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University of Richmond

International Studies

John Gordon, Coordinator (History)

The International Studies major is composed of six concentrations that are coordinated by advisors with special expertise in the areas. Students with specific interests outside the described concentrations may petition to create an independent concentration.

The International Studies Major

Note: A grade of not less than C (2.0) is required in all coursework comprising the major.

13 units, including

A. Enhanced Language Proficiency

At least two units of 300- or 400-level courses in the Department of Modern Literatures and Cultures or Department of Latin American and Iberian Studies, excluding courses taught in English, or satisfactory completion of an approved language achievement examination for 300-level equivalency. Note: Students with unusual or advanced language preparation may petition the IS Coordinator, their concentration advisor, and the chair of MLC or LAIS for a waiver of this requirement.

B. Approved Experience Abroad

In order to provide for a significant degree of cultural immersion, the experience abroad will be related to the student's concentration and will be at least one semester in length. Any program which does not meet these requirements must be approved by the concentration advisor in consultation with the program coordinator.

C. International Studies Coursework (three core units and an IS concentration)

  • One unit, chosen from
    PLSC 250 Introduction to International Relations
    GEOG/IS 210 Geographic Dimensions of Human Development
  • IS 290 Perspectives in International Studies
  • IS 400 Senior Seminar
  • An international studies concentration (within the concentration: eight units selected from three or more departments with no more than four units from a single department)

Note: With prior approval, study abroad courses may be applied toward the major.

Students are expected to fulfill all prerequisites necessary for courses within the major. Prerequisites do not count toward the major unless otherwise noted.

International Studies: Africa

Joseph Obi (Sociology), Advisor

8 units, chosen from the following (may include up to two courses dealing with the African diaspora, marked with an *). For eligibility of other relevant courses for inclusion in the major, see the concentration advisor.

ANTH 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
ANTH 300 Sexuality and Gender Across Culture
ANTH 304 Ritual, Witchcraft and Divination
ANTH 328 Anthropology of Human Rights
ANTH 336 Politics, Power and Ritual
ANTH 338 Africa: Cultural Change in a Post-Colonial Setting
ECON 105 Introduction to Global Economics
ECON 211 Economic Development in Asia, Africa and Latin America
ENGL 218 African Literature
ENGL 231 African-American Literature*
ENGL 238 Readings in Caribbean Literature*
ENGL 331 Literatures of Africa
ENGL 332 Literatures of the Caribbean*
ENGL 335 Black Women Writers*
ENGL 358 African-American Women Writers*
FREN 324 Francophone Literatures and Cultures
FREN 471 Francophone Studies
GEOG 207 World Regional Geography - Developing Regions
GEOG 370 Geographies of Economic Development and Globalization
HIST 281 Africa c. 1500-1900
HIST 282 Africa in the Twentieth Century
HIST 283 South Africa since 1500
HIST 380 Women and Gender in African History
HIST 390 Food and Power in Africa and Asia
IS 230 Introduction to Africa
IS 240 Gods, Spirits and Faith in Africa
IS 301 Dependency and Development: An Introduction to the Third World
IS 310 Tribe, Nation, World: The Anthropology of Globalization
IS 320 Power, Space and Territory: Geographies of Political Change
IS 351 Globalization
MUS 115 The Jazz Tradition*
MUS 203 Global Hip Hop*
PLSC 346 Politics of Cultural Pluralism
PLSC 347 Politics of Developing Nations
PLSC 348 Politics of Africa
SOC 230 Introduction to Africa: The Sociology of Africa
SOC 316 Race and Ethnicity in America*
SOC 335 Feast and Famine: Inequalities in the Global Food System

International Studies: Asia

Jane M. Geaney (Religion), Advisor

8 units, including

Three units from area A chosen in consultation with the concentration advisor
Three units from area B chosen in consultation with the concentration advisor
Two units from area A or B chosen in consultation with the concentration advisor

For eligibility of other relevant courses for inclusion in the major, see the concentration advisor.

Note: Students taking courses marked with an * can receive credits toward the concentration, provided they have the concentration advisor's approval and their papers/projects are related to Asia.

Area A: Humanities

ART 212 Introduction to Asian Art
ART 226 Art and Culture of Japan
ART 378 Topics in Asian Art
ART 383 East Asian Painting, Poetry and Calligraphy
CHIN 311 Insights into Chinese Culture
CHIN 401-402 Advanced Chinese Language, Literature and Culture
ENGL 214 Literature of India
ENGL 333 Literatures of South Asia
ENGL 337 Postcolonial Literatures*
HIST 130 East Asian Civilizations
HIST 250 Modern East Asia 1600-1960
HIST 251 Chinese Revolutions
HIST 252 China Modern 1900-1940
HIST 253 Empires and Nations in Modern East Asia
HIST 254 Modern Japan
HIST 255 Meiji Japan: An Emperor and the World Named for Him
HIST 290 British Empire and Commonwealth*
JAPN 310 Japanese Culture
MLC 235 Special Topics in Japanese Film
MUS 124 Asian Music and Globalization
REGL 250 Introduction to World Religions
RELG 251 Sacred Arts of India
RELG 253 Body/Sex in World Religious Literature
RELG 255 Queers in Religion*
RELG 352 Buddhism in India and Tibet
RELG 355 Selected Asian Religions
RELG 366 Buddhist Philosophy

Area B: Social Sciences

ANTH 328 Anthropology of Human Rights*
ANTH 339 Pacific Island Cultures and Ethnographies
ANTH 340 Southeast Asia: Cultural Representations
ECON 105 Introduction to Global Economics
ECON 211 Economic Development in Asia, Africa and Latin America
GEOG 207 World Regional Geography-Developing Regions*
GEOG 345 Society, Economy and Nature: Global Perspective on Sustainable Development*
GEOG 370 Geographies of Economic Development and Globalization*
HIST 340 Imagining the Other: China and the West
HIST 341 History and Memory: WWII in East Asia
HIST 390 Food and Power in Asia and Africa
IBUS 390 International Business Issues (Asia/Pacific Management)*
IS 245 Introduction to South Asia
IS 301 Dependency and Development: An Introduction to the Third World*
IS 310 Tribe, Nation, World: The Anthropology of Globalization*
IS 320 Power, Space and Territory: Geographies of Political Change*
IS 351 Globalization*
PLSC 343 Politics of Asia
PLSC 345 Politics of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan
PLSC 347 Politics of Developing Nations*
PLSC 357 International Relations of East Asia
PLSC 358 The United States and the Pacific Rim
SOC 306 Social Change in a Global Perspective*
SOC 335 Feast and Famine: Inequalities in the Global Food System*

International Studies: International Economics

Jonathan B. Wight (Economics), Advisor

Students are strongly encouraged to develop proficiency in economics with either a minor or double major (see economics department listings for requirements).

8 units, including

  • ECON 210 The Economics of the European Union
  • ECON 211 Economic Development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
  • ECON 310 International Trade and Finance
  • Five elective units from two or more departments in the following list:
    ACCT 315 International Accounting Issues
    ANTH 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
    ANTH 307 Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
    ANTH 308 Latin America: An Ethnographic Perspective
    ANTH 336 Politics, Power and Ritual
    ANTH 338 Africa: Cultural Change in a Post-Colonial Setting
    ANTH 339 Pacific Island Cultures and Ethnographies
    ANTH 340 Southeast Asia: Cultural Representations
    FIN 462 International Financial Management
    GEOG 206 World Geography - Developed Regions
    GEOG 207 World Geography - Developing Regions
    GEOG 210 Geographic Dimensions of Human Development
    GEOG 345 Society, Economy and Nature
    GEOG 370 Geographies of Economic Development and Globalization
    HIST 236 Russian Empire, Soviet Union and After
    HIST 237 The Last Soviet Generation
    HIST 241 Modern European Thought Since 1850
    HIST 242 Modern Germany
    HIST 243 Modern Britain
    HIST 244 The Hapsburg Empire and After
    HIST 245 Modern Balkans
    HIST 246 Russia in Revolution, 1905-1934
    HIST 247 Modern Ireland
    HIST 248 European Diplomacy from Bismarck to Hitler
    HIST 249 Twentieth-Century Europe
    HIST 250 Modern East Asia 1600-1960
    HIST 251 Chinese Revolutions
    HIST 252 China Modern: 1900-1940
    HIST 253 Empires and Nations in Modern East Asia
    HIST 254 Modern Japan
    HIST 255 Meiji Japan: An Emperor and the World Named for Him
    HIST 261 Modern Latin America
    HIST 262 The Making of Modern Brazil
    HIST 271 The Modern Middle East
    HIST 272 The Ottoman Empire
    HIST 282 Africa in the Twentieth Century
    HIST 283 South Africa since 1500
    HIST 290 British Empire and Commonwealth
    HIST 291 History of Canada
    HIST 340 Imagining the Other: China and the West
    HIST 341 History and Memory: WWII in East Asia
    HIST 380 Women and Gender in African History
    HIST 390 Food and Power in Africa and Asia
    IBUS 381 International Business Environment
    IBUS 390 International Business Issues and Topics
    IBUS 411 International Business Strategy
    IS 230 Introduction to Africa: The Sociology of Africa
    IS 245 Introduction to South Asia
    IS 301 Dependency and Development: An Introduction to the Third World
    IS 310 Tribe, Nation, World : The Anthropology of Globalization
    IS 320 Power, Space and Territory: Geographies of Political Change
    IS 321 Exploring Latin American Experience: An Interdisciplinary Seminar
    IS 351 Globalization
    MGMT 333 International Management
    MKT 325 International Marketing
    PHIL 337 Social and Political Philosophy
    PHIL 344 Twentieth-Century Continental Philosophy
    PLSC 240 Introduction to Comparative Politics
    PLSC 312 Modern Political Theory
    PSLC 340 Islam and Politics
    PLSC 341 Great Britain, France, and Germany
    PLSC 342 Transitions from Communism in Europe and Eurasia
    PLSC 343 Politics of Asia
    PLSC 344 Europe Today
    PLSC 345 Politics of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan
    PLSC 346 Politics of Cultural Pluralism
    PLSC 347 Politics of Developing Nations
    PLSC 348 Politics of Africa
    PLSC 349 Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean
    PLSC 350 American Foreign Policy
    PLSC 352 International Law and Organizations
    PLSC 355 Middle East Security
    PLSC 356 International Political Economy
    PLSC 357 International Relations of East Asia
    PLSC 358 The United States and the Pacific Rim
    PLSC 360 International Development Policy
    PLSC 374 Methods for Cross National Research
    RELG 250 Introduction to World Religions
    SOC 230 Introduction to Africa: The Sociology of Africa
    SOC 231 Across the Pond: Europe vs. USA
    SOC 232 Postsocialism in Russian and Eastern Europe
    SOC 335 Feast and Famine: Inequalities in the Global Food System

International Studies: Latin America

Mary Finley-Brook (Geography) and David Salisbury (Geography), Advisors

8 units, including

One introductory course on Latin America (Group A)
At least three units focusing on Latin America (Group B)
No more than two units with partial content on Latin America (Group C)
No more than two units in background courses (Group D)

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) may vary in emphasis depending upon instructor. Check before taking the class.
Courses marked with two asterisks (**) are similar in content; students may receive credit toward the concentration for only one course.

Group A: Introductory Courses on Latin America

ANTH 308 Latin America: An Ethnographic Perspective
IS 321 Exploring Latin American Experience: An Interdisciplinary Seminar
LAIS 312 Perspectives on Nations and Cultures of Latin America

Group B: Courses Focusing on Latin America

BIOL 383 Tropical Biology and Conservation
ENGL 205 Latino/a Literature and Film **
ENGL 332 Literatures of the Caribbean
HIST 261 Modern Latin America
HIST 262 The Making of Modern Brazil
HIST 263 Latin America in the Cold War Years
HIST 360 Crime and Punishment in Modern Latin America
LAIS 331-332 Introduction to Spanish-American Literature, I-II
LAIS 391 Contemporary Luzo-Brazilian Readings
LAIS 452 Spanish-American Poetic Texts
LAIS 471 Latin American Cinema
LAIS 472 Contemporary Spanish-American Theater
LAIS 474 Contemporary Writing in Latin America: Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll
LAIS 475 Women and Writing in Latin America
LAIS 477 Literature of the Spanish-Speaking Caribbean
LAIS 484 The Latin American Essay
LAIS 485 Spanish-American Narrative
LAIS 486 U.S. Latino/a Literature **
LAIS 487 Latin America: Encounter and Conflict
PLSC 349 Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean

Group C: Courses with Partial Content on Latin America

ANTH 307 Indigenous Peoples of the Americas
ANTH 328 Anthropology of Human Rights
ECON 211 Economic Development in Asia, Africa and Latin America
GEOG 207 World Regional Geography - Developing Regions*
GEOG 345 Society, Economy, and Nature: Global Perspectives on Sustainable Development
GEOG 370 Geographies of Economic Development and Globalization
IS 301 Dependency and Development: An Introduction to the Third World
IS 310 Tribe, Nation, World: The Anthropology of Globalization*
IS 320 Power, Space, and Territory: Geographies of Political Change
IS 351 Globalization
MUS 117 Salsa Meets Jazz
SOC 306 Social Change in a Global Perspective

Group D: Background Courses

ECON 105 Introduction to Global Economics
PLSC 346 Politics of Cultural Pluralism
PLSC 347 Politics of Developing Nations
PLSC 356 International Political Economy
PLSC 360 International Development Policy

International Studies: Modern Europe

David Brandenberger (History), Yvonne Howell (Modern Literatures and Cultures), and Hugh A. West (History), Advisors

8 units, including

HIST 111 Ideas and Institutions of Western Civilization
PLSC 344 Europe Today
Two courses from area A chosen in consultation with the concentration advisor
Two courses from area B chosen in consultation with the concentration advisor
Two courses from area C chosen in consultation with the concentration advisor

Area A: Social Sciences/History

ECON 105 Introduction to Global Economics
ECON 210 The Economics of the European Union
ECON 220 History of Economic Thought
GEOG 206 World Geography - Developed Regions
HIST 224 European Women and Gender before Suffrage
HIST 230 The Renaissance
HIST 234 Georgian Britain, 1714-1837
HIST 235 France: Old Regime and Revolution
HIST 236 Russian Empire, Soviet Union and After
HIST 237 The Last Soviet Generation
HIST 242 Modern Germany
HIST 243 Modern Britain
HIST 244 The Hapsburg Empire and After
HIST 245 Modern Balkans
HIST 246 Russia in Revolution, 1905-1934
HIST 247 Modern Ireland
HIST 248 European Diplomacy from Bismarck to Hitler
HIST 249 Twentieth-Century Europe
HIST 272 The Ottoman Empire
HIST 321 History of Work in Europe
HIST 323 The Victorians
HIST 392 Nations and Nationalism
PLSC 240 Introduction to Comparative Politics
PLSC 341 Great Britain, France and Germany
PLSC 342 Transitions from Communism in Europe and Eurasia
SOC 231 Across the Pond: Europe vs. USA
SOC 232 Postsocialism in Russia and Eastern Europe
SOC 306 Social Change in a Global Perspective

Area B: Intellectual and Cultural History

ART 222 Art History: Renaissance to the Present
ART 314 Northern Renaissance Art
ART 315 Art of the Italian Renaissance
ART 316 Art in the Age of Reform
ART 317 Nineteenth-Century Art
ART 318 Twentieth-Century Art
FREN 311 French and Francophone Culture
FREN 441 Enlightenment
FREN 465 French Film
FREN 487 Contemporary Ideas
GERM 311 German Culture and Civilization
GERM 440 Age of Idealism
GERM 452 Fin-de-siecle
GERM 465 Rebels with a Cause: Political Satire
GERM 471 Sexuality and German Society
GERM 472 Multiculturalism, Identity, and Authorship in the German Context
HIST 240 Modern European Thought, 1650-1850
HIST 241 Modern European Thought since 1850
HIST 325 The Enlightenment
ITAL 411 Italian Identities: Sicily, Veneto, and Tuscany
LAIS 305 Spanish in Politics and Society
LAIS 311 Perspectives on People and Cultures of Spain
LAIS 431 Imperial Spain
LAIS 455 Barcelona: Text and City
LAIS 462 Visions of Contemporary Spain
LAIS 465 Spanish Cinema
MLC 256 Psychoanalysis, Literature, and Culture
MLC 331 Russian Cinema
MLC 332 Conscience and Consciousness in 19th Century Russian Painting
MLC 335 Bolsheviks, Bombs and Ballet: Soviet Culture and Civilization
MLC 340 European Romanticism
MLC 360 Representing the Holocaust
MLC 365 German Film in Context
MUS 228 Critical Studies in Music History II
MUS 343 The Mass from Plainshant to Part
MUS 344 Opera Studies
PHIL 272 Modern Western Philosophy
PHIL 275 Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud
PHIL 336 Nineteenth-Century European Philosophy
PHIL 337 Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 339 Topics in Existentialism
PHIL 343 Twentieth-Century Analytic Philosophy
PHIL 344 Twentieth-Century Continental Philosophy
PHIL 357 Nietzsche
PLSC 312 Modern Political Theory
RELG 356 Religious Thought of the Renaissance and Reformation
RUSN 311 Readings in Russian Cultural Studies

Area C: Literature

ENGL 302 Literature of the English Renaissance
ENGL 304 Shakespeare
ENGL 306 Milton
ENGL 311 English Literature of the Restoration and Eighteenth Century
ENGL 312 English Literature of the Romantic Period
ENGL 338 English Literature of the Victorian Period
ENGL 346 Twentieth-Century British Literature
ENGL 349 Late Imperial Fiction
FREN 320 Literature in Context
FREN 326 Revolution in France
FREN 327 The Question of Modernity
FREN 421 Renaissance
FREN 431 Le Siecle Classique
FREN 451 From Romanticism to Decadence
FREN 461 From Modern to Post-Modern
GERM 321 Introduction to German Literature
ITAL 321 Italian Literature in Context
ITAL 453 Selected Readings in 19th and 20th Century Italian Literature and Culture
LAIS 321 Literary Spain: Poetry, Drama, Fiction
LAIS 432 True Lies: Fiction and Truth in Don Quixote
LAIS 451 Spanish Literature of Exile
LAIS 454 Modern Literature of Galicia
LAIS 463 Modern Spanish Narrative
LAIS 464 Modern Theatre in Spain
MLC 321 Introduction to 19th-Century Russian Literature
MLC 322 Introduction to 20th-Century and Contemporary Russian Literature
MLC 357 The Idea of the Renaissance: Self, History, and Knowledge
MLC 358 Desire and Identity in the Renaissance: The Lyric Tradition
RUSN 420 Readings in Russian Literature

International Studies: World Politics and Diplomacy

Sheila Carapico (Political Science), Melissa LaBonte (Political Science), John L. Gordon Jr. (History) and John D. Treadway (History), Advisors

8 units, including

  • Three units chosen from
    ECON 105 Introduction to Global Economics
    ECON 210 The Economics of the European Union
    ECON 211 Economic Development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
    ECON 310 International Trade and Finance
    GEOG 370 Geographies of Economic Development and Globalization
    HIST 214 United States and the World, 1877-1945
    HIST 215 United States and the World Since 1945
    HIST 248 European Diplomacy from Bismarck to Hitler
    HIST 391 Transnational Social Reform
    IS 320 Power, Space, and Territory: Geographies of Political Change
    IS 351 Globalization
    PLSC 350 American Foreign Policy
    PLSC 352 International Law and Organizations
    PLSC 356 International Political Economy
    PLSC 360 International Development Policy
  • Five additional units selected from above and below
    ANTH 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
    ANTH 336 Politics, Power and Ritual
    ANTH 328 Anthropology of Human Rights
    ECON 230 Environmental Economics
    ENGL 336 Literatures of Globalization
    GEOG 206 World Geography-Developed Regions
    GEOG 207 World Geography-Developing Regions
    GEOG 345 Society, Economy and Nature: Global Perspectives on Sustainable Development
    HIST 236 Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and After
    HIST 237 The Last Soviet Generation
    HIST 240 Modern European Thought, 1650-1850
    HIST 242 Modern Germany
    HIST 243 Modern Britain
    HIST 244 The Hapsburg Empire and After
    HIST 245 Modern Balkans
    HIST 246 Russia in Revolution, 1905-1934
    HIST 247 Modern Ireland
    HIST 249 Twentieth-Century Europe
    HIST 250 Modern East Asia 1600-1960
    HIST 252 China Modern: 1900-1940
    HIST 253 Empires and Nations in Modern East Asia
    HIST 254 Modern Japan
    HIST 255 Meiji Japan: An Emperor and the World Named for Him
    HIST 261 Modern Latin America
    HIST 262 The Making of Modern Brazil
    HIST 263 Latin America in the Cold War Years
    HIST 270 Early Islamic World
    HIST 271 The Modern Middle East
    HIST 272 The Ottoman Empire
    HIST 282 Africa in the Twentieth Century
    HIST 283 South Africa Since 1500
    HIST 290 British Empire and Commonwealth
    HIST 291 History of Canada
    HIST 340 Imagining the Other: China and the West
    HIST 341 History and Memory: WWII in East Asia
    HIST 360 Crime and Punishment in Modern Latin America
    HIST 390 Food and Power in Africa and Asia
    HIST 392 Nations and Nationalism
    IS 230 Introduction to Africa
    IS 310 Tribe, Nation, World: The Anthropology of Globalization
    IS 321 Exploring Latin American Experience
    LDST 307 Leadership in International Contexts
    LDST 354 Conflict Resolution
    PLSC 240 Introduction to Comparative Politics
    PLSC 340 Islam and Politics
    PLSC 341 Great Britain, France, and Germany
    PLSC 342 Transitions from Communism in Europe and Eurasia
    PLSC 343 Politics of Asia
    PLSC 344 Europe Today
    PLSC 345 Politics of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan
    PLSC 346 Politics of Cultural Pluralism
    PLSC 347 Politics of Developing Nations
    PLSC 348 Politics of Africa
    PLSC 349 Politics of Latin America and the Caribbean
    PLSC 355 Middle East Security
    PLSC 358 The United States and the Pacific Rim
    PLSC 374 Methods for Cross National Research
    RELG 250 Introduction to World Religions
    RHCS 345 Rhetoric of Terrorism, (In)Security and the State
    RHCS 350 International Communication
    SOC 231 Across the Pond: Europe vs. USA
    SOC 232 Postsocialism in Russia and Eastern Europe
    SOC 306 Social Change in a Global Perspective
    SOC 308 Sociology of War

Individual Programs

A student who has an interest in an international studies area not listed here may be able to develop an individual program of study to meet the concentration requirement. Such a program will have a theme supported by appropriate courses and shall be approved by the coordinator of international studies. Students who wish to pursue this option should see the program coordinator early in their college career to allow adequate time for planning.

Courses

IS 210 Geographic Dimensions of Human Development

IS 230 Introduction to Africa

IS 240 Gods, Spirits and Faith in Africa

IS 245 Introduction to South Asia

IS 250 Selected Topics

IS 290 Perspectives in International Studies

IS 301 Dependency and Development: An Introduction to the Third World

IS 310 Tribe, Nation, World: The Anthropology of Globalization

IS 320 Power, Space, and Territory: Geographies of Political Change

IS 321 Exploring Latin American Experience: An Interdisciplinary Seminar

IS 331 Global Cities

IS 342 Transitions from Communism in Europe and Eurasia

IS 350 Selected Topics

IS 351 Globalization

IS 388 Internship

IS 390 Independent Study

IS 400 Senior Seminar

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