Degree Requirements and Checklists (Fall 2020 – Fall 2022)

Major in International Studies – 36 credit hours

All students who declared a major in International Studies (BA degree) between Fall 2020 and Fall 2022 will complete thirty-six [36] credit hours, including the Core Requirements (12 credit hours), Foreign Language Requirement (3 credit hours), Experiential Learning Requirement (3 credit hours), and Concentration Requirements (18 credit hours).

In addition to the 36-credit hour major requirement, students pursuing a BA in International Studies are required to complete the UCA Lower-Division (LD) Core requirement (38 credit hours); complete the UCA Upper-Division (UD) Core requirement using major, minor, and other elective courses; complete a minor or a second major in another academic program; and complete the university’s Special BA Degree Requirement consisting of one foreign language course at the 2000-level or higher (3 credit hours).

International Studies major checklist

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Core Requirements (12 credit hours) – Students must complete the following courses:

  • PSCI 2300, Introduction to International Relations
  • PSCI 2312, Statistical Methods for Political Analysis or PSCI 2322 Political Science Applications in GIS
  • PSCI 2320, Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • ANTH 2300, Peoples and Cultures; ENGL 2305, World Literature I; ENGL 2306, World Literature II; GEOG 3300, World Regional Geography; or LING 2350, World Languages.

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Foreign Language Requirement (3 credit hours) – Students must complete one foreign language course at the 2000-level or higher (3 credit hours), in addition to the university’s Special BA Degree Requirement of one foreign language course at the 2000-level or higher (3 credit hours).

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Experiential Learning Requirement (3 credit hours) – Students must complete one of the following experiential learning courses:

  • PSCI 4392, Internship in International Studies
  • PSCI 4393, Experiential Learning in International Studies (Travel/Study Abroad or Model United Nations)
  • PSCI 4394, Research in International Studies (Independent Study)

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Concentration Requirements (18 credit hours) – Students must complete six upper-division elective courses (18 credit hours) within one of three different concentrations: (1) International Affairs & Security; (2) International Development & Globalization; and (3) Regional & Cultural Studies.  Students must complete at least two upper-division elective courses (six credit hours) from the political science course offerings.  See major checklist for the list of upper-division elective courses.

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Contact

Dr. Gizachew Tiruneh
Director, International Studies Program
Department of Political Science
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, Arkansas 72035
E-Mail: gtiruneh@uca.edu
Phone: 501-450-5690 (office) or 501-450-3412 (department)