)

At least one area course chosen from the following:

  • ART 343 History of Modern Art (3 cr)
  • HIST 320 Germany, 1848 to the Present (3 cr)
  • HUM 250 Topics Non-Western Cultures (3 cr)
  • POLS 330 European Politics (3 cr)
  • POLS 331 Politics of Developing Nations (3 cr)
  • INTS 226/SOCA 226 Peoples of Africa (3 cr)
  • SOCA 240 Cross Cultural Encounters (3 cr)
  • SPAN 318 Spanish Civilization and Culture (3 cr)
  • SPAN 319 Latin American Civilization and Culture (3 cr)

Other courses may be taken for this requirement, upon approval of the Director.

  • INTS 492 Global Skills Seminar (1 cr)

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Page last updated on March 11, 2005

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