Program Overview

Introduction to the Global and International Studies Program

The world is becoming an ever smaller place in which to live, and the interdependence of our political, cultural and economic systems is growing by the day. Locally, the state of Indiana participates actively in the global economy. To help students understand the international system, and to prepare them for a career in an increasingly globalized world, the School of Liberal Arts offers an interdisciplinary major and minor in International Studies.

Program Description

Students will learn another language, specialize in a given region of the world, study abroad for the major, focus on cultural, historical, political, and economic aspects of the international system, and develop a broad awareness of the major global forces at work in the 21st century world. They will be better equipped to understand and pursue a career or graduate study in an interdependent world.

Program Requirements

• Develop intermediate- to advanced-level competency in foreign language (other than English)
• Experience global learning through participation in study abroad program
• Learn the history, culture and political systems of one global region outside of North America
• Identify and understand connections between local and global connections, challenges and trends
• Understand the complexity of socio-cultural diversity around the world and in local communities
• Recognize how scholars in the social sciences and humanities investigate topics in global studies from distinct disciplinary perspectives
• Demonstrate inter-disciplinary knowledge of global issues, policies, and trends
• Develop and apply research methods utilizing multi-disciplinary sources to the critical analysis of a major topic in global studies
• Present investigative research findings through both oral communication and academic writing

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Global and International Studies (INTL) requires satisfactory completion of the following:

• A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for a (B.A/B.S.) degree from the IU School of Liberal Arts.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) is required for graduation.
• A minimum of 30 credit hours must be completed after formal admission to IU Indianapolis.
• A minimum of 21 credit hours of major coursework must be completed in residence in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IU Indianapolis.
• A minimum grade of C (2.0) is required in each major course.
• Once a course has been applied toward one requirement, it cannot be used to satisfy a second requirement, except where explicitly stated otherwise.

IU Indianapolis General Education Core

• Core Communication (6 credits)
  • ENG-W 131: Reading, Writing, and Inquiry I (3 credits) or ENG-W 140: Reading, Writing, and Inquiry: Honors (3 credits) completed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher
  • COMM-R 110: Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3 credits)
• Analytical Reasoning (6 credits)
  • College math from List A (3 credits)
  • List A or List B (3 credits)
• Cultural Understanding (3 credits)
  • A world language course is recommended
• Life and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
  • A laboratory science component is required
• Arts/Humanities and Social Sciences (9 credits)
  • Arts & Humanities (3 credits)
  • Social Science (3 credits)
  • Additional Arts & Humanities or Social Science (3 credits)

Liberal Arts Baccalaureate Competencies

• First-Year Experience (1-3 credits)
  • SLA-S 100: First Year Success Seminar
  • Other: First Year Seminar from another school at IU Indianapolis
• Writing Proficiency (3 credits), completed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, chosen from the following:
  • ENG-W 230: Writing in the Sciences
  • ENG-W 231: Professional Writing Skills
  • ENG-W 270: Argumentative Writing
• Methods of Inquiry and Evidence (3 credits), chosen from the following:
  • ECON-E 270: Introduction to Statistical Theory in Economics and Business
  • PHIL-P 262: Practical Logic
  • PHIL-P 208: Causality and Evidence
  • PHIL-P 265: Introduction to Symbolic Logic
  • POLS-Y 205: Analyzing Politics
  • SOC-R 359: Introduction to Sociological Stats

Major Requirements

• INTL-I 100: Introduction to International Studies, interdisciplinary required introductory course (3 credits)
• "Windows on the World " requirement (3 credits)
  • Choose from one of the following five courses:
    • ANTH-A 104: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (or A 304)
    • GEOG-G 130: Introduction to World Geography
    • HIST-H 109: Perspectives on the World Since 1800
    • POLS-Y 219: Introduction to International Relations
    • REL-R 133: Introduction to Religion
• Foreign language requirement
  • Complete one approved 300-level course in World Language and Culture (WLAC) with at least one class taken at IU Indianapolis.
• Area concentration requirement (9 credits) in one of the following geographical regions:
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Latin America and the Caribbean
  • The Middle East
• Thematic concentration requirement (9 credits), chosen from one of the following:
  • Comparative Systems
  • Development
  • Global Civil Society
  • Global and Cross-Cultural Interactions
  • Global Environment
  • International Business and Economics
  • International Relations
• International Experience requirement (3 credits)
  • 3 credits of academic work earned abroad or relating to an international experience or research project conducted outside of the United States of America
• Capstone
  • INTL-I 400: International Studies Capstone Seminar (3 credits) fulfills

Open Electives

Candidates for a degree in the IU School of Liberal Arts must complete the IU Indianapolis General Education Core requirements, the baccalaureate competencies, and the requirements of their major department. Usually, students will still need to complete additional hours in order to reach the graduation requirement of 120 credit hours. These remaining credit hours are known as open electives.

Dual Degree Advantage

The Liberal Arts baccalaureate competencies are waived for IU Indianapolis undergraduate students whose first major is outside the School of Liberal Arts and whose second major is a Bachelor of Arts degree from the IU School of Liberal Arts at IU Indianapolis. Students are only required to complete the courses in their major of choice in Liberal Arts. The IU Indianapolis General Education Core or the Indiana transferable general education core must be successfully completed. Students must complete the degree outside Liberal Arts in order to have the Liberal Arts baccalaureate competencies waived for degree completion. The Liberal Arts baccalaureate competencies are only waived for students who actively pursue and complete another degree program outside of Liberal Arts. Both degrees must be completed at the same time.