International Studies, BA

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 and a minimum GPA of 2.0. 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.

Core12
PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS I
THE WORLD SINCE 1500
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Electives (five must be 300 level)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
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 12087
Total Credit Hours120

CORE Requirements (General Education)

First Year Success Course or Transfer Success Course
FYS 101FIRST YEAR SUCCESS COURSE1
or TRS 101 TRANSFER SUCCESS 101
Communication Requirement
ENG 101COMPOSITION I: CRITICAL READING & WRITING3
ENG 102COMPOSITION II: INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH3
COMM 101PUBLIC 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 2, 3
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 Studies9
Mathematics
MATH 110QUANTITATIVE LITERACY (or above) 13
Science
One biological science and one physical science required (one must include a one credit lab).7-8
Social Sciences 2,3
9 credits from the following subject areas: African-American Studies, Criminal Justice, Economics, History, Journalism, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Women's and Gender Studies9
Experiential Learning
6 credits from coursework categorized as Experiential Learning. 6
Total Credit Hours47-48
1

Higher level of Math may be required by major

2

Coursework must come from outside of students' major discipline

3

A maximum of 9 credits can be applied from a single discipline towards humanities and social science requirements

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
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
FYS 1011ENG 1023
ENG 1013Ideas of Social Justice3
MATH 1103SOC 1013
POS 1033Humanities #13
BIOL 111 or 11254Physical Science53
 14 15
Year 2
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
COMM 1013International Studies 200 or 300 level2, 33
ECON 1013Experiential Course #143
HIST 1123Humanities #33
Humanities #23Social Science #23
Social Science #13General Elective 13
 15 15
Year 3
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
International Studies 200 or 300 level2,33International Studies 300-level33
Social Science #33International Studies 300-level33
General Elective13General Elective 13
General Elective 13General Elective 13
General Elective 13General Elective 13
 General Elective11
 15 16
Year 4
FallCredit HoursSpringCredit Hours
International Studies 300-level33International studies 300-level33
International Studies 300-level33General Elective 13
Experiential Course #243General Elective 13
General Elective 13General Elective 13
General Elective 13General Elective 13
 15 15
Total Credit Hours 120
1

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.