International Studies, B.A.

Required courses INTL 200 - Introduction to International Studies Concepts and Methods Credits: 3 and INTL 300 - International Studies Seminar Credits: 3 introduce and reinforce knowledge of globalization and intercultural relations. Majors also are required to study abroad or engage in an off-campus internship that develops intercultural competency and international understanding.

Students must elect one Global Perspectives concentration (12 crs.) in:

Comparative & Global Cultures
Global Political Relations or
Global Business & Economics.

Global Perspectives courses explore globalization’s impacts on the cultures, economies, and political systems of the world that cause international interdependency and tensions.

Students also must elect one Area Studies concentration (12 crs.) and related foreign language (9 crs.) in:

African & Middle Eastern Studies,
Asian Studies,
European Studies or
Latin American & Caribbean Studies.

Area Studies and Foreign Language courses promote intercultural and linguistic competency essential to successful cross-cultural personal and professional relationships.

Majors must take a minimum of 21 credit hours of major courses, including INTL 200 and INTL 300 , at Shippensburg. Students declaring dual majors may double-count a maximum of 12 credit hours of courses between the first major and courses fulfilling International Studies Global Perspectives, Area Studies and Foreign Language requirements. Courses fulfilling general education requirements of both majors may be double-counted without restriction.

Bachelor of Arts Foreign Language Requirement:

All students completing a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to attain proficiency in a foreign language. Proficiency may be satisfied by completing a language class at the 103 (intermediate) level or three years of any one foreign language in high school. Students may also meet this requirement through AP or CLEP testing.

42 crs.

Required Courses (9 crs.)

Note:

*HONR 399 - Honors: Independent Study Credits: 3 may serve as a substitute for INTL 300 with an appropriate international topic, interdisciplinary research project, and permission of the director.

Foreign Language Requirement (9 crs.)

9 credit hours at the 200-level and higher. Students are strongly encouraged to strengthen their qualifications for international employment by completing a Global Languages and Cultures certificate (12 crs.) or minor (18 crs.).

Students who study a language not offered through Shippensburg University–such as Korean, Russian or Swahili–are required to earn a total of 9 credit hours. Language credits must be earned at Shippensburg University, or with permission of the director, from another accredited institution of higher learning in the U.S. or abroad.

Study Abroad or Internship Requirement

Majors are required to study abroad or engage in an off-campus internship. The study abroad or internship experience must satisfy a minimum of 3 credit hours of the major’s general education or course requirements. Students studying abroad at an approved program may take a maximum of 18 credit hours of major courses. Majors studying abroad to fulfill special academic needs may obtain exemptions from the minimum or maximum credit hour requirement with prior approval of the Director of International Studies.

Global Perspectives Concentration (12 crs.)

Students must choose one Global Perspectives Concentration. 6 credit hours should be at the 300-level or higher. Courses must be in at least 2 disciplines.

* = Requires an appropriate topic and an Exception Form signed by the Director of International Studies for approval.

Comparative and Global Cultures Concentration

Global Political Relations Concentration

Global Business and Economics Concentration

Note:

**Students taking these courses are required to elect a Business or Marketing to meet required prerequisites.

Area Studies Concentration (12 crs)

Students must choose one Area Studies concentration below. Courses must be in at least 2 disciplines. 2 courses should be at the 300-level or higher.

African and Middle Eastern Studies Concentration

Arabic, French or another African or Middle Eastern language is required to fulfill the language requirement. Study abroad in Africa or the Middle East is highly recommended.

Note:

FREN 204 , FREN 331 , and FREN 380 -Only Global Languages and Cultures courses that are not used to satisfy the B.A. language requirement or International Studies foreign language requirement may be counted toward the Area Studies Concentration requirement.

Asian Studies Concentration

An Asian language is required to fulfill the language requirement. Study abroad in Asia is highly recommended.

European Studies Concentration

French, German, Spanish or another continental European language is required to fulfill the requirement. Study abroad in Europe is highly recommended.

Latin American and Caribbean Studies Concentration

Spanish, French, or another Latin American or Caribbean language is required to fulfill the language requirement. Study abroad in Latin America or the Caribbean is highly recommended.

Note:

SPAN 204 , SPAN 330 , SPAN 361 , SPAN 400 -Only Global Languages and Cultures courses that are not used to satisfy the B.A. language requirement or International Studies foreign language requirement may be counted toward the Area Studies Concentration requirement.

General Education

General Education Requirements

General Education Program

General Education Requirements Specific for this major

Global Perspective (G): HIST 106
Global Perspective (G): POLI 141
If concentration is Comparative & Global Cultures or Global Political Relations:
- Critical Reasoning (R): GEOG 140 or ECON 113
If concentration is Global Business & Economics:
- Critical Reasoning (R): ECON 113