About the Concentration

The basic purpose of development is to enlarge people’s choices. In principle, these choices can be infinite and can change over time. People often value achievements that do not show up at all, or not immediately, in income or growth figures: greater access to knowledge, better nutrition and health services, more secure livelihoods, security against crime and physical violence, satisfying leisure hours, political and cultural freedoms and sense of participation in community activities. The objective of development is to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives.“ – Mahbub ul Haq (1934-1998), founder of the Human Development Report

International and Global Affairs and Development is an interdisciplinary “Functional Studies” concentration at the major level (only) of the Special Program in Liberal Studies/International & Global Studies (SPLS/IGS). It is intended for undergraduate 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 on such topics as the international system, international law, the politics of globalization, the history of the twentieth century, macroeconomics, world economic geography, the geography of world affairs, international health, global deviance, and the foundations of peace and conflict is particularly suitable for this major.

Major in SPLS/IGS with a concentration in International and Global Affairs and Development (A&D). Students pursuing the major-level concentration in A&D complete 30 semester hours of course work to include:

• 6 s.h. at the 300-level or higher of a modern foreign language;
• 6 s.h of IGS core courses:  IGS 200: “Introduction to International and Global Studies” (preferred) or IGS 210: “Introduction to Asian Studies” or IGS 213: “Introduction to Russian Studies”; and IGS 400: “Capstone Seminar in International and Global Studies*;
  *Students with this concentration will focus their end-of-major capstone research project for IGS 400 on a topic inspired by an issue in international affairs and/or development of concern somewhere in the world beyond US borders.
• 18 s.h. of Additional Course work on international and/or global topics, to include 15 s.h. of course work whose content focuses 51% or more on international and/or global affairs and development issues.  This work, of which at least 9 s.h. must be at the 300-level or above, will therefore be selected from IGS’s “Society and Politics” and “Economics and Development” categories**; the remaining 3 s.h. will be selected from options at the 200-level or above in either of IGS’s two remaining categories: “Arts and Literature” or “Belief Systems and Cultures.”
  **To ensure category breadth, no more than 9 s.h. may come from a single category; after that, no more than 6 s.h. may come from the other category (e.g., 9 s.h. of S&P + 6 s.h. of E&D, or the reverse).
• International/Global Experience Requirement:  Starting fall 2014, new majors must complete a qualified study abroad experience by the end of their studies.  International and Global Affairs and Development majors may complete this requirement at any site approved by the International Programs Center (alternative experiences are subject to approval by the Director).

Second major in SPLS/IGS with a concentration in International and Global Affairs and Development.  The second major must meet the same requirements as the Major, with at least 12 s.h. taken outside the student’s first major.