International Studies - BA
St. Kate's international studies majors will gain an understanding of political and economic structures in the various cultures of the world and in different historical periods. Students will study these structures from a variety of perspectives. Courses are designed to help students master the complexities of the contemporary, global world.
International studies major courses are drawn from the disciplines of economics, history and political science. In addition to common course work in these disciplines, each student will select a particular theme, including Social Justice and the State, Women, Gender, and Human Rights, or Global Flows (of capital, people, ideas, and technology) to inform their course work. Students are also required to complete a substantive, off-campus experience, including one of a study abroad experience for a semester, J-term, or even a year; intern with an approved, internationally-oriented organization (pending departmental advisor’s approval); or complete an internationally-related independent study with a fieldwork research component. This allows a student to experience the world or see the global connections in our own local communities.
Majoring in international studies at St. Kate's will prepare students for careers in government or international service; for law school, especially the study of international law; or for graduate study in social science disciplines like political science and economics. Combined with other appropriate courses, the international studies major can prepare students for careers in areas such as international business, as well.
Recommended minors for international studies majors are economics, history and political science.
See also: Political Science, Education - Social Studies with Grades 5-12 Teaching Licensure (for those interested in teaching political science in secondary schools)The International Studies major consists of 44 credits. In addition to the 16 required credits, students select 28 credits from one of three concentrations.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| ECON 1120 | Economics of Social Issues | 4 |
| HIST 1160 | East Asia Since 1600 | 4 |
| or HIST 2300 | World History Since 1500 | |
| POSC 2200W | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 4 |
| Off-Campus Experience 1 | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Select One of the Following Concentrations:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Social Justice and the State | 28 | |
| Required Courses: | ||
| Revolution and Communist Rule in China: 1900 to Present | ||
or HIST 3250 | History of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights in the U.S. | |
ECON/POSC 2994: From Nudges to Nuclear War (Game Theory) | ||
| Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | ||
| Select Four Courses (at least two at the 3000 level) from: | ||
One additional level (Intermediate II) of a foreign language | ||
| Topics in Healthcare Economics | ||
| Quantitative Impact Evaluation: Applied Research Skills | ||
| Development Economics: Examining Poverty and Inequality | ||
| International Economics: Trade and Immigration | ||
| Language as Power | ||
| Europe Since 1800 | ||
| Revolution! Haiti, Slavery and the French Revolution 1780-1820 | ||
| Twentieth Century America | ||
| Revolution and Communist Rule in China: 1900 to Present | ||
| History of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights in the U.S. | ||
| Modern Middle East | ||
| Europe: from World War I to World War II | ||
| Europe Since World War II | ||
| Women in Asia | ||
| Intro to the Nonprofit Sector | ||
| History of Feminism in Western Society | ||
| Introduction to American Government and Policy | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Introduction to World Politics | ||
| Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Challenging Oppressions, Civic Engagement and Change | ||
| Social Movements-Social Change | ||
| Sociology of Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Total Credits | 28 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Women, Gender and Human Rights | 28 | |
| Required Courses | ||
| Development Economics: Examining Poverty and Inequality | ||
| Women in Asia | ||
or HIST 3700 | History of Feminism in Western Society | |
| Women and Globalization | ||
| Select Four Courses (at least two at the 3000-level) from: | ||
One additional level (Intermediate II) of a foreign language | ||
| Topics in Healthcare Economics | ||
ECON/POSC 2994 | Discrimination: Economics and Politics of Race and Gender | |
| Quantitative Impact Evaluation: Applied Research Skills | ||
| International Economics: Trade and Immigration | ||
| Women and Literature | ||
| Women in America to 1920 | ||
| The New Woman in America and England 1880-1940 | ||
| Women in Asia | ||
| U.S. Women Since 1920 | ||
| History of Feminism in Western Society | ||
| Women in Europe Since 1500 | ||
| Intro to the Nonprofit Sector | ||
| Philosophy and Women | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Introduction to World Politics | ||
POSC 2994 | Topics: Human Rights | |
| Women and Globalization | ||
| Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | ||
| Social Movements-Social Change | ||
| Women's Issues from Global Perspectives | ||
| Foundations in Women's Studies | ||
| Total Credits | 28 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Global Flows (of capital, people, ideas, and technology): | 28 | |
| Required Courses: | ||
| International Economics: Trade and Immigration | ||
HIST 2XXX | History of Immigration in the United States or HIST 2XXX Empire, Colonization and Indigenous Resistance | |
POSC 2994 | Topics: The Politics of Global Cities | |
| Select four (at least two at the 3000-level) from the following: | ||
One additional level (Intermediate II) of a foreign language | ||
| Ways of Seeing | ||
| Communicating across Cultures, Identities and Differences | ||
| Critical Hmong Studies | ||
| Asian American Identities | ||
| Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| Quantitative Impact Evaluation: Applied Research Skills | ||
| Development Economics: Examining Poverty and Inequality | ||
| Global Financial Issues | ||
| Macroeconomic Theory | ||
| Cost-Benefit Analysis | ||
| The Immigrant Perspective in Literature 2 | ||
| Literature in Translation | ||
| Global Writers in English | ||
| Europe Since 1800 | ||
| East Asia Since 1600 | ||
| Twentieth Century America | ||
| Revolution and Communist Rule in China: 1900 to Present | ||
| History of Feminism in Western Society | ||
| World Music | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Introduction to World Politics | ||
| Women and Globalization | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Asian American Identities | ||
| Migration, Citizenship, Community | ||
| Hispanics in the United States | ||
| Total Credits | 28 | |
| 1 | The International Studies major requires students to complete a semester-long (J-term qualifies) substantive off-campus experience. The purpose of this requirement is to encourage student engagement with a community of their choosing, and to consider the international and global implications of their life-worlds, whether it be abroad or at home. Students may choose to study abroad for a semester, J-term, or even a year; intern with an approved, internationally-oriented organization (pending departmental advisor’s approval); or complete an internationally-related independent study with a fieldwork research component. Students may choose from an approved list of organizations, or may even suggest a new institution. The possibilities are endless! |
| 2 | For non-native speakers of English by placement or instructor's permission only. |
International Studies majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing POSC 2200W Introduction to Comparative Politics . They complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with three other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000W The Reflective Woman or CORE 2000W The Reflective Woman, CORE 3990W Global Search for Justice, and any other writing-intensive course in another department).