Dec 03, 2024  
2024-2025 SUNY Potsdam Academic Catalog 
    
2024-2025 SUNY Potsdam Academic Catalog

International Studies, B.A.


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The International Studies major offers a broad based course of study that focuses on the contemporary forces influencing world affairs. The IS major is an excellent preparation for careers in government, international business, and public service. As a second major, it complements studies in any field where the international domain has an impact.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

International Studies B.A. students will be able to:

   • explain multiple perspectives on global affairs in their cultural, social, political, economic and historical contexts.
   • evaluate the validity of claims about international issues or events.
   • integrate ideas from multiple disciplines and applied learning experiences to the analysis of international issues or events.
   • apply at least one research method to address a substantive question in international studies.

Program Requirements


Intercultural Experience: 3-15 Credits


Students must complete an intercultural experience.  This requirement is fulfilled through a semester-long study abroad experience, a faculty-led travel course, or an internship with a central intercultural component.  The intercultural experience must be approved by the Coordinator for International Studies.

Cognate Language Requirement: 0-12 Credits


Students are required to demonstrate an intermediate level mastery of a modern foreign (non-English) language. Students may do so in one of three ways:

By successfully completing one of the following courses:

  • 3 Credit(s)
  • 3 Credit(s)
  • 3 Credit(s)
  • By successfully completing a modern language course at the intermediate level (or higher) at another accredited college or university;
  • By otherwise being certified, in writing, by the Department of Modern Languages as possessing intermediate level mastery of a modern foreign (non-English) language. Note: the language placement exam is administered by the Department of Modern Languages and that department will make final determinations as to what test results indicate competency at the intermediate level.

General Requirements: 16-19 Credits


If one of the two optional concentrations below is not selected:

Methods and Research Writing: 3-4 Credits


Choose one:

Electives: 15-20 Credits


Students must complete 5 electives.  No more than 3 courses can be from 1 discipline.  Only 1 course can be a lower-division (100-200 level) course.  At least 4 courses must be upper-division (300-400 level).

History and Culture Concentration: 16-19 Credits


To complete the History and Culture concentration, students have to complete the required courses above, including the intercultural experience and modern languates requirement, in addition to:

Methods and Research Writing: 3-4 Credits


Choose one:

Electives: 13-15 Credits


Students must complete 5 electives.  4 must be from the list below.  No more than 3 courses can be from 1 discipline.  Only 1 course can be a lower-division (100-200 level) course.  At least 4 courses must be upper-division (300-400 level).

Political Economy Concentration: 16-19 Credits


To complete the Political Economy concentration, students have to complete the required courses above, including the intercultural experience and modern languates requirement, in addition to:

Methods and Research Writing: 3-4 Credits


Choose one:

Electives: 13-15 Credits


Students must complete 5 electives.  4 must be from the list below.  No more than 3 courses can be from 1 discipline.  Only 1 course can be a lower-division (100-200 level) course.  At least 4 courses must be upper-division (300-400 level).

Note(s)


  • International Studies students might want to consider adding a minor in Asian Studies, Africana Studies, French Studies, Spanish Studies, or Arabic Studies, or adding a major or minor in one of the participating departments (for departments offering IS courses, see the elective list below).
  • No more than two courses can count both toward the International Studies student’s minor or second major. Cognate requirements (i.e. the IS modern language requirement) are excluded from this rule.
  • Intercultural experiences must be approved by the IS Program in order to count toward the major. IS students should consult with their adviser to make arrangements.
  • A minimum grade of 2.0 is required for all courses in the major.
  • At least 18 credit hours of the courses that count toward the major must be upper division (at the 300 or 400 level). Also, a maximum of 3 upper division credit hours from the international experience can count toward the 18 hour total.

 

Total Credit Hours Required: 31-61


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