International Studies (Interdisciplinary), BA

Total number of hours for the program: 120.

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.

This program must be taken as part of a double major and requires 30 hours of courses. Students must complete a second major or approved course of study to graduate.

Liberal Studies Hours (42 hours)

Liberal Studies Program Requirements

The major requires 30 hours:

Modern Foreign Languages (9 hours)

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

or

MFL 231-232 or 240 (six hours) in the same language and three 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.

To focus their studies on a particular topic or region, students are also required to choose a concentration. 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:

COMM 431 - International Reporting Credits: 3
HIST 317 - History of Twentieth-Century International Relations Credits: 3
HIST 402 - History of Peace and Conflict in Africa 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
PSC 361 - On War Credits: 3

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, Equality & Human Rights Credits: 3
PSC 353 - International Political Economy Credits: 3
PSC 354 - International Environmental Politics Credits: 3
PSC 359 - International Law Credits: 3
PSC 362 - International Organizations Credits: 3
PSC 370 - Politics of Ethnic Conflict 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 - Economic Anthropology 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 - Suffering: Religion, Literature & the Moral Imagination Credits: 3
PSC 353 - International Political Economy Credits: 3
PSC 380 - Politics of Developing Areas Credits: 3
PSC 354 - International Environmental Politics 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 Archaeology 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
HIST 415 - Early Modern Travel Credits: 3
HIST 425 - Modern European Military History Credits: 3
HT 238 - Travel and Tourism Credits: 3
NAS 471 - Indigenous and Western Psychologies Credits: 3
PAR 251 - Islam, Past and Present Credits: 3
PAR 260 - Religion, Gender, Sexuality Credits: 3
PAR 354 - Suffering: Religion, Literature & the Moral Imagination Credits: 3
PAR 356 - Buddhism Credits: 3
PAR 357 - Hinduism Credits: 3
PAR 367 - Native American Religions Credits: 3
SM 350 - Global Sport and Culture Credits: 3
SOC 373 - Globalization 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 - Explorations in Regional Geography Credits: 3, R12
HIST 218 - Modern Asia 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
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 - Explorations in 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 - Islam, Past and Present 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 - Explorations in Regional Geography Credits: 3, R12
HIST 281 - Transformations in European Religious History Credits: 3
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 Archaeology Credits: 3
ANTH 461 - Indigenous Cultures of North America Credits: 3
ANTH 465 - Cultures of Latin America Credits: 3
ANTH 473 - Contemporary Cherokee Culture and Society Credits: 3
GEOG 440 - Explorations in Regional Geography Credits: 3, R12
HIST 212 - Colonial Latin America Credits: 3
HIST 213 - Modern Latin America Credits: 3
HIST 345 - Modern Native America Credits: 3
HIST 352 - 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 three hours outside of their concentration:

ANTH 327 - Economic Anthropology Credits: 3
ANTH 361 - World Archaeology Credits: 3
ANTH 362 - Southeastern Archaeology Credits: 3
ANTH 431 - North American Archaeology Credits: 3
ANTH 461 - Indigenous Cultures 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
COMM 431 - International Reporting 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
GEOG 350 - Economic Geography Credits: 3
GEOG 440 - Explorations in 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 - Colonial Latin America Credits: 3
HIST 213 - Modern Latin America Credits: 3
HIST 218 - Modern Asia Credits: 3
HIST 236 - Native American Lives Credits: 3
HIST 281 - Transformations in European Religious History 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 352 - Cherokee History Credits: 3
HIST 401 - History of Sexualities in Africa Credits: 3
HIST 402 - History of Peace and Conflict in Africa Credits: 3
HIST 415 - Early Modern Travel Credits: 3
HIST 416 - Europe in the Twentieth Century Credits: 3
HIST 425 - Modern European Military History Credits: 3
HT 238 - Travel and Tourism 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 - Islam, Past and Present Credits: 3
PAR 260 - Religion, Gender, Sexuality Credits: 3
PAR 306 - Early Modern Philosophy: From Copernicus to Kant Credits: 3
PAR 354 - Suffering: Religion, Literature & the Moral Imagination Credits: 3
PAR 356 - Buddhism Credits: 3
PAR 357 - Hinduism Credits: 3
PAR 367 - Native American Religions Credits: 3
PAR 392 - Global Justice: Liberty, Equality & Human Rights 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 361 - On War Credits: 3
PSC 362 - International Organizations 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 380 - Politics of Developing Areas Credits: 3
PSC 451 - Model United Nations Credits: 3, R6
SM 350 - Global Sport and Culture Credits: 3
SOC 373 - Globalization 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. Students must work with their program advisors 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.