The B.A. in International Studies is a 4-year major built upon the foundations of world history and political science with coursework in areas related to language, culture, and religion. This breadth of coverage will give majors knowledge and skills for a variety of professional settings within an international context. Students are required to add a second major or a minor to this degree program to ensure that they have a broad knowledge-base for many different careers.
Who would be interested in the International Studies Major?
Earning a bachelor’s degree is an excellent option for anyone wishing for a successful career in a professional international context in a number of fields: business, law, relief and disaster work, diplomacy, etc. The major prepares professionals for successful careers in business, education, government (many areas such as the diplomatic corps, economic development, and military service), or in positions within community affairs.
The major is well-suited for students who plan to take advantage of Lander’s Study Abroad Program as well as those that are interested in pursuing a major or minor in a modern language, such as Spanish.
Why is there a need for the International Studies Major?
A changing world of business: Both within South Carolina and beyond it, employment needs for International Studies major grow due to the rising economic development across South Carolina, much of it driven by foreign investment and global trade as the state’s business community continues to be internationalized.
A changing world of politics: Globalization has made more parts of the government at all levels (local, state, and national) affected by international issues, thereby increasing the benefits of academic preparation in international studies.
The continuing world of international relief and development: With natural disasters and human conflicts continuing across the world, there continues to be a need for those who want to serve the poor, the hungry, and the homeless and for those who can do so with an empathetic understanding of diverse cultures, peoples, faiths, and systems of economy and governance.
What kinds of jobs can a major in International Studies major prepare me for?
The state’s global companies include BMW, Volvo, and Michelin as well as the many U.S. multinational corporations that call South Carolina home, such as Fluor and Sonoco. Employees with knowledge of others countries’ culture, history, politics, and economic systems can be of benefit to these organizations. The International Studies major provides the research and critical thinking skills that would allow graduates to be prepared for this kind of workplace.
Within government agencies at local, state, and national levels, international studies is good preparation for a career because globalization now impacts law and law enforcement, tourism and economic development, as well as public health and environmental protection. The International Studies major provides the research and critical thinking skills that would allow graduates to be prepared for this kind of workplace.
International organizations, non-governmental organizations (humanitarian or advocacy), and non-profit organizations are always in short supply of individuals who understand the contextual nature of aid and advocacy. The International Studies major through its coursework and international experiential requirement provides the research and critical thinking skills that would allow graduates to be prepared for this kind of workplace.
The B.A. in International Studies is a program in the Department of Government, Criminology and Sociology at Lander University. Click here to learn more about the department.
The Department of Government, Criminology and Sociology is housed in Lander University’s College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. For more information on the college, click here.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Note: The information below provides convenient links to some of the courses required for this degree; however, it should not be used as a course registration guide. Please refer to the official Lander University Academic Catalog for the most accurate and up-to-date program requirements.
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS1 | CREDIT HOURS |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Core Skills |
|
||
| ENGL 101 | Writing and Inquiry I | 3 | |
| ENGL 102 | Writing and Inquiry II | 3 | |
| MATH 211 |
Introduction to Statistical Methods I |
3 | |
|
B. Humanities and Fine Arts |
6 | ||
| C. Behavioral and Social Perspectives (6 hours selected from 2 different disciplines) |
6 | ||
| D. Scientific and Mathematical Reasoning | |||
| Approved Science/Mathematics | 3 | ||
| Approved Lab Science | 4 | ||
| E. Founding Documents of the United States | |||
| HIST 111R2 | United States History to 1877 OR HIST 112R2 United States History since 1877 OR POLS 101R2 American National Government |
3 | |
| F. World Cultures | 3 | ||
| G. LINK 101 | 1 | ||
| Total General Education Requirements | 35 | ||
1 For approved courses see the General Education section
2 If you already have credit for HIST 111, do not take HIST 111R; if you already have credit for HIST 112, do not take HIST 112R; if you already have credit for POLS 101, do not take POLS 101R
| MAJOR PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS | CREDIT HOURS |
|
|---|---|---|
| HIST 121 | World Civilizations to 1600 | 3 |
| HIST 122 | World Civilizations since 1600 | 3 |
| POLS 103 | Introduction to World Politics | 3 |
| INTL 390 | The Politics of Globalization | 3 |
| INTL 499 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| MAJOR PROGRAM AREA REQUIREMENTS | CREDIT HOURS |
|---|---|
|
Students must take one course in each of the three categories for a total of 9 hours, and three additional courses within one category for an additional 9 hours. |
18 |
| Language, Culture, & Religion (only one lower-level course can count within this category) ANTH 320: Postwar European Art, 1940-1980 ARTH 321: Global Contemporary Art: 1980 to the Present ARTH 372: Travel Related Art History ENGL 214: World Literature and Experience ENGL 220: Survey of World Literature FREN 203: French for Global Citizens III FREN 301: French Conversion and Composition FREN 330: Overseas Study FREN 340: Overseas Study: Language FREN 355: Overseas Study: Cultural Studies FREN 360: Overseas Study: Literature HIST 101: Western Civilization before 1600 HIST 102: Western Civilization from 1600 to 1918 HIST 307: Vietnam HIST 363: World Christianity from 1500 HIST 370: Modern East Asia HIST 375: Modern China HIST 376: Modern Japan HIST 377: Modern Korea HUMA 390: Topics in World Cultures HUMA 391: Topics in a World Culture MUSI 333: Music of the World PHIL 312: Enduring Wisdom of Asian Thought POLS 260: British Politics and Culture POLS 305: European Politics POLS 361: Topics in World Cultures RELI 301: Religious Cultures of the World RELI 330: The Papacy SPAN 203: Spanish for Global Citizens III SPAN 205: Hispanic World for Heritage Speakers SPAN 217: Hispanic World Today Abroad SPAN 305: Spanish Advanced Language I SPAN 320: Hispanic Cinema SPAN 327: Hispanic Cinema in Translation SPAN 340: Overseas Study: Language SPAN 350: Overseas Study: Cultural Studies SPAN 355: Topics in Cultural Studies SPAN 357: Topics in Cultural Studies in Translation SPAN 360: Overseas Study: Literature SPAN 367: Topics in Reading in Translation SOCI 321: Medical Sociology SOCI 329: Race and Ethnicity SOCI 351: Sociology of Family SOCI 363: Environmental Sociology SOCI 389: Cultures of Violence SOCI 397: Sociology of Risk |
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Policy & Practice BA 390: International Business CHEM 381: Technology, the Environment, and You EDUC 309: World Cultures in Education ES 314: Cultural Perspectives of Global Climate Change ES 390: Global Topics in Environmental Science INTL 371: Special Topics in International Studies NURS 310: Cultural Perspectives in Global Health PHIL 325: Bioethics POLS 303: International Relations POLS 325: International Conflict and Terrorism POLS 366: International Law POLS 391: Homeland Security Policy POLS 445: American Foreign Policy PUBH 310: Global Health |
|
Conflict & Cooperation HIST 307: Vietnam HIST 346: U.S. History 1920-1945: Prosperity, Depression, and War HIST 347: The United States and the Cold War, 1945-1991 HIST 365: Religion and Warfare HIST 379: Global Authoritarianism HIST 383: Warfare Through the Ages HIST 391: America as a Major World Power: U.S. Foreign Relations, 1912-Present HIST 392: Spies and Lies: The U.S. Espionage Establishment, 1942-1963 POLS 325: International Conflict and Terrorism POLS 366: International Law POLS 391: Homeland Security Policy POLS 445: American Foreign Policy |
| MAJOR PROGRAM ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS | CREDIT HOURS |
|---|---|
|
All students must choose at least one of the following pathways as part of their program of study that requires approval from the Program Coordinator: 1 semester studying abroad in a university-approved programOR an overseas study tour led by a Lander faculty member OR 1 internship focusing on international studies (either HIST 490 or POLS 490) OR “C” or better in a 200-level foreign language |
|
| Total Major Program Requirements | 33 |
| Additional Electives* | 52 |
| TOTAL FOR B.A. DEGREE | 120 |
*Students are required to add a second major or a minor to this program of study.