International Studies

Program

The purpose of the Program is to encourage and sponsor undergraduate interdisciplinary studies that are directed toward:

supporting this major within the College of Arts and Sciences,
exploring the international issues and subjects of all aspects of society,
examining diverse international themes in culture and society, and
integrating a new and broader understanding of international issues and themes into all academic fields.

The Undergraduate Program in International Studies emphasizes the intersections of the international, transnational, and national. A major will explore international issues and subjects of all aspects of society, examining especially diverse international themes and integrating a broader understanding of international issues and themes into all academic fields.

Listed below: Major, Global Compentency, and Minor Requirements

International Studies Major - Requirements

Minimum 36 credits; Maximum 15 credits per department; 12 credits 300 & above.

Core Courses − 6 hours from TWO of the following:
- ANTH 212 (Intro to Cultural Anthro)
- GEOG 140 (Intro to Human Geography)
- HIST 120 (World History)
- POLS 160 (International Relations)
Foreign Language - 6 hours beyond 202 / 210
Global Compentency - 6 hours (credit not required to meet competency)
- Study abroad
- Internship abroad
- Internship in US related to international studies
- Modern Language study (excluding literature in translation)
- Demonstration of significant international experience
Regional Specialization - 9 hours
- Africa (see courses)
- Asia (see courses)
- Europe (see courses)
- Latin America (see courses)
Thematic Specialization - 15 hours from TWO tracks
- Cultural Encounters (see courses)
- International Relations (see courses)
- Power & Production (see courses)
International Studies Pro−Seminar OR Senior / Honors Thesis - 3 hours
- Because the pro−seminar course is not offered every semester, alternate courses can be used to substitute for the International Studies Pro−Seminar requirement.
Electives (optional)

Global Competency Requirement

Two of the hallmarks for the major in International Studies are increased language study and real world experience in international contexts. Language study is relatively easy to measure and monitor. It is a simple matter of counting courses. A challenge for the program is to provide guidance for students to get appropriate real world experience. The planning committee for the new major titled this requirement "global competency."

Under the category of global competency, a student is allowed six credit hours to apply toward the International Studies major. The credits could be allocated from a study abroad program, an internship or addition coursework in language above the 299 level.

There is a good deal of literature related to cross−cultural learning in international contexts. Some of it creates abstractions such as "global awareness" and "international understanding." Unfortunately, this change is a complex concept that is very difficult to track. What we do know from the literature is that a significant "lived" cross−cultural experience usually has a dramatic effect on students. This effect is usually positive and often changes life directions. Regardless of the limitations in measurement, the planning committee felt that such an experience was a worthwhile goal to pursue.

We also recognize that for students to learn to deal with people from other cultural backgrounds, they have to have an opportunity for direct cross−cultural experience. In short we want the student to know what it is like to be "the other." The clearest and cleanest way to do this is to place the student in another cultural setting for an extended period of time: cultural immersion. However, after much discussion we determined that we would be excluding many students from the major, due to limited time or money.

The planning committee decided that, in theory, a shorter study abroad experience or an internship might be able to accomplish the same goals. This is a theoretical versus and absolute construct. Let us review an example of the absolute. According to the principles of psycho−linguistics, higher level language studies require advanced studies of the values and concepts of society in which the language is found. To understand the meaning behind language one must understand the speakers. On the other hand (theoretical), a study abroad program in Italy or an internship in the international office of the Nebraska Bank of Commerce does not guarantee an enhanced understanding of Italy or significant insights into the home culture of bank clients.

Our problem is devising a way to measure "competency" so that the requirement is met and the student is awarded six credits to achieve this competency. One solution would be for the student to create a "portfolio" that demonstrates they had accomplished our instructional goals. This portfolio need not be an intricate and involved document but it must be a summative and comprehensive one.

Summary of meeting the characteristics of the "global competency requirement":

There must be a significant exposure to cultural difference.
The student must monitor the personal effects of this exposure.
There must be a record of the effects.
The student must have an opportunity to debrief himself/herself.
The student must create and present a summative product that demonstrates the effects of exposure.

International Studies Minor − Requirements