International Studies

Sample program plan information is provided for sample purposes only. Students should consult with their academic advisor about their individual plan for course registration and completion of program requirements.

First Year - Fall Semester
IS 103	Fundamentals of International Studies: Global Analysis	3 hours
ENG 101/COM 103	Intro to Composition/Speech	3 hours
PLS 105	Introduction to American Government	3 hours
LAS 101	Freshman Seminar	3 hours
WL	World Language	3-4 hours
Total		15-16 hours

First Year - Spring Semester
IS 104	Fundamentals of International Studies: Area Analysis	3 hours
ENG 101/COM 103	Intro to Composition/Speech	3 hours
FA/HU/NS/MI BCC	BCC requirement	3-4 hours
Elective	Possible minor or second major	3 hours
WL	World Language	3-4 hours
Total		15-17 hours

Sophomore - Fall Semester
IS 275	Political Economy of the Developing World (IS core, MI*)	3 hours
ECO 222	Macroeconomics (IS core, SB)	3 hours
Quantitative Analysis Elective	PLS 209, PSY 205, MTH 111, QM 262 (IS core, QR)	3 hours
FA/HU/NS/MI*	BCC requirement	3 hours
WL	World Language	3-4 hours
Total		15-17 hours

Sophomore - Spring Semester
IS 295	Research Design and Methods for IS (IS core, WI tag*)	3 hours
FA/HU/NS/MI BCC	BCC requirement	3 hours
Elective	Possible minor or second major/td>	3 hours
IS Concentration	Regional (3 courses) or functional (3 courses)	3 hours
WL	World Language	3 hours
Total		15 hours

Junior - Fall Semester^
IS Concentration	Regional (3 courses) or functional (3 courses)	6 hours
FA/HU/NS/MI*	BCC requirement	3 hours
FA/HU/NS/MI*	BCC requirement	3 hours
	Elective	3 hours
	WL World Language	3 hours
Total		15 hours

Junior - Spring Semester^
IS Concentration	Regional (3 courses) or functional (3 courses)	3 hours
IS Concentration	Regional (3 courses) or functional (3 courses)	3 hours
FA/HU/NS/MI*/W2	BCC requirement	3 hours
Elective	Possible minor or second major	3 hours
WL	World Language	3 hours
Total		15 hours

Senior - Fall Semester^
IS 495	Advanced Seminar in IS (IS core, WI tag*, EL tag)	3 hours
IS Concentration	Regional (3 courses) or functional (3 courses)	3 hours
FA/HU/NS/MI*/W2	BCC requirement	3 hours
Elective	Possible minor or second major	3 hours
Elective	Possible minor or second major	3 hours
Total		15 hours

Senior - Spring Semester^
IS Concentration	Regional (3 courses) or functional (3 courses)	3 hours
FA/HU/NS/MI*/W2	BCC requirement	3 hours
Elective	Possible minor or second major	3 hours
Elective	Possible minor or second major	3 hours
Elective	Possible minor or second major	3 hours
Total		15 hours

*Many IS courses can fulfill GP and MI requirements for the BCC. However, no more than two courses with the same prefix may be used to fulfill these areas of inquiry.

^Alternatively, students can elect to participate in a semester abroad. Study abroad courses may fulfill certain IS and BCC requirements. Also, a study abroad experience may be counted as Experiential Learning (EL).

Note: The number of courses necessary to complete the IS foreign language requirement will depend on the results of the student’s language placement test, which is normally administered during summer orientation. Students earning placement above the 101 level may be eligible to receive retrocredit. See the Department of World Languages and Cultures for further information.

Certain courses that meet the Quantitative Analysis requirement for IS also fulfill the QR requirement for the BCC.

I S 100 - Contemporary World Forces (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. SF
Core Curr. GP GS
Great international forces influencing the contemporary world: secular and religious nationalism, global terrorism, international conflict and cooperation, poverty, and climatic changes. Understanding and evaluating the impact of these forces on national society and world affairs.

I S 101 - Participation in Model United Nations (1 hour)
Gen. Ed.
Preparation for and participation in a model United Nations program. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 hours credit provided a different country and issues are addressed with each participation.

I S 103 - Fundamentals of International Studies: Global Analysis (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. GP GS
Overview of principal macro-level phenomena in discipline of international studies; addresses matters with worldwide coverage such as power relationships, war, and globalization.

I S 104 - Fundamentals of International Studies: Area Analysis (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. NW
Core Curr. GP WC
Overview of discipline of international studies at micro-level; focus on major states or groups of states.

I S 182 - Fundamentals of Contemporary East Asian Civilization (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. NW
Core Curr. GP WC
Civilization and traditional cultures of East Asia; origins of fundamental values in indigenous East Asian ways of life.

I S 250 - Normative Theories of International Studies (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. HP
Core Curr. HU
Survey of major expressions of normative theory in international studies; opportunity to develop a personal philosophy of world affairs; development of analytical and reasoning skills; creation of an awareness of principle qualitative considerations in the field of international studies and the formulation of positions regarding such concerns.

I S 275 - Political Economy of the Developing World (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. SF
Core Curr. MI
Survey of political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of development. Theories of development, relations between industrial and developing states, impact of domestic institutions and conditions, globalization, and international institutions on the developing world.

I S 285 - East Asia in the Modern World (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. NW
Survey of political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of developments in China, Japan, Korea, and East Asia. Emphasis on impact of tradition, colonization, and the Cold War on political, economic, and social development.

I S 295 - Research Design and Qualitative Methods for International Studies (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. WI
Design of research and qualitative research methods for international studies. Prerequisite: IS 103; IS 104; or consent of instructor.

I S 305 - Diplomacy in International Affairs (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. GP GS
Evolution of modern diplomacy, fundamentals of diplomacy theory, and contemporary use of diplomacy. Negotiation game for application of student's new knowledge of diplomatic practice. Prerequisite: IS 103 or 104 or consent of instructor.

I S 306 - Intelligence in International Affairs (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. SF
Core Curr. GP GS
Development of secret intelligence practice; contemporary operations of selected intelligence organizations. Emphasis on US capabilities, counterterrorism, management and control, and tension between secrecy and democracy.

I S 307 - Science and Politics of Global Climate Change (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. MI
The complex problem of global climate change will be explored by connecting knowledge and perspectives from the natural and social sciences, concentrating particularly on the links between atmospheric and terrestrial sciences and international studies/political science. Cross-listed with ENS 307. Prerequisite: junior standing or permission of instructor

I S 312 - American Foreign Policy (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. SF
Core Curr. SB
Survey of factors and forces shaping the formulation and practice of American foreign policy. Impact of domestic political factors--public opinion, the media, interest groups, and Congress--on presidential foreign policy decisions; special emphasis on contemporary issues and problems.

I S 318 - United States-East Asian Relations (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. GP GS
Critical studies of US relations with China, Japan, Korea, and other selected countries of East Asia since World War II.

I S 320 - Latin America in a Global Context (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. NW
Understanding the region and its challenges in the context of Latin America's place in the global environment. Special emphasis placed on US-Latin American relations. Prerequisite: Not available to International Studies majors.

I S 322 - Latin America in the International System (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. GP WC,WI
Critical analysis of the role of Latin America in world affairs and the impact of external forces on politics, society, and interstate relations. Topics include: colonialism, revolutionary change and regional stability, transition to democratic rule, impact of foreign intervention, and role of Latin America in the global political economy.

I S 330 - European Integration (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. GP GS,MI
Focus on phenomenon of integration, the movement toward political, economic, and social cooperation and unity on the European continent; examination of history, evolution, current and future development of the European Communities/Union.

I S 331 - European Security (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Major historical and contemporary issues involved in conflict and security in Europe; security is defined broadly to include traditional military security and human security issues such as environmental security and immigration; focus on evolution of European security from World War II to the present.

I S 353 - Russian Foreign Policy (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. GP WC
Evolution of major elements of Russian foreign policy, impact of communist past, current post-communist attitudes and policies toward the world, analysis of foreign policies of other post-Soviet Slavic states.

I S 355 - Imperial Russia (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. NW
Core Curr. GP WC
Overview of early Russian development: major socio-political and economic aspects of the Czarist period. Emphasis on imperialist expansionism from the 16th century to the Bolshevik Revolution.

I S 363 - Middle East Nations in International Affairs (3 hours)
Gen. Ed. NW
Core Curr. GP WC,GP GS
Introduction to the modern politics of the Middle East. Examination of Arab-Israeli conflict, politics of OPEC, inter-Arab rivalries, terrorism, and the impact of these issues on the role of the Middle East in international affairs. Impact of the end of the Cold War and the Gulf Wars.

I S 373 - South and Southeast Asian Nations in International Affairs (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. GP WC
International relations of the south Asian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Legacy of colonization, religious conflict, territorial disputes, and the nuclear threat. Also the regional political economy and terrorism.

I S 381 - East Asian International Relations (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
East Asian international relations (China, Japan, Korea, and East Asia in general) from ancient times to the present.

I S 385 - Issues of Contemporary Asia (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. GP WC
Critical studies of new issues and problems in contemporary Asia: tensions between traditional Asian cultures and modern Western ideologies, Asian leadership styles, political institutions, and economic development.

I S 410 - Globalization in World Affairs (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. GP GS
Present trends in globalization; challenges presented to nation-states in an increasingly complex international environment. Issues include economic and cultural globalization, global and regional governance. Prerequisite:

I S 431 - East European Systems (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Advanced readings to facilitate seminar-style discussion of selected problems facing Eastern Europe. Possible topics: political and economic reform, coping with the legacy of socialist rule, foreign policy, and regional relations. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

I S 475 - Contemporary Issues in International Studies (1-3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
In-depth study of selected problems in world affairs. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hrs. credit provided a different topic is taken each term.

I S 490 - Directed Study and Travel Abroad: Selected Region (0-3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. EL
Provides academic credit to students participating in designated, short-term programs abroad. Student must participate in the designated travel program in order to receive credit for this course. Course may be repeated once providing the student participates in a different travel program.

I S 495 - Advanced Seminar in International Studies (3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. EL,WI
Relationship of empirical theory to the practice of international studies; completion of a baccalaureate thesis. Prerequisite: IS 295; junior or senior standing in International Studies

I S 498 - Department of State Internship (0-12 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. EL
For majors planning careers in the foreign service: 3 months of work-study at the junior officer level in the Department of State or in a United States embassy. Qualified students should contact the IS director six months in advance to allow for clearance and acceptance. Prerequisite: Senior standing; approval of IS director

I S 499 - Research in International Relations (1-3 hours)
Gen. Ed.
Core Curr. EL
Special projects in IS for qualified students. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hrs. credit provided a different project is undertaken each term.

The Bradley Core Curriculum exposes all students to the requisite range of knowledge, skills and perspectives that prepares them for further learning and guides them on the path of continued growth to facilitate their success and fulfillment in a changing, complex world. In essence, the Bradley Core Curriculum lays the foundation for a lifetime of intellectual development.

More specifically, the Bradley Core Curriculum advances Lydia Moss Bradley’s intent that the university “furnish its students with the means of living an independent, industrious and useful life,” by equipping them with a common set of attributes, understandings and tools to:

Make connections between thoughts, ideas and people through more emphasis on collaboration, critical thinking, decision-making and inquiry across disciplines and cultures;
Become better communicators with the integrative, reflective and multidisciplinary mindset necessary in today’s global society; and
Embrace the flexibility of a customizable Bradley Experience by pursing the subject areas that best support or complement their individual interests, abilities and future plans.

Core Learning Outcomes

The Bradley Core Curriculum was designed to help students achieve specific Core Learning Outcomes that span all aspects of the program.

Critical and creative thinking. Bradley graduates will think critically, independently and creatively, and will employ evidence-based decision-making to solve problems and build new knowledge.
Effective communication. Bradley graduates will be effective oral, written and non-verbal communicators as well as active readers and listeners.
Multidisciplinary integration. Bradley graduates will approach learning in an integrated manner, connecting knowledge and skills across multiple disciplines.
Practical application. Bradley graduates will apply knowledge and skills from the classroom in real-world situations.
Social awareness. Bradley graduates will understand and act ethically upon their connections to larger communities.

Core Values

The Bradley Core Curriculum is grounded in a set of fundamental perspectives, Core Values, that lie at the heart of the university's scholarly enterprise.