College Schools, Departments & Programs

International Studies

Course Descriptions
  • INTL-I 100 Introduction to International Studies (3 cr.) This introductory, interdisciplinary course exposes students to the various academic approaches essential to international studies and to the various concentrations that comprise the major.
  • INTL-I 101 The World in Crisis (3 cr.) Explores historical, cultural, and geopolitical contexts for contemporary world events, and introduces critical approaches to media sources. Requires analysis of current events in a variety of formats, both written and oral. Not repeatable for credit.
  • INTL-I 102 Climate Change and International Studies (3 cr.) Climate change is a cross-cutting contemporary problem: it intersects with issues of culture and politics, conflict, security, human rights, development, and governance. This class explores the basic science and policy of climate change, along with these intersections.
  • INTL-I 202 Global Health and Environment (3 cr.) Examination of pressing health and environmental challenges around the world, such as deforestation, climate change and the spread of infectious diseases. Focuses on the interaction of health and environmental problems that cross national borders and require a multinational or global effort to solve.
  • INTL-I 203 Global Development (3 cr.) Focuses on the interaction between social, political, and economic forces and human development at global, national, and subnational scales; introduces theoretical perspectives on economic development and the function of markets.
  • INTL-I 204 Human Rights and International Law (3 cr.) Focuses on human rights discourse and the role international law, treaties and conventions play in addressing these rights globally. Course is interdisciplinary in theory and method.
  • INTL-I 205 Culture and Politics (3 cr.) Examines culture and governance on an international scale, considering how governments, markets, and international organizations deploy or use culture, and how people turn to cultural resources to resist attempts to govern them and/or to assert their own political aims.
  • INTL-I 206 Peace and Conflict (3 cr.) Examines concepts of nationalism and state ideology that shape the world's collective identities and contribute to conflicts nationally and internationally.
  • INTL-I 210 Diplomacy, Security, Governance (3 cr.) Examines the development of the modern state and the role of international organizations in maintaining global security and promoting global governance. Addresses issues of political and cultural diplomacy and their effect in international disputes.
  • INTL-I 212 Negotiating Global Challenges (1-3 cr.) Examines issues in contemporary diplomacy and governance. Topics may include conflict resolution, the operation of international organizations such as the United Nations, and diplomatic relations. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 3 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 220 Global Connections (3 cr.) Focuses on globalization as manifested in the shaping of intercultural communication, artistic expressions, collective identities and human rights discourses from comparative and international perspectives.
  • INTL-I 222 Global Health Connections (3 cr.) Focuses on the non-medical determinants of health in communities and societies around the world, as well as on the most important health challenges the world faces. One of the main goals is to understand and evaluate the importance of local contexts and global processes in addressing health issues today, while also engaging in discussions about human rights, ethics, inequalities, and pragmatic and global solidarity.
  • INTL-I 300 Topics in International Studies (1-3 cr.) This course focuses on the intensive study and analysis of selected international problems and issues within an interdisciplinary format. Topics will vary but will cut across fields, regions, and periods. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 302 Advanced Topics in Global Health and Environment (3 cr.) Advanced topics examining pressing health and environmental challenges around the world. Focuses on the interaction of health and environmental problems that cross national borders and require a multinational or global effort to solve. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 303 Advanced Topics in Global Development (3 cr.) Advanced topics examining the interaction between social, political, and economic forces and human development at global, national, and subnational scales; in-depth analysis of theoretical perspectives on economic development and the function of markets. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 304 Advanced Topics in Human Rights and International Law (3 cr.) Advanced topics focusing on human rights discourse and the role international law, treaties and conventions play in addressing these rights globally. Topics are interdisciplinary in theory and method. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 305 Advanced Topics in Culture and Politics (3 cr.) Advanced topics in the study of culture and governance. The focus is on relationships of power and authority, including how governments, markets, and international organizations deploy or use culture, and how people turn to cultural resources to resist attempts to govern them and/or to assert their own political aims. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 306 Advanced Topics in Peace and Conflict (3 cr.) Advanced topics examining concepts of nationalism and state ideology that shape the world's collective identities and contribute to conflicts nationally and internationally. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 310 Advanced Topics in Diplomacy, Security, Governance (3 cr.) Advanced topics focusing on the development of the modern state and the role of international organizations in maintaining global security and promoting global governance. Addresses issues of political and cultural diplomacy and their effect in international disputes. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 315 Research Design in International Studies (3 cr.) Introduction to research design and methodology used in international studies in preparation for undertaking research abroad and completing the I400 / I406 Capstone Seminar. Completion before the major's overseas/international experience is strongly recommended. This course is required for all International Studies majors.
  • INTL-I 325 International Issues through Foreign Languages (1 cr.) This seminar will examine an international issue through a foreign perspective. Course readings and discussions will be conducted in a foreign language at an advanced level.  The seminar's objective is to expose participants to global problems utilizing non-U.S. sources.
  • INTL-I 400 International Studies Capstone Seminar (3 cr.) P: I315. This required seminar is designed for senior majors who have completed all of the International Studies degree requirements to consolidate their studies. Students complete a project that addresses an issue appropriate to their concentration.
  • INTL-I 401 Global Service Capstone (1 cr.) Project or two workshops that captures the student's accumulated knowledge of global service.
  • INTL-I 406 Honors International Studies Capstone Seminar (3 cr.) P: I315, application, and approval of department. Required for departmental honors credit, this seminar is designed to consolidate the studies of honors-track seniors who have completed all International Studies degree requirements. Students must complete a project that addresses an issue appropriate to their concentration.
  • INTL-I 420 Environment: Global Perspectives (3 cr.) Interdisciplinary study of comparative environmental issues around the world. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 421 Human Rights and the Arts (3 cr.) Study of human rights through the arts. Exploration of artistic expressions in various sociopolitical contexts and the global trends from which they emerge. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 422 Contested Territories/Conflicted Identities (3 cr.) Study of nationalism to explore how history, politics and culture conflict and converge in shaping multiple identities. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 423 Postcolonial/Postcommunist Discourses (3 cr.) Study of emergence and use of postcolonial and postcommunist theories to analyze colonial and communist discourses as well as their political and cultural legacies. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 424 War and Peace (3 cr.) Exploration of war and peace with regard to their political, moral and legal consequences. Study of structures that adjudicate disputes and the role of international organizations in regulating war and initiating peace. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 425 Gender: International Perspectives (3 cr.) Examination of gender issues from international and interdisciplinary perspectives. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 426 Advanced Topics in International Studies (3 cr.) In-depth study and analysis of an international problem, culminating in a research project. Topics vary. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 427 Issues in Global Development and Political Economy (3 cr.) Interdisciplinary study of issues of global development and political economy. Includes both analytical and methodological approaches. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 428 Social Justice and the Environment (3 cr.) Interdisciplinary study of comparative environmental justice issues around the world. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 429 Global Health Politics (3 cr.) Study of global health policies and their relationships to social movements. Focuses on the effect of global governance institutions and NGOs on global health policy and action. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-I 499 Seminar in Conflict Studies (1-3 cr.) Study and analysis of conflicts and conflict resolution around the world through selected case studies. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 3 credit hours.
  • INTL-L 250 Introduction to International Law and Legal Institutions (3 cr.) Introduces the central instruments and methodological tools of international law through study of international law cases, major treaties, and key institutions such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.
  • INTL-L 350 Origins and Evolution of International Law (3 cr.) Explores the history, central figures, and key arguments in the development of international law; concepts to be discussed include natural law, reason of state, positivism, embedded liberalism, crimes against humanity, and Responsibility to Protect.
  • INTL-L 353 Laws and Institutions in International Investment (3 cr.) Study of the economic, historical, cultural, and political forces that shape and influence international investments; and the roles that international laws and institutions play in cross-border business transactions.
  • INTL-L 356 Intervention and Sovereignty (3 cr.) Discussion of the origins and evolution of international laws on genocide, atrocity, and crimes against humanity; exploration of the philosophical and legal bases for international laws on conflict.
  • INTL-X 370 Topics with Service Learning in International Studies (3 cr.) Examines issues of international scope through service learning projects. Content varies with instructor. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X370 and I435.
  • INTL-X 390 Individual Readings in International Studies (1-3 cr.) P: Major or minor in International Studies, application, and approval of department. Students conduct individual research projects on an international issue under the direction of a faculty member. Student and faculty member should develop a project and submit a "contract" to the department for approval. May repeat X390 or take any combination of X390, I415 and I405 for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
  • INTL-X 398 Research in International Studies (1-3 cr.) P: Major or minor in International Studies and permission of department. Overseas faculty-directed research in international studies. Credit given for only one of X398 or I430.
  • INTL-X 473 Internship in International Studies (1-3 cr.) P: Approval of department. Provides students with an opportunity to receive academic credit for a part-time or full-time internship experience within the U.S. or overseas. Allows students to apply the knowledge gained through coursework in International Studies to the work world, thereby developing additional knowledge and skills and exposing them to professional career options. S/F grading. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours in I498 and X473.
  • INTL-I 405 Honors Individual Readings in International Studies (3 cr.) P: Application and approval of program director. Students pursuing departmental honors conduct research in preparation for their honors capstone seminar. May not be repeated for credit.