Department of Political Science
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International Studies
The international studies major integrates the perspectives of political science,economics, business, and history in an effort to provide the student with a more structured approach to a comprehensive understanding of the complex and interdependent nature of political, social, and economic factors which shape behavior in the international system. Five concentrations are offered which permit the student to focus in a given area of interest: (1) Conflict and Peace Studies; (2) Environmental Issues; (3) Global Trade and International Business; (4) Global Interdependence; (5) an Area Studies concentration; or (6) a uniquely designed specialized concentration.
The major prepares the student for careers in foreign service, the intelligence community, international business, the international policy-making community, positions with international NGOs, related research fields, as well as law and teaching.
International Studies Major Checklist
Recommendations for Study Away from Campus
Students are strongly urged, in consultation with their faculty advisor, to plan their major early in their career at Muhlenberg so that space can be provided for important Study Aboard experience and/or out-of-classroom learning such as the Washington Semester and internships.
Recommended Language Courses
International studies majors are strongly encouraged to demonstrate competence in a language other than English with an additional major or minor in a language. If their schedules do not permit a minor, students are strongly encouraged to take courses in a language through Advanced Conversation & Composition. Students may complete one of the required writing intensive courses with one of the following:
FRN 304 Advanced French Conversation & Composition
RUS 304 Advanced Russian Conversation & Composition
SPN 304 Advanced Spanish Conversation & Composition
In addition, students may fulfill the general academic requirement in historical studies with one of the following courses:
FRN 320 French Civilization
GRM 220 or 221 German Civilization
SPN 320 Civilization of Spain
SPN 322 Civilization of Latin America
Finally, international studies majors may find the following courses useful:
FRN 310 French for the Professions
GRM 310 Business German
SPN 310 Business Spanish
Honors in International Studies
A student may work for Honors beginning in the spring semester of his/her junior year. Students who fulfill the following conditions will be awarded honors at Commencement:
1. A 3.500 grade point average in international studies.
2. Enrollment in an independent study offered by a member of the departments participating in the international studies major.
3. The submission and approval of an Honors essay as the culmination of the independent study. This essay must be approximately 25 pages and be based upon an appropriate volume of primary and secondary research.
4. A grade in the independent study of no less than B+.
5. Passing of an oral defense of the project conducted by members of the departments participating in the International Studies major.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
The major consists of six core courses plus six courses in either one of the five designated concentrations or a specialized concentration.
Core Course Requirements:
ECN 101 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECN 102 Principles of Microeconomics
PSC 103 Introduction to Comparative Politics & International Relations
PSC 328 or 329 International Law & Organization
PSC 339 or 340 Theories of International Relations
PSC 440 CUE: Seminar in International Studies
Optimally, the student will follow one of the following four designated concentrations. However, where there is a compelling academic reason, such as education abroad, the student may make substitutions in any of the five concentrations or design a unique concentration (such as Developing Nations Studies) in consultation with his or her faculty advisor and the director of the major.
Concentrations
Students following the Conflict and Peace Studies, Environmental Issues, Global Interdependence, or Global Trade and International Business concentrations must choose one of the following Area Study Courses as one of their six required courses.
PSC 230 or 231 Government & Politics of Europe
PSC 232 Governments & Politics of East Asia
PSC 234 Government & Politics of Russia
PSC 237 Governments & Politics of Africa
PSC 244 or 245 Government & Politics of Latin America
PSC 248 or 249 Governments & Politics of the Middle East
Conflict and Peace Studies
This concentration explores the interdisciplinary study of peace and conflict. It examines the theoretical arguments about the nature of conflict, approaches to peace building, and the utility of both violence and non-violence. It explores topics ranging from the impact of patriotism and nationalism on peace and conflict, theories of just and unjust wars, the role of militarism in shaping international relations, causes and cases of ethnic conflict, and the various efforts and institutions that have sought to resolve conflicts and build peace.
Required Courses:
PSC 242 or 243 Introduction to Conflict & Peace Studies
Choose four (4) of the following:
ECN 251 or 252 Economic Growth & International Development
HST 277 Modern Middle Eastern History
HST 393 The Arab-Israeli Conflict
PSC 246 Developing Nations
PSC 341 American Foreign Policy
PSC 356 or 357 War & Justice
PSC 430 Seminar in Comparative National Security Policy
SOC 325 Imagined Communities: The Sociology of Nations & States
SOC 340 Development & Social Change
Environmental Issues
This concentration focuses on developing an understanding of the national actors, non-state actors, international institutions, attitudes, and values that have shaped the formulation of international environmental policy. It also examines the environmental context within which many international political crises are rooted. The concentration provides students with the opportunity to acquire a basic knowledge of the strategies and political accommodations required to address problems which flow from environmental crises.
Required Courses:
PSC 216 Environmental Politics & Policymaking
PSC 330 or 331 Comparative & International Environmental Policies
Choose three (3) of the following:
ECN 245 or 246 Environmental Economics
ECN 249 Economics of Natural Resources & Sustainability
GEO 101 World Geography
PSC 246 Developing Nations
PSC 341 American Foreign Policy
SOC 320 Environmental Sociology
SUS 350 Environmental & Cultural Conservation in Costa Rica
It is strongly recommended that students following the Environmental Issues concentration use any of the following toward their science requirement:
ESC 111 Topics in Environmental Science
ESC 113 Environmental Science I
ESC 114 Environmental Science II
Global Interdependence
This concentration examines the complex interaction of political and economic forces in shaping international relations in an age of increasing global interdependence. The concentration focuses on the role of dominant political and economic institutions in shaping the behavior of international, national, and sub-national actors. Particular attention is paid to studying the asymmetries in global power relationships regarding issues related to development in general and debt, trade, finance, and the environment in particular.
Required Courses:
PSC 343 International Political Economy
Choose four (4) of the following courses:
COM 208 Communication in the Global Community
ECN 335 International Trade & Globalization
PSC 246 Developing Nations
PSC 254 Globalization & Social Justice
PSC 341 American Foreign Policy
PSC 420 Seminar in Regimes & Regime Change
PSC 430 Seminar in Comparative National Security Policy
Global Trade and International Business
This concentration grounds students in 1) the principles of global trade and development and 2) the political and economic factors that influence the conditions in which international business operates within specific geographic regions. In addition,
it provides the student with grounding in coordinate skills and principles of international business.
Required Courses:
ACT 101 Financial Accounting
FIN 237 Corporation Finance
BUS 236 Management
BUS 239 Marketing
Choose one of the following courses:
BUS 341 Globalization & Marketing
ECN 335 International Trade & Globalization
FIN 362 Multinational Financial Management
PSC 254 Globalization & Social Justice
PSC 343 International Political Economy
Students in the Global Trade and International Business Concentration are strongly urged to meet the general academic requirement in reasoning with MTH 104 Statistical Methods.
Area Studies Concentration (Choose one cluster–Europe, Asia, Latin America, Middle East)
Choose one of the following Area Study Combinations:
1. PSC 230 or 231 Government & Politics of Europe
HST 217 Revolution & the Birth of Modern Europe (1787-1919)
4 Additional courses selected in consultation with the director of the major
2. PSC 234 Government & Politics of Russia HST 263 Imperial Russia HST 265 Soviet Russia 3 Additional courses selected in consultation with the director of the major
3. PSC 232 Governments & Politics of East Asia
HST 271 Modern China
HST 273 Modern Japan
3 Additional courses selected in consultation with the director of the major
4. PSC 244 or 245 Government & Politics of Latin America
HST 291 Colonial Latin America
HST 293 or 294 Modern Latin America
3 Additional courses selected in consultation with the director of the major
5. PSC 248 or 249 Governments & Politics of the Middle East
HST 275 Rise of Islam
HST 277 Modern Middle Eastern History
3 Additional courses selected in consultation with the director of the major
Self Designed Concentration
In consultation with the Director of the major, the student will develop an appropriate mix of six interrelated courses from multiple disciplines which in combination reflect a coherent sub area of the discipline of International Studies. Examples of past self designed concentrations include comparative political psychology, human rights, indigenous issues, etc.
A 2.000 grade point average in all courses must be maintained to remain a major in the
program. Majors may satisfy the writing intensive course requirement in political science; history; economics; or languages, literatures, and cultures.