2025-2026 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

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International Studies, B.A.

International Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to build student expertise in particular world regions and/or about diverse international issues including globalization, diversity, migration, international law, conflict resolution, economic development, environmental policy, and the roles of gender, race, language, and class in international contexts.

The International Studies BA program is oriented to produce individuals competent to understand the interrelated nature of global phenomena and confident in their membership in a community of global citizens. At the same time, each undergraduate specializes in a particular world area or a global theme. Students enrolled in the International Studies BA program will:

  1.  describe histories, institutions, values, and norms of various cultures;

  2.  analyze issues from the perspectives of other cultural traditions;

  3.  apply theories in international studies to interpret current global issues;

  4.  defend views on international cultures or issues with clear and well-reasoned arguments.

A BA degree in International Studies prepares students for a range of career opportunities in education, government, in non-profit foundations and NGOs, in for-profit entities, and in a wide range of other institutions and enterprises offering services transnationally or otherwise working in global environments.

 

Major Requirements (39 credits):

1. Core Curriculum (18 credits)

Required Course:

IS 225The World as a Total System

3

and 6 credits from:

IS 150Intro to International Studies

3
GEOG 120World Regional Geography

3
HIST 122World Civilization II

3
PS 104World's Political Systems

3

Research Methods Course

IS 400Practicing International Studies

3

and at least 3 credits

from community engagement (IS 300), an experience abroad (IS 360, IS 490, or other) or an internship (IS 450).

IS 300/CEN 300Global Community Engagement

3
IS 360/HUM 360Internatl Studies thrgh Travel

3 OR 6
IS 450Internship in International Studies

3
IS 490Field Studies Abroad

3-6

Senior Capstone

Students are required to take either IS 498 Research in International Studies or IS 499 International Studies Senior Project.

IS 498Research in IS

3
IS 499 International Studies Senior Project

3

2. Geographical Areas and Themes in Global Studies (21 Credits)

Students will select 21 credits from one of the programs below, in order to follow one of the following tracks:  African Studies (2a), or Global Studies (2a), European Studies (2a), Latin American Studies (2a), Middle Eastern Studies (2a), or Global Studies (2b).

2a. Geographical Area Studies:

Students will take 15 credits in one regional specialization and 6 credits in one global theme, or as approved by the advisor. 9 credits must be at the 300- or 400-level. Not more than 9 credits may come from the same discipline (designator). Courses listed below are for advisory purposes only. Additional courses may be identified with the approval of the advisor. 

Africa

ANTH 416Archaeology of Africa

4
ANTH 424Peoples and Cultures of Africa

4
FR 315Aspcts of Francophone Cultures

3
GEOG 446Sub-Saharan Africa

3
HIST 271Intro to African Hist & Cltre

3
HIST 376History of Africa since 1800

3
HIST 432History of South Africa

3
IS 461Topics in African Studies

3
PHIL 260/AFAM 260African Philosophy

3
PS 421Govt and Politics of Africa

3
PS 434Govt & Politics of Middle East

3

East Asia

ANTH 423Vietnam, A Country, Not a War

4
ART 412Asian Art

3
CHIN 304Topics in Chinese Literature

3
CHIN 315Topics in Chinese Culture

3
GEOG 435Japan & Korea

3
GEOG 437China

3
HIST 252East Asia since 1800

3
HIST 353History of Modern China

3
HIST 354History of Modern Japan

3
HIST 422Topics in Japanese History

3
IS 462Topics in East Asian Studies

3
PHIL 250Intro to Asian Philosophy

3
PHIL 275Chinese Philosophy

3
PHIL 350Philosophy East & West

3
PHIL 375Japanese Philosophy

3
PHIL 376Buddhist Philosophy

3
PS 425Asian Politics

3

Europe

FR 315Aspcts of Francophone Cultures

3
GEOG 444European Union

3
GER 304Introduction to German Literature I

3
GER 305Introduction to German Literature II

3
HIST 234Modern Europe

3
HIST 343Modern Ireland: 1690-Present

3
HIST 344History of Modern Germany

3
HIST 348History of Russia II

3
HIST 356History of East Central Europe since 1919

3
HIST 380Modern Poland

3
HIST 415The Cold War in the United States and Europe

3
HIST 442Absolutism and Enlightenment in Europe

3
HIST 443Revolution and Reformation in Europe

3
HIST 444Mass Politics and Total War in Europe

3
HIST 447History of the Soviet Union

3
HIST 448Stalin and Stalinism

3
HIST 452World War II in Europe

3
IS 463Topics in European Studies

3
ITAL 304Intro to Italian Literature I

3
ITAL 305Intro to Italian Literature II

3
ITAL 316Ital Civilization 1861-Present

3
PHIL 330Early Modern Philosophy

3
PHIL 33219th Century Philosophy

3
PHIL 366Existentialism

3
PS 336Western European Govts

3
PS 435Central/East Europe Politics

3
SPAN 304Intro to Spanish Literature I

3
SPAN 305Intro to Spanish Literature II

3
SPAN 315Spanish Civilization

3
SPAN 451Introduction to Spanish Linguistics

3

Latin America

ANTH 428/LAS 428Cultures of Latin America

4
GEOG 434/LAS 434Mex, Centrl Amer, & Caribbean

3
GEOG 436/LAS 436South America

3
HIST 281/LAS 281Latin American History to 1823

3
HIST 282/LAS 282Hist of Latin Amer since 1823

3
HIST 383History of Brazil

3
HIST 384Portugal in Brazil

3
HIST 455Tpcs in Latin American History

3
HIST 460African Enslavement in the Americas

3
IS 240Caribbean Cultures

3
IS 245Puerto Rico

3
IS 464Tpcs in Latin American Studies

3
PS 420/LAS 420Govt & Politics of Latin Amer

3
SPAN 316/LAS 316Latin American Civilization

3
SPAN 375/LAS 375Intro to Spanish AmerLit I

3
SPAN 376/LAS 376Intro Spanish American Lit II

3

Middle East

GEOG 447Geographic Perspective on Israel/Palestine

3
HIST 231Ancient Mediterranean World

3
IS 465Topics in Middle East Studies

3
PS 345Terrorism

3
PS 370Arab Uprisings

3
PS 434Govt & Politics of Middle East

3
PS 439U.S. Middle East Policy

3

2b. Global Studies:

Students will take 15 credits in a particular global theme, and 6 credits in one geographical area, or as approved by the advisor. 9 credits must be at the 300- or 400-level. Not more than 9 credits may come from the same discipline (designator). Courses listed below are for advisory purposes only. Additional courses may be identified with the approval of the advisor.

Communication and Diversity in the Global Context

ANTH 170Intro to Cultural Anthropology

3
ANTH 200/AFAM 200Dimens of Diversity & Ineqlity

3
ANTH 239Economic Anthropology

3
ANTH 240The Supernatural

3
ART 200Introduction to Global Art

3
COMM 216Intro to Intercultural Comm

3
ENG 214Studies in International Lit

3
ENG 367Global Novel

3
ENG 465/CINE 465Global Cinema

3
ENG 486World Lit & Film

3
IS 470Topics in Global Studies

3
JRN 370Global News in Context

3
LING 230The Study of Language

3
MUS 111Music of the World's Peoples

3
PHIL 350Philosophy East & West

3
PSY 420Cross-Cultural Psychology

3
REL 110World Religions

3
SPAN 441Cross-Cultural Communication

3

Energy, Resources, and Environment

COMM 451Environmental Communication

3
GEOG 270Geography of Hazards

3
GEOG 433Issues in Environmental Protection

3
GEOG 445Environmental Planning

3
GEOG 473Geography of Natural Resources

3
GEOG 475/SUST 475Energy Resources and Climate Change

3
ESCI 131Environmental Earth Science

3
GSCI 450Environmental and Engineering Geology

3
IS 470Topics in Global Studies

3
PHIL 241Environmental Ethics

3
SUST 140/GEOG 140Introduction to Sustainability

3

Governance, Security, and Human Rights

HIST 420Imperialism

3
IS 470Topics in Global Studies

3
PES 202/PSY 202Peace Psychology

3
PES 345/PHIL 345Philosophy of War & Peace

3
PHIL 211/PES 210Philosophy & Global Justice

3
PHIL 344Tpcs Phil & Social Justice

3
PS 235International Relations

3
PS 339International Law

3
PS 345Terrorism

3
PS 380International Cnflct/Security

3
PS 445Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation

3
PS 450Public Sector Ethics

3
SOC 424Genocide Modern World

4

Population, Mobility, and Development

ANTH 352Ethnicity and Ethnic Identity

3
ANTH 401City Life & Culture

4
ECON 320Globalization Issues

3
ECON 430International Economics

3
ECON 435Economic Development

3
GEOG 160Global Migration

3
GEOG 220Human Geography

3
GEOG 439Urban Geography

3
IS 470Topics in Global Studies

3
MKT 295Fundamentals of Marketing

3
MKT 321International Marketing

3
SOC 422Sociology of U.S Immigration

4
SOC 428Globalization

4

Language Requirement:

The International Studies BA program requires that all students have a level of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding of a single world language relevant to the Concentration, equal to the completion of the 126-level (226-level for French, Italian, or Spanish). Fulfillment of this requirement will be determined by a CCSU instructor of the language, the Chair of the World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department, or a CCSU faculty member designated by the Director of International Studies.

Minor Requirement:

A minor is required of this major. International Studies majors are encouraged to minor in a world language relevant to their Concentration, however, any minor may be selected. Double majors are exempt from a minor.

Total Credit Hours: 57