2022-2023 Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog

International Studies M.S.

International Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to build student expertise in particular world regions and/or about diverse international issues including globalization; global population, migration, and health; international conflict, terrorism, governance, and law; imperialism, decolonization, and development; and the role of gender, race, and class in international contexts. 

An MS degree in International Studies prepares students for a range of career possibilities in government service, in foundations and NGOs, and in the wide range of institutions offering services transnationally or otherwise working in global environments. 

CCSU was designated as a Center for Excellence in International Education in 1986. Today, along with its Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in International Studies, CCSU boasts a wide variety of study abroad programs and initiatives. The continuing enrichment, expansion, and refinement of the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science programs in International Studies result from the institution’s established commitment to global awareness and global citizenship. 

Course and Capstone Requirements

30 credits in International Studies (Plan A or Plan C)

1. Common Core

IS 500Advanced Practice in IS

3

IS 570Modern World Issues

3

2. Geographical Areas and Global Themes (18 credits)

Students will select 6-12 Credits from each of our program’s two focuses, for a total of 18 credits.

Geographical Areas:

12 credits for students who wish to develop a primary focus in a particular world geographical area. 

9 credits for students who wish to balance area and global focuses.

6 credits for students who wish to complement their primary focus on a global theme.

Courses listed below are for advisory purposes only. Additional courses may be identified with the approval of the advisor. For example, IS 550 (Graduate Internship in International Studies), IS 590 (Graduate Field Study Abroad), IS 596 (Independent Studies in International Studies), and IS 597 (Seminar in International Studies) could be included in each area, depending on the topic of those courses when offered.

2a. Geographical Areas:

Africa (6 to 12 credits)

ANTH 416Archaeology of Africa

4

ANTH 424Peoples and Cultures of Africa

4

GEOG 446Sub-Saharan Africa

3

HIST 431Ancient Northeast Africa

3

HIST 432History of South Africa

3

HIST 476African History through Film

3

PS 421Government and Politics of Africa

3

IS 596Independent Studies

3

IS 597Graduate Seminar in International Studies

3

For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.

For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.

East Asia (6 to 12 credits)

GEOG 435Japan and Korea

3

GEOG 437China

3

HIST 422Topics in Japanese History

3

PS 425Asian Politics

3

IS 596Independent Studies

3

IS 597Graduate Seminar in International Studies

3

For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.

For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.

Europe (6 to 12 credits)

GEOG 444European Union

3

GEOG 448Russia and Neighboring Regions

3

HIST 540Seminar in European History

3

ITAL 57120th-Century Italian Literature

3

PS 435Russian and Eastern Europe

3

SPAN 571Generation of '98

3

SPAN 57220th-Century Spanish Literature

3

IS 596Independent Studies

3

IS 597Graduate Seminar in International Studies

3

For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.

For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.

 

Latin America (6 to 12 credits)

ANTH 428/LAS 428Cultures of Latin America

4

GEOG 434/LAS 434Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean

3

GEOG 436/LAS 436South America

3

HIST 583Seminar in Latin American History

3

PS 420/LAS 420Government and Politics of Latin America

3

SPAN 545The Spanish-American Essay

3

SPAN 588Topics in the Contemporary Spanish-Speaking World

3

IS 596Independent Studies

3

IS 597Graduate Seminar in International Studies

3

For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.

For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.

 

Middle East (6 to 12 credits)

PS 434Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa

3

PS 439U.S. Middle East Policy

3

IS 596Independent Studies

3

IS 597Graduate Seminar in International Studies

3

For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.

2b. Global Themes (6 to 12 credits)

12 credits for students who wish to develop a primary focus on a particular global theme.

9 credits for students who wish to balance global and area focuses

6 credits for students who wish to complement their primary focus on a geographical area.

Courses below are for advisory purposes only. Additional courses may be approved by your advisor. For example, IS 550 (Graduate Internship in International Studies), IS 590 (Course Abroad), IS 596 (Independent Studies in International Studies), IS 597 (Seminar in International Studies), HIST 580 (Seminar in Non-Western World History), and HIST 585 (Modern World History) could be included in each Global Theme depending on the topic.

Global Themes

Communication and Diversity in the Global Context (6 to 12 credits)
COMM 543Intercultural Communication

3

ENG 486World Literature and Film

3

EPS 528Comparative and International Education

3

PSY 520Global Psychology

3

SPAN 441Cross-Cultural Communication

3

WGSS 469Readings in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

3

IS 596Independent Studies

3

Energy, Resources, and Environment (6 to 12 credits)
COMM 451Environmental Communication

3

GEOG 433Issues in Environmental Protection

3

GEOG 473Geography of Natural Resources

3

GSCI 450Environmental and Engineering Geology

3

SUST 500Social, Political, and Ethical Dimensions of Global Sustainability

3

SUST 501Contemporary Challenges in Environmental Sustainability

3

SUST 502Science for Sustainability

3

IS 596Independent Studies

3

For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.

Governance, Security, and Human Rights (6 to 12 credits)
CJ 510Law, Criminal Justice, and Issues of Inequality

3

COMM 454Communication and Social Change

3

HIST 420Imperialism

3

PS 445Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation

3

PS 501Advanced Studies in International Law

3

IS 596Independent Studies

3

For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.

Population, Mobility, and Development (6 to 12 credits)
ANTH 401City Life & Culture

4

ANTH 475Topics in Anthropology

3

ECON 430International Economics

3

ECON 435Economic Development

3

GEOG 470Geography of Health & Disease

3

GEOG 544 The Geography of World Economic Development

3

IS 596Independent Studies

3

For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.

3. Research and Capstone Requirements (6 credits)

Plan A:

IS 598Advanced Research in International Studies

3

IS 599Thesis in International Studies

3

Plan C:

IS 595Special Project in International Studies

3

IS 598Advanced Research in International Studies

3

4. Language Requirement and Study Abroad

The International Studies MS program requires that all students have a level of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding of a single world language relevant to the area of geographical specialization, equal to the completion of the 126-level (226-level for French, Italian, or Spanish). Fulfillment of this requirement will be determined by a CCSU instructor of the language, the Chair of the World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department, or a CCSU faculty member designated by the Director of International Studies.

In addition to the language requirement, IS students without significant life or study experiences abroad are strongly encouraged to participate in a study abroad program, whether a course abroad or a semester or summer exchange. Information about study abroad programs is available via the Center for International Education.

NOTE: No more than nine credits at the 400 level, as approved by the graduate advisor, may be counted toward the graduate planned program of study. Initially, on acceptance to the program, students are assigned to the International Studies Curriculum Coordinator for advice. As soon as possible, students will be assigned an advisor appropriate to their area or global specialization. This advisor will normally serve as the faculty member supervising the student's thesis or special project.

Total Credit Hours: 30