International Studies (Major)

History and Political Science Department

Anne E. Henderson, Ph.D., Coordinator

Degrees offered

Major
Minor

Campuses

Main Campus

The International Studies Program in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business offers a Major and Minor to students in the Women's College. The program develops the global knowledge and skills students will need in order to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Courses in International Studies are drawn from the Political Science and History, Business and Economics, and Modern Foreign Languages Departments. The Program fosters an understanding of different cultures as well as the institutions, ideas and policies that determine how nations relate to each other in the 21st century. An off-campus experience in the form of an internship, study abroad semester or study tour provides the student with opportunities to immerse herself in another culture and to apply her knowledge in a realistic setting while increasing her awareness of career possibilities in the field.

Summary

International Studies students choose a specialization in International Business or International Relations, and can Minor in Asian Studies or Latin American Studies. Students are strongly encouraged to complete MAT-215 Statistics to satisfy their General Education Requirement in Mathematics and ECO-211 Macroeconomics for the Social Science General Education Requirement.

Students must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all courses taken to complete the requirements of the Major.

Programs of Study

Required Core Courses for a Major in International Studies (Credits)

POL-103 Introduction to International Affairs (3)
POL-401 Political and Economic Globalization (3)
HIS/POL 456 Senior Seminar

Four of the following five courses:

POL-440 Global Issues (3)
HIS/POL-325 Revolution and Terrorism (3)
HIS-404 U.S. Foreign Relations (3)
HIS-233 Europe and the World (3)
POL-351 Problems of Developing Nations (3)

Off-campus experience (one of the following) (3+)

Internship (IDS-361, 461)
Study tour
Study abroad semester

Foreign language*

Two courses beyond the General Education Requirement (one may be a culture course in the foreign language) (6)

*International Studies students may take LEF-203 English: Conversation for International Students or LEF-204 English: Composition for International Students to fulfill the language requirement for the Major, or may be exempted from the language requirement if they test above LEF-203 or LEF-204.

International Studies with a Concentration in International Business

In addition to the required Core courses:

BUS-261 Managing Financial Resources (3)
BUS-302 Principles of Management (3)
BUS-303 Principles of Marketing (3)
BUS-350 International Business (3)
ECO-212 Introduction to Microeconomics or
ECO-211 Introduction to Macroeconomics (3)
ECO-404 International Economics (3)

International Studies with a Concentration in International Business—Four-Year Plan

Below is a sample Program of Study for the International Studies—International Business Major. Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor.

Fall		Spring
First year
NDMU-100 Perspectives in Education	3	Philosophy (200-level)	3
ENG-101 College Writing	3	COM-106 Fundamentals of Oral Comm	3
POL-103 Introduction to International Affairs	3	MAT-215 Statistics	3
Foreign Language	3	ECO-211 Macroeconomics or ECO-212 Microeconomics	3
BUS-302 Principle of Management	3	BUS-303 Principles of Marketing	3
[15 credits]		[15 credits]
Second year
ECO-211 Macroeconomics or ECO-212 Microeconomics	3	RST-201 Introduction to Biblical Studies	3
Foreign Language	3	Foreign Language	3
Philosophy (300-level)	3	BUS-261 Managing Financial Resources	3
General education/Electives	6	Generation education/Electives	6
Physical Education	1	[15 credits]
[16 credits]
Third year
Literature	3	Philosophy (upper-level)	3
Religious Studies (upper-level)	3	BUS-350 International Business	3
Major elective	3	HIS/POL-330 European Foreign Relations	3
Internship or study tour	3	POL-440 Global Issues	3
General Education/Electives	3	Major Elective	3
[15 credits]		[15 credits]
Fourth year
Major elective	3	POL-351 Problems of Developing Nations or HIS/POL-404 U.S. Foreign Relations	3
ECO-404 International Economics	3	HIS/POL-325 Revolution and Terrorism	3
POL-401 Political and Economic Globalization	3	Major elective	3
General Education/Electives	3	General Education/Electives	6
Internship or study tour	3	[15 credits]
[14–16 credits]

For course descriptions, see listings in the following programs: Business, Economics, History, Languages and Political Science.

International Studies with a Concentration in International Relations

In addition to the required Core courses:

POL-361 Methods in Political Science Research (3)

HIS/POL-430 International Organizations and World Politics (3)

Three of the following courses:

HIS/POL-252 Latin American History and Politics
POL-370 Model OAS
HIS-331 Modern China
HIS-402 Women, War and Peace
HIS-233 Europe and the World
HIS-338 Russia Since 1917
HIS-328 Post-Colonial Africa
HIS/POL-200 Genocide
HIS/POL 290 Women in Islamic Societies
HIS-340 History of the Holocaust

Minor in International Studies

The department offers a minor in International Studies consisting of minimum 18 credits of course work. Students who wish to minor in International Studies should consult the program coordinator.

International Studies with a Concentration in International Relations–Four-Year Plan

Below is a sample Program of Study for the International Studies—International Relations Major. Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor.

Fall		Spring
First year
NDMU-100 Perspectives in Educaiton	3	Philosophy (200- level)	3
ENG-101 College Writing	3	COM-106 Fundamentals of Oral Communication	3
POL-103 Introduction to International Affairs	3	HIS/POL-290 Women in Islamic Societies or HIS/POL-200 Genocide	3
Foreign Language	3	Foreign Language	3
General Education/Elective	3	MAT-215 Statistics	3
[15 credits]		[15 credits]
Second year
ECO-211 Macroeconomics or ECO-212 Microeconomics	3	POL-252 Latin America or HIS-328 Post-Colonial Africa	3
HIS-222 Europe, 1848–Pres	3	Foreign Language	3
Foreign Language	3	Natural Science	4
Philosophy (300-level)	3	Literature	3
Physical Education	1	RST-201 Introduction to Biblical Studies	3
General Education/Elective	3	[16 credits]
[16 credits]
Third year
HIS/POL-325 Revolution/Terrorism or HIS/POL-404 U.S. Foreign Relations	3	HIS-338 Russia Since 1917	3
Foreign Language	3	Philosophy (upper-level)	3
Religious Studies (upper-level)	3	Internship or study tour	3
Physical Education	1	POL-351 Problems Developing Nations	3
General Education/Electives	6	General Education/Elective	3
[16 credits]		[15 credits]
Fourth year
POL-361 Methods in Research	3	POL-440 Global Issues	3
POL-430 International Organizations	3	HIS-233 Europe and the World	3
HIS/POL-elective	3	POL-401 Political and Economic Globalization	3
Major elective	3	HIS/POL-456 Capstone Seminar	3
General Education/Elective	3	General Education/Elective	3
[15 credits]		[15 credits]

For course descriptions, see listings in the following programs: Business, Economics, History, Languages and Political Science.

Courses

POL-103 Introduction to International Affairs

Introduces students to different perspectives on power, conflict, international economics and the environment. The role of international organizations and especially the United Nations will also be a focus of the class. Fulfills general education requirements in social science and cross-cultural studies. [3 credits]

POL-200 Hrs: To Break the Killing Machine: Understanding, Preventing, and Overcoming Genocide

Examines the nature, causes and consequences of genocide in order to understand the possibilities and challenges of preventing genocidal violence in the future. The course introduced students to the controversies surrounding the definition and analysis of genocide. It begins with the contested question of what constitutes genocide, and how genocide stands apart from other forms of mass violence such as ethnic cleansing and massacres. The course then considers several approaches to theorizing the causes of genocide. In addition, we analyze the challenges of identifying potentially genocidal situations before the killing begins and of intervening to prevent and stop genocides. The course also studies processes of reconciliation in societies that have experienced, or teetered on, the brink of genocide. Using scholarly texts, works of fiction and films, we explore issues of causation, intervention and healing in cases including the colonial genocides of indigenous populations, the Holocaust, Rwanda, Cambodia, Bosnia, Kosovo, the Iraqi Kurds and Darfur. Ultimately, the course asks students to decide whether genocide is an inevitable scourge of the human condition or a tragic aberration that humanly has the power to transcord. [3 credits]

POL-252 Latin American History and Politics

Analyzes the history or Latin America from pre-Columbian times to the present, navigating through colonialism, independence, the formation of nations, military and personal dictatorships, to current imperfect democracies. The course reviews the economic swings between protectionism and neo-liberalism, and studies how different countries deal with income inequality, race, environmental issues, the changing role of women, cultural differences, and the role of religion. Case studies will focus on Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, and Cuba. Fulfills general education requirements in history and cross-cultural studies. [ 3 credits ]

POL-290 Women in Islamic Societies

Examines the historical development and current realities of women's political, cultural, and economic roles in Islamic societies. The course explores the diversity of women's roles in Muslim countries in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, africa, and Asia. It examines how women have influenced, and been affected by, international trends such as the spread of democracy, the rise of religious fundamentalism, and the process of globalization. Students learn how Muslim women have defined themselves, and been defined, in the realms of political/social activism, work, the arts and culture, and the family. In addition, students critically analyze Western perceptions and stereotypes of Muslim women and their lives. Fulfills general education requirement in cross-cultural and gender studies. [ 3 credits ]

POL-325 Revolution and Terrorism

Traces the causes, patterns and outcomes of the French, Russian, Cuban and Iranian Revolutions, and analyzes the similarities and differences between revolutionary movements and guerrilla and terrorist groups. The course looks at the ideological, ethnic and religious terrorist groups with a special emphasis on religious terrorism and its worldwide impact. Fulfills general education requirements in history and cross-cultural studies. [3 credits]

POL-351 Problems of Developing Nations

Introduces students to economic, political and cultural issues of development and underdevelopment in Asia, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa. Fulfills general education requirement in cross-cultural studies. [3 credits]

POL-361 Methods in Political Science Research

Examines political science research including theory construction, data generating techniques and data analysis. Students learn to match appropriate methodologies with relevant research questions in the field. Prerequisite: MAT-215. [3 credits]

POL-370 Hrs: Model Organization of American States (OAS)

Prepares students to participate in the Model Organization of American States (Model OAS) competition, which takes place at OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. in the spring. A team of 10 Notre Dame students, representing an assigned country, debates other colleges and universities from the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean on issues such as democratization, regional integration, poverty, environmental problems and human rights issues. In addition to becoming familiar with hemispheric issues, students learn leadership, cooperation, persuasion and diplomatic skills. Prerequisite: Morrissy scholar and permission. Fulfills general education requirement in social science and cross-cultural studies. [3 credits]

POL-401 Political and Economic Globalization

Introduces students to the political implications of trade, aid, investment, technology and energy relations along with their impact on relations between rich as well as poor countries. Fulfills general education requirement for cross cultural studies. Prerequisite: POL-103 or permission. [3 credits]

POL-404 US Foreign Relation 20th Cent

An examination of the courses of U.S foreign relations from the end of World War I through the Cold War, an analysis of the foreign policy decision-making process.

POL-430 International Organizations and World Politics

Introduces students to past, present and future international organizations. Emphasizes evaluation of the operations of the United Nations as an arena for conflict resolution and attention to social welfare concerns in the international system. Fulfills general education requirement for cross cultural studies. Prerequisite: POL-103. [3 credits]

POL-440 Global Issues

Examines five to six major topics that interconnect or divide the contemporary world. Democracy, the global economy, religion and ethnicity, global migration, population trends, women, the environment, and technology and communication are some of the issues we visit. Fulfills general education requirement in cross-cultural studies. Prerequisite: POL-103. [3 credits]

POL-456 Senior Seminar

Applies ideas, methods, and approaches from history, political science, and international studies to the exploration of selected topics. Students situate their discipline within their context of related fields, while also advancing the skills necessary for professional work in their own areas. In this team-taught course, history majors address the selected topic through focusing on the history of history, the politics of history, and the art of writing history based on original sources. Meanwhile, political science and international studies major use the selected topic as a focal point for synthesizing their understanding of the diverse theories and methods of thier disciplines. All students will, in consultation with their professors, select, design and write an original research paper to be presented to the class at the end of the semester. Serves as the capstone course for history, political science, and international studies majors. Prerequisites: POL-101 or POL-103 for POL and INS majors; HIS-101 for History Majors. [ 3 credits ]