International Studies, BA

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Program Description:

The international studies major offers students the opportunity to study international politics, economics, culture, and society. The major combines 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: three 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’s studies; and work in a specialized track.

The specialized tracks in the international studies major provide six options: international diplomacy and peace studies, area studies, comparative cultures, international economics, global gender studies, and research/intelligence analysis. The international diplomacy and peace studies track includes courses in political science, communication, and history. The area studies track allows students to focus on a global region (e.g., Africa or Latin America) and includes classes in anthropology, history, humanities, and political science. The comparative cultures track includes courses from anthropology, classics, English, history, humanities, philosophy, and religion. The international economics track focuses on global economic concerns, with supporting course work in history, political science, and sociology. The global gender studies track incorporates a gender-analysis approach to diplomacy, area studies, comparative cultures, and international economics. The research/intelligence track 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, E190 Student Union.

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. In order to have 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 program also provides sound preparation for students interested in graduate work in law, the humanities, or the social sciences.

Honors Program:

Departmental honors in international studies are awarded upon graduation to qualified international studies majors who carry out independent research under the guidance of a faculty sponsor and who complete an honors thesis with a grade of A or B. Juniors with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (and 3.5 in the major) should contact the program director about this opportunity and its requirements.

Program Requirements:

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): 6

II. Departmental Requirements: 36 Hours

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

ART 2120 - Art History II: Renaissance to Contemporary Credit Hour(s): 3 or
ART 2140 - Themes in Visual Culture Credit Hour(s): 3
EC 2500 - Economic Systems of the Global South Credit Hour(s): 3
REL 2320 - Nonwestern Religions Credit Hour(s): 3
HST 3900 - Global Encounters Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 3300 - World Regional Geography Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 2220 - International Politics Credit Hour(s): 3

Track D should take

EC 2040 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hour(s): 3
EC 2050 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hour(s): 3
EC 3100 - The Global Economy Credit Hour(s): 3

Major specialized track: 21 Hours

III. Related Requirements: 6 Hours

2 courses in foreign language at the 3000 level or above or
demonstrated proficiency at that level

IV. College Requirements: 18 Hours

Foreign Language: 12 Hours

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

Spanish, French, German, Greek, Latin, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Japanese, American Sign Language or other.

Methods of Inquiry

PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3
Research Methods - One course from approved list Credit Hour(s): 3

V. Electives: 26 Hours

Total: 124 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.