International Studies, BA
Introduction
Please click here to see International Studies department information.
In a world where the forces of politics, commerce, culture, and technology are multifaceted and interconnected, the International Studies major provides students with a much-needed global perspective. International Studies is an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree that prepares students for international careers and graduate study. The International Studies major offers students a deep understanding of complex international issues and the underlying drivers that are shaping our world. Employers seek the qualities of International Studies graduates: historical knowledge, research ability, cross-cultural competence, teamwork and leadership experience, and the ability to analyze, model, and solve real-world problems. The INTS major provides students with the methodological tools necessary to analyze various regions of the world and global issues from different academic disciplines. Students can take courses from departments including Anthropology, Business, Communication, Economics, Ethnic Studies, Geography, History, Modern Languages, Political Science, and Religious Studies, among others. This combination of coursework, flexibility, and customization provides International Studies majors a distinctive and valuable degree for today's world.
Degree requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic program, and the College reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their major advisor and CLAS advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.
These degree requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic department, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their major advisor and CLAS advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.
Program Delivery
- This is an on-campus program.
Declaring This Major
- Click here to go to information about declaring a major.
General Requirements
To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the three areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.
- CU Denver General Graduation Requirements
- CU Denver Core Curriculum
- College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Graduation Requirements
- Click here for information about Academic Policies
Program Requirements
- Students must complete a minimum of 48 credit hours from the approved courses.
- Students must complete a minimum of 24 upper-division (3000-level and above) credit hours in the major from the approved courses.
- Students must earn a minimum grade of C- (1.7) in all courses that apply to the major and must achieve a minimum cumulative major GPA of 2.5. Courses taken using P+/P/F or S/U grading cannot apply to major requirements.
- Students must complete a minimum of 24 credit hours with CU Denver faculty from the approved courses.
Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations
- Program Honors = 3.5 GPA within the major.
- Students may use up to six internship credits toward international studies graduation requirements.
- Students may use up to six credits of independent study toward international studies graduation requirements.
- Up to two 2000 level or above Modern Language courses, not taught in English, may be counted as electives.
- Students are strongly encouraged to reach proficiency in a second language, beyond the CLAS second language proficiency requirement. Students may take proficiency tests in languages to document existing language skills. Non-native English speakers may use English for their language proficiency.
- Students are strongly encouraged to complete a High Impact Practice course, INTS 3939 Internship, INTS 4840 Independent Study, INTS 4880 Directed Research or any travel study or study abroad experience.
- Students majoring in International Studies may choose MATH 1010 Mathematics for the Liberal Arts or MATH 2830 Introductory Statistics to complete their general education math requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following introductory courses: | 12 | |
| Culture and the Human Experience | ||
or COMM 4720 | Dynamics of Global Communication | |
| Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics | ||
or INTB 3000 | Global Perspectives | |
| Foundations of International Studies | ||
| Political Systems of the World | ||
or PSCI 3042 | World Politics | |
| Complete one of the following regional History courses: | 3 | |
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Introduction to African History | ||
| Modern Latin American History | ||
| Intro to East Asia: Since 1800 | ||
| Introduction to European History | ||
| African History in Novels and Films | ||
| Russia Since 1917 | ||
| Eastern Europe | ||
| Modern China | ||
| Modern Japan | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Complete the International Studies Capstone in the final year of the program. | 3 | |
| International Studies Capstone 1 | ||
| Complete 30 elective credit hours drawn from internationally themed courses. A minimum of 24 credits must be upper-division (3000 or 4000 level). Students must take courses in at least two different disciplines (subject codes). 2 | 30 | |
Students may complete any two courses from Modern Languages at 2000 level or above that are not taught in English. | ||
The list below is representative of courses that will apply to the major. Various Global Education/Study Abroad courses may not appear on the approved list of courses. Please consult with an International Studies advisor for current offerings. | ||
| Globalization, Migration and Transnationalism | ||
| Language, Culture, and Communication | ||
| Cultural Diversity in the Modern World | ||
| Human Migration: Nomads, Sojourners, and Settlers | ||
| Medical Anthropology: Global Health | ||
| Global Health Practice | ||
| Psychedelic Anthropology | ||
| Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective | ||
| Fieldwork Methods | ||
| Immigrant Health | ||
| Archaeology of Mexico and Central America | ||
| Anthropology of Globalization | ||
| Contemporary Chinese Cinema | ||
| Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture | ||
| Special Topics on Chinese Film | ||
| Independent Study: CHIN | ||
| Global Study Topics | ||
| Directed Research | ||
| Chinese Communication & Culture in Context | ||
| Communication and Diversity | ||
| Feminist Perspectives on Communication | ||
| Religion & Communication | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Communication, China, and the US | ||
| You Are What You Eat: Food as Communication | ||
| Dynamics of Global Communication | ||
| Commodity Supply Chain Management | ||
| Commodity Valuation and Hedging | ||
| Foundations of Commodities | ||
| Economics of Sex and Drugs | ||
| Issues in International Trade and Finance | ||
| Issues in Economic Development | ||
| Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory | ||
| International Trade | ||
| International Finance | ||
| Economics of Natural Resources | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Development Economics | ||
| Global Cinema | ||
| International Perspectives in Literature and Film | ||
| Advanced Topics in Writing, Rhetoric, & Linguistics (topic must be approved by International Studies advisor) | ||
| Contemporary World Literature | ||
| International Dimensions of Technology and Culture | ||
| Global Technology, Business & Culture | ||
| Chicano/a and Latino/a History | ||
| Indigenous Studies | ||
| Contemporary Latin American Literature | ||
| Global Media | ||
| Contemporary Asian American Experience | ||
| Culture, Racism and Alienation | ||
| Pre-Columbian Art | ||
| History of Latin American Art:1520-1820 | ||
| Islamic Art and Architecture | ||
| Arts of Japan | ||
| Arts of China | ||
| Art of India and Southeast Asia | ||
| World Theatre | ||
| Principles of Finance | ||
| Financial Markets and Institutions | ||
| International Financial Management | ||
| Survey of French Literature I | ||
| Survey of French Literature II | ||
| Current Topics of the French-Speaking World | ||
| Contemporary Francophone Cultures | ||
| The Francophone World in the Post-Colonial Era | ||
| French Civilization Through the Nineteenth Century | ||
| French Civilization - Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries | ||
| Nineteenth Century French Novel | ||
| Twentieth Century French Novel | ||
| Twentieth Century French Theater | ||
| French Women Writers | ||
| Voices of Haiti and the Caribbean | ||
| History of the French Language | ||
| Geography of Europe | ||
| Central America and the Caribbean | ||
| Geography of South America | ||
| Geography of China | ||
| Geography of Food and Agriculture | ||
| Globalization and Regional Development | ||
| Geography of Tourism | ||
| Sustainability in Resources Management | ||
| Population, Culture, and Resources | ||
| Water Quality and Resources | ||
| Climate Change & Society | ||
| The Politics of Nature | ||
| Disasters, Climate Change, and Health | ||
| Climate Change: Causes, Impacts and Solutions | ||
| Current German Society and Culture | ||
| From Buddha to #BlackLivesMatter: The Past and Future of Nonviolence | ||
| The World at War, 1914-1945 | ||
| The American Colonies to 1750 | ||
| Immigration and Ethnicity in American History | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Native Americans and Spaniards in North America | ||
| Introduction to African History | ||
| Modern Latin American History | ||
| Intro to East Asia: Since 1800 | ||
| Introduction to European History | ||
| African History in Novels and Films | ||
| Global History of Energy | ||
| Age of Revolution | ||
| Race, Gender and Religious Nationalisms in Asia and the US | ||
| Enlightenment and Revolution | ||
| Nations and Classes: 19th Century Europe | ||
| Age of Anxiety in Europe | ||
| Globalization in World History Since 1945 | ||
| Victorians and Victorianism | ||
| The Atlantic Slave Trade: Africa, Caribbean and U.S. | ||
| Modern France, 1789 to the Present | ||
| Modern Germany | ||
| Post-War Germany | ||
| Russia Since 1917 | ||
| Eastern Europe | ||
| U.S. Foreign Policy Since 1912 | ||
| Sex and Gender in Modern Britain | ||
| Gender, Science, and Medicine: 1600 to the Present | ||
| Mind and Malady: A History of Mental Illness | ||
| Modern Mexico | ||
| Nationalism and State Building in Latin America, 1750-1850 | ||
| Social Revolutions in Latin America | ||
| The Age of Imperialism | ||
| Commodities and Globalization | ||
| Traditional China: China to 1600 | ||
| Modern China | ||
| Modern Japan | ||
| Southern Africa | ||
| African Struggle for Independence | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Islam in Modern History | ||
| The Second World War | ||
| The 1950s: Korean War, the Cold War and Social Transformation | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
| Weapons of Mass Destruction | ||
| Explorers and Exploration | ||
| Oceans In History | ||
| Global Perspectives | ||
| Global Study Topics | ||
| Environments of International Business | ||
| Operations of International Business | ||
| Special Topics in International Business | ||
| Internship | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Directed Research | ||
| Undocumented Mexican Immigration | ||
| Language in Society | ||
| Business and Sustainability | ||
| London Calling: Global Sports & Entertainment Management | ||
| International Marketing | ||
| International Transportation | ||
| Health, Culture and Society | ||
| Perspectives in Global Health | ||
| Global Topics In Sexual and Reproductive Health | ||
| Global Health: Comparative Public Health Systems | ||
| The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic | ||
| War and Morality | ||
| How to think green: Environmental Ethics | ||
| Ideology and Culture: Racism and Sexism | ||
| Latin American Philosophy | ||
| Political Systems of the World | ||
| World Politics | ||
| Islamophobia | ||
| The Urban Citizen | ||
| Local Governance and Globalization | ||
| Religion and Politics | ||
| Comparative Governance: Environment and Society | ||
| Comparative Politics: Europe | ||
| Third World Politics | ||
| Politics, Power, and Profit | ||
| Indigenous Political Systems | ||
| Indigenous Politics | ||
| Gender Politics in the Middle East: Beyond Orientalism & Islamism | ||
| Political Systems of the Middle East and North Africa | ||
| The Arab-Israeli Peace Process | ||
| Islamic Politics and Culture | ||
| Civil Resistance in Theory and Practice | ||
| Corruption in the U.S. and Abroad | ||
| East Asia in World Affairs | ||
| Political Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Social Movements, Democracy and Global Politics | ||
| Theories of Social and Political Change | ||
| Women's Rights, Human Rights: Global Perspectives | ||
| International Politics: Human Rights | ||
| Dictatorships in 21st Century | ||
| Democracy and Democratization | ||
| The United Nations in World Affairs | ||
| Politics and Markets in Latin America | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| American National Security | ||
| International Security | ||
| Gender, Development and Globalization | ||
| Social Justice And Globalization | ||
| International Law | ||
| Conflicts and Rights in International Law | ||
| The Politics of War Law | ||
| International Relations: War or Peace? | ||
| Advanced International Political Economy: Globalization | ||
| Environmental Politics | ||
| Global Ecological Crises | ||
| Coercion and the State | ||
| Advanced Indigenous Peoples' Politics | ||
| Political System of Russia and Its Neighbors | ||
| Labor and Working Class Politics | ||
| Immigration Politics | ||
| Politics and Governments of South Asia | ||
| Politics and Government of China | ||
| Comparative Political Leadership | ||
| Middle East Politics and Society in Film | ||
| Seminar on U.S. and China Relations | ||
| The Middle East in World Affairs | ||
| Political Violence | ||
| Strategies of Peacebuilding | ||
| War, Film, and International Law | ||
| Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Affinity and Difference | ||
| Islamic Traditions | ||
| Asian Philosophies and Religions | ||
| Religions of India | ||
| Chinese Philosophy and Culture | ||
| Global Perspectives on Social Issues | ||
| Introduction to the Study of Literature | ||
| Topics in Spanish Literature | ||
| Spanish American Culture and Civilization | ||
| Contemporary Latin American Culture and Institutions | ||
| Culture and Civilization of Spain I | ||
| Culture and Civilization of Spain II | ||
| Contemporary Spanish Culture and Institutions | ||
| Special Topics In Hispanic Culture | ||
| Ibero-American Cultures through Film | ||
| Bilingual Communities: Spanish as a Language of Contact | ||
| Survey of Spanish Literature I | ||
| Survey of Spanish Literature II | ||
| Spanish for International Business I | ||
| Spanish for International Business II | ||
| Introduction to Translation I | ||
| Introduction to Translation II | ||
| History of the Spanish Language | ||
| Spanish Sociolinguistics | ||
| Dialects of the Spanish-Speaking World | ||
| Contemporary Spanish Literature | ||
| Medieval Spanish Literature | ||
| Masterpieces of Spanish Literature | ||
| Golden Age Drama | ||
| Modernism | ||
| Nineteenth-Century Spanish Novel | ||
| Generation of 1898 | ||
| Interculturalism and Transnationalism in Modern Spain | ||
| Modern Culture of Spain through Film and Narrative | ||
| Race, Class, and Gender in Spanish Golden Age Literature | ||
| Don Quijote | ||
| Women and the Spanish Civil War | ||
| Romanticism in Spain | ||
| Special Topics: Spanish Peninsular Literature | ||
| Borges: An Introduction to His Labyrinths | ||
| Contemporary Argentine Short Stories | ||
| Mexican Literature I: pre-Columbian and Colonial | ||
| Mexican Literature II: 19th to 21st Centuries | ||
| Orientalisms In The Hispanic Tradition | ||
| Unexpected Lives: Ibero-American Queer Cinema | ||
| Garcia Marquez: Words of Magic | ||
| Ibero-American Thought | ||
| Total Hours | 48 | |
- 1
Students who are unable to complete INTS 4990 as the Capstone should consult with their major advisor and gain approval for an alternative option. Options to consider include: taking and completing HUMN/SSCI 5013 - Interdisciplinary Methods and Practice with a C- or higher; (b) completing an approved competitive internship with a C- or higher; (c) earning program honors with directed research; (d) participating in the United Nations summer course.
- 2
Courses on international and global topics may come from Anthropology, Communication, Economics, Ethnic Studies, Geography, History, Political Science, or other departments. Pre-approved courses have been clustered by department to guide student selection. Other courses may be approved with permission of an International Studies program advisor. More recent course updates and thematic groupings of course may be found on the International Studies program website.
To learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes for this program, please visit our website.
To review the Degree Map for this program, please visit our website.