Program: Comparative International Studies, B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences - San Diego State University

Apr 11, 2025

2019/2020 University Catalog

All candidates for a degree in liberal arts and sciences must complete the graduation requirements listed in the section of this catalog on “Graduation Requirements .”

A minor in a foreign language is required with this major. See list of foreign language minors in the General Catalog. Students are encouraged to contact their minor adviser to discuss the benefits of taking a foreign language oral proficiency test administered by the American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The program also requires at least one preapproved study abroad experience.

Courses in the major cannot be double-counted.

Preparation for the Major

(15 units)

Choose three units from each of the groups A, B, and C:

Choose Six Units

Choose six units from any combination of regions in group D:

(D) Regions

Asia

ASIAN 100 - State and Society in the Asia Pacific Units: 3
or
ASIAN 101 - Asian Thought and Cultures Units: 3 But not both.

Europe

EUROP 101 - Introduction to European Studies Units: 3

Latin America and the Caribbean

LATAM 101 - Introduction to Latin American Studies Units: 3

North Africa and West Asia-Middle East

(HIST 100 , HIST 101 , and REL S 101 can only be included for this group if not taken for group (A) above.)

HIST 100 - World History Units: 3
or
HIST 101 - World History Units: 3 But not both.
REL S 101 - World Religions Units: 3

Language Requirement

Comparative international studies majors are required to complete a minor in a foreign language. The minor in a foreign language in one of the two world regions identified as a primary or secondary area of focus will fulfill the foreign language requirement for the major. (Contact minor adviser about the benefits of taking an ACTFL foreign language oral proficiency test.)

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Passing the Writing Placement Assessment with a score of 10 or completing one of the approved upper division writing courses (W) with a grade of C (2.0) or better. See “Graduation Requirements ” section for a complete listing of requirements.

Study Abroad Requirement

All comparative international studies majors are required to participate in an international experience amounting to a minimum of three weeks spent abroad and completing a minimum of three units of study abroad in one of the two world regions identified as a primary or secondary area of focus. To meet this requirement, majors must complete one or a combination of the following with the approval and written consent of the undergraduate adviser:

A CSU Study Abroad Program;
An SDSU Exchange Program;
An SDSU Semester Abroad Program;
An SDSU Study Travel Program;
GEN S 450 .

Major

A minimum of 33 upper division units to include

CINTS 400 - Comparative International Studies Capstone Units: 3

Thematic Areas

Nine units from three of the following four thematic areas selected from two or more departments:

(A) Human and Social Development

GEOG 353 - Economic Geography Units: 3
GEOG 573 - Population and the Environment Units: 3
HIST 441 - Unnatural Disasters: History of Current Environmental Problems (A) Units: 3
LING 551 - Sociolinguistics Units: 3
POL S 361 - Governments and Politics of the Developing Areas Units: 3
SOC 352 - Contemporary Social Problems Units: 3
SOC 433 - Wealth, Status, and Power Units: 3
WMNST 310 - Global Cultures and Women’s Lives Units: 3
WMNST 580 - Women, Development, and the Global Economy Units: 3

(B) Culture and Society

ANTH 303 - Principles of Socio-Cultural Anthropology Units: 3
ANTH 350 - Cultures Around the Globe Units: 3
ANTH 353 - Sustainability and Culture Units: 3 also listed as
SUSTN 353 - Sustainability and Culture Units: 3
ANTH 410 - Language in Culture Units: 3
ANTH 422 - Music and Culture Units: 3
ANTH 424 - The Supernatural in Cross-Cultural Perspective Units: 3 also listed as
REL S 424 - The Supernatural in Cross-Cultural Perspective (C) Units: 3
ANTH 439 - Cultural Comparisons Through Film Units: 3
GEOG 312 - Culture Worlds Units: 3
GEOG 554 - World Cities: Comparative Approaches to Urbanization Units: 3
LING 350 - Language and Politics Units: 3
PHIL 340 - Morality of War and Peace Units: 3
PHIL 514 - Philosophy of Art Units: 3
PHIL 516 - Non-Western Aesthetics Units: 3

(C) Populations and Borders

ANTH 402 - Dynamics of Biocultural Diversity Units: 3
CCS 355 - The United States-Mexico International Border Units: 3 also listed as
LATAM 355 - The United States-Mexico International Border Units: 3
CCS 554 - United States-Mexico Transborder Populations and Globalization Units: 3
GEOG 354 - Geography of Cities Units: 3
LATAM 430 - Immigration and Border Politics Units: 3 also listed as
POL S 430 - Immigration and Border Politics Units: 3
PHIL 332 - Environmental Ethics Units: 3 also listed as
SUSTN 332 - Environmental Ethics Units: 3
POL S 380 - Human Rights in a Global Perspective Units: 3
POL S 565 - Nations and Nationalism Units: 3
SOC 350 - Population and Contemporary Issues Units: 3
WMNST 581 - Women’s Experiences of Migration Units: 3

(D) Institutions and Change

PHIL 328 - Philosophy, Racism, and Justice Units: 3
PHIL 344 - Global Justice Units: 3
POL S 375 - International Relations: Theory and Practice Units: 3
POL S 485 - Politics of Globalization Units: 3
POL S 577 - Politics of International Law Units: 3
SOC 457 - Protests, Reforms, and Revolutions Units: 3
WMNST 530 - Women’s Movements and Activism Units: 3

World Regions

Complete 21 units from two of the six following world regions selecting 12 units from one regional area and nine units from the other regional area:

(A) Africa

AFRAS 320 - Political Economy of African Diaspora Units: 3
AFRAS 465 - Africa in Literature and Film Units: 3 also listed as
FRENC 465 - Africa in Literature and Film Units: 3
AFRAS 473 - Women in Africa Units: 3
C LT 440 - African Literature Units: 3
HUM 350 - African Cultures Units: 3
POL S 364 - Political Change in Modern Africa Units: 3

(B) Asia (China)

ASIAN 351 - Chinese Philosophy Units: 3 also listed as
PHIL 351 - Chinese Philosophy Units: 3
ASIAN 458 - Asian Traditions Units: 3 also listed as
REL S 458 - Asian Traditions (B) Units: 3
HIST 420 - Asian History to 1600 (B) Units: 3
HIST 421 - Asian History Since 1600 (C) Units: 3 also listed as
ASIAN 421 - Asian History Since 1600 Units: 3
HIST 567 - China in Revolution (C) Units: 3
HIST 566 - Ancient and Imperial China (B) Units: 3
or
POL S 575 - International Relations of the Pacific Rim Units: 3 But not both.
POL S 365 - Chinese Politics Units: 3

(C) Asia (General)

ASIAN 300 - Asia’s Global Future Units: 3
or
ASIAN 320 - Asian Environmental Issues Units: 3 But not both.
ASIAN 451 - Modern Asian Literature Units: 3 also listed as
C LT 451 - Modern Asian Literature Units: 3
ASIAN 456 - Contemporary Asian Film Units: 3
ASIAN 459 - Modern Asian Cultures Units: 3
ASIAN 460 - Contemporary Issues in Filipino-American Communities Units: 3
HIST 570 - Modern Japan: From Samurai to Sony (C) Units: 3
KOR 321 - Korean Civilization Units: 3 also listed as
ASIAN 321 - Korean Civilization Units: 3
PHIL 353 - Buddhist Philosophy Units: 3
or
REL S 338 - Buddhism (B) Units: 3 But not both.
or
REL S 341 - Zen and the Way of Japanese Religions (D) Units: 3 But not both.
or
REL S 345 - Religions of East Asia (B) Units: 3 But not both.
PHIL 565 - Asian Philosophies Units: 3
POL S 362 - Governments and Politics of East Asia Units: 3
or
POL S 575 - International Relations of the Pacific Rim Units: 3 But not both.
REL S 315 - Yoga: Theory and Practice (A) Units: 3
or
REL S 339 - Religions of India (B) Units: 3 But not both.
WMNST 331 - Women in Asian Societies Units: 3

(D) Europe

CLASS 320 - Epic and the Novel Units: 3
or
CLASS 330 - Comedy, Tragedy, Actors, and Audiences Units: 3 But not both.
C LT 513 - Nineteenth Century European Literature Units: 3
EUROP 301 - Contemporary Europe Units: 3
EUROP 424 - European Cinema Units: 3
EUROP 501 - European Life and Culture Units: 3
FRENC 424 - French Cinema and Theory Units: 3
or
HUM 310 - French Culture Units: 3 But not both.
GERMN 320 - German Film Units: 3
HIST 408 - Modern Europe (C) Units: 3
HIST 527 - The Holocaust in Feature Films (A) Units: 3
HUM 407 - Rationalists and Romantics Units: 3
ITAL 424 - Italian Cinema Units: 3
or
HUM 340 - Italian Culture Units: 3 But not both.
PHIL 505 - Nineteenth-Century European Philosophy Units: 3
or
PHIL 506 - Twentieth-Century Continental Philosophy Units: 3 But not both.
or
PHIL 508 - Existentialism Units: 3 But not both.
POL S 356 - Politics of Europe Units: 3
RUSSN 310 - Russian and East European Cinema Units: 3
or
HUM 330 - Russian Culture Units: 3 But not both.
WMNST 340 - History of Women and Sexuality in Modern Europe Units: 3

(E) Latin America and the Caribbean

ANTH 442 - Cultures of South America Units: 3
CCS 400 - Mexican Images in Film Units: 3 also listed as
LATAM 400 - Mexican Images in Film Units: 3
C LT 445 - Modern Latin American Literature Units: 3
GEOG 324 - Latin America Units: 3
HIST 415 - Pre-Contact and Colonial Latin America (B) Units: 3 also listed as
LATAM 415 - Pre-Contact and Colonial Latin America Units: 3
HIST 416 - Modern Latin America (C) Units: 3
HIST 551 - Modern Mexico (C) Units: 3
HIST 558 - Latin America in World Affairs (C) Units: 3
LATAM 307 - Brazilian Music and Culture Units: 3 also listed as
PORT 307 - Brazilian Music and Culture Units: 3
POL S 366 - Latin American Politics Units: 3 also listed as
LATAM 366 - Latin American Politics Units: 3
POL S 566 - Political Change in Latin America Units: 3

(F) North Africa and West Asia (Middle East)

ARAB 330 - Arabic Culture Units: 3
HIST 473 - Middle Eastern History from the Advent of Islam to 1500 (B) Units: 3
HIST 474 - The Middle East Since 1500 (C) Units: 3
POL S 363 - Governments and Politics of the Middle East Units: 3
REL S 310 - The Qur’an (A) Units: 3
REL S 320 - Judaism (B) Units: 3
REL S 328 - Islam (B) Units: 3
REL S 330 - Abrahamic Faiths: Shared Stories (B) Units: 3
WMNST 560 - Women in Muslim Societies Units: 3