International and Global Studies

Contact Information

Email: spia@uis.edu
Office Phone: (217) 206-6646
Office Location: PAC 350

International and Global Studies

Departmental Goals and Objectives

The task of a university in this complex era must be to produce students, who, as citizens and community leaders, can provide an informed public that can make the difficult policy choices future generations will face.

International and Global Studies examines the interactions and inter-relations among countries and peoples across the globe; studies particular regions and cultures in a comparative and interactive way; and considers issues affecting more than one country. The curriculum is designed to provide students with the tools necessary to understand how others see the world and the issues confronting the global community. The degree uses an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes political science, history, economics, sociology/anthropology, communications, gender studies, and environmental studies.

Within these disciplines, as well as across them, students learn a variety of theoretical approaches for understanding international and global issues such as war and peace, globalization, and development.

Global Experience Program

The Global Experience Program includes UIS study-away seminars and exchange programs, as well as programs administered by other universities and educational institutions. UIS has developed short-term study-away programs in a number of countries; yearly offerings vary. UIS has also signed exchange agreements with a range of universities across the world. These exchange agreements permit UIS students to study at the partner institutions for a semester or year paying UIS tuition.

For more information regarding Study Away, go to https://www.uis.edu/study-away. Other UIS partnerships to promote global studies include the Sister Cities Association of Springfield and the World Affairs Council of Central Illinois.

Model United Nations

Model United Nations (MUN) is designed to teach students how the United Nations fosters peace in the international system. The MUN courses (PSC 478 and PSC 483 ) allow students to participate in committee simulations where world problems are debated and solutions are presented. Students learn how to operate in a caucus environment while role-playing a country that is not their native homeland. The courses are specifically designed to prepare UIS students to compete at the National Model United Nations Conference held annually in New York City.

Honors in International and Global Studies

Students with at least 15 completed hours in International and Global Studies courses with a minimum 3.50 GPA in those courses may apply for participation in IGS’s honors program. To graduate with Honors in IGS, students must successfully complete an independent research project in IGS 492. Students in the IGS's honors program are also able to take a graduate-level course in Political Science, History, SOA, or other with advisor’s permission as an elective.

Please be aware any graduate-level course counted toward credit in a student’s undergraduate degree cannot later be counted toward a graduate degree.

The Bachelor's Degree

The B.A. in International and Global Studies is an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree. Thus, the program seeks to foster and enhance critical thinking, effective writing, and develop intercultural skills to analyze and help solve contemporary world problems.

International and Global Studies students with no concentration may take elective courses from either or both concentrations (Diplomacy and International Relations and/or Global Affairs and Development) or other elective courses with an international or comparative focus with advisor’s approval through a Student Petition.

Advising

Majors in International and Global Studies are advised by faculty appointed to the program. However, majors are welcome to seek the advice of associated faculty who teach courses in the program as well. Particular care is required in choosing courses in the upper division concentrations.

Grading Policy

International and Global Studies majors must receive a grade of C (2.0) or better in IGS 301 and in IGS 491 / IGS 492.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Ability to describe, analyze, and explain the terms and concepts necessary for understanding and discussing global phenomena. (Discovery of Knowledge)

2. Critically analyze and combine the theories and methods of multiple disciplines. (Integration of Knowledge)

3. Apply knowledge of diverse cultural frames of reference and alternative perspectives to think critically and solve problems. (Application of Knowledge)

4. Develop effective independent research and writing to communicate clear, logical, and substantive ideas of contemporary world problems. (Communication of knowledge)

5. Integrate academic knowledge with real-world application. (Engaged Citizenship)

The international and Global studies major fosters respect for diverse cultural frameworks to help solve global problems. The competencies established through the International and Global Studies major prepare students for career in business, communications, education, government, immigration, international affairs, law, public health, and sustainable development, among other areas.

Requirements

Core Courses
ECO 201	Introduction to Microeconomics	3
ECO 202	Introduction to Macroeconomics	3
IGS/PSC 206	Introduction to International Relations	3
IGS/PSC 301	Introduction to Global Studies	3
IGS/PSC 371	ECCE: Comparative Politics	3
Select one History Course at 300 or 400 level. Other courses from the History Department may be selected with advisor's permission.		3-4
HIS 365	ECCE: Churches, States, and Rights in Modern Europe
HIS 371	Islamic Civilization
HIS 375	ECCE: Conflict in the Middle East
HIS 419	Egyptology
HIS 482	Samurai in History and Romance
Select one Culture course from these units of: SCM, ENG, ENS, or SOA at the 300-400 level. Other courses may be selected from these or other departments and with advisor's permission.		3-4
COM 477	ECCE: Media and Culture: China
ENG 320	Topics in World Literature I
IGS 331	ECCE: Cultural Geography
SOA 302	Understanding Cultures
Capstone Seminar
IGS 491	International and Global Studies Capstone	2
Total Hours		23-25

After completion of the first seven core courses above, students may then focus on one of a number of topical concentrations or take 12 to 16 hours of electives. The two concentrations are "Diplomacy and International Relations" and "Global Affairs and Development." Students may also choose electives without a concentration.

The final course in the curriculum, IGS 491/ IGS 492, is designed to help students to weave together the components of their curriculum.

Experiential Learning

While theory is important, International and Global Studies majors also have the opportunity to put their learning to the test of experience. One of these ways could include participating in the Model United Nations (MUN) simulation (by taking PSC 478 and PSC 483), which requires students to represent a country (usually not the US) at the UN, learn UN procedures, practice the diplomatic arts of persuasion and coalition building, and learn about the issues facing their adopted country. A second way that students can learn from experience is by participating in one of our study-away programs. For more information on study away opportunities please go to, https://www.uis.edu/study-away.

Special encouragement is given to students to enhance their foreign language skills by choosing to study away in a country where the foreign language of their choice is spoken.

Finally, each International and Global Studies major is required to do a 3 - 6-hour "civic engagement" experience. In addition to Study Away, this might include doing an internship at the US headquarters of a multinational corporation, or for a non-governmental organization (NGO) dealing with human rights or the environment.

ONLINE

Our on-line courses are as rigorous as our on-campus courses and are taught by the same faculty members who teach our on-campus courses.

For on-line International and Global Studies Bachelor’s Degree and the on-line Minor in International and Global Studies, students are able to take 100% of classes on-line, enabling them to earn their degree regardless of their physical location and schedule.

Professors can choose to record lectures and have students view them on-line, or choose to do “live” lectures, where students can view the lecture synchronously (all at the same time), or view a recorded version of the “live” lecture asynchronously (at different times).

International and Global Studies

EHS HDC Admissions
Degree Program	Program Type	Dept Application Materials and Admission Criteria	Prerequisite Course Requirements	Department ADM Review	Dept Conditional Admits	Dept Appeal Process
International and Global Studies	BA	No additional admission requirements beyond the general UIS criteria	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Courses

IGS 101. Global Culture and College-age Youth. 3 Hours.

This introductory college course explores concerns, interests, and aspirations of college-age students around the world. Using comparative tools, it develops skills to discover issues of identity, diversity, and inclusivity of college-age people in the U.S. and abroad. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of First-Year Seminar or in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

IGS 125. The History of Everywhere. 3 Hours.

Global History Survey. Focuses on historical events that happened at the same time across the globe. This allows us to explore fascinating connections and coincidences, a complex web of interactions, exchanges, influences that have shaped the course of civilization across geographical/cultural/temporal boundaries. Course Information: Same as HIS 125. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Comparative Societies Humanities.

IGS 206. Introduction to International Relations. 3 Hours.

This course provides students with the basic concepts and theories of the study of international relations. Topics include: the international system, the balance of power, and economic interdependence. Course Information: Same as PSC 206. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences (IAI Code: S5 904).

IGS 301. Introduction to Global Studies. 3 Hours.

Provides an interdisciplinary overview of the field of global studies, including the principles issues, scales, perspectives and modes of study that make up a global approach to world problems. It provides a foundation for the major in Global Studies and the minor in International Studies to chart a course of study, including the discussion of a possible concentration, study abroad, or internships. Course Information: Same as PSC 301.

IGS 325. ECCE: Latina/o/x USA. 4 Hours.

Study of U.S. Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central/South American communities. Main themes: immigration, identity, gender and racial constructions, labor, education, activism. Topics: demographic trends, political participation, relations with origin communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Course Information: Same as SOA 325. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

IGS 331. ECCE: Cultural Geography. 3 Hours.

Explores the cultural processes of human interaction with the environment. Includes understanding of the geographic diversity, distribution and diffusion of people across the world, through such cultural processes as ethnicity, religion, language, politics, agriculture, and economic means. Course Information: Same as ENS 332. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

IGS 371. ECCE: Comparative Politics. 3 Hours.

Course examines concepts and theories in the study of comparative politics. Topics include: comparative systems and institutions, electoral politics, and democratic development. Course Information: Same as PSC 371. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

IGS 415. ECCE: Archaeology of Global Slavery. 4 Hours.

This academic journey delves deep into the tangible remnants of one of the most profound, tragic, and enduring human experiences in history. It combines archaeology, anthropology, history, and sociology to unravel the material culture and lived experiences of enslaved individuals across continents and centuries. Course Information: Same as HIS 415. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

IGS 455. Global Masculinities. 4 Hours.

Interdisciplinary survey of expressions of masculinity in global and transnational perspective, with emphasis on non-Western cultures. Themes and topics include motives for, and ethnographic and systematic approaches to study of men and masculinities interspersed with case studies of specific forms of masculinity in various geographic regions. Course Information: Same as SOA 456 and WGS 455. Prerequisites: Prior mastery of fundamental concepts, theories and terminology in WGS.

IGS 463. ECCE: Latin American Politics. 3,4 Hours.

Explores cultural/institutional trends in Latin America and studies, mainly three country cases. Analyzes the evolution of U.S. policy in Latin America and current foreign policy issues such as immigration/drug trafficking/economic trade. Course Information: Same as PSC 464. Undergraduates-3 credit hour section; graduates-4 credit hour section. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

IGS 464. Introduction to Human Rights. 3,4 Hours.

Introduces human rights as a domestic and international phenomenon. Focus on cultural, economic, political, and social rights, and their implications for particular groups such as race, gender, age, religion, nationality, language, political affiliation, and disability status. Specific issues such as human trafficking will be explored through the lens of international law. Course Information: Same as CCJ 463 and LES 464.

IGS 467. ECCE: US-Mexico Border Politics. 3,4 Hours.

In this ECCE Global Awareness course we will discuss the dynamics of the US-Mexico border and immigration across it in 3 parts by emphasizing history and the border, the laws and policy that govern migration, and communication and public opinion about this highly salient topic. Course Information: Same as PSC 467. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

IGS 491. International and Global Studies Capstone. 2 Hours.

Closing course for International and Global Studies majors. Students will work 4 hours outside the classroom each week on a final research project tailored to the major and with the close supervision of the capstone instructor.

IGS 492. IGS Honors Capstone. 2 Hours.

Students with at least 15 completed hours in International and Global Studies courses with a minimum 3.50 GPA in those courses may apply for participation in IGS's honors program. To graduate with Honors in IGS, students must successfully complete an independent research project in IGS 492.

IGS 499. Tutorial. 1-4 Hours.

Intended to supplement, not supplant, regular course offerings. Students interested in a tutorial must secure the consent of the faculty member concerned before registration and submit any required documentation to him or her.