International Studies (BA) 

About the Program

Why pursue International Studies? We live in an interdependent world. Daily headlines, national policies, and regional economics are shaped by people all around the globe. World forces affect our academic choices, career opportunities, and shopping lists--even the water we drink and the air we breathe. As more businesses and organizations expand globally, we as individuals are going global too, surfing the Web and e-mailing across the seas to pursue our personal and professional goals. Following this trend, International Studies provides a context for studying social and natural sciences, business and commerce, the humanities, fine arts, and foreign languages within a global context.

International Studies provides an interdisciplinary program designed to give students specialized and general global knowledge, second language skills, and significant international experience. Each student will complete the core courses, select a second language, and study abroad or complete an internship (as approved by the Director of the Center for International Education).

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students should:

• Attain a general awareness of the globe as a system
• Gain a consciousness of the issues that face us internationally
• Obtain knowledge of other cultural forms outside one’s natal experience
• Master a language other than one’s native language
• Participate in a program of study or internship abroad that becomes the initial experience to which the academic knowledge and language are applied.

Requirements

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 128 credit hours consisting of the following:

• 36 required credit hours
• Applicable university global citizenship or general education program hours
• Electives

Program Requirements

• Students must choose a concentration in one of the following Areas of Emphasis:  Asia,   International Film Studies, Global Journalism, International Media Communications, International Business, International Human Rights, or Latin America.
• Student must attain language competency at the 3000 level or above.
• Student must participate in an approved Webster University study abroad experience or in an approved international internship.
• Student must complete all courses in the major with a grade of C or better.
  

Core Required Courses

ANTH 1400 Introduction to Geography: World and Regional	3 hours
HRTS 1100 Introduction to Human Rights	3 hours
INTL 1500 World Systems Since 1500	3 hours
ISTL 1000 Introduction to International Studies	3 hours
ISTL 4500 International Studies Senior Capstone Course   Prerequisite: Junior standing	3 hours

Culture and Communications Series: choose
one course from the following:

ANTH 1100 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology	3 hours
ANTH 2300 Culture and Communication	3 hours
ILC 2150 Topics in Culture	1-3 hours
MEDC/INTL 3260 International Communications	3 hours

Science and Technology Series:
choose one course from the following:

BIOL 3200 Ecology	3 hours
ISTL 2600 Natural Systems and Sustainable Ecologies	3 hours
PHIL 2360 Environmental Ethics	3 hours
SCIN 1520 Environment	3 hours

For an emphasis in Asia, International Film Studies, Global Journalism, International Media Communications, or International Business choose one course from either of the following categories:

International Arts and Fine Arts

ARHS 22xx International Art History	3 hours
FLST 2060 Modern World Cinema	4 hours
FLST 2070 History of Animation	3 hours
MUSC 1070 Topics in Music	3 hours
PHOT 2040 History of Photography	3 hours
THEA 2030 History of Theatre	3 hours

Global Civil Society

HRTS 3500 International Human Rights Law	3 hours
HRTS 3700 Human Rights and Business	3 hours
INTL 2030 International Law	3 hours
INTL 3700 International Organizations	3 hours
INTL 2690 Multinational Corporations	3 hours
INTL 3330 International Economic Integration	3 hours
POLT 1050 Introduction to International Politics	3 hours

For International Human Rights Emphasis: students must choose one course from either of the following categories:
International Arts and Fine Arts

HRTS 3160 Human Rights in Film--Documentary	3 hours
HRTS 3170 Human Rights in Film--Narrative	3 hours

Topics courses as appropriate and approved.

Global Civil Society

HRTS 1500 Current Problems in Human Rights	3 hours
HRTS 3210 Prejudice and Discrimination	3 hours
HRTS 3400 Human Rights and the Environment	3 hours
HRTS 3500 International Human Rights Law	3 hours
HRTS 3600 Topics in Mass Violence	3 hours
HRTS 3700 Human Rights and Business	3 hours

For an Emphasis in Latin America: students must choose one course from either of the following categories:
International Arts and Fine Art

ENGL 4030 Literature of Latin America	3 hours
FLST 3160/ISTL 2660 Topics: (with Latin American content (e.g. Latin American Film, Brazilian Culture through Music & Film, etc.)	3 hours
PHOT 4000 Photo Workshop (with Latin American content)	3 hours
SPAN 4250 Topics in Literature (with Latin American content)	3 hours
SPAN 4650 Advanced Topics (with appropriate subtitle)	3 hours

Global Civil Society

HIST 2040 Topics in Latin American History	3 hours
HRTS 3200 Human Rights Area Studies	3 hours
ILC 4150 Contemporary Issues (with appropriate subtitle)	3 hours
ISTL 2450 Twentieth-Century Latin America	3 hours
POLT 2550 Politics of Development (with Latin American content)	3 hours
POLT 3400 Comparative Politics (with Latin American content)	3 hours
POLT 4400 Advanced Studies in Comparative Politics: Latin America (or subtitle with Latin American content)	3 hours

Students must earn 12 credit hours, of which 6 must be at the 3000 level or above, in one of the following approved areas of emphasis.

Asia Emphasis

• Students must attain competency of at least one Asian language at the 3000 level or above.
• Students must participate in an approved Webster University study abroad experience in Asia or in an approved international internship in Asia.
• Students' senior projects in the capstone course (ISTL 4500) should focus on Asia.
• Students must earn 12 credit hours, of which 6 must be at the 3000 level or above, from the following:
  

  RELG 2070 Introduction to Religions of the East	3 hours
  ANTH 2500 Peoples and Cultures (with appropriate subtitle)	3 hours
  ARHS 2320 Introduction to Asian Art	3 hours
  HIST 2030 Topics in Asian History	3 hours
  MNGT 3100 Issues in Management: Asian Culture and Business	3 hours
  POLT 3400 Comparative Politics (with appropriate subtitle	3 hours
  ISTL 3550 Advanced Topics in Asian Studies  (maximum 6 credits with prior approval by the International Studies Major advisor.	3 hours

Europe Emphasis

    Required Course:
        

HIST 2020 Topics in Modern Europe History

3 hours

     Two Courses from:
        International Arts and Fine Arts (with European focus)

ENGL 2020 Major British Writers I

ENGL 2030 Major British Writers II

ENG 3900 Myth and Classical Literature (Homer, Virgil, and Dante)

ENGL 4020 Heroic Themes (Malory, Spenser, and Milton)

ENGL 4150 Shakespeare I

ENGL 4160 Shakespeare II

ILC 2150 Topics in Culture*

ILC 3150 Culture and Civilization*

ILC 4150 Contemporary Issues *

ARHS 2210 Intro to the History of Western Art

ARHS 3340 History of Renaissance Art

ARHS 3150 Baroque Art

ARHS 4600 Topics in Art History **

MUSC 1050 Introduction to Music Appreciation (3)

MUSC 1070 Topics in Music (3) (with European content)

PHIL 2510 Philosophic Classics: Ancient Greece and Rome

PHIL 2520 Philosophic Classics: Early Modern Europe

PHIL 3100 Literature and Philosophy

PHIL 4050 Topics in the History of Philosophy *

     Two Courses from:
         Global Civil Society (with European focus)

HIST 3000 History of Ideas*

RELG 3180 Judaism

RELG 3190 Christianity

HIST 2200 History of Medieval Society

HIST 2210 Early Modern Europe*

HIST 2020 Topics in Modern European History*

HIST 2250 History of Russia*

HIST 2280 History of England*

HIST 2390 Encounters with History*

HIST 3060 History Roundtable *

HIST 3150 International Affairs *

HIST 4200 Advanced Studies in European History*

HIST 4600 History Seminar *

POLT 3400 Comparative Politics *

POLT 4200 Advanced Studies in Political Theory *

POLT 4100 Advanced Studies in International Politics *

POLT 4400 Advanced Studies in Comparative Politics *

POLT 4600 Political Science Seminar *

     *May be repeated if content differs. Must have European focus.

Global Journalism Emphasis

JOUR 3080 Global Journalism		3 hours
Three courses from the following:
	JOUR 3120 Global Affairs Reporting	3 hours
	JOUR 3190 Topics in International Journalism	3 hours
	JOUR 3750 Environmental Journalism and Communications; Prerequisite: Jour 1030 or SCIN 1520	3 hours
	JOUR 4220 Advanced Global Journalism	3 hours

International Film Studies Emphasis

Two courses from the following:

• FLST 2050 History of Film	3 hours
  FLST 2060 Modern World Cinema	4 hours
  FLST 2070 History of Animation	3 hours
  FLST 3160 Topics in Film (two classes cross-listed with the Int'l. Studies program); Prerequisite: FLST 1080 or 2060

International Media Communications Emphasis

MEDC 2800 Cultural Diversity in the Media		3 hours
Three courses from the following:
	JOUR 3190 Topics in International Journalism Prerequisite: JOUR 3080	3 hours
	MEDC 3150 Topics In Media Communication (w/Int'l. content)	3 hours
	MEDC 3700 Topics in International Communications (w/Int'l. content) 3 hours	3 hours
	MEDC 3800 Topics in Cultural Diversity (with international content)	3 hours
	ADVT 3910 International Advertising	3 hours

International Business Emphasis

BUSN 4650 International Business Prerequisite: MNGT 2100	3 hours
ECON 4720 International Trade and Finance Prerequisite: ECON 2020 and ECON 2030	3 hours
MNGT 4100 International Management Prerequisite: MNGT 2100 and MNGT 3400	3 hours
MNGT 4330 International Marketing Prerequisite: MNGT 3500	3 hours

International Human Rights Emphasis

12 credit hours from among the following
(in addition to any courses selected in the above categories)

• HRTS 2500 Current Problems in Human Rights	3 hours
  HRTS 3160 Human Rights in Film--Documentary	3 hours
  HRTS 3170 Human Rights in Film--Narrative	3 hours
  HRTS 3200 Human Rights Area Studies	3 hours
  HRTS 3210 Prejudice and Discrimination	3 hours
  HRTS 3400 Human Rights and the Environment	3 hours
  HRTS 3500 International Human Rights Law	3 hours
  HRTS 3600 Topics in Mass Violence	3 hours
  HRTS 3700 Human Rights and Business	3 hours
  HRTS 4500 International Field Experience	3 hours

Latin America Emphasis

Students should complete their international experience in a country relevant to Latin America and show proficiency at the 3000 level or above in a language also relevant to Latin America

One from the following

• ISTL 1100 Introduction to Latin American Studies	3 hours
  ILC 2150 Topics in Culture (with appropriate subtitle)	3 hours
  SPAN 3150 Culture and Civilization of the Spanish Speaking World: Latin America	3 hours

One from the following

• ISTL 2450 Twentieth-Century Latin America	3 hours
  POLT 2550 The Politics of the Developing World (with appropriate subtitle)	3 hours
  HIST 2040 Topics in Latin American History	3 hours

At least two additional courses with substantial Latin American content drawn from the above or from a list of courses available from the CIE or from the coordinator of Latin American Studies.

Up to 12 credit hours may, with approval, apply both to the international studies major and a second or dual major. This option does not apply to a dual major in international studies and international relations, international human rights or international business, or to other similarly related areas.

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