International Studies
Professors Mattiace, Moskwa, Pinnow, Riess (Steering Committee)
International Studies is an interdisciplinary, liberal arts program that endeavors to develop and relate those analytical skills most appropriate for the examination of increasingly complex interactions among nations. It draws upon the disciplines of economics, history, modern languages and political science. The principal goals of the major are: a) to develop understanding of the interrelationships of domestic and international politics and economic policies and of the implications of historical and sociological developments for those politics and policies;
b) to provide students with tools and modes of analysis pertinent to these relationships; c) to help students think analytically in interrelated fields; and d) to help students understand different cultures.
Allegheny’s long-established program in International Studies is designed to provide training for individuals who are considering careers in government service, international agencies, and international business and law. The program seeks to blend courses in the liberal arts, generally, with specific advanced courses in several relevant departments.
The Major
The interdisciplinary social science major in International Studies leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. It requires the successful completion
of a minimum of 54 semester hour credits that include a seminar and a Senior Project. Students pursuing the major are encouraged to enroll in appropriate related courses in addition to the required courses listed below. These additional courses may be drawn from a variety of departments in all three divisions of the College. International
Studies majors are strongly urged to undertake at least one semester of study abroad. All courses submitted for the major, except transfer credits, should be taken on the letter grade basis, and a GPA of 2.0 or better is required for graduation. Only the most recent grade is considered for courses that have been repeated. Normally no more than 16 transfer credits are accepted toward the major, and none of these may substitute for the Senior Project.
The requirements for the major are as follows (no double counting of required courses is allowed):
- In the area of Economics (four courses):
- one course in Microeconomics:
Economics 100
one course in Macroeconomics:
Economics 101
- two courses:
Economics 251 - International Economics
Economics 256 - Economic Development
Economics 261 - Comparative Economic Systems
- In the area of Theory (two courses):
- one course:
Political Science 120 - Comparative Government and Politics
Political Science 130 - World Politics
Political Science 245 - Politics of Third World
Development
- one course:
Economics 200 - Microeconomic Theory
Economics 201 - Macroeconomic Theory
Economics 450 - International Banking and Finance
History 320 - History of Political Crime and Political Justice
History 312 - State and Society under Communism and Facism
History 318 - Environmental Thought in Modern Europe
Political Science 421 - Contemporary Policy Problems in International Relations
Political Science 425 - Deterrence Theory and Nuclear Defense
Political Science 426 - National Security Controversies
Political Science/Environmental Science 431– Global Environmental Politics
Political Science 444 - Political Violence and Terrorism
- In the area of U.S. - International Relations (one course):
History 338 - History of U.S. Foreign Relations
Political Science 242 - Immigration and Citizenship
Political Science 251 - U.S. Foreign Policy
Political Science 261 - U.S.–Latin American Relations
Political Science 425 - Deterence Theory and Nuclear Defense
Political Science 426 - National Security Controversies
Political Science 433 - European Security and NATO
- Four courses choosen from one of the following areas of regional focus:
At least three of these courses must be taken in the social science division. One of the three social science courses must be a history course. (Exceptions need the approval of the chairperson of the International Studies Committee.) The fourth course may be drawn from appropriate offerings in the other divisions.
- Western Europe
FS French 201 - Talking about Modern France
German 325 - German Culture
German 360 - Topics in German Culture
History 110 - The Western Tradition of Justice and the
the Law
History 115 - The Holocaust
History 201 - Europe in the Age of Popes and Princes,
476 – 1789
History 203 - Europe in the Age of Modernization and Revolution, 1648 –1914
History 205 - Europe in the Age of Dictatorship and Democracy, 1914 – Present
History 217 - History of Modern Germany (taught in Cologne)
History 224 - History of Modern France, 1789 – Present
History 228 - History of Modern England, 1688 – 1939
History 306 - Enlightenment and Absolutism
History 308 - French Revolution and Napoleon
History 310 - Europe at the Turn of the Century, 1880 – 1917
History 312 - State and Society under Communism and Fascism
History 318 - Environmental Thought in Modern Europe
Political Science 351 - Government and Politics of Western Europe
Political Science 353 - The Political System of Germany (taught in Cologne)
Political Science 433 - European Security and NATO
Spanish 325 - Civilization and Culture of Spain
- Eastern Europe and the Western Regions of the former Soviet Union
History 218 - History of Imperial Russia, 1682 – 1917
History 219 - The Soviet Century, 1917 – Present
History 312 - State and Society under Communism and Fascism
Political Science 247 - Transitions to Democracy
Political Science 356 - Government and Politics of the Soviet Union and Its Successor States
- Latin America
Environmental Science 356 - Social and Political Systems
of Costa Rica (taught in Costa Rica)
Environmental Studies 420 - Understanding Third World Environmental Problems
History 250 - History of Mexico
History 251 - Colonial Latin America
History 252 - Modern Latin American History
History 366 - Dictators and Development in Latin
America
Political Science 261 - U.S.-Latin American Relations
Political Science 361 - Government and Politics of
Latin America
Spanish 335 - Spanish American Civilization
Spanish 375 - Latin American Short Story
Spanish 345 - Spanish American Civilization II
Spanish 425 - Latin American Women Writers
- Asia
Environmental Studies 420 - Understanding Third World Environmental Problems
History 143 - Knights and Concubines: Facts, Fiction and Film
History 240 - Japan from Earliest Times to 1600
History 244 - Modern China, 1800 – 2000
History 246 - Change, Conflict and Development: East Asia in the 20th Century
History 350 - East Asia and Europe: Commercial, Cultural and Diplomatic Encounters, 1500 – 1900
History 351 - Asian Society and Culture through Film
INTDS 220 - Asian Studies
Political Science 383 - Politics and Culture in the
Asia-Pacific
Political Science 385 - Government and Politics of China
Religious Studies 150 - Hinduism
Religious Studies 160 - Buddhism
Religious Studies 165 - Zen Buddhism and Japanese Culture
Religious Studies 170 - Religions of China
- An approved seminar, either in International Studies or drawn from the Departments of Economics, History or Political Science.
Fall 2008 Seminars
Economics 587 - Transitions of the Global Economy
History 560 - Great Trials in History
History 569 - Inventing Mexico: National Identity
Political Science 584 - Democracy and Development in Latin America
Spring 2009 Seminars
History 558 - Revolutionary Russia 1900-1921
Political Science 584 - Comparative Politics
Political Science 585 - Vietnam War
- A Senior Project (International Studies 600 and 610)
The Senior Project will be a joint effort involving the Departments of Economics, History, Political Science, and Modern and Classical
Languages. One quarter of the oral defense of the Senior Project will be conducted in the foreign language selected. The student will also present to the Department of Modern and Classical Languages a 15-page abstract of the Senior Project written in the foreign language selected. If Chinese is the foreign language and part of the senior project,
the length of the abstract should be 8-10 pages (approximately 1,500+ characters). This foreign language abstract must be presented to the Department of Modern and Classical Languages by all International
Studies majors, including double majors wriing senior projects that follow the guidelines of other departments.
600 Senior Project I
Preparation of a senior project proposal: a thesis statement; a description
of the project with special attention to the balance of the economic, historical, and political science aspects; and bibliography including foreign language sources. May only be taken on a Credit/No Credit basis. Credit: Two semester hours.
610 Senior Project II
Completion of the senior project, foreign language abstract, and oral defense. Prerequisite: International Studies 600.
- Facility in a modern foreign language at a level of skill acceptable to the Department of Modern and Classical Languages.
All majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad for at least a semester. Demonstrated proficiency or completion of at least three courses at the 300-level or beyond is expected (these courses and their grades are not part of the major and therefore may be part of a minor). Those students taking Chinese as the foreign language should consult with the Department of Modern and Classical Languages for guidelines concerning facility in Chinese.
The members of the International Studies Steering Committee are Professor Mattiace of the Department of Political Science, Professor
Moskwa of the Department of Economics, Professor Pinnow of the Department of History and Professor Riess of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages. Professor Mattiace of the Department
of Political Science serves as chairperson of the committee for 2008-09. Course selections in each department must be approved by the representative of that department.
610 Senior Project II
Completion of the senior project, foreign language abstract, and oral defense. Prerequisite: International Studies 600.
600 Senior Project I
Preparation of a senior project proposal: a thesis statement; a description of the project with special attention to the balance of the economic, historical, and political science aspects; and bibliography including foreign language sources. May only be taken on a Credit/No Credit basis. Credit: Two semester hours.
