¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

International Studies Major Program

School for International Studies | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar 2012 Spring

The program is primarily for students with a background or interest in political science, history, economics, geography, sociology, anthropology, and humanities, as well as other areas. Students can specialize in international issues through a curriculum which integrates training and experience concerning the complex and challenging issues that are central to global affairs. Public or private sector employees who wish to specialize in specific dimensions that are necessary to understand and address international issues may also be interested in this program.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

The school limits admission to its major program based on a competitive application process. Students are eligible to apply for entry after successfully completing 30 units, which includes

  • IS 101-3 Introduction to International Studies: Studying Global Conflict and Co-operation

and two of

  • IS 200-3 Historical Perspectives on Diplomatic Relations, International Security and Law
  • IS 210-3 Comparative World Politics: Trajectories, Regimes, Challenges
  • IS 220-3 Wealth and Poverty of Nations
  • IS 230-3 Transnationalism and Society

Application for admission should be made at the end of the term by the published deadline. Criteria for selection are the student's CGPA and performance in IS courses.

Appeal Procedure

Applicants denied admission to the major may appeal in writing to the school's director. If that appeal results in a negative decision, a written appeal to the dean of the faculty may be submitted. Appeals will be granted only in very exceptional circumstances.

Continuance Requirement

Students must obtain a C- grade or higher in all required lower division and upper division courses used toward an international studies major program.

Program Requirements

Students complete a total of 120 units, as specified below.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 24 lower division units, including all of

  • IS 101-3 Introduction to International Studies: Studying Global Conflict and Co-operation
  • IS 240-3 Research Methods in International Studies

and 18 to 20 lower division units as determined by stream 1, 2, or 3 (see below).

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete 32 upper division IS units including both of

  • IS 450W-4 Seminar on Global Problems in Interdisciplinary Perspective
  • IS 451-4 Seminar on Core Texts in International Studies

The remaining 24 units are chosen from one of the three streams (see below).

Foreign Cultural Component

Students must also fulfil the foreign cultural component as specified below (click here).

Language Proficiency

An acquaintance with a language other than English is required. Those without this requirement should complete language courses either at the Language Training Institute or the Department of French. Demonstrated proficiency in a second language will consist of one of the following.

  • the equivalent of two 200 division courses within the same language in a ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV language program (either through completion of courses, course challenge, or placement tests)
  • completion of high school equivalence in a language other than English in a foreign country.*
  • completion of high school in a francophone educational system within Canada (i.e. French immersion or in a Francophone province).

* the School for International Studies will require a copy of the high school transcript, officially translated where necessary.

Language Courses

See CHIN, FREN, GERM, GRK, ITAL, JAPN, SPAN in this Calendar.

Semester Abroad Programs

The International Studies program requires a minimum of one semester abroad, preferably in the third or fourth academic year. Options include

  • ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV field school
  • ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV foreign exchange program
  • ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV international co-operative education placement
  • short-term foreign visits, e.g. international conferences, colloquia or research**
  • international internship or volunteer experience **

**subject to the approval of the international studies undergraduate committee

Streams

Students complete upper and lower division requirements in each stream. No more than two of the required upper division courses can be fulfilled with courses from any one department, except the School for International Studies. As well, the advisor may approve selected international field school or exchange courses for credit toward a stream when the topic is appropriate. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all prerequisites are met for upper division requirements.

Stream 1 International Security and Conflict

Lower Division

Students complete

  • IS 200-3 Historical Perspectives on Diplomatic Relations, International Security and Law

and one of

  • ECON 102-3 The World Economy
  • ECON 105-4 Principles of Macroeconomics

and two of

  • IS 210-3 Comparative World Politics: Trajectories, Regimes, Challenges
  • IS 220-3 Wealth and Poverty of Nations
  • IS 230-3 Transnationalism and Society

and two of

  • additional IS 210, 220 or 230 (whichever course is not completed to fulfil above requirement)
  • GEOG 102-3 World Problems in Geographic Perspective
  • HIST 130-3 Fundamentals of World History
  • HIST 151-3 The Modern Middle East
  • HIST 206-3 Japan Since 1868
  • HIST 209-3 Latin America: the National Period
  • HIST 225-3 20th Century Europe
  • HIST 255-3 China since 1800
  • HIST 256-3 The People's Republic of China
  • LAS 100-3 Introduction to Latin American Issues
  • SA 203-4 Violence in War and Peace (S or A)
  • SA 275-4 China in Transition (S or A)
Upper Division

Students complete 24 units from

  • IS 302-4 Introduction to Humanitarian Intervention
  • IS 303-4 Ethnic Minorities, Identity Politics, and Conflict in Southeast Asia
  • IS 304-4 Russian Foreign Policies and Security Policies
  • IS 309-4 Special Topics I
  • IS 311-4 Democratic Transition in Comparative Perspective
  • IS 315-4 Introduction to Middle East Politics
  • IS 324-4 African Economic Development: Theory and Practice
  • IS 400-4 State Building and State Failure: Comparative Perspectives
  • IS 406-4 Selected Topics -4 Complex Emergencies
  • IS 407-4 Selected Topics -4 Terrorism
  • IS 408-4 Directed Readings I
  • IS 409-4 Special Topics I
  • IS 412-4 Central Asia, the Transcaucasus and Russia: Democracy, Development and Conflicts
  • IS 415-4 Islamist Trend in Middle East Politics
  • IS 452-4 Special Topics -4 Field School I
  • HIST 335-4 The Soviet Project
  • HIST 338-4 World War II
  • HIST 371-4 The Asia-Pacific War in Modern Japanese History
  • HIST 465-4 The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
  • POL 315-4 Quantitative Methods in Political Science
  • POL 338W-4 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict
  • POL 342-4 Developing Countries in Global Politics
  • POL 344-4 International Law
  • POL 346-4 International Organization
  • POL 348-4 Theories of War, Peace and Conflict Resolution
  • POL 349-4 Selected Topics in International Relations
  • POL 417-4 Human Rights Theories
  • POL 422-4 Canadian International Security Relations
  • POL 443-4 Nuclear Strategy, Arms Control, and International Security
  • POL 446-4 International Relations in East Asia
  • POL 448-4 Selected Topics in International Relations
  • POL 449-4 Selected Topics in International Relations II
  • SA 302W-4 Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism (S or A)
  • One IS Course from stream 2 or 3

and both of

  • IS 450W-4 Seminar on Global Problems in Interdisciplinary Perspective
  • IS 451-4 Seminar on Core Texts in International Studies

Stream 2 Comparative World Politics, Culture and Society

Lower Division

Students complete

  • IS 210-3 Comparative World Politics: Trajectories, Regimes, Challenges

and one of

  • ECON 102-3 The World Economy
  • ECON 105-4 Principles of Macroeconomics

and two of

  • IS 200- 3Historical Perspectives on Diplomatic Relations, International Security and Law
  • IS 220-3 Wealth and Poverty of Nations
  • IS 230-3 Transnationalism and Society

and two of

  • ASC 202-3 Studies in Asian Cultures
  • GEOG 102-3 World Problems in Geographic Perspective
  • GSWS 200-4 Women in Cross-Cultural Perspective
  • HIST 130-3 Fundamentals of World History
  • HIST 146-3 Africa after the Transatlantic Slave Trade
  • HIST 151-3 The Modern Middle East
  • HIST 206-3 Japan Since 1868
  • HIST 209-3 Latin America: the National Period
  • HIST 225-3 20th Century Europe
  • HIST 255-3 China since 1800
  • LAS 100-3 Introduction to Latin American Issues
  • REM 100-3 Global Change
  • SA 150-4 Introduction to Sociology (S)
  • SA 203-4 Violence in War and Peace (S or A)
  • SA 275-4 China in Transition (S or A)
Upper Division

Students complete 24 units from

  • GEOG 420-4 Cultural Geography
  • GEOG 446-4 Migration and Globalization (Inactive)
  • HIST 333-4 Modern Italy: Risorgimento to Republic
  • HIST 335-4 The Soviet Project
  • HIST 343-4 Africa and the Slave Trade
  • HIST 344-4 Themes in Modern East Africa
  • HIST 348-4 A History of Twentieth Century South Africa
  • HIST 352-4 Religion and Politics in Modern Iran
  • HIST 354-4 Imperialism and Modernity in the Middle East
  • HIST 355-4 The Arab Middle East in the Twentieth Century
  • HIST 368W-4 Selected Topics in the History of the Wider World
  • HIST 388-4 Christianity and Globalization
  • HIST 420-4 Russia as a Multiethnic Empire
  • HIST 421-4 Modern Greece, 1864-1925
  • HIST 457-4 The Turkish Republic: Politics, Society, and Culture, 1918-Present
  • HIST 465-4 The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
  • HIST 467-4 Modern Egypt
  • HIST 472-4 Problems in World History
  • HIST 473-4 The Making of South African Society
  • HIST 479-4 Change, Conflict and Resistance in Twentieth-Century China
  • IS 311-4 Democratic Transition in Comparative Perspective
  • IS 313-4 Nationalism, Democracy and Development in Modern India
  • IS 314-4 National, Regional, and International Politics in Southeast Asia
  • IS 315-4 Introduction to Middle East Politics
  • IS 319-4 Special Topics II
  • IS 324-4 African Economic Development: Theory and Practice
  • IS 410-4 Politics, Institutions and Development
  • IS 412-4 Central Asia, the Transcaucasus and Russia: Democracy, Development and Conflicts
  • IS 414-4 Current Regional Issues in Southeast Asia
  • IS 415-4 Islamist Trend in Middle East Politics
  • IS 418-4 Directed Readings II
  • IS 419-4 Special Topics II
  • IS 452-4 Special Topics -4 Field School I
  • ISPO 337-4 Comparative Politics of Latin America
  • ISPO 450-4 Globalization and Regional Politics in Latin America
  • ISPO 450W-4 Globalization and Regional Politics in Latin America
  • ISPO 483-4 Political Economy of Latin American Development
  • POL 315-4 Quantitative Methods in Political Science
  • POL 335-4 Government and Politics: People's Republic of China
  • POL 338W-4 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict
  • POL 339-4 Selected Topics in Comparative Government and Politics
  • POL 374-4 Africa in the Global Political Economy
  • POL 381-4 Japanese Politics
  • POL 431-4 Comparative Western European Systems
  • POL 436-4 Elections, Parties and Governments in Comparative Perspectives
  • POL 438-4 Selected Topics in Comparative Government and Politics I
  • POL 439-4 Selected Topics in Comparative Government and Politics II
  • POL 440-4 Special Topics: Latin American International Relations (Inactive)
  • POL 448-4 Selected Topics in International Relations
  • POL 449-4 Selected Topics in International Relations II
  • POL 481-4 Identity Politics
  • SA 302W-4 Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism (S or A)
  • SA 321-4 Social Movements (S)
  • SA 362-4 Society and the Changing Global Division of Labor (S)
  • SA 388-4 Comparative Studies of Minority Indigenous Peoples (S or A)
  • SA 392-4 Latin America (S or A)
  • SA 396-4 Selected Regional Areas (S or A)
  • SA 418-4 International Health: Global Policies and Local Realities (S or A)
  • SA 430-4 States, Cultures and Global Transitions (S or A)
  • GSWS 312-4 Immigrants, Women and Transnational Migration
  • One IS Course from stream 1 or 3

and both of

  • IS 450W-4 Seminar on Global Problems in Interdisciplinary Perspective
  • IS 451-4 Seminar on Core Texts in International Studies

Stream 3 International Development, Economic, and Environmental Issues

Lower Division

Students complete all of

  • ECON 103-4 Principles of Microeconomics
  • ECON 105-4 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • IS 220-3 Wealth and Poverty of Nations

and three of

  • ECON 102-3 The World Economy
  • GEOG 102-3 World Problems in Geographic Perspective
  • GEOG 221-3 Economic Geography
  • IS 200-3 Historical Perspectives on Diplomatic Relations, International Security and Law
  • IS 210-3 Comparative World Politics: Trajectories, Regimes, Challenges
  • IS 230-3 Transnationalism and Society
  • REM 100-3 Global Change
Upper Division

Students complete 24 units from

  • ECON 342-3 International Trade
  • ECON 345-3 International Finance
  • ECON 355W-4 Economic Development
  • ECON 362-4 Economics of Natural Resources
  • ECON 443-3 Seminar in International Trade
  • ECON 446-3 Seminar in International Finance
  • ECON 455W-3 Seminar in Economic Development
  • GEOG 312-4 Geography of Natural Hazards
  • GEOG 322-4 World Resources
  • GEOG 327-4 Geography of Tourism
  • GEOG 382-4 Population Geography
  • GEOG 385-4 Agriculture and the Environment
  • GEOG 389W-4 Nature and Society
  • GEOG 422-4 Theories and Practices of Development
  • GEOG 428-4 World Forests
  • GEOG 429-4 Environment and Inequality
  • GEOG 446-4 Migration and Globalization (Inactive)
  • GEOG 466-4 Latin American Regional Development
  • GEOG 468-4 Society and Environment in China
  • GSWS 309-4 Gender and International Development
  • IS 315-4 Introduction to Middle East Politics
  • IS 320-4 Selected Problems in the International Economy
  • IS 329-4 Special Topics III
  • IS 421-4 The Economics of International Organizations and Development
  • IS 324-4 African Economic Development: Theory and Practice
  • IS 427-4 Selected Topics -4 Globalization, Poverty and Inequality
  • IS 428-4 Directed Readings III
  • IS 429-4 Special Topics III
  • IS 452-4 Special Topics -4 Field School I
  • ISPO 450-4 Globalization and Regional Politics in Latin America
  • ISPO 450W-4 Globalization and Regional Politics in Latin America
  • ISPO 483-4 Political Economy of Latin American Development
  • POL 315-4 Quantitative Methods in Political Science
  • POL 374-4 Africa in the Global Political Economy
  • POL 442-4 The Political Economy of International Trade
  • POL 452W-4 Energy Policy
  • SA 302W-4 Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism (S or A)
  • SA 316-4 Tourism and Social Policy (S or A)
  • One IS Course from stream 1 or 2

and both of

  • IS 450W-4 Seminar on Global Problems in Interdisciplinary Perspective
  • IS 451-4 Seminar on Core Texts in International Studies

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Program Requirements

For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs (except the honours program), students complete 120 units, which includes

  • at least 60 units that must be completed at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV
  • at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV
  • at least 65 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
  • satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
  • an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0, and a program (major, joint major, extended minor, minor) CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit.
Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV within the student’s major subject
Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth Must be outside the student’s major subject, and may be lower or upper division
6 units Social Sciences: B-Soc
6 units Humanities: B-Hum
6 units Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

6 units outside the student’s major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements)
Additional breadth units must be from outside the student's major and may be B-designated (B-Hum, B-Soc, B-Sci courses). Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honors, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

 

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

The University’s residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 units as upper division work.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.

Return to international studies index page.