2024-2025 Academic Catalog 
    
    Jul 05, 2024  
2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Combined International Studies, BA and International & Comparative Politics, MA


Program Description

The International Studies BA and ICP MA offers students the opportunity to study international politics, economics, culture, and society at the undergraduate and graduate level, using up to nine hours of graduate work to count towards both degrees. The major encourages intensive study of a foreign language with an interdisciplinary curriculum of study chosen by a student in consultation with a faculty advisor.

The Bachelor of Arts degree program in International Studies consists of three parts: at least two years of study of one foreign language; the major core courses, which include introductory work in art history, economics, geography, history, political science, religion, and women, gender, and sexuality studies; and work in a specialized concentration.

The specialized concentrations in the International Studies major provide six options: International Diplomacy and Peace Studies, Regional Studies (African Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, Latin American Studies, or Middle Eastern Studies), Comparative Cultures, International Economics, Global Gender Studies, and Research/Intelligence Analysis.

The International Diplomacy and Peace Studies concentration includes courses in Political Science, Communication, and History. The African Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, Latin American Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies concentrations allow students to focus on a global region and include classes in Anthropology, History, Humanities, and Political Science. The Comparative Cultures concentration includes courses from Anthropology, Classics, English, History, Humanities, Philosophy, and Religion. The International Economics concentration focuses on global economic concerns, with supporting course work in History, Political Science, and Sociology. The Global Gender Studies concentration incorporates a gender-analysis approach to diplomacy, area studies, comparative cultures, and international economics. The Research/Intelligence concentration combines course work in research methods, ethics, and a variety of disciplines to assist those interested in international affairs to work in data analysis.

Study abroad opportunities in Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, Thailand, and elsewhere are available through the University Studies Abroad Consortium, of which Wright State is a member. Study abroad and cultural exchange can be arranged through the University Center for International Education.

Although studying abroad is not a requirement for an international studies degree, students will find that it will greatly enrich their educational experience, as will exposure to a foreign culture and peoples. For adequate language preparation, students interested in studying abroad should design their course of study well in advance of their trip.

Students interested in careers in government, international business, teaching, or journalism should contact the director of the international studies major. The major also provides sound preparation for students interested in graduate work in law, the humanities, or the social sciences.

Admission Requirements

Students can be admitted into the International Studies major after completing ENG 1100 or ENG 1140 with a grade of C or higher OR by completing at least two other Wright State Core courses taught by the college with a grade of “C” or higher. Admission into the Combined Program requires applying to the ICP MA Program and alerting the Program Director of the intent to pursue the Combined program. This should be done prior to the senior year of undergraduate work. 

Program Learning Objectives

Students in the International Studies BA will learn to :

  • demonstrate an understanding of the value of diversity and multicultural competence in today’s global environment.
  • communicate effectively in writing.
  • Use critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate global political, economic, or social issues.

BA Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with the BA in International Studies can:

  • demonstrate an understanding of the value of diversity and multicultural competence in today’s global environment.
  • communicate effectively in writing.
  • Use critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate global political, economic, or social issues.

MA Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing the program can:

  • Apply knowledge of theory and methods from core courses to answer exam questions about the state of International and Comparative Politics
  • Evaluate the literature in a chosen major field in response to exam questions from areas of International and Comparative Politics
  • Demonstrate adequate grasp of the core and elective materials to merit a Masters Degree in International and Comparative Politics
  • Accurately summarize materials from the coursework of the student’s designed Program of Study 

MA Program Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • demonstrate an understanding of the value of diversity and multicultural competence in today’s global environment.
  • communicate effectively in writing.
  • Use critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate global political, economic, or social issues

For More Information

Program Requirements:


The program requires 120 hours for the IS BA and 30 hours for the ICP MA. If 9 hours of graduate credit is taken as an undergraduate senior, those hours count towards electives in both programs and reduce the functional hours needed down to 141.

I. Wright State Core: 38 Hours


  • Element 1: Communication Credit Hour(s): 6
  • Element 2: Mathematics Credit Hour(s): 3
  • Element 3: Global Traditions Credit Hour(s): 6
  • Element 4: Arts and Humanities Credit Hour(s): 3
  • Element 5: Social Sciences Credit Hour(s): 6
  • Element 6: Natural Sciences Credit Hour(s): 8
  • Additional Core Courses Credit Hour(s): 3
  • LA 1020 First Year Seminar

II. Major core courses (5 of 7 listed): 15 Hours


International Economic Affairs concentration must take:


Middle Eastern Studies concentration must take:


Global Gender Studies concentration must take:


III. Related Requirements: 0-6 Hours


You are encouraged to take a third year of language either at WSU, through SOCHE, or Study Abroad.

  • 2 courses in foreign language at the 3000 level or above or
  • 2 courses in a second foreign language offered at WSU (1000-2000 level or above) or
  • demonstrated proficiency 

If you are unable to complete a third year of language, you may choose instead to take 6 additional credit hours in your selected concentration.

IV. Major Concentration - must select one: 21-27 hours


Check with your advisor for other courses that might be acceptable within your concentration. Courses marked as Special Topics, Studies, Seminar, etc. must be relevant to the concentration.

Instead of a third year of foreign language, you may take 6 additional credit hours in your selected concentration.

Students must take two IW courses in the major. 

International Diplomacy and Peace Studies Concentration


Asian Studies Concentration


European Studies Concentration


Comparative Cultures Concentration


International Economic Affairs Concentration


Select 9 credit hours minimum from the following courses plus 12 credits in Economics.

Research/Intelligence Analyst Concentration


Courses required:

V. College Requirements: 18-22 Hours


Foreign Language: 12-16 Hours


Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one foreign language:

Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Greek, Latin, Chinese, or other (not including ASL).

Methods of Inquiry: 6 Hours


VI. Electives: 18-22 Hours


Total: 120 Hours


Graduation Planning Strategy


The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.

Double Counted Courses


Up to nine hours 

ICP MA


The ICP MA requires a minimum 30 hours, including:

I. Core Requirements (9 hrs):

  • PLS 7030 - Research Design  Credit Hour(s): 3
  • PLS 7200 - IR Theory  Credit Hour(s): 3
  • PLS 7300 - Theories of Comparative Politics  Credit Hour(s): 3

II. Methodology

  • PLS 7010 - International and Comparative Politics Statistics I  Credit Hour(s): 3

*Students may demonstrate proficiency in a modern language and complete the methodology requirement by submitting evidence of an undergraduate major in a modern language (within the last 5 years) or by completing the language proficiency testing offered through the Department of Modern Languages. Students may only count graduate-level courses (5000-level and above) toward the final credit hour count to complete the program.

Demonstrate or achieve proficiency through first semester course of the third level of a modern language (example: CHI 3110FR 3110GER 3110SPN 3110)

Electives

III. ICP Major Field: 5-7 Courses

In the Research Track, one must complete at least five electives. In the Exam Track, one must complete at least seven electives.  In each case, elective credit can include internship (PLS 6819) or practicum (PLS 7790) credit with Director approval.

RESEARCH TRACK: 5 Electives


Students on the Research track must take 5 courses related to a major area to help develop expertise in their intended area of research.

**Students are not permitted to count “Independent Readings” courses (PLS 6910) toward this total.

Major Fields of Concentration: Area Studies; Conflict and Security Studies; Intelligence Studies; or Democracy & Rights.

EXAM TRACK: 7 ELECTIVE COURSES


Students on the Exam track must take 7 courses in major field electives, in preparation for the general exam.

**Students are not permitted to count “Independent Readings” courses (PLS 6910) toward this total.

Major Fields of Concentration: Area Studies; Conflict and Security Studies; Intelligence Studies; Democracy and Rights.

IV. Exam, Thesis, or Project: 1 or 8 Hours

RESEARCH TRACK - THESIS OR PROJECT: 8 HOURS


For those on the Research Track of our MA Program, students choose to do a thesis or project totaling 8 hours. 

PLS 7980 - Graduate Project 1 to 8 Credit Hours

or

PLS 7990 - Graduate Thesis Research 1 to 8 Credit Hours

EXAM TRACK: 1 HOUR


PLS 7970 - Graduate General Examination Credit Hour(s): 1 *

*offered the spring of the second year, repeatable

Total ICP Hours: 30