International Studies
This is an archived copy of the 2020-2021 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.mtmercy.edu.
The International Studies major is an interdisciplinary program that combines courses in the social sciences, humanities, arts, and sciences that provide students with both a firm grounding in a discipline and the flexibility to permit exploration from alternative perspectives. Many faculty members who teach courses in the program are leaders in their fields as well as in interdisciplinary studies, both as educators and researchers.
Major themes presented in this program include globalization and development, global conflicts and issues of peace and justice, cross-cultural communication, international migration, postcolonial relations between the developing and developed countries, and the link between environmental and foreign policy issues.
Objectives established for students in this major include, among others: learn to connect local and global issues for agencies and companies; develop critical thinking and analysis to become responsible citizens in chosen profession; conduct research and communicate findings and ideas effectively.
Career Opportunities
The International Studies major will help students prepare for careers in business and with corporations involved in international trade, government agencies (Department of State, diplomatic services, and international aid agencies), non-profit and non-government organizations (NGOs), the United Nations and human rights organizations. Students may wish to pursue their studies at the graduate level and will be prepared for a variety of disciplines, including public administration, international relations, international law, and diplomatic and area studies.
See the Graduate section of this Catalog for more information on Graduate programs offered at Mount Mercy.
Study Abroad
Mount Mercy offers travel courses during the Winter Term. Study abroad for a semester or a year is also a possibility through exchange programs or through other colleges. With the prior approval of the academic advisor these programs may be taken and credits transferred toward the fulfillment of concentration requirements. See the Policies page for more information on requirements when taking courses at other institutions.
Major
| AR 101 | Introduction To Art | 3 |
| HI 101 | Geography of World Regions | 3 |
| SO 122 | Introduction To Sociology | 3 |
| PO 102 | Government and Politics Around the World | 3 |
| or PO 103 | Introduction to International Relations | |
| SO 215 | Methods Of Social Research | 3 |
| or PO 307 | Political Science Research Methods | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| Seminar In Political Research | ||
| History Independent Study | ||
| Internship 1 | 3 | |
| Two courses in foreign language at the intermediate level 2 | 6 | |
| Concentration (see below) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Concentration Requirement
Student must complete nine semester hours from at least two of the following content areas: Art, English, History, Political Science, and Sociology. Approved courses are listed below.
Art
| AR 212 | Art History I | 3 |
| AR 213 | Art History II | 3 |
| AR 216 | History Of Non-Western Art | 3 |
| AR 295 | Survey Of Mexican Culture Today | 3 |
| AR 315 | Contemporary Art and Theory | 3 |
English
| EN 133 | Introduction to American Multicultural Literature | 3 |
| EN 154 | Introduction to World Literature | 3 |
| EN 303 | Topics In American Literature | 3 |
| EN 305 | Anglophone Literature | 3 |
| EN 314 | Law and Literature | 3 |
History
| HI 140 | History Of Western World Since 1648 | 3 |
| HI 230 | Modern East Asia | 3 |
| HI 265 | Latin American History | 3 |
| HI 280 | Twentieth Century Europe | 3 |
| HI 285 | US And The Vietnam War | 3 |
Political Science
| PO 270 | Environmental Politics | 3 |
| PO 311 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| PO 312 | Politics of International Economic Relations | 3 |
| PO 313 | International Law and Organization | 3 |
| PO 368 | Welfare States: Advanced International and Area Studies | 3 |
| PO 399 | Special Topics in Political Science | 3 |
Sociology
| SO 200 | Introduction to Gender Studies | 3 |
| SO 285 | Islam And Politics | 3 |
| SO 290 | Urban Sociology | 3 |
| SO 330 | Global Race Relations | 3 |
| SO 420 | Social Movements and Revolutions | 3 |
| 1 | If the student chooses to participate in a semester-long study abroad program, the Senior Seminar and Internship requirements will be waived. |
| 2 | Foreign language requirement will be waived for international students from non-English speaking country; as well as students with demonstrated proficiency in language other than English (at program director's discretion). |
Academic Requirements
A grade of C or above (C- does not count) in each required course for the major, including the Senior Thesis, internship, and study abroad courses.
International Studies Minor
| Internship 1 | 3 | |
| One foreign language course at the intermediate level 2 | 3 | |
| Concentration (see below) 1 | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Concentration Requirement
Student must complete 12 semester hours from at least two of the following content areas: Art, English, History, Political Science, and Sociology. At least two courses must be numbered 200 or higher. Approved electives can be found on the International Studies Major page.
| 1 | If the student chooses to participate in a semester-long study abroad program, one elective and the Internship requirement will be waived. |
| 2 | Foreign language requirement will be waived for international students from non-English speaking country; as well as students with demonstrated proficiency in language other than English (at program director's discretion). |
Academic Requirements
A grade of C or above (C- does not count) in each required course for the major, including the Senior Thesis, internship, and study abroad courses.
The following is the typical sequence of courses required for the major*:
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Winter | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SO 122 | 3 | Elective | 3 | SO 176 | 3 |
| Portal | 3 | Math Competency | 3 | ||
| Writing Competency | 4 | Literature Domain | 3 | ||
| Holistic Health Domain | 3 | EC 251 | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||||
| 13 | 3 | 15 | |||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Winter | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| HI 140 | 3 | Elective | 3 | SO 215 | 3 |
| PO 103 | 3 | EC 376 | 3 | ||
| Historical Roots Domain | 3 | Natural World Domain | 4 | ||
| Fine Arts Domain | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| SP 200 or 201 | 3 | ||||
| 12 | 3 | 16 | |||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Winter | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SO 330 or 420 | 3 | SO 155 (Or another course from the Self and Society Domain) | 3 | SO 285 | 3 |
| PO 313 | 3 | SO 310 or 330 | 3 | ||
| Philosophy Domain | 3 | Religious Studies Domain | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | SP 201 | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 3 | 15 | |||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Winter | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SO 430 | 3 | Elective | 3 | SO 441 or PO 441 (or HI 445) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 3 | 12 | |||
| Total Hours: 125 | |||||
Note: Elective courses could be used for a second major, a minor, a course of interest, internship or study abroad experience.
Note: See the Curriculum section for more information on Portal, Competency, Domain, and Capstone courses.
*Disclaimer
The course offerings, requirements, and policies of Mount Mercy University are under continual examination and revision. This Catalog presents the offerings, requirements, and policies in effect at the time of publication and in no way guarantees that the offerings, requirements, and policies will not change.
This plan of study represents a typical sequence of courses required for this major. It may not be applicable to every student. Students should contact a department faculty member to be sure of appropriate course sequence.