International Studies

Interdisciplinary Major and Minor

Director: Renato Corbetta

Faculty: Corbetta, Sharlach (Political Science and Public Administration); Kiper, Kyle, Verbeek (Anthropology); Liu, Van Sant, Ward, Wiesen (History); Biga (Sociology); Cummings (Art and Art History); Danielou (World Languages and Literatures)

The International Studies Program promotes a holistic appreciation of the different values and structures that characterize the world’s diverse societies, as well as an understanding of the institutions that produce economic, social, cultural, and political interdependence among nations.

A major or minor in international studies provides students with the background necessary to pursue a variety of public and private-sector careers. Employment opportunities are as numerous and varied as the interests and abilities of individual students. Majors may find employment in diplomatic or foreign service; international business, law, or labor relations; international development, social service, the travel industry, or health agencies and cultural organizations. Many of our students pursue graduate work in the fields of international relations, international development, peace studies, conflict resolution studies, public health, or law. We encourage all International Studies majors to study abroad, minor in a foreign language, and hope that they will pursue internship opportunities as well. The minor complements any major area by providing students with an international focus in their field.

The program is administered by the College of Arts and Sciences. In addition, courses taught in other schools and professional programs at UAB may be relevant to the curriculum developed by a student in pursuit of his or her specific career goals.

International Studies is an interdisciplinary major. Courses eligible to apply to this major may vary with the emphasis that a student chooses. See your advisor for identifying an appropriate curriculum in your area of interest.

Bachelor of Arts with a Major in International Studies

RequirementsHours
Blazer Core Curriculum41
General Electives40
Required International Studies
PSC 103Foundations of International Relations3
ITS 470/PSC 402Seminar in International Studies3
or ITS 471/PSC 403 Seminar in International Studies
WLL 120World Cultures3
ITS Internship
ITS 482Internship in International Affairs3
Economic Awareness
Select one of the following:3
Economic Development and Indigenous Societies
Economics and Society
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Intermediate Microeconomics
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Economic Development and Growth
International Economics
Nonprofit Organization Mgmt/SL
Politics of Development
International Political Economy
Socio-Political Concentration
Select three of the following courses, from at least two different departments:9
Public Health and Medical Issues in African Communities
Peoples of the World:Mediterranean
Peoples of the World: Latin America
Nationalism, Ethnicity, and Religious Violence
Anthropology of Transitional Justice and Human Rights
Drugs and Culture
The Conquest of Mexico
Propaganda, Fake News, and Hate Speech
Advanced Peace Studies
Politics, Drugs and Society in Latin America
Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
The World Since 1945
Introduction to Latin American History
Indians, Spaniards & Creoles
Modern Latin America
Nineteenth-Century Europe
Britain and the Third World
Introduction to Early Modern Spanish History
History of the Russian Empire
History of the Soviet Union 1917-1991
Modern East Asia
History of Ancient Greece
History of the Roman Empire
Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
The U.S. and Latin America
Sex & Latin American Society
Modern Latin America
British Origins of American Democracy
Scottish and Irish History, 1600-present
Modern East Asia
The Pacific War, 1931-1945
Women Rogues, Radicals and Reformers
The Second World War
The Vietnam Wars, 1945-1975
Nations of the Andes
Modern Mexico
Clash of Civilizations
Seventeenth-Century Europe: Absolutism, Revolution and Science
Nineteenth-Century Europe
Modern Europe
Ancient and Medieval Britain
English History: 1307-1660
Early Modern Britain
Victorian Britain
Modern Great Britain
The French Revolution
Modern France 1815 - Present
Modern German History
Stalin and Stalinism
The Soviet Union Since 1953
Russian Intellectual History
Terror and Terrorism from French Revolution to Present
Modern China
Japan to the 19th Century
Modern Japan
Introduction to Comparative Politics
African Politics
European Political Systems
Latin/South American Political Systems
Asian Political Systems
International Security
North/South International Relations
Diplomacy
Nationalism in World Politics
Politics of the Middle East and Northern Africa
International Conflict & Conflict Management
Special Topics in Political Science
Revolution and Political Violence
Human Trafficking
International Law
Social Change
Our Interconnected World: International Sociology
Cultural Literacy
Select three of the following courses, from at least two different departments:9
Introduction to African History and Culture
African Identity/Personality
African Diasporic Traditions
African Aesthetics and Traditional Religion
The History of Haiti
Introducing Cultural Anthropology
Introduction to Peace Studies
Egypt in the Age of the Pyramids
Food and Culture
Peace through Global Governance
Peaceful Societies and Peace Systems
Religion, Reconciliation, and Forgiveness
Technological Monitoring of Cultural Resources, Human Rights and Conflict
Medical Anthropology & Health Disparities
Explorers, Mummies and Hieroglyphs
Advanced Cultural Anthropology
Intern in Peace, Justice and Environmental Study
The Art Experience
Ancient and Medieval Art
Early Modern-Contemporary Art
Survey of Asian Art
Italian Renaissance Art
Tomb Art in East Asia
Buddhist & Hindu Art in India to 1200
Landscape and Image in East Asia
Piety and Power: Art in India after 1200
Aspects of Contemporary Art
Post-Partition Identity in South Asian Cinema
Seminar: Buddhist Arts of East Asia
Study Abroad: Art & Culture of South Asia
World Literature I: Before 1660
World Literature II: 1660-Present
African Women's Literature
African-American Special Topics
History of the Roman Empire
Middle East 550 BCE to 1453 CE
War in the Modern World
Mapping Our World
Roman Republic
Middle East 550 BCE to 1453 CE
Traditional East Asian History and Culture
Religion in Early Modern European History
Traditional East Asian History and Culture
End of the U.S.S.R.
The Holocaust on Film
Nazi Germany
Topics in Middle Eastern History
Spain and the Spanish Inquisition
French Enlightenment
Topics in European History
Music in World Cultures
Introduction to Ethnomusicology
Classical Political Thought
Modern Political Theory
Eastern Philosophy
History of Philosophy: From Kant to Nietzsche
Political Theory and Citizenship in Modern Civilizations
Classical Political Thought
Modern Political Theory
Songs of Social Change through World Cultures
World Literatures in English Translation
History of International Film
Topics in International Cinema
Electives
Students must take six semester hours from any of the above approved list of courses AND/OR from the list below:6
Language and Culture
Applied Anthropology
Archaeology of the Origins of Civilization in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Mediterranean
Archaeology and History Bible Lands
Ecological Anthropology
Human Rights, Peace, and Justice
Peace Ethology
Conflict Resolution in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Peace & Environmental Sustainability
Intercultural & International Communication
The Holocaust in History and Literature
Ethnic Cleansing & Genocide 1912-2012
Introduction to Public Health
Introduction to Global Health
Epidemiology
Human Rights
Population Problems
World Language Capstone Seminar
Total Hours120

Grade and Level Requirement

A grade of C or better is required in all International Studies courses. Students must demonstrate second-year proficiency in a foreign language. Students must ensure that at least 9 hours are (a) taken in an approved geographic concentration. or (b) follow an approved global theme. Geographic areas currently include Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. At least 15 credits must be taken at the 300 level or above, including 9 hours at 400 level. Students must fulfill an international experience. This requirement may be satisfied by one of the following: participation in a study abroad program; participation in a course with a substantial international, applied component to it; or participation in an internship with an international organization or company or an entity offering an international component.

Additional Requirements

General Electives

Students must take general electives to reach the 120 semester hour requirement.

Proposed Program of Study for a Major in International Studies

Freshman
First TermHoursSecond TermHours
EH 1013EH 1023
MA 1103Core Curriculum Area II: Foreign Language4
PSC 1033Core Curriculum Area IV: History3
Core Curriculum Area IV: History3Core Curriculum Area IV: Social or Behavioral Sciences3
Core Curiculum Area II: Fine Art3General Elective3
 15 16
Sophomore
First TermHoursSecond TermHours
International Studies Major Course3International Studies Major Courses6
Core Curriculum Area II: Literature3Core Curriculum Area III: Natural Science with Laboratory4
Core Curriculum Area II: Foreign Language4Core Curriculum Area II: Humanities3
Core Curriculum Area III: Natural Science with Lab4Foreign Language (200-level)3
 14 16
Junior
First TermHoursSecond TermHours
ITS 4703International Studies Major Course (300-level or above)3
International Studies Major Course3International Studies Major Course (400 level)3
Forgeign Language (200-level)3Minor3
Minor3General Elective6
General Elective3 
 15 15
Senior
First TermHoursSecond TermHours
International Studies Major Course (300 level or above)3International Studies Major Course 6
International Studies Major Course (400-level)3General Electives 9
General Electives9 
 15 15
Total credit hours: 121

 A minor is required for the International Studies major.  All core courses must be from the approved list for Core Area I-IV.  The number of minor courses and general electives may vary.

Minor in International Studies

RequirementsHours
Required Courses
PSC 103Foundations of International Relations3
WLL 120Foreign Cultures3
International Studies Electives12
Select twelve hours from the following courses, at least six hours must be taken at the 300 level or above:
The History of Haiti
Introducing Cultural Anthropology
Introduction to Peace Studies
Archaeology of the Origins of Civilization in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Mediterranean
Peoples of the World:Mediterranean
Peoples of the World: Latin America
Economic Development and Indigenous Societies
Food and Culture
Ecological Anthropology
Peace Ethology
Conflict Resolution in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Peace & Environmental Sustainability
The Power of Nonviolence
Religion, Reconciliation, and Forgiveness
Villains, Victims, & Vigilantes
Advanced Peace Studies
Advanced Cultural Anthropology
Intermediate Arabic I
The Art Experience
Ancient and Medieval Art
Early Modern-Contemporary Art
Survey of Asian Art
Post-Partition Identity in South Asian Cinema
Seminar: Buddhist Arts of East Asia
Intermediate Chinese I
Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
Economic Development and Growth
International Economics
World Literature I: Before 1660
World Literature II: 1660-Present
African Literature
African Women's Literature
Intermediate French I
Intermediate German I
The World Since 1945
The Holocaust in History and Literature
Introduction to Latin American History
Indians, Spaniards & Creoles
Modern Latin America
Nineteenth-Century Europe
Twentieth Century Europe
Introduction to Early Modern Spanish History
History of the Russian Empire
Russian Revolution: 1917-1921
History of the Soviet Union 1917-1991
Traditional East Asian History and Culture
Modern East Asia
Mapping Our World
History of Ancient Greece
History of the Roman Empire
Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
The U.S. and Latin America
Sex & Latin American Society
Modern Latin America
The Christians in History
The Reformation
Religion in Early Modern European History
End of the U.S.S.R.
Traditional East Asian History and Culture
The Pacific War, 1931-1945
The Second World War
The Vietnam Wars, 1945-1975
Ethnic Cleansing & Genocide 1912-2012
Nations of the Andes
Modern Mexico
Clash of Civilizations
Topics in Middle Eastern History
Renaissance and Reformation
Seventeenth-Century Europe: Absolutism, Revolution and Science
Nineteenth-Century Europe
Modern Europe
Spain and the Spanish Inquisition
English History: 1307-1660
Victorian Britain
Modern Great Britain
French Enlightenment
The French Revolution
Modern France 1815 - Present
Modern German History
Stalin and Stalinism
The Soviet Union Since 1953
Russian Intellectual History
Terror and Terrorism from French Revolution to Present
Modern China
Japan to the 19th Century
Modern Japan
Intermediate Italian I
Internship in International Affairs
Intermediate Japanese I
Music in World Cultures
Introduction to Ethnomusicology
Eastern Philosophy
Foundations of Comparative Politics
Foundations of Political Theory
The United Nations
Classical Political Thought
Modern Political Theory
African Politics
Politics of Development
International Security
Diplomacy
Nationalism in World Politics
International Political Economy
International Law
Introduction to Public Health
Introduction to Global Health
Epidemiology
Psychopathology and Culture
Social Change
Our Interconnected World
Human Sexuality: A Comparative Approach
Population Problems
Sociology of Health and Illness
Intermediate Spanish I
WLL 121Songs of Social Change through World Cultures 3
WLL 220World Literatures in English Translation3
WLL 485World Language Capstone Seminar 3
Total Hours27

Grade & Residency Requirement

A C or better is required in all International Studies courses applied to the minor. At least half of the minor must be completed at UAB or through BACHE.

Honors Program in International Studies

Purpose

The ITS Honors Program is designed for qualified, self-motivated international studies majors. Through special course distribution and credit hours requirements, as well as a directed honors thesis, students are prepared for in-depth ITS research and related graduate or professional opportunities.

Eligibility

Students must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  1. 3.0 cumulative GPA at UAB, 3.3 GPA in ITS (and maintenance of these minima).
  2. Junior standing.
  3. Declaration of ITS as student’s major.
  4. Letter of Intent to the Director. The Director approves admission into the program in consultation with the ITS faculty.

Requirements

Students are required to successfully complete the following:

  1. Completion of ITS 470 or ITS 471 Seminar in International Studies (3 credits).
  2. Enrollment in ITS 497 Honors Research in International Studies (3 credits) after completion of the Seminar.
  3. Following completion of ITS 497, preparation of an advanced research project which will lead to the development of a substantial research paper and, in some cases, a senior thesis under faculty supervision (all faculty affiliated with ITS are eligible to supervise the paper).
  4. Defense of paper/thesis in colloquium, composed of ITS faculty and other ITS 497 students
  5. Participation in SIR, the international studies honor society.

Benefits

Honors students will benefit from one-on-one mentoring with faculty in the program, which will lead to a more thorough understanding of the field and practice of international studies. This is particularly useful as students choose career goals, such as graduate school, international public service, the U.S. Foreign Service, or other opportunities. Additionally, students who complete the program will receive a certificate at the annual UAB Honors Convocation and will graduate “With Honors in International Studies.”

Contact

For more information and/or admission to the International Studies Honors Program, contact the ITS Director, 560 Heritage Hall, UAB,  Birmingham, AL 35294-1152; Telephone (205) 934-5643.

Courses

ITS 101. Introduction to International Studies. 3 Hours.

A survey of the problems and practice of global cooperation and conflict. Particular attention is paid to issues of global power, wealth and social justice. This course meets the Core Curriculum requirements for Area IV: Social and Behavioral Sciences.

ITS 110. Directed Readings in International Studies. 1-3 Hour.

Critique of current popular works in International Studies. Prerequisite: permission of ITS director.

ITS 223. International Study Abroad. 3 Hours.

Independent study done in International setting in conjunction with non-UAB academic program. Prerequisite: permission of ITS Director.

ITS 229. International Study Abroad. 3 Hours.

Current events in international setting. Part of program supported by UAB Education Abroad. Permission of ITS director and UAB Education Abroad director.

ITS 250. Special Topics. 3 Hours.

Topics in world geography and international issues. Prerequisite: permission of ITS director.

ITS 299. Problems in International Studies. 1-3 Hour.

Study of international relation and world culture subjects.

ITS 470. Seminar in International Studies. 3 Hours.

International Studies exit seminar that draws together program themes and summarizes main threads of current global issues. Prerequisite: permission of ITS director.

ITS 471. Seminar in International Studies. 3 Hours.

Analyzing and writing in depth about the ethics and rationale for using and abusing the film medium to relate to, undermine, or support political authority. Writing, Ethics and Civic Responsibility are significant components of this course.

ITS 480. Advanced Problems in International Studies. 1-3 Hour.

Independent study. Prerequisite: permission of ITS director.

ITS 482. Internship in International Affairs. 1-3 Hour.

Individually arranged assignments in international companies or organizations, monitored and evaluated by the director of international studies. Prerequisite: permission of ITS director.

ITS 497. Honors Research in International Studies. 3 Hours.

Directed research by international studies honors students under faculty supervision. Prerequisite: open only to International Studies Honors students by permission of ITS director.

ITS 499. Advanced Seminar in International Studies. 3 Hours.

Special-topic seminar treating major current event or international problem.