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International and Global Studies (formerly International Studies) BS
Program overview
The impact of global change is dramatic and far-reaching, altering the dynamics of everyday life on a planetary scale. The international and global studies major assesses and analyzes salient issues including consumer capitalism, media culture, forms of communication, economic development, gender and health, migration, border wars, political violence, sustainable futures, and human security.
Curriculum
The major offers a range of courses from anthropology, economics, fine arts, history, international business, modern language and culture studies, political science, public policy, and sociology. The program focuses on the dynamic interplay of international and supranational processes, an approach that features an integrated analysis of globalization via the dynamics of cultural, technological, media, business, monetary, diplomatic, and information exchange. Through the holistic and humanistic analysis of globalization, students consider the consequences of global processes for human rights, ethnic conflict, health, environmental sustainability, economic justice, violence and human security, and the predicaments of democracy and civil society.
Field specializations
The major offers specialization options that allow students to choose a regional focus (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, or Indigenous Studies) or a topical focus (sustainable futures, global justice, peace and conflict studies, international business, or transnational gender studies).
Foreign language
The major requires students to study a foreign language. RIT offers instruction in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Language certification also is available for students who are proficient in a language other than English, including ASL.
International experience
Students are encouraged to gain a gloabl perspective through an international experience. This can include study abroad or an international co-op or internship. Study abroad programs are available in any part of the world, or students can study at one of RIT's global campuses in Croatia, Dubai, or Kosovo. Students may also fullfil the international reuirement by completing an internship or co-op at an international company.
International and global studies, BS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| INGS-101 | Global Studies | 3 |
| ANTH-210 | Culture and Globalization | 3 |
| LAS Foundation 1: First Year Seminar† | 3 | |
| LAS Foundation 2: First Year Writing | 3 | |
| LAS Perspective 1, 7A | 6 | |
| POLS-110 | LAS Perspective 3: Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| LAS Elective | 3 | |
| Modern Language (beginning level) 1, 2‡ | 6 | |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| POLS-330 | Human Rights in Global Perspective | 3 |
| Modern Language (intermediate level) 1, 2‡ | 6 | |
| SOCI-302 | Qualitative Research | 3 |
| Field Specialization Elective | 3 | |
| Globalization Concentration Electives | 6 | |
| STAT-145 | LAS Perspective 7B: Introduction to Statistics I | 3 |
| ECON-101 | LAS Perspective 4: Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| LAS Immersion 1 | 3 | |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| INGS-597 | Study Abroad§ | |
| INGS-598 | Internship§ | |
| Third Year | ||
| ECON-449 | Comparative Economic Systems | 3 |
| Modern Language (advanced level) 1‡ | 3 | |
| Globalization Concentration Elective | 3 | |
| Field Specialization Electives | 6 | |
| Advanced Study Course | 3 | |
| ISTE-105 | Web Foundations | 3 |
| LAS Immersion 2, 3 | 6 | |
| LAS Perspective 5 | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| INGS-501 | Capstone Seminar (WI) | 3 |
| Field Specialization Elective | 3 | |
| Advanced Study Course | 3 | |
| LAS Perspectives 2, 6 | 6 | |
| LAS Electives | 9 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.
† The First Year Seminar requirement is replaced by an LAS Elective for the 2013-14 academic year.
‡ Modern language: Students without prior proficiency in a foreign language should take the beginning level language sequence as prerequisite(s) for the intermediate level in the LAS electives.
§ After the first year, students are required to complete an international experience by choosing either a study abroad experience or an internship or co-op. The requirement may be completed during the summer or during the academic year.
Additional information
Faculty
Faculty members have distinguished records of research in Latin America, the Caribbean, China, Japan, Korea, West and North Africa, the Middle East, Native North America, and Europe. A number have teaching experience abroad; collaborate with transnational teams on issues of human trafficking, genocide, political violence, environmental sustainability, and global justice; and many have achieved international recognition through prestigious grants, fellowships, and publications.
Career opportunities
Students are well-prepared to pursue careers in government, diplomatic or security service, international business, and not-for-profit initiatives. Graduates also are prepared competitive graduate programs in fields as diverse as international law, international development, global education, administration, public policy, and the social sciences.