International Studies
Overview
The international studies program offers an opportunity to learn about foreign cultures, languages, politics, economics, and history. The curriculum is interdisciplinary in orientation and is designed to introduce students to a variety of important approaches for understanding the international scene. Whether or not students will pursue careers directly related to world affairs, the understanding gained in the program will provide a much broader perspective of the world and the United States' place in it. All students who wish to obtain a major in international studies must complete the Core Curriculum requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. The program makes use of additional courses in international studies, economics, foreign languages, history, political science, and other disciplines.
The major in international studies requires successful completion of 51 semester hours of course work, including the following seven required courses (21 hours):
PSCI 1004: Nations and Nationalities
PSCI 1024: Introduction to Comparative Government & Politics
PSCI 2024: Research Methods
IS 2054: Introduction to World Politics
IS 2064: Global Economy and World Politics
PSCI 3615, PSCI 3616: International Relations
And the following:
3 hours in First Year Experience (FYE) Course
12 hours of a single foreign language at the 3000-4000 level
15 hours of selected courses in one of these options:
Satisfactory Progress
University policy requires that students who are making satisfactory progress toward a degree meet minimum criteria toward the Curriculum for Liberal Education as amended for International Studies, and toward the degree in international studies. To proceed satisfactorily toward a degree, a student must complete PSCI 1004, PSCI 1024, IS 2054, IS 2064, and Foreign language 2105 & 2106 by the end of the semester in which 60 hours have been attempted; must maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0. It is recommended that students complete PSCI 3615 and PSCI 3616 before the end of the junior year.
Minor
The minor in international studies requires successful completion of 18 semester hours of course work, including the following required courses (12 hours):
PSCI 1004: Nations and Nationalities
PSCI 1024: Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics
IS 2054: Introduction to World Politics
IS 2064: Global Economy and World Politics
The remaining 2 courses (6 semester hours) needed to complete the minor should be at 3000 or 4000 level and will be chosen from an approved list.
Undergraduate Courses (IS)
1034 (PSCI 1034): INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
Introduces students to the fields of International Studies and Political Science and their respective subfields. Familiarizes students with the undergraduate programs in International Studies and Political Science and emphasizes student preparation for careers in the respective fields. Focuses on inquiry, problem-solving, integration of ideas and experiences with a focus on International Studies and Political Science. Familiarizes students with the basic principles of the research and writing process.
(3H,3C)
2054 (GEOG 2054) (PSCI 2054): INTRODUCTION TO WORLD POLITICS
An introduction to the prevalent methods and theories in the study of world politics. Topics include: historical context of contemporary world politics, global actors and power relations, international conflict and conflict resolution, international systems, interdependence, trade and international law and prospects for global governance. (3H,3C)
2064 (GEOG 2064) (PSCI 2064): THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND WORLD POLITICS
An introduction to the interaction of politics and economics power and wealth, within the world political economy. Topics include: the international financial system, the dynamics and principles of trade, and the role of transnational firms, as well as issues of environmental protections, sustainable development, and the distribution of wealth and power. (3H,3C)
2964: FIELD STUDY
Pass/Fail only. Variable credit course.
2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
2974H: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
3114 (PSCI 3114): GLOBAL SECURITY
Explores various theoretical approaches to security and discusses traditional and non-traditional security issues. Focuses on global, international and regional security challenges and examines alternative strategic and tactical solutions for addressing them. Pre: 2054 or PSCI 2054 or GEOG 2054. (3H,3C)
3115,3116 (PSCI 3115, 3116): SELECTED WORLD PROBLEMS
Selected world problems and how they affect various countries. Each semester, a topic will be chosen. (3H,3C)
3624 (PSCI 3624): FOREIGN POLICY AND DIPLOMACY
Focuses on actors, issues, and processes pertaining to foreign policy formulation and implementation. Examines theoretical and historical perspectives on foreign policy analysis. Investigates the national security, foreign policy, and diplomacy nexus. Discusses type of diplomacy and diplomatic methods. Pre: 2054 or PSCI 2054 or GEOG 2054. (3H,3C)
3704 (PSCI 3704): NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY
Focuses on the causes of war and the conditions of peace. Examines the logic, levels, and outcomes of strategy and investigates the impact of international law and politics on the use of force. Explores contemporary strategic theory and discusses current issues in grand strategy. Pre: 2054 or PSCI 2054 or GEOG 2054. (3H,3C)
3794 (PSCI 3794): TERRORISM AND COUNTERTERRORISM
Examines approaches to the categorization and causes of terrorism and discusses national and regional understandings of terrorism. Explores official and popular understandings of terrorism over time and across regions and investigates how social actors legitimate their use of violence. Focuses on the development of useful counterterrorism policies and utilizes case studies in terrorism and counterterrorism to emphasize the link between theory and practice. Pre: 2054 or PSCI 2054 or GEOG 2054. (3H,3C)
3944: INTERNATIONAL ENROLLMENT
Participation in an approved study abroad program without direct supervision of the VA Tech faculty but with required enrollment in an approved program of study in a foreign university. (0C) I,II,III,IV,V.
3944S: INTERNATIONAL ENROLL SPECIAL
Participation in an approved Study Abroad program without direct supervision of the Virginia Tech faculty but with required enrollment in an approved program of study in an international university. Course represents three billable hours and no academic credit. (0C) IV, V.
3954: STUDY ABROAD
Variable credit course.
4004: SEMINAR IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
Interdepartmental seminar to synthesize and articulate basic assumptions, theories, and methods of international studies. Senior standing in IS and instructor consent required. (3H,3C) I, II.
4014: SEMINAR IN GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT
Utilizes development, gender, and social theory to examine the impact of aid programs on communities in the Third World. Analyzes such issues as the impact of development projects in agriculture, natural resources, and employment on the local people, the impact of aid on women; and the policies and administrative structures that direct the world of international development. (3H,3C) II.
4044 (COMM 4044): INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION
Comparative perspectives on global communication systems; problems with the flow of information; roles of international organizations; mass communication and national development; implications for conflict resolution; selected case studies. Senior standing required or instructor consent required. (3H,3C)
4734 (PSCI 4734): THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Examines alternative perspectives on peace, security, and international intervention and their implications for policy. Focuses on the role of international organizations and other actors in conflict resolution and peace-building and explores issues pertaining to humanitarian intervention, human security, and state-building. Utilizes case studies in peacekeeping and peace building to highlight the link between theory and practice. Pre: PSCI 3616. (3H,3C)
4735-4736: MULTILATERAL DIPLOMACY WORKSHOP
Investigates the purpose, context, and process of multilateral diplomacy and focuses on the strategies and tactics associated with it. Examines format and products of multilateral conferences, decision-making processes, negotiations, mediation, delegation management, and conference management. Utilizes case studies and simulations. 4735: focuses on multilateral diplomacy at the United Nations. 4736: focuses on multilateral diplomacy in the framework of regional international organizations. Pre: 2054 or PSCI 2054 or GEOG 2054 for 4735; 4735 for 4736. (3H,3C)
4744 (PSCI 4744): INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS WORKSHOP
Examines the impact of historical experience and bureaucratic structures on intelligence analysis. Discusses the contents of the intelligence agenda and explores issues pertaining to intelligence analysis. Focuses on the intelligence process and offers a target-centric approach to intelligence analysis. Emphasizes and evaluates the use of structured analytic techniques in intelligence analysis. Pre: 2054 or PSCI 2054 or GEOG 2054. (3H,3C)
4754: INTERNSHIP
Variable credit course.
4964: FIELD STUDY
Pass/Fail only. Variable credit course.
4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
4974H: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.
4994H: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.
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