International Studies, BA BA
Students in 51ÁÔÆæ's International Studies program take courses in political science, economics, geography, anthropology, sociology, history, and foreign languages to build a program around their own specialized interests in international relations, politics, economics, development, and language. The International Studies (IS) major offers a number of special options designed to help students deepen their knowledge of international affairs.
Understanding how international relations and processes work is essential for living and working in the world today. The International Studies major gives students broad knowledge of people, places, and institutions, and cultivates the skills necessary to be adaptable and marketable in a fast-moving global economy. International studies majors learn to analyze problems across cultural and national boundaries, adapt to new and foreign situations, and problem-solve across different areas and formats.
With this background, students have job opportunities in many different industries and are prepared for many different roles. Career choices immediately after college are often influenced by the hands-on experiences obtained during the college years. Students are encouraged to explore all of their options through internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer experiences. Students may opt to complete an internship for credit as part of the International Studies major.
Similarly, a  experience can open up new opportunities that would not have even been imagined prior to going abroad. 51ÁÔÆæ has programs at more than 70 sites around the world that vary in length from 2 to 3 weeks, to semester-long, to even a full year. Because of the complexities of planning a study abroad experience, students are encouraged to start planning early in sophomore year. Most students engage in study abroad during their junior year. Studying abroad is strongly encouraged for all International Studies majors, but not required.
Students often ask about the differences between International Studies and Global Studies at 51ÁÔÆæ. International Studies coursework is focused on the social sciences rather than on foreign languages, literature, and culture. International Studies seeks to understand and explain international political, economic, social, and cultural relations analytically, using the methods of social sciences. The foreign language requirements for the International Studies program are not as extensive as those in Global Studies. For International Studies majors, studying abroad and internships are optional rather than required.
Career Resources and Job Outcomes
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
Listed below are the requirements for the International Studies major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all university and college general degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. We encourage you to consult your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track towards earning your degree. You can read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
International Studies Major Requirements
The major requires 4 semesters or the equivalent in one foreign language. Students must complete at least one college course to meet this requirement; high school work alone will not suffice. Students must attain a 2.0 GPA in all 51ÁÔÆæ credits attempted for the major. In addition, the College requires that students attain a 2.0 GPA in all major credits attempted, including any transfer work.
Students may receive credit toward the International Studies (IS) major for participation in study abroad programs or the United Nations Summer Seminar. Credit towards the major also may be obtained through a semester-long internship in an international business, a government office, or a private organization with an international focus, either in Milwaukee or abroad.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Requirements 1 | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 | |
| The World: Peoples and Regions | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology: Culture and Society | ||
| Lifeways in Different Cultures: A Survey of World Societies | ||
| East Asian Civilization Since 1600 | ||
| Latin American Society and Culture | ||
| Women and Gender in Europe: 1750 to the Present | ||
| The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | ||
| Politics of the World's Nations | 3 | |
| ´Ç°ùÌý | Introduction to International Relations | |
| Requirements for the Major | ||
| General | ||
| Senior Seminar in International Studies: (subtitle) (satisfies L&S research requirement) | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Research Methods in Anthropology | ||
| Techniques and Problems in Ethnography | ||
| Economic Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Science | ||
| Seminar on Historical Method: Research Techniques | ||
| Elementary Statistical Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Political Science Research | ||
| Political Data Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Thinking in Sociology | ||
| Feminist Research and Practice | ||
| Options | ||
| Select one of the following: | 18 | |
Option A: International Politics and World Affairs | ||
Option B: International Economics and Development | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select 11-12 credits from the list of electives for a total of 36 credits in the major | 11-12 | |
| Total Credits | 50-52 | |
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The introductory courses are required and should be taken during the first two years. Credits earned in the introductory courses do not count toward the 36 credits required for the major. They cannot be taken on a credit/no credit basis.
Option A: International Politics and World Affairs
This option emphasizes political aspects of international studies. 18 credits are required as outlined below:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Introduction to International Economic Relations | 3 | |
| The United States as a World Power in the 20th Century | 3 | |
| Problems of American Foreign Policy | 3 | |
| Select a minimum of three of the following: | 9 | |
| Economic Development | ||
| International Law | ||
| International Organization and the United Nations | ||
| Seminar in International Relations: (part of UN Summer Seminar) | ||
| Politics of Nuclear Weapons | ||
| History of International Political Thought | ||
| Theories and Methods in International Politics | ||
| International Conflict | ||
| Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Option B: International Economics and Development
This option emphasizes the political, economic, and cultural aspects of developing countries as well as the economic aspects of international studies. 18 credits are required as outlined below:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 | |
| Intermediate Macroeconomics | 3 | |
| Economic Development | 3 | |
| The Politics of International Economic Relations | 3 | |
| Select a minimum of two of the following: | 6 | |
| International Marketing | ||
| International Business | ||
| Introduction to International Economic Relations | ||
| International Trade | ||
| International Finance | ||
| International Law | ||
| International Conflict | ||
| Great Cities of the World: Their Growth and Guided Urbanization | ||
| Planning Local Economic Development | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| African Americans and South Africa | 3 | |
| African Religious Thought and Social Organizations | 3 | |
| Black Cultures in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 | |
| Africa/China Relations | 3 | |
| Survey of Black American and Black Brazilian Societies | 3 | |
| Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology: Culture and Society | 3 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology: Culture and Society | 3 | |
| Culture and Global Health | 3 | |
| The Human Economy | 3 | |
| Cultures and Civilizations of the Muslim Middle East | 3 | |
| Art & Design Seminar: | 3 | |
| History of Film I: Development of an Art | 3 | |
| History of Film II: Development of an Art | 3 | |
| Chinese Art and Architecture | 3 | |
| International Financial Management | 3 | |
| International Marketing | 3 | |
| International Business | 3 | |
| Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture | 3 | |
| A Taste of China: Learning Chinese Culture and Society through Cuisine | 3 | |
| Chinese Calligraphy | 3 | |
| Popular Culture, Entertainment, and China's Modernization | 3 | |
| Intercultural Communication | 3 | |
| Communication in Human Conflict | 3 | |
| Cross-Cultural Communication | 3 | |
| International and Global Communication | 3 | |
| Literature and Religion: (topics with international content) 1 | 3 | |
| Literature and Politics: (topics with international content) 1 | 3 | |
| Literature and Film: (topics with international content) 1 | 3 | |
| Great Works of Modern Literature: (topics with international content) 1 | 3 | |
| Studies in Literary Genres and Modes: (topics with international content) 1 | 3 | |
| Topics in Comparative Literature: (topics with international content) 1 | 3 | |
| Seminar in Literature and Cultural Experience: (topics with international content) 1 | 3 | |
| Literatures and Cultures of the Americas: (topics with international content) 1 | 3 | |
| Introduction to International Economic Relations | 3 | |
| Economic Development | 3 | |
| International Trade | 3 | |
| International Finance | 3 | |
| Fieldwork in International Education | 1-6 | |
| Global Englishes | 3 | |
| Survey of Irish Literature | 3 | |
| World Cinema: (all topics) | 3 | |
| The Art of Fiction: (The Irish Short Story) 1 | 3 | |
| Language, Power, and Identity | 3 | |
| Migration and Gender: Starbucks, Sex Trafficking, and Nannies | 3 | |
| Contemporary French Language and Culture | 3 | |
| Seminar in Literature of the Francophone World: | 3 | |
| Seminar in French and Francophone Cultures: | 3 | |
| Cinema of the French-Speaking World: (subtitle) | 3 | |
| Geography of Asia | 3 | |
| Nationalities and Nations of the World | 3 | |
| Europe: East and West | 3 | |
| Muslim Geographies: Identities and Politics | 3 | |
| Cities of the World: Comparative Urban Geography | 3 | |
| Introduction to German Studies | 3 | |
| Topics in German Studies: (topics with international content) 1 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Global Studies I: People and Politics | 3 | |
| Introduction to Global Languages and Cultures | 3 | |
| Introduction to Global Studies II: Economics and the Environment | 3 | |
| Introduction to Global Studies III: Globalization and Technology | 3 | |
| Black Lives Matter: A Global Comparative Study | 3 | |
| The Re-Configuring Global Order | 3 | |
| Modern Hebrew Literature I in Hebrew | 3 | |
| Modern Hebrew Literature II in Hebrew | 3 | |
| The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries (if not selected as one of the introductory courses) | 3 | |
| Russia Since 1917 | 3 | |
| Topics in the History of Religious Thought: (topics with international content) 1 | 3 | |
| Topics in Global History: (all topics) | 3 | |
| Modern China | 3 | |
| Modern Africa | 3 | |
| History of Mexico | 3 | |
| Honors Seminar: The Shaping of the Modern Mind: (topics with international content) 1 | 3 | |
| Introduction to International Careers | 2 | |
| Internship in International Studies | 2-6 | |
| Introduction to Italian Food Studies: A Cultural History | 3 | |
| Introduction to Italian Literature | 3 | |
| Introduction to Italian Literature and Film | 3 | |
| Italian Immigration: A Sociocultural History | 3 | |
| Topics in Italian Literature and Culture in Translation: | 3 | |
| Japanese News Media | 3 | |
| Seminar in Japanese Literature and Culture: | 3 | |
| The Arab-Israeli Conflict | 3 | |
| Global Jewish Film and Television: (all topics) | 3 | |
| Introduction to Latin American and Caribbean Studies | 3 | |
| Introduction to Global Health | 3 | |
| Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies | 3 | |
| Systems Thinking, Mapping, and Sustainability | 3 | |
| Conflict Transformation: Negotiation and Mediation Skills | 3 | |
| Conflict Analysis and Restorative Practices | 3 | |
| Facilitation Skills for Peacebuilding | 3 | |
| Introduction to Asian Religions | 3 | |
| Technology, Values, and Society | 3 | |
| Philosophical Traditions: | 3 | |
| Buddhist Philosophy | 3 | |
| Comparative Political Systems | 3 | |
| International Organization and the United Nations | 3 | |
| Seminar in International Relations: | 3 | |
| International Conflict | 3 | |
| Luso-Brazilian Culture: | 3 | |
| Russian Life and Culture | 3 | |
| Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy in Translation: Major Works | 3 | |
| Russian and Slavic Folklore | 3 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in Global Contexts | 3 | |
| Urbanism and Urbanization | 3 | |
| Understanding the Hispanic World: (subtitle) | 3 | |
| Understanding Literature and Culture | 3 | |
| Introduction to Latino Literature in English | 3 | |
| Topics in Latino Literature in English: | 3 | |
| Social and Historical Issues in the Hispanic World: | 3 | |
| Contemporary Literature and Culture of Latin America | 3 | |
| Contemporary Literature and Culture of Spain | 3 | |
| Great Cities of the World: Their Growth and Guided Urbanization | 3 | |
| Urbanism and Urbanization | 3 | |
| Urban Growth and Development: A Global View | 3 | |
| Global Feminisms | 3 |
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For these courses with different subtopics, consult with the coordinator of the International Studies program to make sure the subtopic can count towards the major.
Current students with questions about the International Studies major can contact the Director, Shale Horowitz.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at 51ÁÔÆæ, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.Â
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.Â
Currently enrolled students should use the  to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.