Focusing on the last 500 years, this concentration in the International Studies Interdisciplinary Degree Program  traces the historical basis of the modern world system and then allows students to focus on particular regions and historical topics.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Identify and reproduce historically based knowledge of global processes that shaped the world over the last 500 years such as world system theories, colonialism, nationalism, the age of 'discoveries', the age of revolutions, the age of empires, political ideologies, modern forms of government, capitalism, the rise of the modern nation-states, Enlightenment, Reformation etc.                                                               
2. Understand and be capable to explain the major international political/economic theories and global processes in 20th /21st centuries, such as mercantilism, liberalism, communism, socialism, the creation of international organizations, orientalism, colonization, decolonization, regional wars and conflicts, the rise of political Islam, revolutions and coup d'etats, globalization etc.                                                                                    
3. Analyze the impact of global processes, developed during the 20th /21st centuries, on cultures and nations outside the "West".                                       
4. Be fluent in one foreign language or have competency in two foreign languages. Students should be able to successfully negotiate cross-cultural contexts.
5. Integrate inter-disciplinary knowledge and conduct innovative studies through advanced research papers (research question, formulation of sophisticated hypothesis, appropriate data presentation and argument, sophisticated research methods).                                                                         
6. Offer clear, concise, and effective public presentations. Write essays and research papers effectively using proper grammar, punctuation, and paragraph structure.