Comparative International Studies

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The Major

Comparative international studies is an interdisciplinary program that offers a broad view and understanding of international and global forces in a wide range of human activities and across the disciplines included in the humanities and social sciences. The major provides students with the opportunity to engage in a comparative study of two world regions, learn a language other than English, experience international contexts through study abroad, and conduct research. Students majoring in comparative international studies are prepared for a rapidly changing, linguistically diverse, and multi-ethnic world. Students choose this major because they can learn about cultures and societies outside the United States and because it prepares them to work in a variety of social, cultural, and economic environments.

The program requires students to take three of the four thematically organized courses that aim to integrate theoretical knowledge about global processes and knowledge about comparative methods including analytical techniques used to study them. The four themes are identified as follows: human and social development, culture and society, populations and borders, institutions and change. Students are also required to take courses on two world regions, identified as a primary and a secondary area of focus, selected from the following areas: Africa, Asia (China) or Asia (General), Europe, North Africa and West Asia (Middle East), and Latin America and the Caribbean. Knowing one or more languages other than English is believed to be essential to effectively communicate with people of another culture, understand another culture, or conduct research. Therefore, the international studies major requires students to complete a minor in a language other than English.

Graduating majors will gain insights into complex world issues from a comparative perspective and will acquire broad knowledge, skills, and (language) tools necessary to function well in the age of globalization. Those completing the major will be prepared to meet the challenges of the new era of globalization, including careers in local, state, and national government, in national and international non-profit organizations such as social service providers, cultural organizations, or international development agencies, and in areas such as international education, commerce, tourism, and communications. Majors will also be prepared to pursue graduate-level education in liberal arts and sciences, in regional studies, or in a particular discipline within the areas of the humanities and social sciences, and with a solid foundation in a language other than English.

Advising

Students are required to meet with the undergraduate adviser in order to declare the major. All students admitted to the university with a declared major in comparative international studies are urged to meet with the undergraduate adviser either prior to or during their first semester.

Faculty

Faculty assigned to teach international studies courses are drawn from the disciplinary departments and area studies centers in the College of Arts and Letters.

Program Director and Undergraduate Adviser: Abman, Zamira Y, Ph.D., History

Committee:

Abdel-Nour, Farid, Professor of Political Science (B.S., Ph.D., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey)

Csomay, Eniko A., Professor of Linguistics (B.A., Eötvös University, Hungary; M.A., University of Reading, United Kingdom; Ph.D., Northern Arizona University)

Donadey, Anne, Professor of French and Women’s Studies (B.A., M.A., Universite de Nice, France; Ph.D., Northwestern University)

Pérez, Ramona L., Professor of Anthropology (B.A., San Diego State University; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Riverside)

Wawrytko, Sandra A., Professor of Philosophy (B.A., Knox College; M.A., Ph.D., Washington University at St. Louis)

Programs

• Comparative International Studies, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences

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