International Studies, B.A.
The major in International Studies provides an interdisciplinary perspective on global politics, economics, cultures and history. International studies majors acquire twenty-first-century analytical skills and knowledge that will enable them to understand and contribute to shaping the rapidly evolving global community. The degree in international studies prepares students for careers in a variety of fields such as international public policy, international business and finance, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and academic research and teaching.
Requirements for the major include a core set of courses: Introduction to Global Studies, Global Cultures and Society, Global Political Ideologies, Global Political Economy, Human Rights and Global Governance, and Global Environmental Issues. Also required is an additional lower-division social science course, and the Global and International Studies Forum. Students also choose both a geographic focus and a global focus to enable them to broaden and deepen areas of knowledge and topics of particular interest. The final requirements are competence in a language other than English and an international experience or approved internship.
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Requirements for the Major
All International Studies majors must complete a minimum of 16 courses for a letter grade, with a minimum GPA of 2.0.
| A. Complete: | |
| INTL ST 1 | Introduction to Global Studies |
| B. Select four from the following: | |
| Global Cultures and Society | |
| Global Political Ideologies | |
| Global Political Economy | |
| Human Rights and Global Governance | |
| Global Environmental Issues | |
| C. Select one from the following: | |
| Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology | |
| World: Innovations | |
| World: Empires and Revolutions | |
| World: Nation, War, and Rights | |
| Global Economy | |
| Introduction to International Relations | |
| Introduction to Politics Around the World | |
| US and World Geography | |
| Globalization | |
| D. Competency in a language other than English. 1 | |
| E. Geographic Focus: Select two upper-division courses in any one geographic area. 2 | |
| F. Global Focus: Select five upper-division courses. At least two courses must be from Module A. 2 | |
| Module A: | |
| Global Trials | |
| Global Social Movements | |
| Global Cities and Slums | |
| Global Refugees and Stateless People | |
| Global Health | |
| Global Trafficking | |
| Global Gender and Sexuality | |
| Global Political Ecology | |
| Global Food Environment | |
| Global Indigeneity | |
| Global Futures | |
| Racism and Global Apartheid | |
| Racial Capitalism | |
| Global Inequalities | |
| Module B: | |
| Courses for Module B (Functional/Global Focus and Regional/Geographic Focus) are listed below. | |
| G. Two quarters of INTL ST 183A, one quarter of which must be taken during the junior or senior year as a capstone experience. | |
| H. At least one quarter of international experience. 3 | |
Functional/Global Focus
| INTL ST 106A | Global Political Ecology |
| INTL ST 112A | International Business |
| INTL ST 122 | Nuclear Environments |
| INTL ST 145A | International Law |
| INTL ST 179 | Special Topics: Geographic Focus in International Studies |
| INTL ST 183CW | Seminar Conflict Resolution |
| INTL ST 101A | Global Social Movements |
| INTL ST 130 | Transnational Gangs |
| INTL ST 147CW | International Humanitarianism |
| INTL ST 151B | Religion and World Politics |
| INTL ST 155 | Racial Capitalism |
| INTL ST 165 | Introduction to Contemporary Middle East Politics |
| INTL ST 175A | U.S. War on Terrorism |
| INTL ST 179 | Special Topics: Geographic Focus in International Studies |
| INTL ST 189 | Special Topics: Global Focus in International Studies |
| INTL ST 124A | Introduction to the Comparative Study of Legal Cultures |
| INTL ST 130 | Transnational Gangs |
| INTL ST 141B | Homeland Security |
| INTL ST 161A | Political Islam |
| INTL ST 115 | Global Poverty and Inequality in the 21st Century |
| INTL ST 189 | Special Topics: Global Focus in International Studies |
Regional/Geographic Focus
| INTL ST 158B | Peoples of the Pacific |
| INTL ST 176C | Political Power in Contemporary China |
| INTL ST 177C | Revolution in Latin America |
| INTL ST 179 | Special Topics: Geographic Focus in International Studies |
| INTL ST 158D | China in the Global Age |
| INTL ST 165 | Introduction to Contemporary Middle East Politics |
| INTL ST 176C | Political Power in Contemporary China |
| INTL ST 179 | Special Topics: Geographic Focus in International Studies |
| INTL ST 189 | Special Topics: Global Focus in International Studies |
| INTL ST 161A | Political Islam |
| INTL ST 177D | U.S. Intervention in Latin America |
| INTL ST 177E | Cuban Society and Revolution |
| INTL ST 179 | Special Topics: Geographic Focus in International Studies |
| ANTHRO 139 | Special Topics in Cultural and Psychological Anthropology |
| ANTHRO 141A | Ancient Civilization of Mexico and the Southwest |
| ANTHRO 125Z | Arabs and Muslims in the US |
| ART HIS 100 | Studies in Ancient Art |
| ART HIS 150 | Studies in Asian Art |
| ART HIS 155B | Medieval India |
| ART HIS 134E | Topics in Modern European Art |
| ART HIS 167 | Topics in the History of Modern Latin American and Latinx Art |
| CHC/LAT 121 | Latina/Latino Pop: Latina/Latino Popular Culture |
| CHC/LAT 129 | Special Topics in Literature, Arts, Media, Culture |
| COM LIT 143 | Literature, Arts, and Media |
| COM LIT 100A | Nations, Regions, and Beyond |
| COM LIT 150 | Literature in Translation |
| EAS 110 | Topics in Chinese Literature and Society |
| EAS 140 | Topics in Korean Literature and Society |
| EAS 150 | Topics in East Asian Literature in Translation |
| EAS 120 | Topics in Japanese Literature and Society |
| EAS 126 | Topics in East Asian Linguistics |
| EAS 155 | Topics in Cultural Studies in East Asia |
| EAS 160 | Topics in East Asian Cinema |
| EAS 116 | Topics in East Asian Religions |
| ENGLISH 105 | Multicultural Topics in Literatures in English |
| ENGLISH 103 | Topics in Literature, Theory, and Criticism |
| EURO ST 101B | European Studies Core II: Modern Europe (Post-1789) |
| EURO ST 102 | Topics in Early European History and Culture: Pre-1789 |
| EURO ST 103 | Topics in Modern European History and Culture: Post-1789 |
| EURO ST 101B | European Studies Core II: Modern Europe (Post-1789) |
| FLM&MDA 130 | Multicultural Topics in the Media |
| FLM&MDA 160 | National/Regional Cinemas and Media |
| FRENCH 150 | Topics in French Literature and Culture |
| FRENCH 160 | French Cinema |
| GERMAN 150 | German Literature and Culture in Translation |
| GERMAN 160 | German Cinema |
| HISTORY 126B | The Era of World War II: 1933-45 |
| HISTORY 130C | Topics in the Jewish History |
| HISTORY 132E | Armenians and Armenia in Modern World History |
| HISTORY 132H | Topics in Middle Eastern History |
| HISTORY 169 | Topics in Latin American History |
| HISTORY 171E | Chinese History: 1800-1949 |
| HISTORY 175G | Topics in the History of Southeast Asia |
| HISTORY 112D | Topics in Early Modern Europe |
| HISTORY 114 | Topics in Modern European History |
| HISTORY 132D | Armenians and Armenia in Ancient to Early Modern World History |
| HISTORY 169 | Topics in Latin American History |
| HISTORY 171D | Chinese History to 1800 |
| HISTORY 174G | Topics in the History of South Asia |
| HISTORY 102B | Topics in Environmental History |
| HISTORY 131B | Ancient Persia |
| HISTORY 182 | Special Studies in Intellectual-Cultural History |
| ITALIAN 150 | Topics in Italian Literature and Culture |
| POL SCI 147E | Critical Investigations into Humanitarianism in Africa |
| POL SCI 159 | Special Topics in Comparative Politics |
| POL SCI 141C | International Political Economy of East Asia |
| POL SCI 142B | The International Relations of East Asia |
| POL SCI 152K | Immigration Politics in Western Europe |
| POL SCI 141E | US Foreign Policy Toward Asia |
| POL SCI 149 | Special Topics in International Relations |
| POL SCI 159 | Special Topics in Comparative Politics |
| RUSSIAN 150 | Topics in Russian Literature |
| SOC SCI 179 | Special Topics in Asian American Studies |
| SOCIOL 170A | Vietnam War |
- 1
Competency is established by college-level course work equivalent to UCI's fifth quarter of study (usually 2B).
- 2
Although some courses are listed in more than one focus, students may not double count a course for both their geographic and global focus areas. Study abroad counts as one course in the geographic focus.
- 3
Majors are encouraged to study abroad through the University’s Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) or the Independent Programs, which are available for periods of a quarter, year, or summer. When this is not possible, work overseas (through Independent Programs) or a domestic internship with the UCDC Internship Program, the UCI Washington D.C. Academic Internship Program, or Social Science Internship Program (SOC SCI 197) with an international focus may be substituted. Study abroad counts as one course in the regional focus.
Honors Program in International Studies
The Honors Program allows International Studies majors to engage in research leading to the completion of an honors thesis. The topic for the honors thesis is selected by the student, in consultation with a faculty advisor, and should reflect a theme consistent with the student’s module in the International Studies major.
Admission
Admission to the program is based on a formal application submitted prior to the start of Fall quarter. Students looking for a faculty advisor can visit the Global and International Studies faculty page.
Requirements
The Honors Program in the department of Global and International Studies is open to all International Studies majors who meet the minimum academic qualifications (3.5 GPA in International Studies courses and 3.0 GPA overall).
During the winter quarter of the junior year or senior year, students formally apply to the honors program. Students will be notified of their selection to the honors program by June 1. In the fall quarter, students enroll in International Studies INTL ST H180, Honors Research Seminar. In this course, each student formulates a written research plan (i.e., prospectus) for the honors thesis. Students also select a faculty member who agrees to supervise the research, evaluate the written work, and approve the honors thesis. In the winter quarter, students enroll in International Studies INTL ST H190, Honors Thesis, with their faculty advisor. The faculty advisor supervises and evaluates data collection and analysis and reads and edits chapter drafts. In the spring quarter, students enroll in a second quarter of INTL ST H190, Honors Thesis, with their faculty advisor. The thesis is to be completed by the student and approved by the advisor prior to the end of the quarter.
Honors students must also demonstrate a high level of language proficiency by completing two courses beyond the 2A level in language, literature, or culture taught in their chosen international language.
International Studies majors are also required to pursue some form of international experience, as explained in major requirement H.