Concentrations
Concentrations
IGS Major-Level Concentrations
Students pursuing a major in Special Programs/International and Global Studies choose among 6 major-level, 30-hour concentrations. These concentrations include 3 “Functional Studies” options and 3 “Regional Studies” options.
Functional Studies
International and Global Affairs and Development:
This concentration is ideal for students who desire to understand and engage current world issues as they relate to intra-state, inter-state, inter-regional, and trans-global relations, politics, social policy, economic development and sustainability, human and environmental health, and peace and conflict. Internationally and globally focused course work in political science, sociology, history, economics/business, the health fields, environmental studies, and conflict and peace studies is particularly suitable for this major.
International and Global Arts and Belief Systems:
This concentration is ideal for students who seek to understand and engage the differences and commonalities among world societies in terms of their multifaceted cultural elements, particularly as they relate to their distinctive and shared art forms (plastic, literary, cinematic, and performance-based), philosophical values, codes of conduct, scientific views of the cosmos, and religious systems. Internationally and globally focused course work in the histories of art, theatre, and dance, ethnomusicology, international film, literary studies, anthropology, modern-day religious and philosophical traditions, intercultural communication, and culture studies is particularly suitable for this major.
International and Global Human Rights:
This concentration is ideal for students committed to humanitarian activism who have a keen interest in studying human rights issues across the globe and in learning how agencies work locally, nationally, and internationally to promote the just treatment of all people in accordance with international norms that likewise recognize the beliefs, values, and codes of conduct of individual societies. Internationally and globally focused course work examining topics such as slavery and segregation, fascist Europe, Soviet and post-Soviet Russia, postcolonial societies (and their literatures), the African Diaspora, international law (and related agencies), race and ethnic relations, gender and civil rights, the effects of biotechnology on society, ethics and international affairs, and immigration and ethnicity is especially relevant to this major.
Regional Studies
Asian Studies:
This concentration is ideal for students with a keen interest in studying Asia (broadly defined as including mainland and maritime East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia) in multiple historical contexts and from a variety of complementary perspectives: political, sociological, economic, geographical, religious, linguistic, etc. Courses focusing on Asian history, geography, religions, political and social issues, music and arts, literatures and film are suitable for this major. (Note: Students pursuing this concentration must meet their IGS foreign language requirement by completing at least 6 upper-level semester hours of Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, or another approved language of the region [e.g., Korean, Vietnamese, etc.]. Native speakers of a regionally appropriate language may appeal to the Director to waive this requirement.)
Latin American and Caribbean Studies:
This concentration is ideal for students who wish to study the Latin American and Caribbean regions (defined as including Mexico, Central America, South America, and the islands located in the Greater and Lesser Antilles) in multiple historical and geographic contexts and from a variety of complementary perspectives: political, sociological, economic, religious, artistic, linguistic, etc. Courses focusing on Latin American and Caribbean history, politics, geography, economics, belief systems, social issues, arts and literatures, film genres, and cultures are most relevant for this major. (Note: Students pursuing this concentration must meet their IGS foreign language requirement by completing at least 6 upper-level semester hours of Spanish or another approved language of the region [e.g., French, Quechua, etc.]. Native speakers of a regionally appropriate language may appeal to the Director to waive this requirement.)
Russian Studies:
This concentration is ideal for students who desire to study Russia and the former Soviet satellites of Eastern Europe in multiple historical contexts and from a variety of complementary perspectives: political, sociological, economic, religious, artistic, linguistic, etc. Courses focusing on Russian (as well as Central and East European) history, politics, geography, economics, belief systems, social issues, literatures, music and film, and culture are most relevant for this major. (Note: Students pursuing this concentration must meet their IGS foreign language requirement by completing at least 6 upper-level semester hours of Russian or another approved language of the region [e.g., Polish, Ukrainian, etc.]. Native speakers of a regionally appropriate language may appeal to the Director to waive this requirement.)
IGS Minor-Level Concentrations
Students pursuing a minor in IGS choose among 6 minor-level, 18-hour concentrations, including 1 “Functional Studies” option and 5 “Regional Studies” options (Note: Students majoring in IGS may not simultaneously pursue a minor in the Program).
Functional Studies
International and Global Studies:
This minor is appropriate for students who seek to complement their chosen major field of study with a structured exploration of the many issues facing countries and regions beyond US borders and the world at large. This minor also introduces students to the basic approaches to engaging those issues and other peoples in culturally appropriate ways. Course options suitable to this concentration include IGS 200: “Introduction to International and Global Studies,” any modern foreign language at the 300 level or above, and course options found in any of the Major-Level Additional Course Guides. (See Minor requirements for additional details.)
Regional Studies
African Studies:
This minor will appeal to students interested in complementing their upper-level study of French with a broad but structured examination of the issues and cultures of modern-day Africa (especially the sub-Saharan region). Courses suitable to this concentration include IGS 200: “Introduction to International and Global Studies,” 300-level French language courses (or upper-level course work in another major language of the region), and offerings at the 200-level and above that focus at least 51% of their content on Africa. (See Minor requirements for additional details.)
Asian Studies:
This minor will appeal to students interested in complementing their upper-level study of an Asian language with a broad but structured examination of the issues and cultures of modern-day Asia (broadly defined as including mainland and maritime East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia). Courses suitable to this concentration include IGS 210: “Introduction to Asian Studies,” 300-level Chinese or Japanese language courses (or upper-level course work in another major language of the region), and the options found in the Major-Level Additional Course Guide for Asian Studies. (See Minor requirements for additional details.)
European Studies:
This minor will appeal to students interested in complementing their upper-level study of French, German, Italian, or Spanish with a broad but structured examination of the issues and cultures of modern-day Europe (especially Western and Central Europe). Courses suitable to this concentration include IGS 200: “Introduction to International and Global Studies,” 300-level French, German, Italian, or Spanish language courses (or upper-level course work in another major language of the region), and the options found in the Additional Course Guide for European Studies. (See Minor requirements for additional details.)
Latin American and Caribbean Studies:
This minor will appeal to students interested in complementing their upper-level study of Spanish or French with a broad but structured examination of the issues and cultures of modern-day Latin America and the Caribbean (defined as including Mexico, Central America, South America, and the islands located in the Greater and Lesser Antilles). Courses suitable to this concentration include IGS 200: “Introduction to International and Global Studies,” 300-level Spanish or French language courses (or upper-level course work in another major language of the region), and the options found in the Major-Level Additional Course Guide for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. (See Minor requirements for additional details.)
Russian Studies:
This minor will appeal to students interested in complementing their upper-level study of the Russian language with a broad but structured examination of the issues and cultures of modern-day Russia the former Soviet satellites of Eastern Europe. Courses suitable to this concentration include IGS 213: “Introduction to Russian Studies,” 300-level Russian language courses (or upper-level course work in another major language of the region), and the options found in the Major-Level Additional Course Guide for Russian Studies. (See Minor requirements for additional details.)
