Description
International Studies (INS) is a major that helps students understand competition, conflict, and cooperation around the world today. INS majors study the politics, history, economics, languages, and cultures of countries and communities around the globe. They graduate having developed a thorough familiarity with the dominant trends and dynamics shaping the world – something that many employers prize in today’s globalized and interdependent economy.
Brockport’s INS major provides excellent preparation for a range of careers. In the public sector, INS majors’ knowledge of the world makes them competitive for positions in military service, diplomacy, intelligence, economic development, or law enforcement. In the private sector, majors are strong candidates for positions in international business, lobbying, health, journalism, and education. In the non-profit sector, INS majors can find work in global development, humanitarian assistance, human rights, and environmental conservation. Finally, the INS major helps prepare students for graduate programs in law, business, foreign affairs, and public administration.
Admission to the Program
Any undergraduate student can declare this major.
Program Requirements
General Education Requirements (29-32 credits)
Foundation Courses (must take the following 9 credits)
- PLS 111 Introduction to International Relations
- PLS 112 Introduction to Comparative Politics
- PLS 410 International Political Economy or PLS 444 National Security
Political Science Electives (must choose four of the following 12 credits)
- PLS 304 International Rel. Simulation
- PLS 305 Politics of European Integration
- PLS 321 African Politics
- PLS 333 American Foreign Policy
- PLS 338 Global Issues
- PLS 340 European Political Systems
- PLS 342 Latin American Politics
- PLS 346 Russian and Eastern Eur. Politics
- PLS 348 Asian Politics
- PLS 383 Mid-East in World Politics
- PLS 410 International Political Economy**
- PLS 444 National Security**
- PLS 445 International Law and Org.
- PLS 447 Russia in Transition
- PLS 475 Political Geography
**PLS 111 and 112 prerequisite. Cannot be taken as an elective if selected as the foundation requirement.
Other Electives (must choose four of the following 12 credits)***
- AAS 203 Africa: Ancient and Precolonial
- AAS 204 African Politics and Society
- AAS 215 Caribbean History
- AAS 302 History of South Africa
- AAS 304 The Black Americas
- AAS 360 Africa Today
- AAS 408 Pan-Africanism
- AAS 410 Apartheid
- AAS 420 Overseas Seminar in Africa
- AAS 460 Modern Africa
- AAS 485 The Jamaica Seminars
- ANT 101 The Human Condition
- ANT 201 Intro. to Cultural Anthrop.
- ANT 305 Gender, Sex and Power: the View from Inside
- ANT 315 The Migration Experience: Cultural Perspectives
- ANT 316 Food and Culture
- ANT 321 Global Friction: Conflict in the Anthropocene
- ANT 323 Anthrop. Persp. on Global Iss.
- ANT 330 Global Inequality
- ANT 331 Environmental Anthropology
- ANT 368 Forced from Home: Refugees, IDPS and Asylees
- ANT 415 Human Rights and Pol. Ecology
- ANT 416 Exiled to America: Experiences of Refugee Resettlement
- ANT/AAS 404 Cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa
- BUS 345 International Business Env.
- BUS 433 International Marketing
- BUS 445 International Financial Man.
- BUS 453 International Business Seminar
- FCE 201 The French Speaking World
- FCE 375 Latin American Women
- FRN 300 French Global Business
- FCE 333 French Rap and Rock
- FRN 301 Haiti: The Most Important Country in the World
- FRN 352 French Civilization
- FRN 355 France Today
- FRN 450 French Studies
- HST 130 Ancient World Survey
- HST 140 Modern World Survey
- HST 201 Ancient World Seminar
- HST 202 Modern World Seminar
- HST 234 Puerto Rico & Puerto Ricans: Colony, Nation, Race, Disapora
- HST 327 American Military Experience
- HST 337 Early Modern Europe
- HST 341 Mid East Crisis
- HST 343 History of the Soviet Union
- HST 347 Europe in Revolution
- HST 349 Europe in the 20th Century
- HST 351 Nazi Germany
- HST 361 History of Japan
- HST 362 The History of World War II
- HST 363 Islam
- HST 365 Beyond Veils and Magic Carpets: Islam’s Golden Age
- HST 366 Modern Imperial Britain
- HST 367 Gender in the Islamic World
- HST 368 Women in the Med. World
- HST 375 Born in Blood and Fire
- HST 376 Modern Latin America
- HST 385 Asian Civilization I
- HST 386 Opium to Hiroshima
- HST 430 World History on Film
- HST 434 Modern Caribbean History
- HST 442 War & Terrorism
- HST 448 The French Revolution
- HST 453 Study Tour of Islamic Spain and Morocco
- HST 457 Dark Continent to Wakanda: the Image of Africa
- HST 458 Overseas Empires
- HST 462 US-Asian Relations
- HST 466 Stalinism
- HST 467 Modern South Asia
- HST 472 The War on Terror
- HST 487 Wars in Asia Since 1750
- HST/AAS 321 Modern Africa
- HST/WMS 359 History of European Women
- HST 471 Islamic Spain
- SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
- SOC 302 Culture
- SOC 306 Development and Globalization
- SPN 352 Hispanic World Today
- SPN 352 Mexico to Madrid: Hispanic World Today
- SPN 353 Lit. Culture Spain
- SPN 354 Literature and Culture of Spanish America
- SPN 363 Contemporary Spain
- SPN 375 Gender in Latin America
- SPN 452 Guerrrilla, Gays and Gangs: Outsiders in Hispanic Film
- SPN 456 Negotiating Caribbean Identity
- SPN 457 War & Peace: Contemporary Spanish Culture
- SPN 458 Multiple Realities, Multiple Truths
- SPN 459 Mexico Today
***Students may substitute DCC 210, 215, 220, 310, or 315 for any of these electives. Any other course broadly pertaining to international studies may be substituted for these electives with the consent of the Director of International Studies.
Experience Abroad (3 credits)
INS majors are required to spend time abroad during their studies at SUNY Brockport. Acceptable experiences include study abroad, student exchange programs, Eurosim participation, faculty-supervised trips, international internships, or other activities carrying at least three course credits.
Exceptions can be granted for this requirement if the student provides documentation demonstrating that they are citizens of a foreign country, completed secondary education abroad, completed a course at a foreign university prior to their time at Brockport, or completed a study abroad program at another university prior to their time at Brockport. Other exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the Coordinator of International Studies.
Students should consult with Brockport’s Center for Global Education and Engagement for details on opportunities to gain experience overseas.
Foreign Language (0-12 credits depending on student proficiency level)
Majors are required to demonstrate a proficiency at the intermediate level in a language other than English (LOTE) by successfully completing a 212 or higher level class. Students must receive a minimum grade of C in this class. Brockport currently offers French and Spanish at the intermediate level. Please note that students without prior language experience may need to complete FRN or SPN 111, 112, and 211 in order to qualify for FRN or SPN 212. Exemptions may be granted for students who can demonstrate that they have completed secondary education abroad in a foreign language. Exemptions may also be granted for students who complete a qualifying language exam in consultation with their advisor and the Coordinator for International Studies.
Electives (46-55 credits)
Total Credits (120 credits)
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Students should have a college-level understanding of international relations
- Students should have a fundamental understanding of the politics, economics, and/or culture of at least one country, region, or system outside of the United States
- Students will have a working familiarity with social science methodologies common to PLS/INS
- Students should have writing and speaking skills commensurate with BA/BS at SUNY Brockport