Bulletin Year: 2019 - 2020 Undergraduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog. | View this program in the current bulletin.

This major gives students a broad view of the world with an emphasis on developing regions. The core ensures that students have broad exposure to major world religions, international politics and government, recent global history and relationships between geography, culture, arts and society. This major is a good point of departure for pursuing an international-related master’s degree and/or many careers, including international business, diplomacy and fields related to human development. 

Please note that in addition to the course requirements listed below, International Studies majors must also meet the following requirements:

1. Study Abroad
International Studies majors must have a study abroad experience, normally in a non-English speaking country, for at least 12 weeks, including a minimum of nine weeks of study through an approved college-level institution. Many of the credits earned can be applied to the major. Students who attended high school in another country may petition the international studies advisory committee for exemption from the requirement for study abroad.

2. Language Proficiency
International studies majors must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English at the 202 level or higher. This can be accomplished by completing a 202 (or 300 or higher) course in a language or by verification through the Modern Languages and Literatures Department (i.e. determined by examination or through some other means of confirming proficiency).

3. Program Approval
A program approval for international studies majors must be prepared and approved by an academic advisor from the Modern Languages and Literatures Department and a copy forwarded to the Registrar’s Office. A degree evaluation will not be performed until approval is received. 

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Languages, Literatures, and International Studies department page.

For related information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/home.htm

Total Credits Required 120
General Education
30-40
Required Courses in Major44
Major Core22-24
EC 201 Microeconomic Principles 4
GC 164 Human Geography [SOCR] 4
IP 190 Introduction to International Studies [SOCR] 4
IP 290 Global Engagement 2
IP 490 International Studies Seminar 2
PL 270 World Religions [SOCR] 4
Choose one course from the following:2-4
     PS 203 Comparative Government and Politics (4 cr.)
     PS 206 International Relations (4 cr.)
     PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.)
Concentration*20-22
See notation below.
Global Concentration
Required Course4
HS 201 World History to 1520 [SOCR] 4
Electives16-18
Choose from the following:
(No more than 12 cr. may come from any prefix.)
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad (1-12 cr.)
AD 230 History of World Art: Ancient to Medieval (4 cr.)
AD 240 History of World Art: Renaissance to Modern (4 cr.)
AD 265 Art and Architecture of Japan (4 cr.)
AD 300 Art and Ideas in Asian Civilizations (4 cr.)
AD 330 History of Renaissance Art (4 cr.)
AN 100 Introduction to Socio-Cultural Anthropology (4 cr.) [SOCR]
AN 210 Ecological Anthropology: People, Culture and Nature (4 cr.)
BC 415 Intercultural Communication (4 cr.) [SOCR]
BC 420 Global Communication (4 cr.)
CJ 426 International Crime and Comparative Criminal Justice Systems (4 cr.)
EC 425 International Economics (4 cr.)
EC 460 Economic Development (4 cr.)
EN 225 History of World Cinema (4 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR]
EN 326 National Cinema (4 cr.)
EN 360 Modern British Literature (3 - 4 cr.)
EN 382 British Literature 1960 to Present (3 - 4 cr.)
EN 411 Topics in World Literature (3 - 4 cr.) [SOCR]
FR 310 Introduction to French Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
FR 438 Cultural and Artistic Heritage of Europe (4 cr.)
GC 220 Economic Geography (4 cr.)
GC 300 Regional Studies: World Cultures (4 cr.) [SOCR]
GR 310 Introduction to German Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
GR 311 Central European Culture and Civilization (4 cr.) [PERS]
HL 322 International Health Issues (4 cr.) [SOCR]
HL 386 Interdisciplinary Study in Global Health Care - Latin America (3 cr.) [SOCR]
HN 362 Cultural Food Patterns (4 cr.) [PERS]
HS 251 Latin American History (4 cr.)
HS 252 History of the Middle East since 600 (4 cr.) [SOCR]
HS 254 History of Africa (4 cr.) [SOCR]
HS 308 Themes in Modern Europe (4 cr.)
HS 311 Central European Culture and Civilization (4 cr.)
HS 314 Modern Britain,1485-Present (4 cr.)
HS 315 Imperialism (4 cr.)
HS 316 The Holocaust (4 cr.)
HS 359 Themes in Global History (4 cr.)
HS 362 History of Mexico (4 cr.)
LG 317 World Studies through Literature in Translation (4 cr.) [PERS]
MGT 475 International Business (4 cr.)
MKT 466 International Marketing (4 cr.)
MU 325 World Music (4 cr.) [HUME]
NAS 342 Indigenous Environmental Movements (4 cr.) [INTT]
PS 203 Comparative Government and Politics (4 cr.)
PS 206 International Relations (4 cr.)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.)
PS 312 War and Peace in the 21st Century (4 cr.)
PS 321 Politics in Islamic Nations (4 cr.)
PS 340 International Organizations (4 cr.)
PS 404 Politics of East and Southeast Asia (4 cr.)
PS 415 Politics of American Foreign Policy (4 cr.)
SN 310 Introduction to Spanish Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
SN 312 Introduction to Spanish America (4 cr.) [PERS]
SN 314 Contemporary Latin American Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
SO 351 Social Change (4 cr.) [PERS]
Other Courses as Approved by Modern Languages & Literatures
Regional Concentration: Africa
Required Course4
HS 254 History of Africa [SOCR] 4
Electives16-18
Choose from the following:16-18
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad to Africa (1-12 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR] (African Topics)
HS 359 Themes in Global History (4 cr.)
LG 317 World Studies through Literature in Translation (4 cr.) [PERS] (Africa)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.) (African Focus)
Non-Regional Courses from List (4-8 cr.)
Other Courses as Approved by Modern Languages & Literatures
Regional Concentration: Asia
Required Course4
SO 353 Globalization and Asian Societies [PERS] 4
Electives16-18
Choose from the following:16-18
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad to Asia (1-12 cr.)
AD 265 Art and Architecture of Japan (4 cr.)
AD 300 Art and Ideas in Asian Civilizations (4 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Asian Topics)
EN 411 Topics in World Literature (3 - 4 cr.) [SOCR] (Asian Topics)
GC 300 Regional Studies: World Cultures (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Asian Topics)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.) (Asian Focus)
PS 404 Politics of East and Southeast Asia (4 cr.)
Non-Regional Courses from List (4-8 cr.)
Other Courses as Approved by Modern Languages & Literatures
Regional Concentration: Europe
Required Course4
HS 202 World History since 1400 [SOCR] 4
Electives16-18
Choose from the following:16-18
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad to Europe (1-12 cr.)
AD 330 History of Renaissance Art (4 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR] (European)
EN 326 National Cinema (4 cr.)
EN 360 Modern British Literature (3 - 4 cr.)
EN 382 British Literature 1960 to Present (3 - 4 cr.)
FR 310 Introduction to French Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
FR 438 Cultural and Artistic Heritage of Europe (4 cr.)
GR 310 Introduction to German Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
GR 311 Central European Culture and Civilization (4 cr.) [PERS]
HS 308 Themes in Modern Europe (4 cr.)
HS 311 Central European Culture and Civilization (4 cr.)
HS 314 Modern Britain,1485-Present (4 cr.)
HS 315 Imperialism (4 cr.)
HS 316 The Holocaust (4 cr.)
LG 317 World Studies through Literature in Translation (4 cr.) [PERS] (Europe)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.) (Europe)
SN 310 Introduction to Spanish Civilization and Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
Courses taught in French, German and Spanish dealing with Europe
Non-Regional Courses from List (4-8 cr.)
Other Courses as Approved by Modern Languages & Literatures
Regional Concentration: Latin America
Required Course4
Choose one course from the following:4
HS 251 Latin American History (4 cr.)
SN 314 Contemporary Latin American Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
Electives16-18
Choose from the following:16-18
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad to Latin America (1-12 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Latin America)
GC 300 Regional Studies: World Cultures (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Latin America)
HL 386 Interdisciplinary Study in Global Health Care - Latin America (3 cr.) [SOCR]
HS 251 Latin American History (4 cr.)
HS 362 History of Mexico (4 cr.)
LG 317Z World Studies through Literature in Translation (4 cr.) (Latin America)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.)
SN 314 Contemporary Latin American Culture (4 cr.) [PERS]
Courses taught in French, German and Spanish dealing with Latin America
Non-Regional Courses from List (4-8 cr.)
Other Courses as Approved by Modern Languages & Literatures
Regional Concentration: Middle East4
Required Course4
HS 252 History of the Middle East since 600 [SOCR] 4
Electives16-18
Choose from the following:16-18
IP 285/IP 286/IP 485/ IP 486 Study Abroad to Middle East (1-12 cr.)
EN 311 World Literature in English (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Middle East)
HS 359 Themes in Global History (4 cr.)
GC 300 Regional Studies: World Cultures (4 cr.) [SOCR] (Middle East)
PS 299 Model U.N. (2 cr.) (Middle East)
PS 321 Politics in Islamic Nations (4 cr.)
Non-Regional Courses from List (4-8 cr.)
Other Courses as Approved by Modern Languages & Literatures
Non-Regional Courses**
AD 230 History of World Art: Ancient to Medieval (4 cr.)
AD 240 History of World Art: Renaissance to Modern (4 cr.)
AN 100 Introduction to Socio-Cultural Anthropology (4 cr.) [SOCR]
AN 210 Ecological Anthropology: People, Culture and Nature (4 cr.)
BC 415 Intercultural Communication (4 cr.) [SOCR]
BC 420 Global Communication (4 cr.)
CJ 426 International Crime and Comparative Criminal Justice Systems (4 cr.)
EC 425 International Economics (4 cr.)
EC 460 Economic Development (4 cr.)
EN 225 History of World Cinema (4 cr.)
GC 220 Economic Geography (4 cr.)
HN 362 Cultural Food Patterns (4 cr.) [PERS]
HL 322 International Health Issues (4 cr.) [SOCR]
HS 359 Themes in Global History (4 cr.)
MGT 475 International Business (4 cr.)
MKT 466 International Marketing (4 cr.)
MU 325 World Music (4 cr.) [HUME]
NAS 342 Indigenous Environmental Movements (4 cr.) [INTT]
PS 203 Comparative Government and Politics (4 cr.)
PS 206 International Relations (4 cr.)
PS 312 War and Peace in the 21st Century (4 cr.)
PS 340 International Organizations (4 cr.)
PS 415 Politics of American Foreign Policy (4 cr.)
SO 351 Social Change (4 cr.) [PERS]
Minor20

*Concentration:

Students must choose the global or a regional concentration (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, or the Middle East) with which to fulfill their electives.

**For students choosing a regional concentration, up to eight of their elective credits may be taken from the list of non-regional courses, while all others must come from within the chosen concentration.

No more than 12 credits per prefix may count toward the major.


Bulletin Year: 2019 - 2020 Undergraduate Bulletin | View the current NMU Catalog.