2025-2026 Academic Catalog 
    
    Dec 05, 2025  
2025-2026 Academic Catalog

International Studies, BA (INTLSTUD-BA)


CIP Code: 302001

Program Description

The international studies major offers students the opportunity to study international politics, economics, culture, and society. 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: 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, 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.

Program Admission Requirements

This academic program does not have admission requirements beyond regular admission to Wright State University.  Any student is eligible to declare this academic program. 

Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program 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.

Program Learning Outcomes

 As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program 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.

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 or for an advanced, limited enrollment seminar in any discipline in which they have had significant coursework and who complete an honors thesis with a grade of A or B. Juniors with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 (and 3.50 in the major) should contact the program director about this opportunity and its requirements.

Combined Undergraduate and Graduate Program

This program offers a combined-degree program with a master’s degree in International & Comparative Politics. A combined-degree program provides an opportunity for an undergraduate student to begin working toward a master’s degree in their senior year.  This allows students to complete the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in less combined time than it would take to complete them sequentially.   

Students enrolled in a combined-degree program may “double count” a maximum of nine credit hours of graduate-level courses to satisfy both the bachelor’s and the master’s degree requirements.  Students must earn at least 141 unique credit hours (any credits that “double-count” toward both degrees are counted only once toward the total number of unique hours) in the combined-degree program.   

To participate in a combined-degree program, students must apply through the College of Graduate Programs and Honors Studies and meet all admission qualifications.  Learn more about combined programs in Policy 5330.   

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours


As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours. 

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements

First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours


All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year.  Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category. 

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours


Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 3 Credit Hours


Students will select one Element B course from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements list.  Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the course chosen. 

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours


Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.  One course must fulfill the History requirement. 

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours


Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours


Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.  At least one course must contain a laboratory. 

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours


Students will select up to 5 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.   

Additional Core Requirements


Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following: 

  • One Global Inquiry (GI) course 

  • Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses 

  • One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses.  To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major.  Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing. 

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36. 

II. Major Core Requirements: 15 Credit Hours


Students will select 15 credit hours from the following:

III. Related Requirements: 0-6 Credit Hours


Students are encouraged to take a third year of language either at WSU, through SOCHE, or Study Abroad. Students may select one of the following:

  • Two courses in foreign language at the 3000 level or above
  • Two courses in a second foreign language offered at WSU
  • Demonstrated proficiency

If a student is unable to complete a third year of language, they may choose instead to take 6 additional credit hours in their selected concentration.

IV. Major Concentration Requirements: 21-27 Credit 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.

Asian Studies Concentration


Student will select 21 credit hours from at least three different disciplines listed below:

Comparative Cultures Concentration


Student will select 21 credit hours from at least three different disciplines listed below:

European Studies Concentration


Student will select 21 credit hours from at least three different disciplines listed below:

International Diplomacy and Peace Studies Concentration


International Economic Affairs Concentration


Student will select 9 credit hours from the following plus 12 credit hours in Economics.

Middle Eastern Studies Concentration


Student will complete 21 credit hours from the following including 6 credit hours of 3000-4000 level courses from HST and PLS with a Middle Eastern focus. REL 3310 is required.

Research/Intelligence Analyst Concentration


Student will complete the following:

V. College Requirements: 18-22 Credit Hours


Foreign Language: 12-16 Credit Hours


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

American Sign Language (ASL)*, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish, or other foreign language. 

*Note: all language classes above are 3 credit hours each, except for the ASL classes which are 4 credit hours each. 

Methods of Inquiry: 6 Credit Hours


VI. General Electives: 20-24 Credit Hours


Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree.  If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours.  Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit. 

Students are encouraged to consider adding a minor, certificate, or microcredential

Total: 120 Credit Hours


Graduation Planning Strategy


A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS), also known as a four-year guide, is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables. 

These guides are valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and are subject to change. These guides are a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion