International Studies Minor (E, A)

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International Studies is a multidisciplinary minor designed to complement any major by adding international perspectives and competencies to any chosen field of specialization. It provides a broad appreciation of contemporary global issues such as war and terrorism, human rights, refugees and migration, international trade, and climate change. Students will take two International Studies core courses and choose electives carrying the “A” and “E” designations in the REAL curriculum for their remaining courses. Through these learning experiences, students acquire important skills and knowledge to prepare them for success in future careers and a life of active world citizenship in our globalized society.

REAL Curriculum

This minor fulfills the E and A areas of the REAL Curriculum. The International Studies minor offers students a menu of Humanistic or Artistic Expression (“E”) courses to enable them to engage in humanistic or artistic investigation with a focus on art, literature, culture, history, cinema, and religion from outside the United States. In addition, the International Studies minor includes courses in Cultural and Behavioral Analysis (“A”) to give students the ability to understand interdisciplinary issues in the global environment, such as sustainable development, globalization, human rights, corruption, poverty, gender equality, pandemics, armed conflicts, international terrorism, refugees and migration, and climate change. Students need majors and/or minors to fulfill the R and L areas to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements.

REAL Cornerstone Requirements

Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level. The International Studies minor includes 0-9 credits of writing intensive courses.

General Education Requirements

General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The International Studies minor includes 6-15 general education credits.

Minor Requirements (18 credits)

Required Courses (6 credits)

Cultural or Behavioral Analysis Course

Choose one of the following:

General Education Course

Choose one of the following:

Humanistic or Artistic Expression Course

Choose two of the following (at least one must be at the 300- or 400-level):

Total Credit Hours for Minor 18

Additional Information

Foreign Language: The study of foreign language is important in the understanding of international issues, and as such, students are encouraged to complement their International Studies minor with foreign language study.

Study Abroad: Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad as part of their International Studies minor. Students will benefit immeasurably from seeing in the real world the issues they have been studying in their coursework.The Director of International Studies will work with students to determine how overseas coursework and faculty-led travel/study can be used to satisfy the requirements for the minor.