International Studies Major and Minor Requirements

Requirements for the Major in International Studies

The requirements listed below reflect Mount Union’s new curriculum for the 2012-2013 Academic Year.  For information regarding major or minor requirements for current students, please refer to the University Catalogue of your entering year.

Upon declaring the major, students will choose one of two tracks: international relations or comparative politics/area studies. Students will then be asked to develop a coherent plan of study in consultation with their academic advisor within one semester of declaring the major. Students majoring in International Studies must minor in a foreign language or demonstrate competence in one modern foreign language that is not their native language. Competence is defined as equivalent to two courses in the target language at the two-hundred level or above.

The student with a double major should be aware that only four courses taken to satisfy the second major will be counted toward the international studies major. Similarly, only two of the courses taken toward the major will be counted toward the international studies minor.

International Studies majors are required to participate in either a study abroad program or in a foreign policy related internship. Students should take into consideration that a minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for participation in most of Mount Union’s study abroad programs and internships. Certain programs require a minimum of 3.0 or higher.

Required Courses for all Majors

• World Politics
• Introduction to Geography
• Introduction to Economics
• Introduction to Political Science Methods and Inquiry
• Quantitative Political Analysis
• Seminar in International Studies

Any one of the following Economics/International Political Economy courses:

• International Trade
• Development Economics
• Comparative Economic Systems
• International Political Economy

Any one of the following culture courses:

• Intercultural Communication
• The Peoples and Cultures of Contemporary China
• The Peoples and Cultures of Contemporary Frence
• The Peoples and Cultures of Contemporary Germany
• The Peoples and Cultures of Contemporary Japan
• Spanish and Spanish-American Culture and Civilization
• Religions of the World
• Anthropology

Any two of the following History courses:

• Middle East
• East Europe
• History of Africa
• Problems of Developing Nations
• History of the Contemporary Fundamentalism
• Contemporary Europe
• Modern China
• Southeast Asia
• Modern Japan
• South Asia
• Modern Russia

International Relations Track

Required Course:

• International Relations

Any one of the following Political Science courses:

• American Foreign Policy
• Terrorism
• Colloquium in Political Science (National Security)
• Special Topics in International Studies
• Special Topics in International Studies
• Special Topics in International Studies
• Foreign Policy Internship 

Comparative Politics/Area Studies

Required course: 

• Comparative Politics

Any one of the following Political Science courses: 

• Terrorism
• European Politics
• Asian Politics
• Post-Soviet Politics
• Politics of the Developing World
• Special Topics in International Studies
• Special Topics in International Studies
• Special Topics in International Studies
• Foreign Policy Internship

Requirements for a Minor in International Studies

• World Politics
• International Relations or Comparative Politics
• One additional Political Science course
• One History course
• One Culture course