Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

International Studies, B.A.


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Dr. Len Robinson, Program Coordinator
410-677-0295

Advisement for the major is available from the Political Science  Department

International Studies, B.A. Curriculum Guide  (Suggested 4-Year Plan of Study)

  • Complete a three-course interdisciplinary core requirement.
  • Complete seven electives from at least three different disciplines; five of the electives must be at the 300/400-level.
  • All courses in the major must be completed with grades of C or better.

Foreign Academic Experience

Students must take a minimum of three credits of foreign academic experience approved by the international studies advisor. Students must spend a minimum of three weeks abroad in the foreign academic experience. The credits may be from internships at foreign institutions, academic study for credit at foreign institutions, academic courses offered by SU at foreign locations, or travel abroad courses based at SU or other universities. Travel abroad courses at SU include, but are not limited to, ACCT 430 : Accounting in its Global Setting,  ART 399 - International Field Study , BUAD 386 - Business in Its Global Setting , COMM 399 - International Studies in Communication ; ENGL 399 - International Studies in Literature , ENVR 495 - Environmental Field Studies ; GEOG 399 - International Field Study , HIST 399 - International Field Study , MDFL 399 - International Field Study  or POSC 390 - International Field Study .

Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate mid-level proficiency in a non-English language by completing a 202-level language course with a grade of C or better or by scoring above 202-level on a placement test.

Graduation Portfolio

In order to graduate, the graduating senior students must submit the graduation portfolio to the director of the major program by the third week of their final semester. This portfolio will consist of: 

  • A curriculum vitae.
  • An essay that identifies the courses taken to meet the major requirements, describes the academic challenges encountered by the student within the major as well as their academic achievements within the major, describes the student’s study abroad experience and its contribution to their personal and academic growth, and explains the student’s future goals and how the student expects the major to help them achieve those goals. 
  • A research paper written for POSC 210 - Introduction to International Relations  and a research paper from the most recent 400-level course in the area of the student’s focus. If possible, these papers should be deposited by the student in their portfolio at the end of the semester in which they took the course.

Research Course Requirement

Majoring students must take a research methodology course from a related discipline and get a C or better grade.

Checklist

This checklist is an unofficial tool for planning. Matriculated students and advisors should consult the Academic Requirements Report in GullNet before and after registering for classes each semester to track academic progress.

University Undergraduate Major Policies


  • Refer to the program page for this major and the Courses  section of this catalog for approved prerequisites and General Education courses.
  • Program requirements may not equal 120 credit hours. Students must register for additional electives to complete 120 credits required for graduation.
  • All graduates must have a minimum of 30 credits of 300/400-level courses with C grade or above; at least 15 of those credits must be taken at SU.
  • Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for graduation.
  • Students must complete at least 30 credit hours by direct classroom instruction and/or laboratory experience.
  • Students must take 30 of the last 37 credit hours at SU.
  • It is the student’s responsibility to satisfy graduation requirements. Please refer to the program page of this catalog for detailed major requirements.
  • Students must apply online for graduation by November 15 for May and by May 15 for December.

General Education Requirements


See which courses fulfill specific General Education requirements: General Education Courses  

Please Note: There may be courses required for your major or minor that also satisfy a requirement below.

SU Signature Outcomes Requirements (3 Courses)


These courses may also meet additional General Education and/or major requirements.

Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following Areas (3 Courses):


Additional General Education Requirements (11 Courses)


These courses may also meet SU Signature Outcomes and/or major requirements.

* To be taken in the first 24 credit hours of courses

Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following (3 Courses):


Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following - Must Be From Different Content Areas (2 Courses):


Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following - Must Be From Different Content Areas (2 Courses):


Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following - Must Be From Different Content Areas (2 Courses):


Complete 1 Course In Each Of The Following (2 Courses):


Major Requirements


Core (3 Courses)


Major Electives (7 Courses)


Complete a Minimum of 7 Courses from at Least 3 Disciplines from the Following:


At least 5 courses must be at the 300/400 level

* When offered with an international studies-focused topic. Permission of the chair required.

Research Course Requirement (1 Course)


Complete a research methodology course from a related discipline with a C or better.

Foreign Academic Experience (Minimum of 3 Hours/3 Weeks)


Language Proficiency


Complete 202-level language course with a grade of C or better or by scoring above 202-level on a placement test.

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