2023-24 Edition

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
INTL ST 163 Global Inequalities
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 spring quarter of the junior year or during the summer before the senior year, students formally apply to the honors program. Students will be notified of their selection to the honors program by September 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.