International Studies, BA
Offered in: Chicago
International Studies is a growing interdisciplinary field that offers students the opportunity to study politics, economics, history, sociology, anthropology, and communication as parts of a complex and evolving global system. Along with focusing on relations between states in the international system, the International Studies major affords students the opportunity to focus on particular geographic areas of the world, the evolution of the international system itself, and on global social movements including human rights and climate justice.
Majoring in International Studies lays the groundwork for students to pursue a wide array of careers in international affairs, from work with intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations or the World Bank to aid and development work with groups such as the U.S. Agency for International Development; democracy promotion for organizations such as Freedom House; international law at The Hague; advocacy groups such as Witness or Human Rights Watch; environmental groups such as the Sierra Club; or global solidarity campaigns, including the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women.
Downtown Chicago is an ideal location for those pursuing International Studies at Roosevelt University. A growing, bustling and vibrant global city, Chicago is host to numerous international organizations, government offices, advocacy centers, and think tanks, and plays host to countless international conferences. The program studies the international system with a focus on the pursuit and realization of social justice across national boundaries. International Studies graduates gain fluency in contemporary debates across multiple fields, with the moral and ethical foundation to be international leaders and global citizens.
Advising
Students should consult their advisor or the program coordinator before registration each semester to assure that requirements are met and that the electives constitute a coherent program that is tailored to the student’s interests.
Students who wish to pursue specialized topics may do so by independent study; however, no independent study may be undertaken until the core sequence has been completed. Each independent study course must have the approval of the program coordinator. Only one independent study course may be taken for credit in the major.
Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad. The program coordinator will assist in selecting courses once the student has been admitted to a program. Study abroad courses and programs vary, so students should consult the program coordinator to see how study abroad courses fit into the International Studies curriculum.
Students are also strongly encouraged to supplement their International Studies education by learning a foreign language, though there is no formal requirement to do so.
Students may also deepen their learning and gain valuable work experience through internships with an agency or organization that deals with international issues and populations. Stipulations for internships are the same as for independent study.
Requirements
Students who major in International Studies must complete 11 courses (33 credit hours) in the program, each with a grade of C or higher. This includes a set of four required core courses and seven electives.
Students must complete 15 credit hours at the 300 level in the major. For their electives, students must take seven courses, at least 5 at the 300 level. At least five courses in International Studies must be taken at Roosevelt University.
Please note that not all International Studies courses are listed here. International Studies faculty members frequently add new courses that count toward the International Studies major. Other International Studies courses not listed in the catalog may only be offered once but can still count toward the major. You can find these courses by searching for classes in the online course schedule, using the International Studies attribute. Most study abroad classes can count for the major as well. In all cases, students should consult with the program coordinator or their academic advisor to discuss how these courses will be integrated into their major or minor.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Core | 12 | |
PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS I | ||
THE WORLD SINCE 1500 | ||
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | ||
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | ||
Electives | 21 | |
CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION | ||
THE ECONOMICS OF GLOBALIZATION | ||
ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT | ||
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND IMPERIALISM | ||
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE AND BALANCE OF PAYMENTS | ||
INTRODUCTION TO AFRICA | ||
COLONIAL AND POST-COLONIAL EUROPE | ||
COLONIAL LATIN AMERICA | ||
LATIN AMERICA SINCE INDEPENDENCE | ||
TOPICS IN EUROPEAN HISTORY | ||
TOPICS IN WORLD HISTORY | ||
WORLD RELIGIONS | ||
NORTH KOREA & NUCLEAR SECURITY | ||
PROBLEMS IN U.S. FOREIGN POLICY | ||
POLITICAL VIOLENCE & TERRORISM | ||
TOPICS: ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN URBAN SETTING | ||
POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE | ||
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST | ||
CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL ISSUES | ||
WHITENESS IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY | ||
GLOBAL RACE | ||
STUDIES IN HISPANIC CIVILIZATION & CULTURE | ||
TOPICS IN IDENTITY, KNOWLEDGE, AND POWER | ||
General Education, University Writing Requirement, and Electives | ||
Courses to total 120 | 87 | |
Total Credit Hours | 120 |
CORE Requirements (General Education)
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
First Year Success Course or Transfer Success Course | ||
FYS 101 | FIRST YEAR SUCCESS COURSE | 1 |
or TRS 101 | TRANSFER SUCCESS 101 | |
Communication Requirement | ||
ENG 101 | COMPOSITION I: CRITICAL READING & WRITING | 3 |
ENG 102 | COMPOSITION II: INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH | 3 |
COMM 101 | PUBLIC SPEAKING (or program specific CORE communications course) | 3 |
Ideas of Social Justice | ||
3 credits in coursework categorized as Ideas. | 3 | |
Humanities and Fine and Performing Arts | ||
9 credits from the following subject areas: African-American Studies, Art History, English (excluding ENG 101 and ENG 102), History, Languages, Music, Philosophy, Theatre, Communication and Women's and Gender Studies | 9 | |
Mathematics | ||
MATH 110 | QUANTITATIVE LITERACY (or above) 1 | 3 |
Science | ||
One biological science and one physical science required (one must include a one credit lab). | 7-8 | |
Social Sciences | ||
9 credits from the following subject areas: African-American Studies, Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Economics, History, Journalism, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies | 9 | |
Experiential Learning | ||
6 credits from coursework categorized as Experiential Learning. | 6 | |
Total Credit Hours | 47-48 |
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Higher level of Math may be required by major
These quantitative requirements also apply to degrees.
- Students must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours.
- Students may apply no more than 60 credit hours of 100-level courses toward the degree.
- Students must apply no fewer than 60 credit hours of 200- and 300-level courses toward the degree.
- Students must have at least 18 credit hours (of the 60 credit hours above) at the 300 level.
- Students may transfer in no more than 70 credit hours from community colleges.
- Students earning less than 60 total hours in residence must take their final 30 hours at Roosevelt University. Note that some majors have additional requirements for RU hours.
- Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher to graduate. Note that some majors have additional GPA requirements.
- Students may apply no more than 51 hours in the major (BA) or 57 hours in the major (BS)
Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).
Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different.
Year 1 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
FYS 101 | 1 | ENG 102 | 3 |
ENG 101 | 3 | Ideas of Social Justice | 3 |
MATH 110 | 3 | SOC 101 | 3 |
POS 103 | 3 | Humanities #1 | 3 |
BIOL 111 or 1125 | 4 | Physical Science5 | 3 |
14 | 15 | ||
Year 2 | |||
Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
COMM 101 | 3 | International Studies 200 or 300 level2, 3 | 3 |
ECON 101 | 3 | Experiential Course #14 | 3 |
HIST 112 | 3 | Humanities #3 | 3 |
Humanities #2 | 3 | Social Science #2 | 3 |
Social Science #1 | 3 | General Elective 1 | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Year 3 | |||
Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
International Studies 200 or 300 level2,3 | 3 | International Studies 300-level3 | 3 |
Social Science #3 | 3 | International Studies 300-level3 | 3 |
General Elective1 | 3 | General Elective 1 | 3 |
General Elective 1 | 3 | General Elective 1 | 3 |
General Elective 1 | 3 | General Elective 1 | 3 |
General Elective1 | 1 | ||
15 | 16 | ||
Year 4 | |||
Fall | Credit Hours | Spring | Credit Hours |
International Studies 300-level3 | 3 | International studies 300-level3 | 3 |
International Studies 300-level3 | 3 | General Elective 1 | 3 |
Experiential Course #24 | 3 | General Elective 1 | 3 |
General Elective 1 | 3 | General Elective 1 | 3 |
General Elective 1 | 3 | General Elective 1 | 3 |
15 | 15 | ||
Total Credit Hours 120 |
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Or course towards an optional Minor.
- 2
Any course at the 200 level within the discipline.
- 3
Any course at the 300 level within the discipline.
- 4
Experiential Learning class must be 200/300 level. Satisfies CORE Experiential Learning requirement. EXL courses can satisfy major requirements/electives or CORE requirement
- 5
One Natural Science course must have a lab.