The international studies program prepares students to be global citizens in an interdependent world. International and intercultural knowledge is fundamental to contemporary life and work. The objective of this program is to prepare students to be contributing members of the international community.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Complete the following major requirements:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational Courses | ||
| ENGL A200 | Global Literature and Culture | 3 |
| HIST A101 | Western Civilization Before 1650 | 3 |
| HIST A102 | Europe in the Modern World | 3 |
| INTL/GEOG A101 | Local Places/Global Regions: An Introduction to Geography | 3 |
| PS A102 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| SOC A101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Core Courses | ||
| HIST A390 | Themes in World History | 3 |
| PHIL A301 | Ethics | 3 |
| PS A311 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| SOC A307 | Demography | 3 |
| Mastery Courses | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| Topics in Comparative Literature | ||
| Selected Topics in Global Geography | ||
| Selected Topics in Ethics, Community, and Society | ||
| Sociology of Globalization | ||
| Choose an emphasis language from among the foreign languages offered at UAA and complete at least two semesters at the 200 level or higher. Students in the Regional Studies track must choose a language appropriate to one of the approved regions of study, as specified below. | 8 | |
| Complete either the Regional Studies or Global Social Sciences track listed below. | 12-15 | |
| Total | 53-56 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Studies Track | 12-15 | |
| Europe (Languages: French, German, Russian, Spanish) | ||
| Complete 12 upper-division credits in two subject areas: | 12 | |
| Selected Topics: Literary Trends and Traditions 1 | ||
| Selected Topics: Studies in French/Francophone Literature and Culture 1 | ||
| Selected Topics: Literary Trends and Traditions 1 | ||
| Topics in Literatures and Cultures of the German-Speaking Countries 1 | ||
| Nineteenth Century Europe | ||
| Twentieth Century Europe | ||
| History of Modern Germany | ||
| History of the Soviet Union | ||
| Post-Soviet Culture and Society | ||
| Selected Topics in History 1 | ||
| Abrahamic Religions | ||
| History of Political Philosophy II: Modern | ||
| Studies in Contemporary Hispanic Cultures 1 | ||
| Selected Topics: Hispanic Culture and Civilization 1 | ||
| Selected Topics: Studies in Hispanic Literature and Culture 1 | ||
| Northeast Asia (Languages: Chinese, Japanese) | ||
| HIST A121 | The Making of East Asian Civilization | 3 |
| or HIST A122 | East Asia in the Modern World | |
| Complete 12 upper-division credits in two subject areas: | 12 | |
| Modern China | ||
| Modern Japan | ||
| Northeast Asia in 21st Century | ||
| Russia in East Asia | ||
| Business Japanese | ||
| Selected Topics: Studies in Japanese Culture and Society 1 | ||
| Selected Topics: English-Language Studies in Japanese Culture and Society 1 | ||
| Selected Topics: Studies in Japanese Literature and Culture 1 | ||
| Eastern Philosophy and Religion | ||
| Model United Nations 1 | ||
| The Global South (Languages: French, Spanish) | ||
| Complete 12 upper-division credits in two subject areas: | 12 | |
| Selected Topics: Literary Trends and Traditions 1 | ||
| Selected Topics: Studies in French/Francophone Literature and Culture 1 | ||
| Latin America to 1800 | ||
| Modern Latin America: Revolutions, Dictatorships, and Democracy | ||
| Iberian Empires: Globalization in the Early Modern World | ||
| Abrahamic Religions | ||
| Model United Nations 1 | ||
| Selected Topics: Literary Trends and Traditions 1 | ||
| Studies in Contemporary Hispanic Cultures 1 | ||
| Selected Topics: Hispanic Culture and Civilization 1 | ||
| Selected Topics: Studies in Hispanic Literature and Culture 1 | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Global Social Sciences Track | 12 | |
| Complete 12 credits in two subject areas from the following: | ||
| Comparative Education | ||
| Geospatial and Cartographic Techniques for the Sciences | ||
| World Justice Systems | ||
| States and Markets | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Model United Nations | ||
| Social Stratification | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
- 1
With approved topic.
International/Intercultural Experience
International studies students are encouraged to engage in an international or intercultural experience related to their program of study and the student learning outcomes of the program. Students may earn credits applicable to the degree program through a study abroad program, short-term study abroad, or an internship or service-learning project that involves a significant international or intercultural component. Students seeking to fulfill a degree requirement with credits earned through study abroad, internship or service-learning should consult an academic advisor and submit an academic petition in advance.
A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 39 credits must be upper-division.
Honors in International Studies
Students majoring in international studies are eligible to graduate with honors if they satisfy the following requirements:
- Meet the requirements for Graduation with Honors;
- Meet the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies;
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.80 in courses applicable to the degree requirements;
- Complete ENGL A440, GEOG A390A, PHIL A490A, or SOC A380 with a grade of A;
- Complete the 8-credit language requirement at the 300 level.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies will be able to:
- Demonstrate cross-cultural understanding through language study.
- Demonstrate critical thinking about values, attitudes, and practices in an international context.
- Demonstrate an ability to analyze international issues and challenges and apply integrative multi-disciplinary tools to describe and explain them.
- Demonstrate effective written communication.
Sample Plan
The academic plan below is one pathway through the degree/certificate. It includes all requirements, taking into account recommendations from program faculty. Each student’s plan may vary according to their initial course placement, intended course load, additional majors and/or minors, and their placement into required prerequisite courses. Any change in the plan below can have an unforeseen impact on the rest of the plan. Therefore, it is very important to meet with your academic advisor to verify your personal academic plan.
Please review the following terms, definitions, and resources associated with the sample academic plan below.
- Each course in the far left column links to a pop-up bubble with a course description, prerequisite requirements, and associations with university requirements. For example, if a course fulfills a general education requirement, you will see that in the pop-up bubble.
- GER: indicates a General Education Requirement. GERs that also count toward degree/certificate requirements appear as a specific course in the plan. For these courses, "GER" is not indicated explicitly in the table, but if you click on the course, you will see the course's GER status in the pop-up bubble.
- Program Elective: indicates a specific course selection determined by program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
- Elective: indicates an open selection of 100-400 level university courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate.
- Upper Division Program Elective: indicates a specific 300-400 level course selection determined by the program faculty to fulfill a degree/certificate requirement. Students should seek assistance from their academic advisor.
- Upper Division Elective: indicates an open selection of 300-400 level courses to fulfill elective credits needed to meet the minimum total credits toward the degree/certificate. These courses must be upper division in order to meet General University Requirements for the particular degree/certificate type.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| GEOG A101/INTL A101 | 3 | |
| WRTG A111 | Writing Across Contexts | 3 |
| GER Natural Sciences | 3 | |
| GER Quantitative Skills | 3 | |
| Program Elective (Emphasis Language A101) | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOC A101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| GER Natural Sciences | 3 | |
| GER Natural Sciences Lab | 1 | |
| GER Oral Communication Skills | 3 | |
| GER Written Communication Skills (200 level course) | 3 | |
| Program Elective (Emphasis Language A102) | 4 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENGL A200 | Global Literature and Culture | 3 |
| HIST A101 | Western Civilization Before 1650 | 3 |
| GER Alaska Native-Themed | 3 | |
| GER Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Program Elective (Emphasis Language A201) | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIST A102 | Europe in the Modern World | 3 |
| PS A102 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Program Elective (Emphasis Language A202) | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIST A390 | Themes in World History | 3 |
| PHIL A301 | Ethics | 3 |
| PS A311 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| Upper Division Program Elective (Europe) | 3 | |
| Upper Division Program Elective (Europe) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOC A307 | Demography | 3 |
| Program Elective (Mastery Course) | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Program Elective (Europe) | 3 | |
| Upper Division Program Elective (Europe) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |