Aerial view of campus with Williamsport, the Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Mountain as a backdrop

International Studies (INST)

Associate Professor: Payne (Coordinator)

  • Major: International Studies
  • Tracks: Transnational and Global, Developed Countries, Developing Countries
  • Courses required for major: 10
  • Capstone requirement: INST 449

The International Studies major is a ten-course interdisciplinary major. It includes a core set of six courses which every student must take. The core courses draw from five different departments and provide students with a truly interdisciplinary experience. This core is combined with a flexible set of electives, which simultaneously prepares students to meet their individual future goals. Specifically, students can complete the final four courses of the major in one of three ways: (1) they may take a more general approach in which they take courses which focus on broad transnational and global issues or they may choose to pursue either the (2) Developed Countries Area focus or the (3) Developing Countries Area focus.

The program is intended to prepare students either for graduate study or for careers which have an international component. International obligations are increasingly assumed by government agencies and a wide range of business, social, religious, and educational organizations. Opportunities are found in the fields of journalism, publishing, communications, trade, banking, advertising, management, and tourism. The program also offers flexible career preparation in a variety of essential skills, such as research, data analysis, report writing, language skills, and the awareness necessary for dealing with people and institutions from another culture. Preparation for related careers can be obtained through the guided selection of courses outside the major in the areas of business, economics, modern language studies, political science, history, and international relations or through a second major. Students should design their programs in consultation with members of the Committee on International Studies.

The International Studies program also encourages participation in study abroad programs such as the affiliate programs in England, France, Germany, and Spain, as well as the Washington Ssemester.

Major Requirements

The major consists of ten courses, comprised of a core set of six required courses and four electives.

Core Courses:  All students must complete ECON 343, HIST 116, PSCI 160, INST 449, and two FRN, GERM, SPAN courses at the 221 level or above (excluding 311).

Electives: Students must complete the major by taking four electives in one of the following three areas: Transnational and Global Issues, Developed Countries, or Developing Countries.

Option 1: Transnational & Global Issues
Choose four courses from at least two departments.

ANTH 103  Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 334  Economic Anthropology
BUS 333   Global Business Strategies
HIST 329  Empires and Resistance
PHIL 334  Contemporary Political Philosophy
PSCI 242  Human Rights
PSCI 261  International Organizations
PSCI 341  Women and the Law
PSCI 362  Terrorism
REL 110  Introduction to World Religions

Option 2: Developed Countries
Choose four courses from at least two departments.     

FRN 311  Francophone Cultures
GERM 311  Modern Germany
HIST 214  Monarchy and Modernity
HIST 217  20th Century Europe
PHIL 203  Modern Philosophy
PSCI 140  Comparative Politics
SPAN 311  Hispanic Culture

Option 3: Developing Countries
Choose four courses from at least two departments.

ANTH 230  Anthropology of Latin America
ARHI 342  Art and Politics in Latin America
FRN 311  Francophone Culture
HIST 221  Latin American History
HIST 232  The Rise of Islam
HIST 243  Asia in a Global Context
HIST 246  Africa and the World
PSCI 245  Latin American Politics
PSCI 260  Globalization and Sustainable Development
PSCI 342  Civil Conflict
REL 211  Judaic Studies: Talmud to Today
REL 212  Islam
REL 225  Asian Religions
SPAN 311  Hispanic Culture

Capstone Requirement

All majors must successfully complete INST 449.

 

  • INST 449
    SENIOR SEMINAR
    A one-semester seminar, taken in the senior year, in which students and several faculty members pursue an integrative topic in the field of international studies. Some independent work involved. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.