Return to: Arts and Sciences

Cornish Hall, Room D-317
(607) 753-2308
E-mail: sharon.steadman@cortland.edu
www.cortland.edu/istudies/

School

Arts and Sciences

Faculty

Sharon R. Steadman (Coordinator)

Programs Offered

Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Adolescence Education: Social Studies and International Studies (7-12)

Majors Offered

International Studies
Adolescence Education: Social Studies and International Studies (7-12)

Concentrations Offered

Area Concentrations: Africa, Asia and Pacific Basin, Europe, Latin America
Disciplinary Concentrations: Culture and Globalism, Geography, Global Economic Systems, Global Political Systems, Historical Development, International Health, Women’s Studies

Minors Offered

International Studies

Description

The international studies (IST) major is a unique global studies approach to understanding the international world in the context of a liberal arts education. The interdisciplinary nature of the major provides students with knowledge of the historic and contemporary development of the international system as well as the opportunity to choose the direction of their study of particular aspects of the global social, economic and political structure from disciplinary or geographical vantage points.

Students also complete the IST major with a strong foreign language background, enabling them to begin careers in the international world immediately upon graduation.

Special Features

• Wide-ranging study-abroad opportunities
• Opportunities for internship experience
• Independent study and collaborative research with faculty members
• Involvement in the NeoVox international Internet news magazine

Career Potential

• International business positions
• International law practice
• World Bank positions
• United Nations translators/posts
• World Trade Organization posts
• U.S. government/State Department positions
• Non-Government corporation and organization positions

The IST major’s 36 credit hours comprise a set of five core courses and a seven-course concentration chosen from the list in the program. The core courses orient the student to the historical processes and contemporary economic issues of the modern international system. The concentration may be geographical in nature, or be focused within a particular discipline. Alternatively, the student may choose an individualized concentration which will be interdisciplinary in nature, with course work defined by a conceptual theme or problem, or with a geographical focus not presently offered. The individualized concentration may be drawn from throughout the College’s course offerings.

Note: some courses in concentrations may have prerequisites not listed.
Waivers of requirements and approval for substitution of courses may be granted only by the coordinator with the approval of the associate dean. Courses taken in a concentration may not count for a minor in the same field (e.g., a Latin American concentration cannot be combined with a Latin American minor). In order to satisfy major requirements, students may take topic courses offered in individual departments, arrange for an independent study, or complete up to six credit hours of an internship (CPV 400), with approval of the advisor, the international studies coordinator and the associate dean.

Students majoring in international studies are required to demonstrate additional foreign language proficiency beyond the regular College language requirement. The IST language requirement may be fulfilled in one of the following ways:

1. Successfully completing 12 hours of course work in a foreign language at the 300-level or above.
2. Successfully completing one semester of study abroad in the target language; course work or other programs of study must be in the target language. Courses or other study conducted in English will not be accepted in fulfillment of this requirement.
3. Satisfying the College foreign language requirement (i.e. 13 credit hours or its equivalent) in a second foreign language. Students whose native language is not English may be exempt from the language proficiency requirement.
4. Earning a rating of Intermediate High on the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language/Educational Testing Service academic scale, as determined by an oral interview with a qualified tester. Students should contact the International Communications and Culture Department for additional details.

Return to: Arts and Sciences