Undergraduate Catalog

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

College of Arts and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Program
John Roach Center for the Liberal Arts (JRC) 408, 651-962-5722
Buhr (POLS), director

This major seeks to give the student an understanding of the contemporary international system. It combines study in economics, history and political science with a concentration in one of these fields, along with the study of world geography and a foreign language beyond the College’s general education requirement. The program takes an explicitly interdisciplinary approach, which is intended to instill in students the core knowledge shared by international studies scholars and professionals.

Students graduating with a major in international studies will be capable of critical thought and writing in the professional style of the discipline. Majors will also develop skills such as research fundamentals, analysis, and collection and interpretation of empirical data. These skills enable graduates to relate their international interests to a broad range of careers including government, international business, international law, nonprofit organizations and teaching. Graduates will also be well-prepared to undertake graduate studies in related disciplines such as international relations, public policy, law and business.

Major in International Studies

  • ECON 251 Principles of Macroeconomics (4 credits)
  • GEOG 113 Globalization & World Regions (4 credits)
  • HIST 112 The Modern World Since 1550 (4 credits)
    or HIST 115 The World Since 1900 (4 credits)
  • IDSC 481 Seminar in International Studies (4 credits)
    or POLS 424 Senior Seminar in International Studies/Politics (4 credits)
  • POLS 104 Government and Politics (4 credits)
Plus:

Twenty-eight credits from a list of courses in economics, history and political science.  A student must choose at least 16 credits from one discipline (the area of concentration).  The remaining 12 credits must include courses from each of the other two disciplines or the courses from other disciplines listed below.

  • COMM 370 Intercultural Communication (4 credits)
  • ECON 252 Principles of Microeconomics (4 credits)
  • ECON 341 Economics of International Finance (4 credits)
  • ECON 342 International Trade (4 credits)
  • ECON 345 Economics of Development and Growth (4 credits)
  • ECON 346 Country and Area Studies in Economics (4 credits)
  • HIST 207 Slavery in the Americas (4 credits)
  • HIST 225 The Making of Modern Europe, 1750 to 1914 (4 credits)
  • HIST 226 Modern Europe since 1914 (4 credits)
  • HIST 227 Global History of Genocide (4 credits)
  • HIST 228 Environmental History (4 credits)
  • HIST 231 Empires and Nations of the Middle East (4 credits)
  • HIST 240 Foundations of Chinese Civilization (4 credits)
  • HIST 241 History of Modern China (4 credits)
  • HIST 244 Modern East Asia (4 credits)
  • HIST 303 History of Modern Brazil (4 credits)
  • HIST 309 History of Urban Latin America (4 credits)
  • HIST 333 East-Central Europe : From Monarchy to the European Union (4 credits)
  • HIST 349 History of the Ottoman Empire (4 credits)
  • HIST 375 Non-State Actors in the Islamic World (4 credits)
  • HIST 394 Topics in European History (4 credits)
  • HIST 395 Topics in History of Africa, Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East (4 credits)
  • POLS 225 World Politics (4 credits)
  • POLS 320 American Foreign Policy (4 credits)
  • POLS 321 Comparative Foreign Policy (4 credits)
  • POLS 326 International Law and Organizations (4 credits)
  • POLS 328 International Security (4 credits)
  • POLS 350 Comparative Politics of the New Europe (4 credits)
  • POLS 352 Politics of the Developing World (4 credits)
  • POLS 354 Politics of Post-Soviet States (4 credits)
  • POLS 356 Politics of India, Pakistan, and South Asia (4 credits)
  • POLS 358 Comparative Politics of Asia (4 credits)
  • POLS 424 Seminar in International Relations(4 credits)
  • POLS 454 Seminar in Comparative Politics (4 credits)
  • GEOG - The Department of Geography from time to time offers courses on the geography of selected regions of the world. With the approval of the director of international studies, these courses may be elected to fulfill non-concentration requirements.
  • JPST - The Justice and Peace Studies program has courses that may count toward the major. Ask the program director if a course qualifies.
  • WGSS - The Women, Gender, and Sexualities Studies program occasionally offers courses that may count toward the major. Ask the program director if a course qualifies.

Allied requirements:

  • For languages in which UST offers a major (French, German, Spanish): Successful completion of the the 300-level course plus one higher-numbered course.  
  • For languages in which UST does not offer a major (Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Japanese) or "critical languages" (defined by the U.S. Department of State): completion of 212-level course OR 16 credits of study in that language. 
ACTC courses:

A student with particular academic and/or career interests should consult with the director about courses offered by the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities that would be appropriate to the major.

Opportunities for study abroad:

Students majoring in international studies should seriously consider one or more of the opportunities to study abroad offered by the Office of Study Abroad.

Opportunities for internships:

Students majoring in international studies should discuss with the director opportunities to relate academic and career interests through internship experiences in the Twin Cities or Washington, D.C.