Requirements for the Major
Option I: Global Security
Option II: International Political Economy and Policy Studies
Option III: Culture in the Age of Globalization
Option IV: International Relations and the Environment: Managing the Global Commons
Requirements for Declaring the
International Studies Major
International Studies Major, 36
Credits Required
Honors in the Major
Distinction in the Major
Courses
226 Ingraham Hall, 1155 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706; 608/262-8431/263-6916; http://ismajor.wisc.edu
Director: Professor Jo Ellen Fair (Journalism and Mass Communication)
Undergraduate advisor in the major: Christine Schindler, 226 Ingraham Hall, 262-8431, cschindl@wisc.edu
International studies is an interdisciplinary major that offers a broad background in international and transnational political, social, economic, commercial, and environmental affairs, together with a comparative study of politics, economics, security, and culture. The goal is to provide students with the necessary tools to understand global processes in their totality and how they are situated and lived in specific regions. It is important to stress that the major itself is not primarily vocational or professional. It does, however, provide an integrated program of courses which lays the foundation for professional training in a wide variety of areas. Such a foundation can be invaluable in securing a place in competitive graduate or professional schools, which, in turn, prepare an individual for government service, or for other careers with an international focus, including those in multinational corporations, international banking houses, foreign press services, and institutions of teaching and research.
Students in international studies are encouraged to supplement course work in the major with appropriate electives and/or additional majors or certificates in methodology, languages, or specialized international fields such as population, ecology, business, development, and so on, as their interests and strengths dictate. Indeed, students in related majors in the departments of economics, geography, history, journalism, languages and literature, political science, or sociology are strongly encouraged to supplement those majors with International Studies for developing a systematic approach to preparing for international careers.
Students are encouraged to incorporate a study abroad experience into their undergraduate program. Appropriate credits from such study can be applied to the major. For information on options and procedures, see http://ismajor.wisc.edu (click on Study Abroad), or the section on Academic Programs Abroad in this catalog.
Since this is an interdisciplinary major with a wealth of options, careful planning and consultation with the international studies advisor is especially important.
Although each option within the major has its own required courses, there is a common structure to the major and a coordination of course content. In addition to common basic course work, each option has specific required track core courses, issue and elective course work. The logic of the architecture is intended to insure that majors have the basic skills and prerequisites for more sophisticated and difficult course work in their senior year and for advanced career preparation.
Basic course work begins with foundation courses in both economics and political science. All students must also complete the fifth college semester level in a single foreign language. Majors choosing the Global Commons track should note the additional basic course required. While the language requirement needs only to be completed before graduation, students are asked to complete the rest of the basic course work before declaring the major.
Majors must complete an additional 10-12 courses (36 credits) beyond the basic courses required to declare the major. This includes both required and elective course work. The variety of courses from which to choose and the flexibility of the major are premised on the wide range of students' interests and preparation. Therefore, students are cautioned to take into consideration prerequisites when choosing courses. Levels of preparation are particularly important in options involving language, economics, and environmental studies. Also, students selecting courses outside the College of Letters and Science (e.g., Agricultural and Applied Economics) are advised to keep in mind the free elective rule.
Note on courses: Within each option, students may select from the courses listed, but should bear in mind that a course's presence on the list does not guarantee it will be offered. Students are also encouraged to consult with the advisor about including "topics" classes when these have international-studies-related content (e.g., Econ 390, Poli Sci 401 or 695, History 463, Envir St 400). Advisor's approval is required in order for such courses to be counted toward the major.
All students must fulfill the L&S requirement of at least 15 credits of upper-level work in the major completed on the UW-Madison campus. Since participating departments differ in correspondence of number and level for courses, the following guidelines are provided. In the departments of Economics, Political Science, and History, all approved course work numbered 300 and above will meet the upper-level work definition. For all other departments, courses designated I, A, or D in the Timetable or this catalog will meet the upper-level work definition.
This option considers the causes of, and solutions to, violent conflicts in interstate, transnational, and domestic settings. Through a historical and regionally based approach, this option focuses on better understanding of the evolving meaning and practice of global security.
This option offers a multidisciplinary survey of international economic and political institutions and transactions, as well as the policy issues pertaining to international commerce and trade, international finance and monetary relations, international macroeconomic policy coordination, U.S. trade imbalances, aid and development, and related environment and natural resource problems.
The option explores cross-cultural interactions at different levels: local, national, and international. In this option students engage such issues as: cosmopolitanism, migrant cultural forms, shifting assumptions about what it means to be indigenous or foreign, globalization and technology, and the relations between the benign and malign faces of globalization.
This option focuses on the understanding and management of international and transboundary environmental resource problems. Courses in this track will examine environmental and resource policies and provide an understanding of various environmental and resource issues.
The following courses are prerequisites for declaring the international studies major. These courses must be completed or in-progress before the major can be declared:
1. Poli Sci 103 Introduction to International Relations
2. One survey course from the following:
African 277 Africa: An Introductory Survey
E Asian Introduction to East Asian Civilization
History 142 History of South Asia to the Present
History 244 Introduction to Southeast Asia: Vietnam to the Philippines
History 252 The Civilizations of India—Modern Period
History 253 Russia: An Interdisciplinary Survey
History 254 Eastern Europe: An Interdisciplinary Survey
History 260 Latin America: An Introduction
LCA 140 Asia: Imperialism, Nationalism, & Globalization
LCA 265 An Introduction to Central Asia: From the Silk Route to Afghanistan
Poli Sci 106 Introduction to Comparative Politics
3. Economics—select either:
Econ 101 & 102 Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics OR
Econ 111 Principles of Economics—Accelerated Treatment (automatic honors, one semester accelerated course that combines Econ 101 & 102 into one semester)
4. Additional prerequisite for Global Commons Option:
AAE 344 The Environment and the Global Economy
Geog 120 Global Physical Environment
Geog 127 Global Systems of the Environment
Geog 339 Environmental Conservation
5. Complete fifth-semester college course in a foreign language. This requirement must be completed before graduation.
For requirements and courses, see Web site: ismajor.wisc.edu.
Students wishing to earn Honors in the Major in International Studies must declare Honors in the Major in the second semester of their junior year and meet the following requirements:
1. A minimum of 16 upper-level honors credits that fulfill requirements in the major. Those courses that would count for honors would include courses specifically designated honors in the Timetable along with appropriate and preapproved special topics courses (e.g. Poli Sci 401 and 695, Intl St 601).
No blanket statement can be made about these courses as topics may or may not be relevant to the major. They will be designated as fulfilling honors credits on a case-by-case basis. Preapproved graduate level courses taken to fulfill major requirements will also constitute honors work. Students who both study abroad and pursue Honors in the Major must also work closely with the advisor to determine which, if any, of the courses taken abroad will fulfill honors credits in the major.
2. A 3.5 major grade point average and an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all courses taken at UW-Madison at the time of graduation.
3. Complete the following upon consultation with the international studies advisor: two senior seminars (6 credits) such as the International Studies topics seminars; or two graduate-level courses (6 credits) or a combination of the above. Students may also choose to do an interdisciplinary senior thesis, which is a two-semester commitment.
Advising for Honors in the Major is through the International Studies Program.
Students not enrolled in the honors program may apply for Distinction in the Major. Criteria include:
1. 3.5 major grade point average;
2. at least one of the following: senior thesis, senior seminar, graduate course, or "substantial extra work" in an advanced course within the major;
3. written request to the international studies advisor three weeks before the date of graduation.
140 Asia in the Age of Imperialism, Nationalism, and Globalization. (Crosslisted with LCA) Irr.; 3-4 cr (Z-E). Introduces Central and Southwest Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia in the 19th-20th centuries from the perspective of European expansion and imperialism, the colonization of Asia, the rise of modern nation-states, decolonization, and globalization. P: Open to Fr.
211 Global Language Issues. (Crosslisted with Anthro, Folklore, Linguis) Irr.; 4 cr (Z-E). A series of modules, each showcasing one language and its culture. Each module tackles a major issue about language, such as extinction and revival, language and nationhood, how widely and deeply languages differ, language and worldview, writing systems and literacy, language discrimination and inequality. P: Open to Fr.
301 Introduction to International Studies. I; 4 cr (S-I). This course familiarizes students with the field of international studies, and performs an interdisciplinary examination of the cultural, political, economic, and social patterns that have defined the modern world. P: IR major or cons inst or advisor.
317 The Politics of Human Rights. (Crosslisted with Poli Sci) I or II; 3-4 cr (S-I). Examines the origins and development of human rights in international politics. The course discusses what human rights are, international human rights movements, the international search for justice after mass crimes, and international humanitarian intervention. P: Jr st.
318 The Comparative Study of Genocide. (Crosslisted with Poli Sci) I or II; 3-4 cr (S-I). Examines the phenomenon of genocide in the modern world. The class covers the concept of genocide, theories of why genocide occurs, and particular cases in the 20th and 21st centuries. P: Jr st.
374 The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy. (Crosslisted with AAE) I; 3 cr (I). This course explores the roles of markets, states, and civil institutions, using economic theory, computer simulations, and historical experience to better understand the forces that shape the wealth and well-being of nations and people around the world. P: Econ 101, or Econ 102, or AAE 215, or equiv.
601 Topics in Global Security. Irr.; 3 cr (A). Treatment of topics in global security. Can be repeated by students but not with the same content. P: Prerequisites may vary with topic.
602 Topics in International Political Economy and Policy Studies. Irr.; 3 cr (A). Treatment of topics in international political economy and policy studies. Can be repeated by students but not with the same content. P: Prerequisites may vary with topic.
603 Topics in Culture in the Age of Globalization. Irr.; 3 cr (A). Treatment of topics in culture in the age of globalization. Can be repeated by students but not with the same content. P: Prerequisite may vary with topic.
606 Topics in International Relations and the Environment. Irr.; 3 cr (A). Treatment of topics in international relations and the environment. Can be repeated by students but not with the same content. P: Prerequisites may vary with topic.
615 Business in Emerging Markets. (Crosslisted with Intl Bus) II; 3 cr (I). Explores standard business practices in the context of the political and economic conditions in emerging national economies. Technical support provided by area studies faculty with an emphasis on concrete business plan construction by student teams. P: Intl Bus 200 or cons inst.
620 Topics in International Studies. Alt yrs.; 1-2 cr (A). Treatment of topics in international studies. Can be repeated by students but not with the same content.