Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (120 units)
The Bachelor of Arts in International Studies is an interdisciplinary degree program that marries a strong liberal arts education with a foundation in transecting international studies theories and a professionally-oriented skillset necessary for success in internationally-related careers. Students receive direct international experience through classroom-based international interactions and by participating in a foreign study program or an internationally related internship in this country.
International Studies students are curious global citizens who want to make their mark on the world. The major program provides them the tools and guidance to focus their interests and accomplish their goals. It prepares CSULB graduates for high demand jobs in fields like international trade and business, non-profits, international development, international affairs, education, and law.
International Studies uses an outcomes-oriented approach to higher education leading students to develop strong analytical and writing skills while teaching students how to integrate a wide variety of disciplinary methods, language competencies, and cross-cultural understandings into the study of global issues.
All International Studies majors are required to develop a program of study in consultation with the program advisor. Majors should choose their foreign language, foreign study or internship experience, and senior seminar research project to reflect this emphasis.
The Dual Major Track:
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies can choose to instead enroll in the Dual Major Track. The Dual Major Track synthesizes the goals and outcomes of the International Studies major with the goals and outcomes of a second major. It differs from the standard International Studies major in that it allows students to replace the eighteen units of professional and regional development in the major with professional and regional development from the student’s second major. The student develops an interdisciplinary, international, intercultural knowledge base and skills, critical thinking skills, analytical reasoning skills, writing skills, and oral argument skills through the remaining International Studies coursework and uses the two advanced courses to integrate the two majors through an experiential learning paper and a senior research paper. Though students will overlap 18 units of coursework between the two majors advisor approval is necessary and students must complete both majors within 120 percent of the 120 units required for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Students are advised on strategies for integrating the two majors, language acquisition, and either study abroad or an internship in a timely, efficient, and rewarding manner.
Requirements
A minimum of 48 units in a program approved by the International Studies advisor.
Requirements Not Included in Major
Foreign Language:
Three years of college level study or equivalent proficiency demonstrated in a language appropriate to the program of study and geographic area concentration selected.
Major Requirements
Lower Division (15 units):
Complete each of the following courses:
- I/ST 100 Global Citizenship (3)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: one GE A1 course
- I/ST 200 Introduction to International Studies (3)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.
- I/ST 222 Skills and Methods for Global Leadership (3)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.
- ECON 100 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
Prerequisites: MATH 103 or higher and one GE Foundation course.
- ECON 101 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 103 or higher.
Upper Division: minimum of 33 units
A course can only be counted towards one category in the major. All upper division courses counting towards the major except for I/ST 492 must be taken for a Letter Grade and must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
Category 1: Core Courses
Complete three of the following core courses (9 units):
- I/ST 317, I/ST 319, I/ST 320, I/ST 339, I/ST 399, I/ST 419, I/ST 463.
Category 2: Professional Development Area
Complete three courses in any one of the following professional development areas (9 units):
(1) International Development:
- ANTH 307; ECON 310, ECON 311, ECON 372, ECON 366, ECON 464, ECON 465, ECON 470, ECON 471; GEOG 319, GEOG 452; HDEV 360; I/ST 319, I/ST 350, I/ST 419; POSC 461.
(2) Culture and Identity:
- ANTH 419; ASAM 354, ASAM 407; CHIN 451; COMM 330; CWL 330A-B, CWL 334, CWL 344, CWL 346, CWL 350; ENGL 359; FREN 456; GERM 380; HDEV 403; HIST 435, HIST 465; I/ST 320, I/ST 339, I/ST 350; RGR 315, RGR 346, RGR 450; R/ST 308, R/ST 314, R/ST 315, R/ST 317, R/ST 331, R/ST 341, R/ST 351, R/ST 358, R/ST 383, R/ST 458, R/ST 460; RUS 428; WGSS 410.
(3) Citizenship and Migration:
- ANTH 444, CHLS 335, HIST 412, I/ST 320, I/ST 399, SOC 358.
(4) Politics, International Relations, and Social
Movements:
- AFRS 430; GEOG 470; HIST 345, HIST 478; I/ST 317, I/ST 318, I/ST 350, I/ST 478; JOUR 312; PHIL 351; POSC 353, POSC 362, POSC 367, POSC 371, POSC 376, POSC 450, POSC 455; SOC 317, SOC 318, SOC 449; WGSS 401, WGSS 402, WGSS 424, WGSS 425.
(5) International Environmental and Natural Resource Issues:
- ECON 464; ENGR 302; GEOG 340, GEOG 355, GEOG 440; HIST 464; I/ST 355.
Category 3: Geographic Area Concentration
Complete three courses in any one of the following geographic areas (9 units):
Europe Area Concentration:
- CHLS 450; CWL 330A-B, CWL 344, CWL 438; ENGL 359, ENGL 459, ENGL 466; FREN 440, FREN 456; GEOG 316; GERM 370, GERM 380; HIST 304, HIST 332, HIST 333, HIST 334, HIST 337, HIST 338, HIST 339, HIST 340, HIST 343, HIST 357, HIST 435, HIST 437; PHIL 414; RGR 314, RGR 315, RGR 346; RUSS 310, RUSS 428; SPAN 428, SPAN 446, SPAN 449, SPAN 430.
South Asia Area Concentration:
- A/ST 306, A/ST 307; GEOG 314; HIST 385; PHIL 307.
East Asia Area Concentration:
- ANTH 332; A/ST 306, A/ST 307, A/ST 393, A/ST 495; CHIN 382B, CHIN 451; CWL 334; ENGL 359, GEOG 313, GEOG 315; HIST 382A-B, HIST 383A-B, HIST 384, HIST 386, HIST 388, HIST 406A, HIST 407, HIST 412; JAPN 451, JAPN 452; PHIL 306; POSC 362.
Latin America and the Caribbean Area Concentration:
- ANTH 432; CHLS 430, CHLS 450, CHLS 450A; GEOG 321; HIST 362, HIST 364, HIST 460, HIST 462, HIST 463, HIST 464, HIST 465; I/ST 476; POSC 358, POSC 481; SPAN 445, SPAN 450, SPAN 455, SPAN 460.
Middle East/North Africa Area Concentration:
- GEOG 309; HIST 393, HIST 394, HIST 417,HIST 432; I/ST 405; POSC 367; SOC 405.
North America Area Concentration:
- ANTH 432; CHLS 300, CHLS 352; CWL 350; GEOG 306, GEOG 321; HIST 435, HIST 462; I/ST 478.
Oceania Area Concentration:
- Due to lack of available courses this concentration can only be chosen if the student is completing a relevant study abroad.
Russia and Central Asia Area Concentration:
- GEOG 318; HIST 341A-B, HIST 418, HIST 440; RUS 310, RUS 428.
Africa Area Concentration:
- AFRS 343A, AFRS 353, AFRS 363, AFRS 430; GEOG 308; HIST 391, HIST 392, HIST 491.
Category 4: Advanced Coursework
- I/ST 492 International Studies Internship/Foreign Study (3)
An internship or foreign study program related to the course of study selected, as approved by the Study Abroad and Internship Advisor.
Prerequisites: Consent of I/ST advisor; completion of a minimum of 15 upper division units required for the major in International Studies.
- I/ST 490 Senior Research Seminar in International Studies (3)
Prerequisites: Senior standing or consent of the International Studies advisor and instructor.
The Dual Major Track
Requirements
A minimum of 48 units in a program approved by the International Studies advisor.
Requirements Not Included in Major
Foreign Language:
Three years of college level study or equivalent proficiency demonstrated in a language appropriate to the program of study and geographic area concentration selected.
Major Requirements
Lower Division (15 units):
Complete each of the following courses:
- I/ST 100 Global Citizenship (3)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: one GE A1 course
- I/ST 200 Introduction to International Studies (3)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.
- I/ST 222 Skills and Methods for Global Leadership (3)
Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.
- ECON 100 Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
Prerequisites: MATH 103 or higher and one GE Foundation course.
- ECON 101 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
Prerequisite/Corequisite: MATH 103 or higher.
Upper Division: minimum of 33 units
All upper division courses counting towards the major except for I/ST 492 must be taken for a Letter Grade and must completed with a grade of "C" or better.
Category 1: Core Courses
Complete three of the following core courses (9 units):
- I/ST 317, I/ST 319, I/ST 320, I/ST 333, I/ST 355, I/ST 463.
Category 2: Dual Major Integration
18 upper division units from the student’s second major. All dual major integration courses must have the prefix of the respective department or cross-listed department. Courses are approved for dual major integration by the International Studies advisor.
Category 3: Advanced Coursework
- I/ST 492 International Studies Internship/Foreign Study (3)
An internship or foreign study program related to the course of study selected, as approved by the Study Abroad and Internship Advisor.
Prerequisites: Consent of I/ST advisor; completion of a minimum of 15 upper division units required for the major in International Studies.
- I/ST 490 Senior Research Seminar in International Studies (3)
Prerequisites: Senior standing or consent of the International Studies advisor and instructor.
