International Studies
Program Director: Rashid Khalidi, P 103, 702-7721
Program of Study
The concentration in International Studies draws on the existing strengths of the College faculty in a variety of international fields, and on innovative work in a number of areas of international relevance (e.g., human rights, international relations, globalization, CASPIC, and the Regional Worlds Project).
This concentration is designed to attract students who are interested in preparing for academic, government, nonprofit, or business careers with an international focus; and who value the benefits of study abroad and of cross-cultural learning.
This concentration is organized around courses drawn from the following four sub-fields of study:
1. international relations;
2. international and comparative history;
3. international political economy, business, and economics; and
4. area and civilization studies.
Program Requirements
There are five main requirements for the concentration:
1. Students are required to take a two-quarter introductory core course in the field of International Studies, which is taught annually. It is modeled on (and perhaps integrated with) the existing CASPIC course, and focuses on exposing students to the contrasting perspectives represented by the sub-fields listed above. Students should complete this requirement in their second year.
2. Students are required to complete eight substantive courses from at least two of the four sub-fields listed above. A minimum of three courses must be taken in each of the two selected sub-fields. Students select their courses in close consultation with the program preceptors and their faculty adviser.
3. The concentration in International Studies believes that communicative proficiency in languages is vital for understanding diverse civilizations or cultural regions.
Students whose first language is English are required to achieve a high level of proficiency in at least one second language as demonstrated by passing the College's Second Language Proficiency Examination.
Students with native proficiency in a language other than English, in consultation with their preceptors, may choose from the following two options:
a. begin study of a third language by taking three quarters at the University of Chicago or the equivalent in an approved program abroad; or
b. take two courses chosen from any of the approved sub-fields that strengthen their concentration and, at the same time, improve their existing language capabilities, English included.
4. Students are required to study abroad for a minimum of one quarter in an approved study abroad program or foreign language study program. This requirement will be waived only by petition for those able to demonstrate significant international experience.
5. Students are required to prepare a B.A. essay on a topic that they select in consultation with their faculty adviser. Students take a one-quarter B.A. seminar in autumn of their senior year that is taught by faculty members who, together with graduate preceptors, assist in the preparation of the B.A. essay.
Summary of Requirements
Concentration
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2
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core International Studies courses |
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8
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substantive courses (as specified) |
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1
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B.A. seminar |
 |
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| 11 |
B.A. Essay. A B.A. essay is required of all students in the program. The final version is due by the second Monday of the quarter in which the student plans to graduate.
Study Abroad. The required study abroad may focus on intermediate- or advanced-level language training undertaken with the support of a FLAG grant or in another approved intensive language training program (leading to the Second Language Proficiency Certificate), or it may consist of participation in approved instructional programs at universities abroad (that will count as one or more of the eight substantive courses that are required by the concentration).
Honors. Students will be considered for honors on the basis of having earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher overall and 3.5 or better in the concentration, and on the basis of recommendations from the faculty and preceptor readers of the B.A. essay.
Faculty
JACQUELINE BHABHA, Lecturer, the Law School; Associate Director, Center for International Studies
JOHN W. BOYER, Professor, Department of History and the College; Dean of the College; Chairman, Council on Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences
BRUCE CUMINGS, Norman and Edna Freehling Professor, Department of History and the College
MICHAEL E. GEYER, Professor, Department of History and the College
RASHID KHALIDI, Associate Professor, Departments of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations and History, and the College; Director, Center for International Studies
ALAN KOLATA, Neukom Family Professor, Department of Anthropology and the College
MARGARET SCULLY-GRANZEIER, Program Administrator, Environmental Studies
SUSAN STOKES, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and the College
KATIE TRUMPENER, Associate Professor, Departments of Germanic Studies, History, English Language & Literature, and Comparative Literature, Committee on General Studies in the Humanities, and the College
STEPHEN WALT, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and the College
ELISSA WEAVER, Professor, Department of Romance Languages & Literatures and the College; Chair, Department of Romance Languages & Literatures
LISA WEDEEN, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and the College
Courses
The following courses meet the requirements of the International Studies Concentration. All concentrators are required to take the two International Studies core courses listed below. Students are also required to take eight courses from at least two of the four sub-fields listed below. For further information about course offerings, students should consult the quarterly Time Schedules, the program director, and the catalog Web site: http://www.college.uchicago.edu/catalog.
International Studies Core
294/374. International Relations: Perspectives on Conflict and Cooperation (=IntStd 294/374, PolSci 294/374, SocSci 204). PQ: Class limited to sixty students; preference given to students with third- or fourth-year standing. This introductory course provides multiple perspectives on international conflict and cooperation. Initial lectures provide a basic grounding in international relations theory. Subsequent lectures provide contrasting perspectives on major themes in international politics and IR theory. These lectures are offered by different members of the university faculty, introducing major topics of their research and teaching. The course is a combination of lectures (one per week) and seminar discussions (one per week). C. Lipson. Autumn.
295/397. International Relations: Transnationalism in a Post-Colonial World (=IntStd 295/397, PolSci 295/397, SocSci 205). PQ: IntStd 294 strongly recommended. Class limited to sixty students; preference given to students with third- or fourth-year standing. Dominant conceptions in international relations privilege states by treating them as natural and exclusive actors in international relations; privilege the Western world by treating it as the center; and privilege the balance of power and deterrence by treating military force as the primary means of self-help in allegedly anarchical space beyond state frontiers. This course focuses on national and transnational civil society as the arena of action. We address a variety of topics such as nationalism; transnational identities generated by migration and refugee flows; environmentalism; human rights; cyber space; religions; and internal wars. R. Khalidi. Winter.
International Studies Sub-Fields
International Relations
PolSci 215/325. World Politics in the Twentieth Century. C. Lipson. Winter.
PolSci 218. Global Governance (=LL/Soc 250, PolSci 218). J. Mitzen. Spring.
PolSci 290/398. Introduction to International Relations. C. Lipson. Autumn.
International and Comparative History
Econ 228/325. European Economic History. PQ: Econ 200. D. Weir. Winter.
Hist 232/332. Europe: 1920s-1990s. Staff. Spring.
Hist 256/356. Orientalism and Historiography. R. Khalidi. Autumn.
Hist 290/390. America and the World. B. Cumings. Autumn.
Hist 294/394. Human Rights II (=Law 413, PolSci 340). M. Geyer. Winter.
Hist 296. History Colloquium: Nazi Genocide and War. M. Geyer. Spring.
International Political Economy, Business, and Economics
Econ 221/321. Colonization, Servitude, and Slavery: The Early American Experience. PQ: Econ 200. D. Galenson. Winter.
Econ 255. Topics in Economic Growth and Development. PQ: Econ 202 and 210. M. Ghatak. Autumn.
Econ 256. Problems of Economic Policy in Developing Countries (=PubPol 286/375). PQ: Econ 201 and 202, or consent of instructor. L. Sjaastad. Winter.
Econ 257. Topics in Chinese Economy. PQ: Econ 201 and 202 required; Econ 210 recommended. D. G. Johnson. Spring.
Econ 258. Korean Economy. PQ: Econ 201 and 203, or consent of instructor. Staff. Spring.
Econ 270. Introduction to International Economics (=PubPol 270). PQ: Econ 201 and 202, or consent of instructor. L. Sjaastad. Autumn.
PolSci 278/384. Introduction to Chinese Politics. D. Yang. Autumn.
Area and Civilization Studies
Anthro 212. Intensive Study of a Culture: The Brazilian Amazon. M. da Cunha. Not offered 1999-2000; will be offered 2000-2001.
Anthro 245/405. Indigenous Intellectual Rights: Brazil. M. da Cunha. Winter.
Anthro 282. Archaeology of the Spanish Borderlands. M. Lycett. Spring.
Anthro 313-3. The African Diaspora: Rethinking the African Diaspora (=AfAfAm 203). A. Apter. Not offered 1999-2000; will be offered 2000-2001.
Hist 202/302. Modern Africa. R. Austen. Winter.
Hist 236/336. Spain, 1700-1940. T. Herzog. Autumn.
Hist 242/342. Introduction to Politics and Culture in Modern Japan (=EALC 242/342). T. Najita. Autumn.
NEHist 286-287-288. History of the Islamic Middle East: 600 to the Present (=Hist 257-258-259/357-358-359). May be taken in sequence or individually.
NEHist 286. History of the Islamic Middle East I: The Rise of Islam and the Caliphate (=Hist 286/386). F. Donner. Autumn.
NEHist 287. History of the Islamic Middle East II: 1200 to 1700 (=Hist 258/358). J. Woods. Winter.
NEHist 288. History of the Islamic Middle East III: The Modern Middle East. R. Khalidi. Spring.
PolSci 293/490. Politics and Society in the Soviet Union. R. Suny. Spring.
SoAsia 290. Ethnic Violence in Global Perspective (=Anthro 226). Class limited to fifty students. A. Appadurai. Spring.