About International Studies

The International Studies Program prepares students to be global citizens in an interdependent and interconnected world. International and intercultural knowledge is fundamental to contemporary life and work. The objective of this program is to prepare students to be contributing members of the international community.

The interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and the Minor in International Studies provide students with analytical skills and cross-cultural insight required of informed global citizens. Foundational courses introduce students to different modes of inquiry and provide the basis for comparative approaches to international and global issues. The program of study requires students to apply analytical skills and modes of inquiry across regions, societies and cultures. Students select either a regional emphasis that focuses on a particular language and location or a global social science emphasis that prepares students broadly to pursue professional opportunities in an international context.

To further develop their understanding and skills, students majoring in international studies are encouraged to study abroad or participate in other international or intercultural experiences.

Students who complete a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies or a Minor in International Studies gain an understanding of the challenges and complexities of cross-cultural interactions in an increasingly interconnected world.


The international studies program prepares students to be global citizens in an interdependent world. International and intercultural knowledge is fundamental to contemporary life and work. The objective of this program is to prepare students to be contributing members of the international community.

Admission Requirements
  • Complete the .
Graduation Requirements
  • Complete the .
  • Complete the .
  • Complete the following major requirements:
Foundational Courses
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý´¡200Global Literature and Culture3
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡101Western Civilization I3
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡102Western Civilization II3
INTL/GEOG A101Local Places/Global Regions: An Introduction to Geography3
±Ê³§Ìý´¡102Introduction to Political Science3
³§°¿°äÌý´¡101Introduction to Sociology3
Core Courses
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡390Themes in World History3
±Ê±á±õ³¢Ìý´¡301Ethics3
±Ê³§Ìý´¡311Comparative Politics3
³§°¿°äÌý´¡307Demography3
Mastery Courses
Complete one of the following:3
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý´¡440
Topics in Comparative Literature
³Ò·¡°¿³ÒÌý´¡390´¡
Selected Topics in Global Geography
±Ê±á±õ³¢Ìý´¡490´¡
Selected Topics in Ethics, Community, and Society
³§°¿°äÌý´¡380
Sociology of Globalization
Choose an emphasis language from among the foreign languages offered at UAA and complete at least two semesters at the 200 level or higher. Students in the Regional Studies track must choose a language appropriate to one of the approved regions of study, as specified below.8
Complete either the Regional Studies or Global Social Sciences track listed below.12-15
Total53-56
Regional Studies Track12-15
Europe (Languages: French, German, Russian, Spanish)
Complete 12 upper-division credits in two subject areas:12
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý´¡310
Selected Topics: Literary Trends and Traditions 1
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý´¡490
Selected Topics: Studies in French/Francophone Literature and Culture 1
³Ò·¡¸éÌý´¡310
Selected Topics: Literary Trends and Traditions 1
³Ò·¡¸éÌý´¡490´¡
Topics in Literatures and Cultures of the German-Speaking Countries 1
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡314
Nineteenth Century Europe
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡316
Twentieth Century Europe
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡411
History of Modern Germany
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡425
History of the Soviet Union
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡427
Post-Soviet Culture and Society
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡490
Selected Topics in History 1
±Ê±á±õ³¢Ìý´¡314
Abrahamic Religions
±Ê³§Ìý´¡333
History of Political Philosophy II: Modern
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý´¡320
Studies in Contemporary Hispanic Cultures 1
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý´¡490
Selected Topics: Hispanic Culture and Civilization 1
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý´¡490A
Selected Topics: Studies in Hispanic Literature and Culture 1
Northeast Asia (Languages: Chinese, Japanese)
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡121East Asian Civilization I3
´Ç°ùÌý±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡122 East Asian Civilization II
Complete 12 upper-division credits in two subject areas:12
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡321
Modern China
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡322
Modern Japan
HIST/INTL/PS A325
Northeast Asia in 21st Century
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡330
Russia in East Asia
´³±Ê±·Ìý´¡350
Business Japanese
´³±Ê±·Ìý´¡390
Selected Topics: Studies in Japanese Culture and Society 1
´³±Ê±·Ìý´¡390A
Selected Topics: English-Language Studies in Japanese Culture and Society 1
´³±Ê±·Ìý´¡490
Selected Topics: Studies in Japanese Literature and Culture 1
±Ê±á±õ³¢Ìý´¡313
Eastern Philosophy and Religion
±Ê³§Ìý´¡324
Model United Nations 1
The Global South (Languages: French, Spanish)
Complete 12 upper-division credits in two subject areas:12
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý´¡310
Selected Topics: Literary Trends and Traditions 1
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý´¡490
Selected Topics: Studies in French/Francophone Literature and Culture 1
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡336
Latin America to 1800
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡338
Modern Latin America: Revolutions, Dictatorships, and Democracy
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡408
Iberian Empires: Globalization in the Early Modern World
±Ê±á±õ³¢Ìý´¡314
Abrahamic Religions
±Ê³§Ìý´¡324
Model United Nations 1
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý´¡310
Selected Topics: Literary Trends and Traditions 1
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý´¡320
Studies in Contemporary Hispanic Cultures 1
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý´¡490
Selected Topics: Hispanic Culture and Civilization 1
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý´¡490A
Selected Topics: Studies in Hispanic Literature and Culture 1
Global Social Sciences Track12
Complete 12 credits in two subject areas from the following:
·¡¶Ù¹ó±·Ìý´¡304
Comparative Education
³Ò·¡°¿³ÒÌý´¡475
Geospatial and Cartographic Techniques for the Sciences
´³±«³§°ÕÌý´¡365
World Justice Systems
±Ê³§Ìý´¡301
Comparative Political Economy
±Ê³§Ìý´¡321
International Relations
±Ê³§Ìý´¡324
Model United Nations
³§°¿°äÌý´¡361
Social Science Research Methods
³§°¿°äÌý´¡363
Social Stratification
³§°¿°äÌý´¡377
Sociology of Gender
1

With approved topic.

International/Intercultural Experience

International studies students are encouraged to engage in an international or intercultural experience related to their program of study and the student learning outcomes of the program. Students may earn credits applicable to the degree program through a study abroad program, short-term study abroad, or an internship or service-learning project that involves a significant international or intercultural component. Students seeking to fulfill a degree requirement with credits earned through study abroad, internship or service-learning should consult an academic advisor and submit an academic petition in advance.

A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 39 credits must be upper-division. 

Honors in International Studies

Students majoring in international studies are eligible to graduate with honors if they satisfy the following requirements:

  • Meet the requirements f´Ç°ùÌý;
  • Meet the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies;
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.80 in courses applicable to the degree requirements;
  • Complete ·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý´¡440,Ìý³Ò·¡°¿³ÒÌý´¡390´¡,Ìý±Ê±á±õ³¢Ìý´¡490´¡, or ³§°¿°äÌý´¡380 with a grade of A;
  • Complete the 8-credit language requirement at the 300 level.

The international studies program prepares students to be global citizens in an interdependent world. International and intercultural knowledge is fundamental to contemporary life and work. The objective of this program is to prepare students to be contributing members of the international community.

Students wishing to minor in international studies must complete the following requirements.

INTL/GEOG A101Local Places/Global Regions: An Introduction to Geography3
Complete one the following (outside student's major):3
³Ò·¡°¿³ÒÌý´¡390´¡
Selected Topics in Global Geography
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý´¡390
Themes in World History
³§°¿°äÌý´¡380
Sociology of Globalization
Complete 8 credits in one of the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian or Spanish8
Complete two approved upper-division courses with regionally or thematically related international content 16
Total20
1

Departmental pre-approval required.

A total of 20 credits is required for the minor.