International Studies (Interdisciplinary), B.A.

The BA in International Studies provides students with the skills necessary to function in a globally interconnected society. Within the program, students will be able to concentrate their studies on the following topics – Peace, Violence, and Security; Global Governance, Human Rights, and Law; Global Poverty and Economic Development; Religions, Cultures, and Civilizations, or a specific region of the world.

Total number of hours for this program: 120.

Liberal Studies Hours: 42

Liberal Studies Program Requirements

The major requires 30 hours:

Modern Foreign Languages (9 hours)

MFL 231-232 or 240 (6 hours) and 3 hours of MFL at the 300 level in the same language.

or

MFL 231-232 or 240 (6 hours) in the same language and 3 hours MFL in a second language.

Required Courses and Area of Concentration (18 hours)

Students must take INST 200 and INST 400 as requirements of the major. INST 200 should be taken toward the beginning of a student’s course of study, and INST 400 should be taken during a student’s final year at WCU.

Students are also required to choose a concentration as a way to focus their studies on a particular topic or region. Students must take 12 hours of courses within their designated concentration, and those courses must draw from at least two different prefixes/disciplines.

INST 200 - Introduction to International Studies Credits: 3
INST 400 - International Studies Capstone Credits: 3

Concentration - Peace, Violence, and Security

If students choose Peace, Violence, and Security as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses.

HIST 317 - History of Twentieth-Century International Relations Credits: (3)
HIST 402 - History of Peace and Conflict in Africa Credits: 3
HIST 411 - Western Imperialism, 1500 to the Present Credits: (3)
HIST 416 - Europe in the Twentieth Century Credits: (3)
HIST 425 - Modern European Military History Credits: (3)
PSC 352 - International Security Credits: (3)
PSC 357 - Political Violence Credits: (3)
PSC 358 - United States Foreign Policy Credits: (3)
PSC 370 - Politics of Ethnic Conflict Credits: (3)
PSC 451 - Model United Nations Credits: (3, R6)

Concentration - Global Governance, Human Rights, and Law

Students must take 12 hours from the following list of courses.

CJ 354 - Comparative Criminal Justice Systems Credits: 3
CJ 475 - International Studies in Law and Society Credits: 3, R6
GEOG 444 - Political Geography Credits: (3)
HIST 342 - American Diplomatic History Credits: (3)
LAW 320 - International Business Law Credits: (3)
PAR 392 - Global Justice, Liberty, and Human Rights Credits: (3)
PSC 242 - International Organization Credits: (3)
PSC 354 - International Environmental Politics Credits: (3)
PSC 359 - International Law Credits: (3)
PSC 451 - Model United Nations Credits: (3, R6)

Concentration - Global Poverty and Economic Development

If students choose Global Poverty and Economic Development as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses.

ANTH 327 - Economy and Society Credits: 3
GEOG 350 - Economic Geography Credits: (3)
MKT 407 - Global Consumer Culture Credits: 3
NAS 452 - The Roots of Health Disparities in Native American Populations Credits: 3
PAR 354 - Religion, Suffering, and the Moral Imagination Credits: (3)
PSC 316 - Gender and Politics Credits: (3)
PSC 353 - International Political Economy Credits: (3)
PSC 354 - International Environmental Politics Credits: (3)
PSC 370 - Politics of Ethnic Conflict Credits: (3)
SOC 434 - Regional and Societal Development Credits: (3)

Concentration - Religions, Cultures, and Civilizations

If students choose Religions, Cultures, and Civilizations as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses.

ANTH 361 - World Prehistory Credits: 3
ANTH 465 - Cultures of Latin America Credits: 3
ANTH 473 - Contemporary Cherokee Culture and Society Credits: 3
ENGL 242 - Cultural Studies & Non-Western World Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 366 - Literature and Immigration Credits: 3
ENGL 470 - Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Postcolonial Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 496 - Seminar in World Literature Credits: 3
HIST 236 - Native American Lives Credits: (3)
NAS 471 - Indigenous and Western Psychologies Credits: 3
PAR 251 - Understanding Islamic Traditions Credits: (3)
PAR 260 - Women and Religion Credits: (3)
PAR 354 - Religion, Suffering, and the Moral Imagination Credits: (3)
PAR 356 - Buddhism Credits: (3)
PAR 367 - Native American Religions Credits: (3)
SM 350 - Global sport and culture Credits: 3
SOC 373 - The Global Society Credits: (3)
SPAN 321 - Hispanic Cultures I Credits: 3
SPAN 322 - Hispanic Cultures II Credits: 3

Concentration - Asia

If students choose Asia as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses.

GEOG 440 - Regional Geography Credits: (3, R12)
HIST 301 - Modern Chinese History: From the Middle Kingdom to the People’s Republic Credits: 3
HIST 302 - India in the Modern World Credits: 3
HIST 373 - Modern Asia Credits: (3)
JPN 305 - Introduction to Japanese Literature in Translation Credits: (3)
JPN 306 - Anime, Manga and Japan Credits: (3)
JPN 307 - Japanese Language in Cinema Credits: (3)
PAR 356 - Buddhism Credits: (3)
PSC 378 - Asian Politics Credits: 3

Concentration - Africa and Middle East

If students choose Africa and Middle East as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses.

ENGL 470 - Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Postcolonial Literature Credits: 3
GEOG 440 - Regional Geography Credits: (3, R12)
HIST 210 - African History to 1880 Credits: (3)
HIST 211 - African History Since 1880 Credits: (3)
HIST 303 - The African Diaspora Credits: 3
HIST 401 - History of Sexualities in Africa Credits: 3
HIST 402 - History of Peace and Conflict in Africa Credits: 3
PAR 251 - Understanding Islamic Traditions Credits: (3)
PSC 376 - African Politics Credits: 3

Concentration - Europe

If students choose Europe as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses.

GEOG 440 - Regional Geography Credits: (3, R12)
HIST 330 - Modern Germany Credits: (3)
HIST 416 - Europe in the Twentieth Century Credits: (3)
HIST 425 - Modern European Military History Credits: (3)
PAR 306 - Early Modern Philosophy from Copernicus to Kant Credits: (3)
PSC 375 - European Politics Credits: (3)
SPAN 321 - Hispanic Cultures I Credits: 3
SPAN 322 - Hispanic Cultures II Credits: 3
SPAN 394 - Immersion Experience Credits: 3-6, R12

Concentration - The Americas

If students choose the Americas as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses.

ANTH 362 - Southeastern Archaeology Credits: 3
ANTH 431 - North American Prehistory Credits: 3
ANTH 461 - Indians of North America Credits: 3
ANTH 465 - Cultures of Latin America Credits: 3
ANTH 473 - Contemporary Cherokee Culture and Society Credits: 3
HIST 212 - Latin American History I Credits: (3)
HIST 213 - Latin American History II Credits: (3)
HIST 345 - Modern Native America Credits: 3
HIST 445 - Cherokee History Credits: (3)
NAS 470 - Cherokee Culture and History Credits: 3
PAR 367 - Native American Religions Credits: (3)
PSC 379 - Latin American Politics Credits: (3)
SPAN 321 - Hispanic Cultures I Credits: 3
SPAN 322 - Hispanic Cultures II Credits: 3
SPAN 432 - North American and Caribbean Literature Credits: 3, R6
SPAN 434 - South American Hispanic Literature Credits: 3

Guided Elective (3 hours)

Students must take 3 hours OUTSIDE of their concentration.

ANTH 327 - Economy and Society Credits: 3
ANTH 361 - World Prehistory Credits: 3
ANTH 362 - Southeastern Archaeology Credits: 3
ANTH 431 - North American Prehistory Credits: 3
ANTH 461 - Indians of North America Credits: 3
ANTH 465 - Cultures of Latin America Credits: 3
ANTH 473 - Contemporary Cherokee Culture and Society Credits: 3
CJ 354 - Comparative Criminal Justice Systems Credits: 3
CJ 475 - International Studies in Law and Society Credits: 3, R6
ENGL 242 - Cultural Studies & Non-Western World Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 366 - Literature and Immigration Credits: 3
ENGL 470 - Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Postcolonial Literature Credits: 3
ENGL 496 - Seminar in World Literature Credits: 3
GEOG 350 - Economic Geography Credits: (3)
GEOG 440 - Regional Geography Credits: (3, R12)
GEOG 444 - Political Geography Credits: (3)
HIST 210 - African History to 1880 Credits: (3)
HIST 211 - African History Since 1880 Credits: (3)
HIST 212 - Latin American History I Credits: (3)
HIST 213 - Latin American History II Credits: (3)
HIST 236 - Native American Lives Credits: (3)
HIST 301 - Modern Chinese History: From the Middle Kingdom to the People’s Republic Credits: 3
HIST 302 - India in the Modern World Credits: 3
HIST 303 - The African Diaspora Credits: 3
HIST 317 - History of Twentieth-Century International Relations Credits: (3)
HIST 330 - Modern Germany Credits: (3)
HIST 342 - American Diplomatic History Credits: (3)
HIST 345 - Modern Native America Credits: 3
HIST 373 - Modern Asia Credits: (3)
HIST 401 - History of Sexualities in Africa Credits: 3
HIST 402 - History of Peace and Conflict in Africa Credits: 3
HIST 411 - Western Imperialism, 1500 to the Present Credits: (3)
HIST 416 - Europe in the Twentieth Century Credits: (3)
HIST 425 - Modern European Military History Credits: (3)
HIST 445 - Cherokee History Credits: (3)
INST 200 - Introduction to International Studies Credits: 3
INST 400 - International Studies Capstone Credits: 3
INST 480 - Independent Study Credits: 3
INST 493 - Topics in International Studies Credits: 3
JPN 305 - Introduction to Japanese Literature in Translation Credits: (3)
JPN 306 - Anime, Manga and Japan Credits: (3)
JPN 307 - Japanese Language in Cinema Credits: (3)
LAW 320 - International Business Law Credits: (3)
MKT 407 - Global Consumer Culture Credits: 3
NAS 452 - The Roots of Health Disparities in Native American Populations Credits: 3
NAS 470 - Cherokee Culture and History Credits: 3
NAS 471 - Indigenous and Western Psychologies Credits: 3
PAR 251 - Understanding Islamic Traditions Credits: (3)
PAR 260 - Women and Religion Credits: (3)
PAR 306 - Early Modern Philosophy from Copernicus to Kant Credits: (3)
PAR 354 - Religion, Suffering, and the Moral Imagination Credits: (3)
PAR 356 - Buddhism Credits: (3)
PAR 367 - Native American Religions Credits: (3)
PAR 392 - Global Justice, Liberty, and Human Rights Credits: (3)
PSC 242 - International Organization Credits: (3)
PSC 316 - Gender and Politics Credits: (3)
PSC 352 - International Security Credits: (3)
PSC 353 - International Political Economy Credits: (3)
PSC 354 - International Environmental Politics Credits: (3)
PSC 357 - Political Violence Credits: (3)
PSC 358 - United States Foreign Policy Credits: (3)
PSC 359 - International Law Credits: (3)
PSC 370 - Politics of Ethnic Conflict Credits: (3)
PSC 375 - European Politics Credits: (3)
PSC 376 - African Politics Credits: 3
PSC 378 - Asian Politics Credits: 3
PSC 379 - Latin American Politics Credits: (3)
PSC 451 - Model United Nations Credits: (3, R6)
SM 350 - Global sport and culture Credits: 3
SOC 373 - The Global Society Credits: (3)
SOC 434 - Regional and Societal Development Credits: (3)
SPAN 321 - Hispanic Cultures I Credits: 3
SPAN 322 - Hispanic Cultures II Credits: 3
SPAN 394 - Immersion Experience Credits: 3-6, R12
SPAN 432 - North American and Caribbean Literature Credits: 3, R6
SPAN 434 - South American Hispanic Literature Credits: 3

Additional Requirements:

International Studies is a designated as a coordinate major, so all INST majors MUST also declare a second major.

INST majors must also finish an approved Engaged Learning Experience (ELE) to complete the requirements for the degree. Each student is required to work with his/her program advisor to develop an ELE contract no later than the end of drop/add period in the semester prior to their graduating semester, and that contract must be completed no later than the last day of classes of the semester prior to their graduating semester. This contract will detail the specific activities and outcomes of the ELE.

For INST majors, Engaged Learning Experiences may be associated with a travel course/study abroad, independent study, internship, or a designated Engaged Learning course.