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International Studies (BA) - Asian Studies Concentration
Majors in Arts and Sciences may be completed with a minimum of 120 semester hours unless designated otherwise. At least 30 hours of course work, which represents 25% of the required 120 hours, must be at the upper division level in order to fulfill the University’s residency requirement. At least 15 of the 30 upper-division hours must be in the major or concentration area. An overall grade-point-average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for graduation. In addition, a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in the student’s major or concentration area.
Requirements For A Major In International Studies
Students majoring in International Studies should complete 18 credit hours of core courses, one of six concentrations (24 credit hours), and a pre-professional program or traditional minor in a complementary subject. IS majors must also take GEO 114 and HY 102 as part of their general education requirements, since these courses are prerequisites for upper-division courses in the major.
| Requirements | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses (Required of all majors) | 18 | |
| IS 100 | Global Issues | |
| PSC 250 | Comparative Politics | |
| PSC 270 | International Relations | |
| GEO 312 | World Economic Geography | |
| PHL/REL 352 | World Religions | |
| IS 495 | Senior Seminar (W) | |
| Asian Studies | 24 | |
| 6 hours of an Asian Language at the 200 level (LG 221, LG 222, LGS 201, LGS 202, LGS 206, LGS 207) | ||
| HY 104 Asian Civilization since 1800 | ||
| 3 hours 300-400 level course on Asian history (HY 367(W), HY 368, HY 461) | ||
| 3 hours in Asian Philosophy (PHL 354, PHL 355) | ||
| PSC 368 Politics of South Asia (W) | ||
| 6 hours of electives from among the following: ARH 203; HY 367, HY 368, HY 461 (not taken above); PHL 354, PHL 355 (not taken above); PSC 365 (W); IS 489, IS 491, IS 492, IS 496; or any approved Special Topics course or Directed Studies focusing on contemporary Asia or Asian country. | ||
| General Education Requirements for International Studies Majors: | ||
| Areas I, II, and III of the General Education Requirements for International Studies are specified in the College of Arts and Sciences section. Intermediate level language courses required for the major also help fulfill general requirements under Area II. International Studies majors must take GEO 114 and HY 102 as partial fulfillment of Area IV General Education requirements. | ||
Pre-professional Program
Students should complete either one of the three pre-professional programs outlined below (international business, a language specialization, or a personalized pre-professional program) or have a traditional minor. Students with a double major are not required to have a pre-professional program or a minor.
International Business (21 hrs)
The International Business option provides students with a basic foundation in business and best equips the student to enter the field of international business or related areas upon graduation.
- ECO 330 Global Economic Issues or
- ECO 363 International Economics
- MKT 320 Principles of Marketing
- MKT 374 Consumer Behavior
- MKT 380 Integrated Market
- 9 hrs electives from the following: FIN 332; MGT 334; MGT 465; MKT 336; MKT 384; MKT 390; MKT 310, MKT 477; MKT 492; IS 496; IS 475
Language Specialization (21 hrs)
The Language Concentration option allows students to acquire a professional level of fluency in a foreign language as a complement to their international studies training. The requirements are 21 hours of study in a selected foreign language. Students wishing to concentrate in language should consider the FL/IS double major described below. Note: This option may not be available for all languages.
Personalized Pre-professional Program (21 hrs)
The Personalized Pre-professional Program is designed primarily for students who wish to pursue graduate study and need a special program tailored to the needs of their expected graduate area. A pre-professional program consisting of a minimum of 21 semester hours including at least one upper-level seminar, directed studies, or internship. Proposals for a personalized program, drawn up by the student in consultation with his or her advisor, must be submitted for approval to the Program Director and the Dean of Arts and Sciences before the first semester of the student's junior year.
International Studies website
http://www.southalabama.edu/departments/internationalstudies
The International Studies major is a rigorous interdisciplinary program designed for students who wish to build a solid foundation for a career in international affairs. The program combines language fluency, international/ area studies, and international business, and, as such, fulfills the requirements for both the major and minor. The faculty directing the major is drawn mostly from the departments of modern and classical languages and literature, geography, history, philosophy, political science, sociology and anthropology.
All first-time freshmen must successfully complete CAS 100: First Year Experience as a degree requirement. Students must enroll during their first term at USA, except for summer-entry students who must enroll in the fall semester following entry. GEO 312 will satisfy the technology requirement for International Studies majors.
USA Education/Study Abroad
Students in International Studies are strongly encouraged to incorporate international experiences as part of their academic activities. Study, research, and internships as well as service learning and community service abroad are available options. For more information contact the IS Office and/or the USA Office of International Education.