Nov 23, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

International Studies BA

Introduction

Please click here  to see International Studies department information.

In a world where the forces of politics, commerce, culture, and technology are multifaceted and interconnected, the International Studies major provides students with a much­needed global perspective. International Studies is an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree that prepares students for international careers and graduate study. The International Studies major offers students a deep understanding of complex international issues and the underlying drivers that are shaping our world. Employers seek the qualities of International Studies graduates: historical knowledge, research ability, cross­cultural competence, teamwork and leadership experience, and the ability to analyze, model, and solve real­world problems. The INTS major provides students with the methodological tools necessary to analyze various regions of the world and global issues from different academic disciplines. Students can take courses from departments including Anthropology, Business, Communication, Economics, Ethnic Studies, Geography, History, Modern Languages, Political Science, and Religious Studies, among others. This combination of coursework, flexibility, and customization provides International Studies majors a distinctive and valuable degree for today’s world.

Degree requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic program, and the College reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their major advisor and CLAS advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.

International Studies students are expected to develop both a regional zone of expertise and thematic specialization. Students should choose courses from the introductory, zone, and theme lists that contribute to developing both a broad and deep understanding of international issues.

Program Delivery

  • This is an on-campus program.

Declaring This Major

  • Click here  to go to information about declaring a major

General Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the three areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

Program Requirements

  1. Students must complete a minimum of 48 credit hours.
  2. Students must complete a minimum of 24 upper-division (3000-level and above) credit hours in the major.
  3. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.5 for all courses applied to major requirements. 
  4. Students must complete all major courses, including ancillary courses, taken at CU Denver and all transfer courses applying to major requirements with a minimum grade of C-(1.7). Students cannot complete major or ancillary course requirements as pass/fail.
  5. Students must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours with CU Denver faculty.

Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations

  1. No more than 56 credits accepted toward graduation.
  2. Program Honors = 3.5 GPA within the major.
  3. Students may use up to 6 internship credits toward international studies graduation requirements.
  4. Students may use up to 6 credits of independent study toward international studies graduation requirements.
  5. All International Studies majors must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Non-native English speakers may use English for their language proficiency. Language requirements may be fulfilled by successful completion of the fourth semester of a foreign language course sequence or by passing an equivalent proficiency exam.
  6. Both 3000- and 4000-level language courses may be counted toward the Zone or Focus Theme.
  7. Two 2000-level courses in a relevant language may be used toward the Zone but must be in addition to the 4 upper division courses in the Zone. Students using two 2000 level language courses will count 6 total courses toward the Zone.
  8. 1000-level language courses cannot be counted toward the major but may be used to fulfill other graduation requirements.

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    Take all of the following introductory courses:

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    Take the following International Studies Capstone course:

  • (taken in a student’s final year of the program)

     

     

    Take ten courses drawn from one Zone of Expertise and one Focus Theme:

    • At least four courses from one Zone of Expertise. At least four courses from one Focus Theme.
    • At least one High Impact course beyond the Capstone, e.g., global study, study abroad, internship, service learning, or independent study.
    • Students must take courses in at least two different disciplines for both their Zone of Expertise and Focus Theme.
    • Students who do not apply two 2000­level language courses to their degree must use those two course slots for additional courses related to their chosen Zone of Expertise and/or Focus Theme.

     

    Zones of Expertise:

    • Africa (Sub­Saharan; French or other relevant language) Asia (Chinese or other relevant language)
    • Colonial, Neo­Colonial, & Post­Colonial Worlds (English for non­native speakers, French, German, Spanish, or other relevant language)
    • Europe (English for non­native speakers, French, German, Spanish, or other relevant language) Global (any language, English for non­native speakers)
    • Islamic World (Arabic or other relevant language) Latin America (Spanish or other relevant language)
    • North America (English for non­native speakers, French, Spanish, or other relevant language)

     

    Focus Themes:

    • Activism, Resistance, & Social Justice
    • Environmental Studies
    • Ethnicity, Nationalism, & Migration
    • Feminist Theory & Gender Studies
    • Global Arts & Cultures
    • Global Development Studies
    • Global Health Studies
    • International Business, Communication, & Media
    • International Political Economy
    • Peace, Human Rights, & Security