We live in an increasingly globalized and multicultural world. College graduates who recognize and understand the challenges and opportunities of a global society will be more competitive in their chosen careers and better citizens of the interconnected world. The international studies major provides an academically-rigorous interdisciplinary perspective on contemporary global issues, dynamics, societies and cultures. Students are allowed to develop their own customized emphasis on a particular region or theme within the major.
The International Studies Learning Goals
- Students will acquire an interdisciplinary understanding of various global issues including those involving history, politics, economics, and society through both empirical analysis and methodological training/reflection.
- Students will acquire academic knowledge of at least two areas of the world and several globally-related academic disciplines, through coursework and/or research.
- Students will develop cross-cultural appreciation and skills beyond their own native experiences necessary for fostering an understanding of different cultures, regions, and challenges in an increasingly globalized world.
See Program Requirements for detailed major requirements.
Degree Requirements
All students are required to complete overall degree requirements in addition to their major. Please see Degree Completion Requirements for full details for students entering in the 2024-2025 catalog year.
Those students who started at Hiram prior to the 2024-2025 academic year will follow the Degree Requirements outlined in your catalog of record.
Major Requirements
Ten total courses required as outlined below; and foreign language proficiency through the 20200-level are needed to complete the major.
You should plan out your detailed four-year pathway with your faculty advisor.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select three of the four following required courses which provide necessary grounding in international issues from multiple disciplinary perspectives: | 12 | |
| COMMUN BETWEEN CULTURES:EW | ||
| WORLD LITERATURE:EW,IM | ||
| WORLD HIST 1750-PRESENT:CA,EW | ||
| COMPARATIVE POLITICS: CA,EW | ||
| International Studies Junior Seminar in the spring 12-week of the junior year | 4 | |
| INTL 21500 | APPROACH THEMES REG:EW,CA | 4 |
| International Studies Capstone in the fall 12-week session of the senior year | 4 | |
| INDEPENDENT REASEARCH/CAPSTONE | ||
| Elective Options | ||
| Five elective courses from the list below in at least two different regional areas (Asia, Europe, and/or diaspora studies) and at least two different disciplines. Courses not found on this list may be accepted through approval of the international studies coordinator. Study away is strongly encouraged, but not required for the major. | ||
| HISTORY OF WESTERN ART:IM | ||
| CREAT SPACE:FLOR/TUSCANY:EW,CM | ||
or ARDE 25200 | CREAT SPACE:FLOR/TUSCANY:EW,CM | |
| 20TH CENTURY ART:MOD&BEYOND:IM | ||
| ANCIENT OLYMPIC GAMES:CA | ||
| ANCIENT HEALTH/MEDICINE:CA | ||
| THE ANCIENT WORLD IN FILM:CA | ||
| ANCIENT ROME:RISE/FALL REP:CA | ||
| ARCHAEOLOGY ANCIENT ROME:CA,EW | ||
| SEM: (REACTING TO THE PAST: ATHENS IN 403 BC) | ||
| MEDIA AND MULTICULTURALISM:UD | ||
| COMMUN BETWEEN CULTURES:EW | ||
| INTERCULTURAL HLTHCRE COMM:UD | ||
| READ BRIT LIT:CA, IM | ||
| READ WORLD LIT:IM,EW | ||
| SHAKESPEARE:IM | ||
| STUDIES IN BRITISH LIT:IM,CA | ||
| STUDIES IN WORLD LIT:IM,EW | ||
| MEDIEVAL LITERATURE:IM,CA | ||
| RENAISSANCE LITERATURE:CA,IM | ||
| 18TH CENTURY BRIT LIT:CA,IM | ||
| 19TH CENTURY BRIT LIT:CA,IM | ||
| 20TH CENTURY BRIT LIT:CA,IM | ||
| WORLD LITERATURE:EW,IM | ||
| ADV BRIT LIT: | ||
| ADV WRLD LIT: | ||
| EUROPE 500-1450:CA,EW | ||
| MDRN EUROPE: 1450-PRESNT:CA,EW | ||
| WORLD HISTORY 1000-1800:CA,EW | ||
| WORLD HIST 1750-PRESENT:CA,EW | ||
| EMERGNCE OF MDRN IRELAND:CA,EW | ||
| MOD JAPAN 1600-PRESENT:CA,EW | ||
| ASIA'S GLOBAL POWER:CA,EW | ||
| CONCUBINES MOTHER/SAINTS:CA,EW | ||
| KINGS AND VIKINGS:CA,EW | ||
| MEDIEVAL TOWNS & TRADE:CA,EW | ||
| MOD EURO WOMEN AND GNDER:CA,EW | ||
| THE BRITISH EMPIRE:CA,EW | ||
| BROTHEL TO FACTORY:CA,EW | ||
| HIST OF ENGLAND TO 1485:CA,EW | ||
| MYTH-BUSTING NORTH KOREA:CA,EW | ||
| ANCIENT ROME: RISE/FALL REP:CA | ||
| TUDOR-STUART ENGLAND:IM | ||
| GENDER&SEXUALITY E ASIA:CA,EW | ||
| BISHOP, WITCH, HERETIC:CA,EW | ||
| CANNIBALS HEADHUNTER:CA,EW | ||
| FREN LITR IN TRANSLATION:IM,EW | ||
| COMPARATIVE HR MGMT:EW | ||
| INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT:EW | ||
| MULTINATIONAL MARKETING:EW | ||
| PERF ARTS IN GLOBALCULTR:CM,EW | ||
| MUSIC HISTORY & LIT I:IM | ||
| MUSIC AND GENDER:CA | ||
| ASIAN ARTS CULTURES:EW,IM | ||
| POLITICS OF HUMAN RIGHTS:ES | ||
| POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY:CA | ||
| INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION:ES | ||
| INTERNATIONAL POLITICS:CA | ||
| INT'L RELATIONS S. ASIA:CA,EW | ||
| POLITICS DEVELOPG AREAS:CA,EW | ||
| ANARCHY:IM | ||
| THE TRANSATLANTIC RELATION:EW | ||
| MODERN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY | ||
| COMPARATIVE FOREIGN POLICY | ||
| POLITICAL VIOLENCE:CA | ||
| INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM:CA | ||
| AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY | ||
| TOWARDS A GLOBAL STATE | ||
| THE ART OF WAR:ES | ||
or POLS 33710 | THE ART OF WAR:ES | |
| POLITICAL PHIL DANGEROUS WORLD | ||
or POLS 35110 | POLITICAL PHIL DANGEROUS WORLD | |
| SHAKESPEARE IN PERFORMANCE:CM | ||
| CLASSICAL POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY | ||
| SEMINAR IN ASIAN STUDIES | ||
| COMPARATIVE ISSUES ZAMBIA:EW (Study Abroad) | ||
| CONTEMPORARY FRENCH CIV | ||
| IDENTITY, EXPRESSION, & REPRESENTATION IN INDIA: EW (Study Abroad) | ||
| LEGEND & LORE OF THE KILT | ||
| HUMAN TRAFFICKING | ||
| INVADING OZ:EW (Study Abroad) | ||
| GOING TO THE GODZONE:EW (Study Abroad) | ||
| CULTURE & ETHICS OF FOOD:ES (Study Abroad) | ||
| CHINA: TRADITION & CHANGE:EW (Study Abroad) | ||
| ARAB: 10100, 10200, 20100, 20200 | ||
| FREN: 10100, 10200, 20100, 20200, 20300, 20500, 21500, 22000, 25000, 28000, 28100, 29800, 32000, 33000, 35000, 36000 | ||
| LATN: 10100, 10200, 20100, 20200 | ||
| SPAN: 10100, 10200, 20100, 20200, 20300, 20400, 21100, 21500, 23100, 25000, 25100, 28000, 28100, 29800, 30300, 30400, 30500, 30600, 30700, 30800, 30900 | ||
Independent Research Course (Capstone)
This Independent Research course (Capstone) will consist of finalizing a research topic and completing the project, which will be approached from two different disciplinary perspectives and eventually result in interdisciplinary synthesis. The capstone will be jointly supervised by two faculty members chosen by the student, at least one of whom must be member of the international studies major committee. The international studies capstone course will include a mini-seminar of graduating international studies seniors meeting regularly, and led by a select member of the international studies major committee. This mini-seminar will allow the graduating seniors to share and discuss progress on their capstone projects, including particular intellectual challenges and/or findings in their capstone research. Prerequisite: INTL 28000 INTERNATIONAL STUDIES:EW