International studies students learn that the complexity of current world conditions requires a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. They take core international studies courses to learn key concepts and practical skills, and extend their education by choosing from an array of internationally focused courses from the social sciences, humanities, and the arts.
Students also are encouraged to develop real-world intercultural skills by studying abroad, engaging locally with international communities, participating in service learning and internships, and conducting research. Through academic and cocurricular experiences, students become prepared to positively contribute to the world.
As a second major, international studies can add cross-cultural skills and perspectives to degrees in business, health sciences, journalism, and the arts.
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- recognize that the complexity of current world conditions requires a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving;
- analyze and synthesize information about key topics in international studies;
- demonstrate intellectual open-mindedness when addressing global issues; and
- apply cross-cultural skills when engaging respectfully with people from other countries and diverse communities in the United States.
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in international studies requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 43 s.h. of work for the major. Students must complete at least 15 s.h. of work for the major at the University of Iowa. They must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.
The international studies major is flexible, combining core international studies coursework with those drawn from across the humanities, social sciences, and the arts. Students work closely with an academic advisor to plan their program of study.
Students are encouraged to study or intern abroad and should work with their academic advisor to determine how credits earned from approved study abroad programs or international internships can fulfill the global perspectives, world cultures and societies, and/or language requirements for the major.
To benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of international studies, students choose from a wide range of courses. To ensure that students take courses from varied disciplines, they may count a maximum of 12 s.h. from any department or program toward the global perspectives and the world cultures and societies requirements as well as the language requirement.
Students may apply up to 12 s.h. of coursework from each additional major, minor, or certificate they earn toward the international studies major. Transfer credit approved by the International Studies Program may be applied to the major.
Students have the option to complete a 15 s.h. concentration. They choose global perspectives courses and world cultures and societies courses approved in one of the three concentrations: global business and communication, international human rights and public service, or international sustainable development.
The BA with a major in international studies requires the following coursework.
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | 10 |
| Language Requirement | 6 |
| Capstone Course | 3 |
| Global Perspectives Courses | 12 |
| World Cultures and Societies Courses | 12 |
| Optional Concentrations |
Foundation Courses
Students learn the core, multidisciplinary intellectual and interpersonal international studies skill set, and its applications for travel, employment, and understanding global issues.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| IS:2000 | Introduction to International Studies | 3 |
| IS:2009 | World Travel: Cross-Cultural Skills for International Business, Education, and Service | 3 |
| IS:2020 | World Events Today! | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| IS:1000 | Designing Your International Studies Major | 1 |
| IS:2500 | Working Internationally | 1 |
Language Requirement
By fulfilling the language requirement, students gain the language competence needed for work and life in the increasingly globalized world.
Students must complete a minimum of two world language courses beyond that required by the GE CLAS Core program. If students have not completed the fourth level of a single language in fulfilling the GE CLAS Core requirement, then they must complete the fourth level of a single world language to fulfill the international studies major language requirement.
If a student completes the fourth level of a single language prior to completing the international studies major language requirement, this requirement can be met by completing additional courses in the same language or two courses in a second world language at any level. A single course in a second language may not be used alone. A maximum of one 3 s.h. course from the GE CLAS Core World Language and Cultural Exploration course list may also be used toward the major requirement.
In satisfying this requirement, many students are eligible to receive an additional 4 s.h. of ungraded credit under the Furthering Language Incentive Program (FLIP). This credit may be applied to the minimum 120 s.h. required for graduation, but it does not count toward requirements for the international studies major.
Capstone Course
Students apply their knowledge in internationally focused experiences. They typically complete the capstone course in their third or fourth year.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| IS:3010 | Writing and Research for the World | 3 |
| IS:3012 | Service Learning in International Studies | 3 |
Global Perspectives Courses
Students learn about global trends, comparisons, and interactions.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12 s.h. from these, including 6 s.h. numbered 2000 or above: | ||
| IS:2560 | Global Food Migrations | 3 |
| IS:2902/HRTS:2902 | The Arts and Human Rights | 1-3 |
| IS:3200 | Sustainable Development | 3 |
| AFAM:2770/GHS:2770/SOC:2770 | Black and White Community Politics | 3 |
| ANTH:1101/IS:1101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:2100 | Anthropology and Contemporary World Problems | 3 |
| ANTH:2136 | Race, Place, and Power: Urban Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:2140 | Food, Drink, and Culture | 3 |
| ANTH:2151/GWSS:2151/IS:2151 | Global Migration in the Contemporary World | 3 |
| ANTH:2164/GHS:2164 | Culture and Healing: An Introduction to Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:2181/ASP:2181/GHS:2181 | The Anthropology of Aging | 3 |
| ANTH:2191/GWSS:2900 | Love, Sex, and Money: Sexuality and Exchange Across Cultures | 3 |
| ANTH:2261 | Human Impacts on the Environment | 3 |
| ANTH:2320/GHS:2320 | Origins of Human Infectious Disease | 3 |
| ANTH:3103 | Environment and Culture | 3 |
| ANTH:3110/CBH:4200/GHS:3110/NAIS:3110 | Colonialism and Indigenous Health Equity | 3 |
| ANTH:3123 | Making a Living: Perspectives on Economic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:3152/ASP:3152/GHS:3152 | Anthropology of Caregiving and Health | 3 |
| ANTH:3190/IS:3190/SJUS:3190 | Global Debt | 3 |
| ANTH:3199/GHS:3199/IS:3198 | Anthropology and Global Health Policy | 3 |
| ANTH:3237/HIST:3137/MUSM:3237 | Politics of the Archaeological Past | 3 |
| ANTH:4140/CBH:4140/GHS:4140/GWSS:4140 | Feminist Activism and Global Health | 3 |
| ARAB:2006/SJUS:2006/WLLC:2006 | Transnational Solidarities | 3-4 |
| ARTH:1030 | Themes in Global Art | 3 |
| ARTH:1075 | Contemporary Art: A Global Perspective | 3 |
| ARTH:1090 | Earthly Paradises: A Global History of Gardens | 3 |
| ASP:3135/GHS:3050/SSW:3135 | Global Aging | 3 |
| CL:2248/ANTH:2248/ASIA:2248/CLSA:2048/COMM:2248/GRMN:2248/HIST:2148/IS:2248/LING:2248/TRNS:2248/WLLC:2248 | The Invention of Writing: From Cuneiform to Computers | 3 |
| CLSA:2127/ASIA:2127/JPNS:2127 | Books of the Silk Roads | 3 |
| CLSA:3020/GHS:3021 | Mental Health in the Ancient World | 3 |
| COMM:2042/IS:2042/SSW:2042 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMM:4131/IS:4131 | Globalization and Culture | 3 |
| CPH:2200 | Climageddon: Understanding Climate Change and Associated Impacts on Health | 3 |
| CPH:2230 | Finding Patient Zero: The Exploration of Infectious Disease Transmission and Pandemic Threats | 3 |
| CPH:2400 | The U.S. Health System in a Global Context | 3 |
| CPH:3400/GEOG:3210 | Health, Work, and the Environment | 3 |
| CPH:3500/GHS:3500 | Global Public Health | 3 |
| CPH:4200 | Agriculture, Food Systems, and Sustainability | 3 |
| CRIM:2430 | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems | 3 |
| CRIM:3260 | Immigration and Crime | 3 |
| CRIM:3415 | Global Criminology | 3 |
| DANC:2060 | Dance and Society in Global Contexts | 3 |
| ECON:3345 | Global Economics and Business | 3 |
| ECON:3620 | Economic Growth and Development | 3 |
| ECON:3625/URP:3135 | Environmental and Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| ECON:3760 | Health Economics | 3 |
| ECON:4110 | International Economics | 3 |
| EES:1115/ENVS:1115/GEOG:1115/HIST:1115 | The History of Oil | 3 |
| ENGL:1510 | Introduction to Environmental Literature | 3 |
| ENGL:2505 | Introduction to Postcolonial Studies | 3 |
| ENGL:2510 | Selected Transnational Authors | 3 |
| ENGL:3510 | Topics in Transnational Literature | 3 |
| ENGL:3515 | Topics in Postcolonial Studies | 3 |
| ENGL:3570/GWSS:3570 | Transnational and Postcolonial Writing by Women | 3 |
| ENTR:4100 | International Entrepreneurship, Culture, and Social Impact | 1-3 |
| ENTR:4460 | Entrepreneurship and Global Trade | 3 |
| FIN:4240 | International Finance | 3 |
| FREN:1006 | Global Sports and National Cultures | 3 |
| FREN:4210/MUSM:4310/WLLC:4210 | Slavery Museums, Memorials, and Statues in the United States, Europe, and the Global South | 3-4 |
| GEOG:1020 | The Global Environment | 3 |
| GEOG:1070 | Contemporary Environmental Issues | 3 |
| GEOG:1090 | Globalization and Geographic Diversity | 3 |
| GEOG:2013/BUS:2013/SUST:2013/URP:2013 | Introduction to Sustainability | 3 |
| GEOG:2110/GHS:2110 | Eight Billion and Counting: Introduction to Population Dynamics | 3 |
| GEOG:2910 | The Global Economy | 3 |
| GEOG:3070/GHS:3070 | Hungry Planet: Global Geographies of Food | 3 |
| GEOG:3110/GHS:3111 | Geography of Health | 3 |
| GEOG:3300/GHS:3300 | Envisioning Future Worlds: Sustainable Development and Its Alternatives | 3 |
| GEOG:3331 | Human Dimensions of Climate | 3 |
| GEOG:3760/GHS:3760 | Hazards and Society | 3 |
| GEOG:3780/GHS:3780/HIST:3240/POLI:3431 | U.S. Energy Policy in Global Context | 3 |
| GEOG:4000/SDG:4000 | The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A Blueprint for a Sustainable Future | 3 |
| GEOG:4150/GHS:4150/IGPI:4150 | Health and Environment: GIS Applications | 3 |
| GEOG:4750/URP:4750 | Environmental Impact Analysis | 3 |
| GEOG:4770/AFAM:4770/GHS:4770 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| GHS:2000/ANTH:2103 | Introduction to Global Health Studies | 3 |
| GHS:3010/IGPI:3011 | Social Science Approaches to Global Health | 3 |
| GHS:3030/CPH:3240 | Global Health Today | 1 |
| GHS:3034 | Doing Harm by Doing Good: The Ethics of Studying, Volunteering, and Working in Global Communities | 1 |
| GHS:3035 | Engaging in Global Health | 1 |
| GHS:3036 | Ethics, Policy, and Global Health | 3 |
| GHS:3037 | Technology to Improve Global Health | 3 |
| GHS:3060 | Studies in Complementary and Alternative Medicine | 3 |
| GHS:3120 | Global Maternal and Child Health | 3 |
| GHS:3230 | Health Experience of Immigrants, Migrants, and Refugees | 3 |
| GHS:3325 | Global Epidemics | 3 |
| GHS:3560 | Global Garbage and Global Health | 3 |
| GHS:3720 | Contemporary Issues in Global Health | 3 |
| GHS:3850/HHP:3850 | Promoting Health Globally | 3 |
| GHS:4000 | Global Health Studies Service Learning: Local Health is Global Health | 4 |
| GHS:4001 | Social Entrepreneurship and Global Health | 3 |
| GHS:4002 | Working in Global Health | 3 |
| GHS:4003 | Case Studies in Global Health Inequities | 3 |
| GHS:4100 | Topics in Global Health | 1-3 |
| GHS:4205/SPAN:4205 | Culture, Language, and Health | 3 |
| GRMN:2949/WLLC:2949 | Accountability, War Crimes, and Justice | 3-4 |
| GWSS:2080/GHS:2080 | The Cultural Politics of HIV-AIDS | 3 |
| GWSS:2190/ANTH:2190/IS:2190 | Love Rules: Law and the Family Across Cultures | 3 |
| GWSS:2500/ENGL:2570/SJUS:2500 | Love, War, Activism: Stories About Women from Across the World | 3 |
| GWSS:2571/ENGL:2571/SJUS:2571 | Visualizing Human Rights | 3 |
| GWSS:2650/GHS:2650 | Global Reproduction | 3 |
| GWSS:3010/GHS:3015 | Transnational Sexualities | 3 |
| GWSS:3118/ANTH:3118/COMM:3118 | Politics of Reproduction | 3 |
| GWSS:3157/HIST:3157 | Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | 3 |
| GWSS:3326/GHS:3327 | The Politics of Progress: NGOs, Development, and Sexuality | 3 |
| GWSS:3350/ANTH:3125/IS:3350 | Transnational Feminism | 3 |
| HIST:1101 | The Modern World | 3 |
| HIST:3106 | History Behind the Headlines | 1-3 |
| HIST:3108 | History of Human Rights | 3 |
| HIST:3126 | History of Globalization | 3 |
| HIST:3128 | Topics in Global Environmental History | 3 |
| HIST:3131/GEOG:3131 | Unnatural Disasters: A Global History | 3 |
| HIST:3171 | Slavery in World History | 3 |
| HIST:3143 | International Politics: The History of the Present | 3-4 |
| HIST:3147 | The Cold War | 3 |
| HIST:3155 | The World Since 1945 | 3 |
| HIST:3242 | The United States in World Affairs | 3-4 |
| HRTS:2115/IS:2115 | Introduction to Human Rights | 3 |
| HRTS:2903/IS:2903 | Technology and Human Rights | 1-3 |
| HRTS:2907/IS:2907 | Literature and Human Rights | 1-3 |
| HRTS:2908/IS:2908 | Governance and Human Rights | 1-3 |
| HRTS:2909/IS:2909 | Human Rights Lab | 1-3 |
| HRTS:3904/IS:3904 | Business, Labor, and Human Rights | 1-3 |
| HRTS:3905/IS:3905 | Topics in Human Rights | 1-3 |
| HRTS:3906 | Global Crises and Human Rights | 3 |
| HRTS:3910/IS:3910 | Approaches to Advocacy: From Theory to Practice | 3 |
| IS:2400 | Global Citizenship and the College Student | 3 |
| IWP:3191/ENGL:3595/TRNS:3191/WLLC:3191 | International Literature Today | 1,3 |
| JMC:3116/IS:3116 | Media and Global Cultures | 3 |
| JMC:3150/CBH:3150/GHS:3150 | Media and Health | 3 |
| LING:1010 | Language and Society | 3 |
| LING:1040/ANTH:1040 | Language Rights | 3 |
| LING:1060 | Languages of the World | 3 |
| LING:2900 | Language and Gender | 3 |
| LING:3190/PSY:3190 | Psycholinguistic Aspects of Bilingualism | 3-4 |
| LING:3410 | Exploring TESL for Fulbright Students | 1 |
| MGMT:3450 | International Business Environment | 3 |
| MGMT:4500 | Strategy, Innovation and Global Competition | 3 |
| MKTG:4300 | International Marketing | 3 |
| MUS:1310 | World Music | 3 |
| OEH:4240 | Global Environmental Health | 3 |
| OEH:4260/GHS:4260 | Global Water and Health | 3 |
| OEH:4530/CPH:4220/GHS:4530 | Global Road Safety | 3 |
| PHIL:2429 | War, Terrorism, and Torture | 3 |
| PHIL:3430 | Philosophy of Human Rights | 3 |
| POLI:1400 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1510 | International Politics of Environmental Issues | 3 |
| POLI:1600 | Introduction to Political Communication | 3 |
| POLI:2417 | Comparative Environmental Policy | 3 |
| POLI:3104/LAS:3104/LATS:3104 | Immigration Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3405 | Authoritarian Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3411 | Democracy: Global Trends and Struggles | 3 |
| POLI:3424 | Global Development | 3 |
| POLI:3426 | Outliers: Comparing Odd Countries | 3 |
| POLI:3428 | Statecraft, Diplomacy, and World Order | 3 |
| POLI:3450 | Problems in Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3504 | Globalization | 3 |
| POLI:3505 | Civil Wars | 3 |
| POLI:3509 | International Courts: The Intersection of Law and Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3516 | The Politics of International Economics | 3 |
| POLI:3518 | Water Wars: Conflict and Cooperation | 3 |
| RELS:1015 | Global Religious Conflict and Diversity | 3 |
| RELS:2674/GHS:2674/GWSS:2674 | Food, Body, and Belief: A Global Perspective | 3 |
| RHET:2090 | Conversation Practicum | 0-3 |
| RHET:2135/SJUS:2135 | Rhetorics of Diversity and Inclusion | 3 |
| SPAN:4205/GHS:4205 | Culture, Language, and Health | 3 |
| SPST:2170 | Sport and Globalization | 3 |
| SPST:3176 | Sport and Nationalism | 3 |
| SPST:3500 | The Olympics | 3 |
| SRM:1085 | Introduction to Travel and Tourism | 3 |
| THTR:2320 | Playwriting in a Global World | 3 |
| TRNS:2000 | Translation and Global Society | 3 |
| TRNS:3179/CLSA:3979/ENGL:3850 | Undergraduate Translation Workshop | 3 |
| TRNS:4480 | Literature and Translation | 3 |
| UICB:2190/ENGL:2901/HIST:2190 | The Book in Global History | 3 |
| URP:2056/PBAF:2056 | The Splendor of Cities | 3 |
| URP:4170 | Megacities Seminar | 1-3 |
| URP:6253/PBAF:6253 | Designing Sustainable and Healthy Cities | 1-3 |
| URP:6297/PBAF:6297 | Financing Economic Development for Poverty Alleviation | 3 |
| URP:6400/PBAF:6400 | Sustainable Development: The Kerala Experience | 3 |
| WLLC:1200/DST:1200/GHS:1200/GRMN:1200 | Disabilities and Inclusion in Writing and Film Around the World | 3 |
| WLLC:2001/ASIA:2001/FREN:2010/RUSS:2001/TRNS:2001 | Global Science Fiction | 3 |
| WLLC:2473/FREN:2473/TRNS:2473 | Cinderella | 3 |
World Cultures and Societies Courses
Students gain place-based knowledge.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12 s.h. from these, including a minimum of 6 s h. numbered 2000 and above: | ||
| AMST:3095/LATS:3095 | Central America and Its Diaspora | 3 |
| ANTH:1046/GEOG:1046/GWSS:1046/SJUS:1046 | Environmental Politics in India | 3 |
| ARAB:2012 | Modern Palestinian Literature and Culture | 3 |
| ANTH:2108/GWSS:2108 | Gendering India | 3 |
| ANTH:2160/GHS:2160 | Culture, Health, and Wellness: Southeast Asia in Focus | 3 |
| ANTH:2182/GHS:2182 | Africa: Health and Society | 3 |
| ANTH:3121/GWSS:3121 | Love, Marriage, and Family in India | 3 |
| ARAB:2050 | Topics in Middle East/Muslim World Studies | 3 |
| ARAB:2060 | Arab-American Immigration: Society, Identity, and Culture | 3 |
| ARAB:3005 | Culture and Resistance: The Modern Middle East | 3-4 |
| ARAB:3030 | Media Arabic | 3 |
| ARAB:3050 | Arab Culture Through Dialects | 3 |
| ARTH:1020 | Masterpieces: Art in Historical and Cultural Perspectives | 3 |
| ARTH:1040 | Arts of Africa | 3 |
| ARTH:1060 | From Mona Lisa to Modernism: Survey of Western Art II | 3 |
| ARTH:1070 | Asian Art and Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:2020 | Western Architecture from Prehistory to the Present | 3 |
| ARTH:2120 | Art and Architecture of the Islamic World | 3 |
| ARTH:2220/ASIA:2231 | Introduction to the Art of China | 3 |
| ARTH:2250/JPNS:2250 | Introduction to the Art of Japan | 3 |
| ARTH:3020 | Paris and the Art of Urban Life | 3 |
| ARTH:3160 | Themes in African Art | 3 |
| ARTH:3225 | Modern and Contemporary Art in China | 3 |
| ARTH:3270/ASIA:3270 | Themes in Asian Art History | 3 |
| ARTH:3375/RELS:3375 | The Great Collision | 3 |
| ASIA:1016/WLLC:1016 | Classical Chinese Short Fiction | 1 |
| ASIA:2222/GWSS:2222/WLLC:2222 | Women in Premodern East Asian Literature | 3 |
| ASIA:2450/MUS:2450 | India Beat: The Aesthetics and Politics of India Today | 3 |
| ASIA:2684/HIST:2684 | Korean War: Local and Global History | 3 |
| ASIA:3208/TRNS:3208/WLLC:3208 | Classical Chinese Literature Through Translation | 3 |
| ASIA:3431/GWSS:3131/RELS:3431 | Gender and Sexuality in East Asia | 3 |
| BUS:2350 | Introduction to Global Business: Asia Pacific | 3 |
| CHIN:1030 | Introduction to Chinese Ethnic Folk Dance | 1 |
| CHIN:1504 | China Beyond Walls | 3 |
| CHIN:1702 | Chinese Popular Culture | 3 |
| CHIN:3103 | Business Chinese I | 3 |
| CHIN:3104 | Business Chinese II | 3 |
| CHIN:3341 | Chinese Literature: Poetry | 3 |
| CHIN:4203 | Modern Chinese Writers | 3 |
| CHIN:4206 | Chinese Cinema | 3 |
| CLSA:2127/ASIA:2127/JPNS:2127 | Books of the Silk Roads | 3 |
| COMM:1898/LATS:1898 | Introduction to Latina/o/x Communication and Culture | 3 |
| COMM:2086 | Global Media Studies | 3 |
| COMM:4131/IS:4131 | Globalization and Culture | 3 |
| DANC:1150/LAS:1150 | Brazilian Culture and Carnival | 3 |
| DANC:2065 | Performing Power/Performing Protest: The Body, Identity, and the Image | 3 |
| DANC:2085 | Introduction to African Caribbean Dance Practices | 3 |
| DANC:2150 | Brazilian Social Dance: The Samba | 3 |
| ENGL:2330 | Topics in Modern British Literature After 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL:2360 | Twentieth-Century British Literature | 3 |
| ENGL:2361 | Twenty-first-Century British Literature | 3 |
| ENGL:2510 | Selected Transnational Authors | 3 |
| ENGL:2560 | Topics in Culture and Identity | 3 |
| ENGL:2601 | Topics in British Culture and Identity | 3 |
| ENGL:3182 | Digital Cultures and Literacies | 3 |
| ENGL:3329 | Literature and Culture of Eighteenth-Century Britain | 3 |
| ENGL:3338 | Literature and Culture of the Romantic Period | 3 |
| ENGL:3339 | Literature and Culture of Nineteenth-Century Britain | 3 |
| ENGL:3350 | Literature and Culture of 20th- and 21st-Century Britain | 3 |
| ENGL:3355 | British Poetry | 3 |
| ENGL:3360 | British Fiction | 3 |
| ENGL:3467/LATS:3467 | Latina/o/x Literatures and Cultures | 3 |
| ENGL:3525 | Literature and Culture of the Americas | 3 |
| ENGL:3530 | Caribbean Literature and Culture | 3 |
| ENGL:3535/LAS:3535 | Topics in Literature and Culture of the Americas | 3 |
| ENGL:3540 | Literature of the Indian Subcontinent | 3 |
| ENGL:3550/AFAM:3550 | African Literature | 3 |
| ENGL:3555/AFAM:3555 | Topics in African Cinema | 3 |
| FREN:1005 | Texts and Contexts: French-Speaking World | 3 |
| FREN:1007 | Nature/Ecology French Philosophy and Fiction | 3 |
| FREN:1510 | Cultural Misunderstandings: France and U.S.A. | 3 |
| FREN:3120 | French Civilization | 3 |
| FREN:3130 | Francophone Cultures | 3 |
| FREN:3232/TRNS:3232 | French Literary Translation Workshop | 3 |
| FREN:3240 | Media French | 3 |
| FREN:3250 | Topics in French Studies I | 3 |
| FREN:3410 | Business French | 3 |
| FREN:4015 | Francophone Cinema | 3-4 |
| FREN:4080 | Post-Colonial Literature in France | 3 |
| FREN:4090 | Quebec Literature | 3 |
| FREN:4100 | French Cinema | 3-4 |
| FREN:4110 | Francophone Studies: Literature and the Arts | 3 |
| FREN:4433/HIST:4433 | France Under Nazi Occupation, 1940-1944 | 3-4 |
| FREN:4520 | Versailles Under the Sun King | 3-4 |
| FREN:4540/GWSS:4540 | Gender and Sexuality in French Cinema | 3-4 |
| FREN:4750 | Topics in French Studies II | 3 |
| GHS:3520/LATS:3520 | Latinx Oral Histories of Health Care | 3 |
| GRMN:2275 | Scandinavian Crime Fiction | 3 |
| GRMN:2600 | Witch Hunts in Fact and Fiction: A Global History of Exclusion | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2618/WLLC:2618 | Film and Literature of the Holocaust | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2620/WLLC:2620 | Anne Frank and Her Story | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2630 | German Cinema: Greatest Hits | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2666/WLLC:2666 | Pact with the Devil | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2675/MUSM:2675 | The Politics of Memory: Holocaust, Genocide, and 9/11 | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2720/HIST:2420 | Germany in the World | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2785 | Cyborgs, Monsters, and the Uncanny | 3-4 |
| GRMN:3214 | Business German | 3 |
| GRMN:3236 | German Film | 3 |
| GRMN:3405 | German Cultural History | 3 |
| GRMN:3501 | German Writers Engaged | 3 |
| GRMN:3860/LING:3860 | German Language and Society | 3 |
| GRMN:4315 | German Society Today | 3 |
| GWSS:2400/CPH:2240/LATS:2400 | Health, Intersectionality, and Diversity | 3 |
| GWSS:3427/HIST:3427 | Family, Gender, and Society in Early Modern Europe | 3 |
| HIST:1602/ASIA:1602 | Civilizations of Asia: China from the 17th Century to the Present | 3 |
| HIST:1604/ASIA:1604 | Civilizations of Asia: Japan | 3-4 |
| HIST:1606/ASIA:1606/RELS:1606 | Civilizations of Asia: South Asia | 3-4 |
| HIST:1607/ASIA:1607 | Civilizations of Asia: Korea | 3-4 |
| HIST:1609/ASIA:1609 | India Now! Surveying the World's Largest Democracy | 3-4 |
| HIST:1708 | Civilizations of Africa | 3 |
| HIST:2461/CLSA:2461/RELS:2361 | Middle East and Mediterranean: Alexander to Suleiman | 3 |
| HIST:2465 | Europe Since 1945 | 3 |
| HIST:2802 | Gender, Religion, and Social Identities in the Modern Middle East | 3 |
| HIST:2810 | The Modern Middle East | 3 |
| HIST:3143 | International Politics: The History of the Present | 3-4 |
| HIST:3190/RELS:3190 | Medieval to Modern: The Birth of Protestantism | 3 |
| HIST:3217/LAS:3217/LATS:3217 | Latina/o/x Immigration | 3 |
| HIST:3251/AMST:3251 | The Office: Business Life in America | 3 |
| HIST:3289/NAIS:3289 | The Atlantic World c. 1450-1850 | 3 |
| HIST:3416 | Modern Britain: War and Empire in the Twentieth Century | 3 |
| HIST:3420/GHS:3420 | Health and Healing in Early Modern Europe | 3 |
| HIST:3475 | Germany's Twentieth Century | 3-4 |
| HIST:3494/RUSS:3494 | The Russian Revolutions and Their Legacies | 3 |
| HIST:3501/LAS:3501 | Rebel Island: A History of Cuba | 3 |
| HIST:3508/GHS:3508/LAS:3508 | Disease and Health in Latin American History | 3 |
| HIST:3515/LAS:3515 | Introduction to Modern Latin America | 3 |
| HIST:3522/LATS:3522 | Indigenous Women and Rural Unrest in Latin America | 3 |
| HIST:3539/GEOG:3539 | History of Environmental (In)Justice in Latin America | 3 |
| HIST:3652/ASIA:3652 | Twentieth-Century China | 3 |
| HIST:3685/ASIA:3685 | Modern Korean History | 3 |
| HIST:3755/GHS:3555/IS:3555 | Understanding Health and Disease in Africa | 3 |
| HIST:3760/AFAM:3760 | The Making of Modern Africa | 3 |
| HIST:3810 | History of the Modern Middle East | 3 |
| HIST:4216/LAS:4216 | Mexican American History | 3 |
| HIST:4334 | Topics in American Borderlands History | 3 |
| HIST:4478 | Holocaust in History and Memory | 3 |
| HIST:4666/ASIA:4166 | Topics in Asian History | 3 |
| ITAL:2440 | Italian Arts for International Success | 3 |
| ITAL:2550 | Images of Modern Italy | 3-4 |
| ITAL:2770 | The Mafia and the Movies | 3 |
| ITAL:4550 | Topics in Italian Studies | 3 |
| ITAL:4633 | Dante's Inferno | 3-4 |
| ITAL:4634 | The Italian Renaissance | 3 |
| ITAL:4660/TRNS:4660 | Transcultural Texts and Translations | 3 |
| ITAL:4667 | Modern Italian Fiction | 3 |
| ITAL:4668 | Modern Italian Poetry and Theater | 3 |
| IWP:3191/ENGL:3595/TRNS:3191/WLLC:3191 | International Literature Today | 1,3 |
| JMC:1500 | Introduction to Social Media | 3 |
| JMC:3142/IS:3142 | Social Media for Social Change | 3 |
| JPNS:1506 | Ghostly Japan | 3 |
| JPNS:3201/TRNS:3201 | Workshop in Japanese Literary Translation | 3 |
| JPNS:3202 | Traditional Japanese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| JPNS:3203 | Modern Japanese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| JPNS:3204 | Topics in Japanese Literature in Translation | 1-3 |
| JPNS:3206 | Warriors' Dreams | 3 |
| JPNS:3207 | Japan Illuminated: Japanese Literature and Visual Culture | 3 |
| JPNS:3208 | Japanese Film | 3 |
| JPNS:3210 | Japanese Theater | 3 |
| JPNS:3401 | Language in Japanese Society | 3 |
| JPNS:3402 | Japan: Culture and Communication | 3 |
| JPNS:3500 | Japanese for Professional Purposes I | 3 |
| JPNS:3501 | Japanese for Professional Purposes II | 3 |
| JPNS:3601 | Contemporary Japanese Culture | 3 |
| JPNS:4201 | Genji Lab | 3 |
| KORE:1135 | Cultural Fusion: Korean Pop Culture in a Globalized World | 3 |
| KORE:3070 | Topics in Korean Studies | 3 |
| LAS:2700/COMM:2800/IS:2700/PORT:2700/SPAN:2700 | Introduction to Latin American Studies | 3 |
| LAS:3225/SPAN:3225 | Latin American Women Writers | 3 |
| LAS:4700/ANTH:4700/HIST:4504/PORT:4700/SPAN:4900 | Latin American Studies Seminar | 3-4 |
| LATS:2280/HIST:2280 | Introduction to Latina/o/x Studies | 3 |
| LATS:3100 | Latinx Community Engagement | 3 |
| LATS:3550/GWSS:3431 | Topics in Latina/o/x Studies: History and Culture | 1-3 |
| LATS:4800/AMST:4800 | Latina/o/x Popular Culture | 3 |
| LAW:8698 | Law in the Muslim World | 2-3 |
| LING:3080/WRIT:3080 | History of the English Language | 3 |
| MUS:1009 | Jazz Cultures in America and Abroad | 3 |
| MUS:1800 | World of the Beatles | 3 |
| MUS:2311/LAS:2311 | Music of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| MUS:3162 | All University Steel Band | 1-3 |
| MUS:3163 | Iowa Steel Band | 1 |
| NAIS:1290/AMST:1290/GHS:1290/HIST:1290 | Native American Foods and Foodways | 3 |
| PHIL:2352 | Chinese Philosophy | 3 |
| POLI:1401 | Introduction to Russian Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1449 | Introduction to European Politics | 3 |
| POLI:2415/LAS:2415 | Latin American Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3104/LAS:3104/LATS:3104 | Immigration Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3408 | Chinese Politics and Society | 3 |
| POLI:3410 | Russian Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POLI:3420 | Southeast Asia: Politics and Development | 3 |
| POLI:3422 | Horn of Africa: Politics and Transnational Issues | 3 |
| POLI:3423 | The Middle East: Policy and Diplomacy | 3 |
| POLI:3425 | South Asia: Politics, Identity, and Conflict | 3 |
| RELS:1001 | Judaism, Christianity, and Islam | 3 |
| RELS:1130/HIST:1030 | Introduction to Islamic Civilization | 3 |
| RELS:1350/AFAM:1250 | Introduction to African American Religions | 3 |
| RELS:1404/ASIA:1040/HIST:1610 | Introduction to Asian Religions | 3 |
| RELS:1506/ASIA:1060/HIST:1612 | Introduction to Buddhism | 3 |
| RELS:1670/ASIA:1670/KORE:1670 | Korea in the World | 3 |
| RELS:2289/CLSA:2489 | Jerusalem: The Holy City | 3 |
| RELS:2515 | Introduction to Chinese Religious Thought: How Best to Live | 3 |
| RELS:2775 | The Bible and the Holocaust | 3 |
| RELS:2852/GWSS:2052 | Women in Islam and the Middle East | 3 |
| RELS:2955/IS:2955 | Human Rights and Islam | 3 |
| RELS:3655/ASIA:3655/HIST:3655 | Zen Buddhism | 3 |
| RELS:3808/AFAM:3500/HIST:3160 | Malcolm X, King, and Human Rights | 3 |
| RELS:4155/HIST:4455 | Religious Conflict: Early Modern Period | 3 |
| RELS:4352/CLSA:4452 | The Dead Sea Scrolls | 3 |
| RUSS:1082 | Youth Subcultures After Socialism | 3 |
| RUSS:1131/WLLC:1131 | Introduction to Russian Culture | 3 |
| RUSS:1132 | Russia Today | 3 |
| RUSS:1500 | Ukraine, a Country at the Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Seminar on Ukrainian History and Culture | 3 |
| RUSS:1531 | Slavic Folklore | 3 |
| RUSS:2050/WLLC:2050 | Women from an Unknown Land: The Fight for Independence | 3 |
| RUSS:2100 | Russian Mindset: Sex, Business, and Politics | 3 |
| RUSS:2110 | Russian Sports: Politics, Scandal, Glory | 3 |
| RUSS:3202/HIST:3492/TRNS:3203/WLLC:3202 | Russian Literature in Translation 1860-1917 | 3 |
| SOAS:1502/ASIA:1502/RELS:1502 | Asian Humanities: India | 3 |
| SPAN:1700/LATS:1700 | Latina/o/x Literature in the United States | 3 |
| SPAN:1800 | Writing and Writers from Latin America | 3 |
| SPAN:2005 | Writing Global Spanish | 3 |
| SPAN:2050 | Spanish in the United States | 3 |
| SPAN:2080 | Business Spanish | 4 |
| SPAN:2090/GHS:2090 | Medical Spanish in Contemporary Society | 4 |
| SPAN:2200/LAS:2200 | Introduction to Spanish American Cultures | 3 |
| SPAN:2400 | Readings in Spanish Literature | 3 |
| SPAN:2500/LAS:2500 | Readings in Spanish American Literature | 3 |
| SPAN:2800/LAS:2800 | Screening Latin America | 3 |
| SPAN:2900/LAS:2900 | Music of the Hispanic World | 3 |
| SPAN:3020/JMC:3445/LAS:3020 | Journalistic Writing in Spanish | 3 |
| SPAN:3030 | Translation Workshop: English to Spanish | 3 |
| SPAN:3050 | Translation Workshop: Spanish to English | 3 |
| SPAN:3080 | Spanish for International Business | 3 |
| SPAN:3130 | Introduction to Bilingualism | 3 |
| SPAN:3205/GHS:3045 | Spanish Health Narratives | 3 |
| SPAN:3210 | Cultural Storytelling | 3 |
| SPAN:3215/LAS:3215 | Medellin | 3 |
| SPAN:3230 | Modern Mexico | 3 |
| SPAN:3250 | Buenos Aires | 3 |
| SPAN:3290/LAS:3290 | Topics in Cinema and Society | 3 |
| SPAN:3310/LAS:3310 | Spanish American Short Story | 3 |
| SPAN:3320 | Spanish American Poetry | 3 |
| SPAN:3350 | Contemporary Spanish American Literature | 3 |
| SPAN:3370 | Topics in Literatures and Cultures | 3 |
| SPAN:3500 | Topics in Culture of the Hispanic World | 3 |
| SPAN:3600 | Cultures of Spain | 3 |
| SPAN:3620 | Madrid | 3 |
| SPAN:3650 | Fitness Culture in Spain | 3 |
| SPAN:3820 | Modern and Contemporary Spanish Literature | 3 |
| SPAN:3840 | Contemporary Spanish Short Story | 3 |
| SPAN:4160/LATS:4160 | Language, Justice, and the Law | 3 |
| SPAN:4205/GHS:4205 | Culture, Language, and Health | 3 |
| SPAN:4330 | Colonial Spanish American Literature | 3 |
| SPAN:4390/LAS:4390 | Topics in Spanish American Literature | 3 |
| SPAN:4650 | Don Quijote | 3 |
| SPAN:4690 | Topics in Spanish Literature | 3 |
| SPAN:4815/LAS:4815 | Lost Childhoods: Marginal Children of Latin America | 3 |
| SPAN:4925/LAS:4925 | Topics in Film Narrative | 3 |
| SPAN:4980 | Advanced Translation: Spanish to English | 3 |
| SWAH:1010 | Introduction to Swahili Language and Culture | 2 |
| THTR:1400 | Theatre and Society: Ancients and Moderns | 3 |
| THTR:1401 | Theatre and Society: Romantics and Rebels | 3 |
Optional Concentrations
Students have the option to complete a 15 s.h. concentration. This may be done by choosing global perspectives courses and world cultures and societies courses that are approved in one of the three concentrations: global business and communication, international human rights and public service, or international sustainable development.
Global Business and Communication
This concentration enables students to understand the complex forces that shape global commerce on the macro and micro levels. Students use multidisciplinary perspectives to understand the economic and cultural impacts of globalization processes, including on globalized systems and cultures of business, communication, and media. It offers social scientific and humanistic approaches to global business and communication. This background enables students who earn the concentration to stand out among entry-level business applicants; students develop the knowledge and skills needed for engaging in ethical and effective intercultural communication and action in the global business world, which are valued by multinational corporations and businesses worldwide.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 15 s.h. from these: | ||
| ANTH:3123 | Making a Living: Perspectives on Economic Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:3190/IS:3190/SJUS:3190 | Global Debt | 3 |
| BUS:2350 | Introduction to Global Business: Asia Pacific | 3 |
| COMM:1898/LATS:1898 | Introduction to Latina/o/x Communication and Culture | 3 |
| COMM:2042/IS:2042/SSW:2042 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMM:2086 | Global Media Studies | 3 |
| COMM:4131/IS:4131 | Globalization and Culture | 3 |
| COMM:4171/LATS:4171 | Community Media | 3 |
| ECON:3345 | Global Economics and Business | 3 |
| ECON:3620 | Economic Growth and Development | 3 |
| ENTR:4460 | Entrepreneurship and Global Trade | 3 |
| FREN:1006 | Global Sports and National Cultures | 3 |
| FREN:1510 | Cultural Misunderstandings: France and U.S.A. | 3 |
| FREN:3410 | Business French | 3 |
| GEOG:2910 | The Global Economy | 3 |
| GRMN:3214 | Business German | 3 |
| HIST:3251/AMST:3251 | The Office: Business Life in America | 3 |
| JMC:1500 | Introduction to Social Media | 3 |
| JMC:3116/IS:3116 | Media and Global Cultures | 3 |
| JMC:3142/IS:3142 | Social Media for Social Change | 3 |
| JPNS:3402 | Japan: Culture and Communication | 3 |
| JPNS:3500 | Japanese for Professional Purposes I | 3 |
| MGMT:3450 | International Business Environment | 3 |
| MGMT:4500 | Strategy, Innovation and Global Competition | 3 |
| MKTG:4300 | International Marketing | 3 |
| POLI:3516 | The Politics of International Economics | 3 |
| RHET:2090 | Conversation Practicum | 0-3 |
| RUSS:2100 | Russian Mindset: Sex, Business, and Politics | 3 |
| SPAN:2080 | Business Spanish | 4 |
| SPAN:3080 | Spanish for International Business | 3 |
| SRM:1085 | Introduction to Travel and Tourism | 3 |
| TRNS:2000 | Translation and Global Society | 3 |
International Human Rights and Public Service
This concentration is designed to provide a combination of philosophical and practical knowledge related to social justice and human rights. The study of human rights is inherently multidisciplinary, and students have the opportunity to become familiar with international human rights standards, their application, and implications through coursework in a variety of disciplines. Students are expected to understand how to discuss and address human rights concerns from a number of distinct perspectives and to apply critical thinking skills to complex problems. Students also develop an understanding of the ways that cultural and political-economic systems reflect specific place-based contexts as well as complex world histories of colonization, resistance, migration, and globalization. They gain knowledge and skills that are directly applicable to public service careers in government and nongovernmental organizations, in the United States and abroad, as well as graduate programs of study such as law and public policy.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| This course: | ||
| HRTS:2115/IS:2115 | Introduction to Human Rights | 3 |
| 3 s.h. from these: | ||
| HRTS:2903/IS:2903 | Technology and Human Rights | 1-3 |
| HRTS:2907/IS:2907 | Literature and Human Rights | 1-3 |
| HRTS:2908/IS:2908 | Governance and Human Rights | 1-3 |
| HRTS:2909/IS:2909 | Human Rights Lab | 1-3 |
| HRTS:3904/IS:3904 | Business, Labor, and Human Rights | 1-3 |
| HRTS:3905/IS:3905 | Topics in Human Rights | 1-3 |
| HRTS:3906 | Global Crises and Human Rights | 3 |
| And 9 s.h. from these: | ||
| AFAM:3500/HIST:3160/RELS:3808 | Malcolm X, King, and Human Rights | 3 |
| ANTH:1040/LING:1040 | Language Rights | 3 |
| ANTH:2151/GWSS:2151/IS:2151 | Global Migration in the Contemporary World | 3 |
| ANTH:3110/CBH:4200/GHS:3110/NAIS:3110 | Colonialism and Indigenous Health Equity | 3 |
| ENGL:2505 | Introduction to Postcolonial Studies | 3 |
| ENGL:2560 | Topics in Culture and Identity | 3 |
| ENGL:2571/GWSS:2571/SJUS:2571 | Visualizing Human Rights | 3 |
| FREN:4210/MUSM:4310/WLLC:4210 | Slavery Museums, Memorials, and Statues in the United States, Europe, and the Global South | 3-4 |
| GEOG:4770/AFAM:4770/GHS:4770 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| GHS:3034 | Doing Harm by Doing Good: The Ethics of Studying, Volunteering, and Working in Global Communities | 1 |
| GHS:4003 | Case Studies in Global Health Inequities | 3 |
| GRMN:2675/MUSM:2675 | The Politics of Memory: Holocaust, Genocide, and 9/11 | 3-4 |
| GWSS:3157/HIST:3157 | Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | 3 |
| GWSS:3326/GHS:3327 | The Politics of Progress: NGOs, Development, and Sexuality | 3 |
| HIST:4478 | Holocaust in History and Memory | 3 |
| LATS:3100 | Latinx Community Engagement | 3 |
| LATS:3104/LAS:3104/POLI:3104 | Immigration Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3509 | International Courts: The Intersection of Law and Politics | 3 |
| RELS:2955/IS:2955 | Human Rights and Islam | 3 |
| RHET:2135/SJUS:2135 | Rhetorics of Diversity and Inclusion | 3 |
| RUSS:2050/WLLC:2050 | Women from an Unknown Land: The Fight for Independence | 3 |
International Sustainable Development
Students learn about the multiple dimensions of social change and human development in areas of the world categorized as developing societies, including poverty reduction; health; the environment and sustainability; climate change; food security; communication for development; cultures of developing societies; and historical, cultural, and critical perspectives on the idea of modern development. They gain an understanding of development as a cultural and political-economic process that directly influences the environment. Students also study the ways in which direct and indirect policy-making by social, economic, and political institutions affect environmental issues. In this way, they develop an appreciation of the complexity of development and environmental problems in the globalized world. This concentration gives students the knowledge and skills needed for jobs or graduate education in international development and sustainability work after graduation.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 15 s.h. from these: | ||
| IS:3200 | Sustainable Development | 3 |
| ANTH:1046/GEOG:1046/GWSS:1046/SJUS:1046 | Environmental Politics in India | 3 |
| ANTH:2136 | Race, Place, and Power: Urban Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:2160/GHS:2160 | Culture, Health, and Wellness: Southeast Asia in Focus | 3 |
| ANTH:2261 | Human Impacts on the Environment | 3 |
| CPH:4200 | Agriculture, Food Systems, and Sustainability | 3 |
| GEOG:1070 | Contemporary Environmental Issues | 3 |
| GEOG:2013/BUS:2013/SUST:2013/URP:2013 | Introduction to Sustainability | 3 |
| GEOG:3300/GHS:3300 | Envisioning Future Worlds: Sustainable Development and Its Alternatives | 3 |
| GEOG:4000/SDG:4000 | The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: A Blueprint for a Sustainable Future | 3 |
| GWSS:3326/GHS:3327 | The Politics of Progress: NGOs, Development, and Sexuality | 3 |
| HIST:3128 | Topics in Global Environmental History | 3 |
| HIST:3131/GEOG:3131 | Unnatural Disasters: A Global History | 3 |
| HIST:3508/GHS:3508/LAS:3508 | Disease and Health in Latin American History | 3 |
| HIST:3539/GEOG:3539 | History of Environmental (In)Justice in Latin America | 3 |
| HIST:3755/GHS:3555/IS:3555 | Understanding Health and Disease in Africa | 3 |
| POLI:1510 | International Politics of Environmental Issues | 3 |
| POLI:2417 | Comparative Environmental Policy | 3 |
| POLI:3420 | Southeast Asia: Politics and Development | 3 |
| POLI:3424 | Global Development | 3 |
Honors in the Major
Students have the opportunity to graduate with honors in the major. International studies honors students must maintain a cumulative University of Iowa grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.33 and a GPA of at least 3.33 in all coursework for the major and in all coursework that may be applied to the major.
To graduate with honors in the major, students must complete a minimum of 46 s.h. for the major (an additional 3 s.h.).
Honors students must choose IS:3010 Writing and Research for the World for their capstone option, and complete IS:4991 Honors Thesis in International Studies. Students also are encouraged to present their research in a public venue, such as the Spring Undergraduate Research Festival (SURF).
University of Iowa Honors Program
In addition to honors in the major, students have opportunities for honors study and activities through membership in the University of Iowa Honors Program. Visit Honors at Iowa to learn about the university's honors program.
Membership in the UI Honors Program is not required to earn honors in the international studies major.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core requirements provide students with a broad foundation of knowledge and a focused practice of transferable skills necessary for a lifetime of learning.
GE CLAS Core courses are particularly valuable for students making the transition into the University of Iowa. They help students understand the academic expectations of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences while providing the knowledge and skills needed for more advanced work in the major.
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who wish to earn an undergraduate degree—Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), or Bachelor of Music (BM)—must complete the requirements of the GE CLAS Core.
GE CLAS Core Areas and Requirements
The GE CLAS Core has 11 required areas, grouped into three categories. Students must fulfill the requirements in each GE CLAS Core area. The requirements that follow are for students who entered the University of Iowa during summer 2024 or after. Students who entered during a previous semester are held to different requirements as indicated on a student's degree audit.
During the fall 2024 semester, two General Education requirement areas will be renamed. "Diversity and Inclusion” is being renamed “Understanding Cultural Perspectives,” and “Values and Culture” is being renamed “Values and Society.” These name changes are being made to better reflect the breadth of options students may select to satisfy these requirements. The name changes will apply to all current and future students’ records. The updates will not affect the names, content, or inclusion of any courses offered within those areas and will not affect degree requirements for any current or future student. For questions about which general education requirements apply based on programs of study and year of matriculation, please contact your academic advisor.
Communication and Literacy
- Diversity and Inclusion: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Interpretation of Literature: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Rhetoric: a minimum of 4 s.h.
- World Languages Pathways: required credit varies (see "World Languages Pathways" in this section of the catalog)
Sustainability
Students complete this requirement by choosing an approved GE CLAS Core course that integrates Sustainability (with no additional semester hours) with a course from the Natural, Quantitative, and Social Sciences category or the Culture, Society, and the Arts category.
Natural, Quantitative, and Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences: a minimum of 7 s.h.; must include one lab
- Quantitative or Formal Reasoning: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Social Sciences: a minimum of 3 s.h.
Culture, Society, and the Arts
- Historical Perspectives: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- International and Global Issues: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Values and Culture: a minimum of 3 s.h.
Students may count transfer credit and/or credit by exam toward some GE CLAS Core requirements. See CLAS Core Policies for details regarding use of transfer credit, credit by exam, and other policies for how GE CLAS Core requirements may be fulfilled.
Communication and Literacy
Diversity and Inclusion
Courses in the Diversity and Inclusion area help to develop students’ recognition of their positions in an increasingly pluralistic world while fostering an understanding of social and cultural differences. Students reflect critically on their own social and cultural perspectives while increasing their ability to engage with people who have backgrounds or ideas different from their own. Students also explore the historical and structural bases of inequality and the benefits and challenges of diversity.
Transfer credit is not accepted for the Diversity and Inclusion requirement; students must complete this requirement with coursework taken at the University of Iowa.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Diversity and Inclusion area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM:1020/AMST:1030 | Introduction to African American Culture | 3 |
| AFAM:1030 | Introduction to African American Society | 3 |
| AFAM:1130 | The History of African American Film | 3 |
| AFAM:1241/MUS:1741 | The Soundtrack of Black America | 3 |
| AFAM:1900 | Diverse Topics in African American Studies | 3 |
| AFAM:2064/SOC:2064 | African American Families: Urban and Suburban | 3 |
| AFAM:2070/COMM:2069 | Black Television Culture | 3 |
| AFAM:2500 | Black Culture and Experience: Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| AMST:1290/GHS:1290/HIST:1290/NAIS:1290 | Native American Foods and Foodways | 3 |
| AMST:2025 | Diversity in American Culture | 3 |
| ANTH:2151/GWSS:2151/IS:2151 | Global Migration in the Contemporary World | 3 |
| ANTH:2165/AMST:2165/NAIS:2165 | Native Peoples of North America | 3 |
| ARTS:2100 | Printmaking and Politics of Protest | 3 |
| CCCC:2220 | Foundations of Critical Cultural Competence | 3 |
| CINE:1195 | Video Games and Identity | 3 |
| CINE:1625 | Race, Gender, and Sexuality on Screen | 3 |
| CLSA:1415 | Ancient Origins of Religious Conflict | 3 |
| CLSA:1910 | Ancient and Modern Worlds: Common Problems | 3 |
| CLSA:2620/RELS:2620 | Sex and the Bible | 3 |
| CLSA:2800 | Race and Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean World | 3 |
| COMM:1168 | Music and Social Change | 3 |
| COMM:1898/LATS:1898 | Introduction to Latina/o/x Communication and Culture | 3 |
| DANC:2065 | Performing Power/Performing Protest: The Body, Identity, and the Image | 3 |
| DANC:2085 | Introduction to African Caribbean Dance Practices | 3 |
| DST:1101 | Introduction to Disability Studies | 3 |
| EDTL:2670 | Peacebuilding, Singing, and Writing in a Prison Choir | 3 |
| EDTL:4900 | Foundations of Special Education | 3 |
| EPLS:1240 | Finding Your Path in Higher Education | 3 |
| FREN:2010/ASIA:2001/RUSS:2001/TRNS:2001/WLLC:2001 | Global Science Fiction | 3 |
| GHS:1200/DST:1200/GRMN:1200/WLLC:1200 | Disabilities and Inclusion in Writing and Film Around the World | 3 |
| GRMN:2600 | Witch Hunts in Fact and Fiction: A Global History of Exclusion | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2620/WLLC:2620 | Anne Frank and Her Story | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2675/MUSM:2675 | The Politics of Memory: Holocaust, Genocide, and 9/11 | 3-4 |
| GWSS:1001 | Introduction to Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| GWSS:1002 | Diversity and Power in the U.S. | 3 |
| HHP:1045 | Diversity and Inclusion in Healthy Living | 3 |
| HHP:2280 | Cultural Competency and Health | 3 |
| HIST:1040 | Diversity in History | 3 |
| HIST:2267/AFAM:2267 | African American History to 1877: From Slave Cabin to Senate Floor | 3 |
| HIST:2268/AFAM:2268 | African American History Since the Civil War | 3 |
| IS:2020 | World Events Today! | 3 |
| ITAL:2660 | The Italian American Experience | 3 |
| JMC:2500 | Community Media | 3 |
| JMC:2600 | Freedom of Expression | 3 |
| LATS:2280/HIST:2280 | Introduction to Latina/o/x Studies | 3 |
| LING:1070 | Language Attitudes: Is How You Sound How You Are Seen? | 3 |
| MATH:1210 | Diverse Perspectives in the Mathematical Sciences | 3 |
| PHIL:2425 | Sex, Marriage, Friendship, and the Law (GE status effective fall 2022; students with a first degree-seeking session of summer 2017 and beyond may use this course for the Diversity and Inclusion GE requirement) | 3 |
| POLI:1601 | Introduction to Social Media and Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1800 | Introduction to the Politics of Class and Inequality | 3 |
| POLI:1900 | Introduction to the Politics of Race | 3 |
| POLI:1950 | Introduction to the Politics of Religion | 3 |
| PSY:1501 | Everyone's a Little Bit Biased: The Science Behind Prejudice | 3 |
| RELS:1015 | Global Religious Conflict and Diversity | 3 |
| RELS:2000 | Engaging Religious Diversity for Leadership and Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| RELS:2330 | Wealth, Inequality, and Islam | 3 |
| RHET:2135/SJUS:2135 | Rhetorics of Diversity and Inclusion | 3 |
| SJUS:1001/GWSS:1003 | Introduction to Social Justice | 3 |
| SJUS:2240/RELS:2240/HIST:2149 | The Worlds of Jews and Judaism: An Introduction to Jewish Studies | 3 |
| SOC:1030 | Contemporary Social Problems | 3-4 |
| SOC:2830 | Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| SPAN:2050 | Spanish in the United States | 3 |
| SPST:1074/AMST:1074/GWSS:1074 | Inequality in American Sport | 3 |
| SSW:1200 | Mental Health Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| THTR:2320 | Playwriting in a Global World | 3 |
| THTR:2405 | Staging Americans: U.S. Cultures Through Theatre and Performance | 3 |
| THTR:2605/EDTL:2963 | Monsters, Victims, and Villains: Changing Perceptions | 3 |
| TRNS:2000 | Translation and Global Society | 3 |
| WLLC:2222/ASIA:2222/GWSS:2222 | Women in Premodern East Asian Literature | 3 |
| WRIT:2100 | Writing and Community Outreach | 3 |
Interpretation of Literature
Courses in the Interpretation of Literature area focus on the major genres of literature (short and long fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama), improving students' abilities to read and analyze a variety of texts. Small group discussions in these courses challenge students to think critically, to share insights, and to listen thoughtfully to the arguments of others.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Interpretation of Literature area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLSA:1200 | Interpretation of Ancient Literature | 3 |
| ENGL:1200 | The Interpretation of Literature | 3 |
| ENGL:2010 | Foundation of the English Major: Histories, Literatures, Pleasures | 3 |
| FREN:1005 | Texts and Contexts: French-Speaking World | 3 |
| FREN:1007 | Nature/Ecology French Philosophy and Fiction | 3 |
| WLLC:1510/ASIA:1510 | Ghost Stories and Tales of the Weird in Premodern Chinese Literature | 3 |
Rhetoric
Rhetoric courses develop speaking, writing, listening, and critical reading skills and build competence in research, analysis, and argumentation.
All entering first-year students are required to complete RHET:1030 Rhetoric. Because rhetorical skills lay the foundation for further study at the University, most students register for RHET:1030 during their first year at Iowa.
Students who must enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses as determined by their English proficiency evaluation must complete all ESL courses before they may register for RHET:1030 Rhetoric.
Students who have transfer credit in composition, speech, and argumentation but have not been granted an AA degree from an institution that has an articulation agreement with the University of Iowa often must take RHET:1040 Writing and Reading or RHET:1060 Speaking and Reading in addition to their transfer courses in composition and/or speech to complete the equivalent of RHET:1030 Rhetoric.
Each entering student's degree audit shows the course(s) that must be completed in order to fulfill the Rhetoric requirement.
The following courses are approved for the Rhetoric area.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RHET:1030 | Rhetoric | 4-5 |
| RHET:1040 | Writing and Reading | 3 |
| RHET:1060 | Speaking and Reading | 3 |
Transfer of Credit for Rhetoric
Transfer students who have been granted an Associate of Arts (AA) degree from an Iowa or Illinois community college or Waldorf College in Iowa have satisfied the Rhetoric requirement.
Transfer credit for students without an AA degree from an institution that has an articulation agreement with the University of Iowa is evaluated as follows:
- transfer students who have completed composition I, composition II, and speech at another institution have satisfied the GE CLAS Core Rhetoric requirement of RHET:1030 Rhetoric;
- transfer students who have completed only composition I must complete RHET:1030 Rhetoric at the University of Iowa;
- transfer students who have completed composition I and speech must complete RHET:1040 Writing and Reading at the University of Iowa;
- transfer students who have completed only speech must complete RHET:1040 Writing and Reading at the University of Iowa;
- transfer students who have completed composition I and II or only composition II must complete RHET:1060 Speaking and Reading at the University of Iowa;
- for transfer students who have completed any other course at another institution that may be equivalent to RHET:1030 Rhetoric, the University of Iowa Office of Admissions examines the content of the course and decides on equivalency based on the content of that course, conferring with the Department of Rhetoric on the correct equivalency, if necessary.
World Languages Pathways
GE CLAS Core courses in World Languages provide the practice of important communication skills in a second language as well as the knowledge of the cultures in which the language is spoken. This in-depth study allows students to better understand how languages as a whole function, encouraging students to learn more about their own first language, including how it creates both inclusion and diversity. To fulfill the GE CLAS Core requirement in World Languages, students may choose one of the following pathways.
Fourth Level
The fourth-level pathway requires students to:
- complete four years of a single world language in high school; or
- achieve the fourth level of proficiency in a world language by completing the appropriate sequence of courses offered at the University of Iowa; or
- achieve the fourth level of proficiency by completing appropriate courses at another college or university or through approved study abroad courses; or
- achieve an equivalent score on a related Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or other approved college-level examination accepted by the University of Iowa and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (see Credit By Exam Options on the Office of Admissions website); or
- earn an equivalent score on both a UI written placement test and on a UI oral proficiency exam in a language taught at the University of Iowa (see World Languages Placement Test (WLPT) on the New Student Services website); or
- earn an equivalent score on a proficiency exam in a language that is not taught at the University of Iowa (see Proficiency Examinations for Languages Not Taught at UI on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website).
A fourth level of proficiency is equivalent to the successful completion of an intermediate II language course (or of a second-year second semester course, for example) as taught at the University of Iowa. Depending on a student's placement test results and the language taken, a student may need to take four semesters of a language to satisfy the requirement using this pathway, starting with a beginning course and ending with a second semester intermediate course. Other students may be able to start elsewhere in the language sequence and reach fourth-level proficiency by taking two or three courses. See "World Languages Placement Tests" under Placement Tests on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website.
Third Level Plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course
The third-level plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration Course pathway requires students to:
- complete third-level coursework in a single world language in high school or college; and
- complete a World Language and Cultural Exploration course.
In courses approved for the World Language and Cultural Exploration GE area, students explore topics and issues through the lens of a world language (other than English) and/or culture, or multiple world languages and/or cultures. These courses help students expand their knowledge of language systems and structure and/or the role of language in social interactions, cultural environments, and identity formation. The World Language and Cultural Exploration course may be taken at any time: before, concurrently, or after taking the three levels of world language coursework. The World Language and Cultural Exploration course may be taken in an area related to the world languages coursework or in a different area. Suitable work may include a study abroad or experiential learning course. A minimum of 3 s.h. is required in this area.
Second Level of Two Languages
The second level of two language pathways requires students to complete second-level coursework in each of two different world languages in high school or college.
Course Information
World language courses for the third level plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration course pathway or second level of two languages pathway may include any combination of high school and college-level coursework, including transfer courses.
Transfer students who have not sent an official high school transcript to UI Admissions must do so if they want to use high school courses to satisfy any portion of the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
Semester hours earned for these courses vary by language and pathway. Students should be sure to take the placement test for the language of interest and should be aware of the course sequence required to fulfill the GE requirement in World Languages for that particular language.
Once the World Languages requirement is completed, a student may earn up to an additional 8 s.h. of college credit while studying a world language. See Furthering Language Incentive Program (FLIP) on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website.
Students may use the following language course sequences to fulfill the World Languages requirement using the fourth level pathway. Completing part of one of the following sequences, finishing with the third or second level, would fulfill part of the third level plus a World Language and Cultural Exploration course pathway or the second level of two languages pathway. To avoid duplication or regression, and with questions about what qualifies as second or third level for a given language, consult the appropriate language department before registering for courses.
American Sign Language
Courses in American Sign Language (ASL) are offered by the American Sign Language Program. The following sequence achieves fourth-level proficiency and fulfills one of the ways to meet the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ASL:1001 | American Sign Language I | 4 |
| ASL:1002 | American Sign Language II | 4 |
| ASL:2001 | American Sign Language III | 4 |
| ASL:2002 | American Sign Language IV | 4 |
Students with previous knowledge of American Sign Language should consult the ASL program for placement.
Arabic
Courses in Arabic are offered by the Department of French and Italian. The following sequence achieves fourth-level proficiency and fulfills one of the ways to meet the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARAB:1001 | Elementary Modern Standard Arabic I | 5 |
| ARAB:1002 | Elementary Modern Standard Arabic II | 5 |
| ARAB:2001 | Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic I | 5 |
| ARAB:2002 | Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic II | 5 |
Students with previous knowledge of Arabic should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Chinese
Courses in Chinese are offered by the Department of Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures. The following sequence is one way to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement and is appropriate for students without previous knowledge of Chinese.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHIN:1111 | First-Year Chinese: First Semester | 5 |
| CHIN:1112 | First-Year Chinese: Second Semester | 5 |
| CHIN:2101 | Second-Year Chinese: First Semester | 5 |
| CHIN:2102 | Second-Year Chinese: Second Semester | 5 |
Students may use varied combinations of Chinese language courses approved to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Heritage learners and students who have studied Chinese abroad may be able to substitute CHIN:2103 Accelerated Second-Year Chinese: First Semester and CHIN:2104 Accelerated Second-Year Chinese: Second Semester for CHIN:2101 and CHIN:2102. Consult the department for more information.
French
Courses in French are offered by the Department of French and Italian. The following sequence is one way to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement and is appropriate for students without previous knowledge of French.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FREN:1001 | Elementary French I | 5 |
| FREN:1002 | Elementary French II | 5 |
| FREN:2001 | Intermediate French I | 5 |
| FREN:2002 | Intermediate French II | 5 |
Students may use varied combinations of French language courses approved to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Those with previous knowledge of French may be able to substitute FREN:1010 First-Year French Review for FREN:1001 and FREN:1002 in the preceding sequence. Some students may be evaluated as ready for FREN:2001 or FREN:2002. Consult the department for appropriate placement.
German
Courses in German are offered by the Department of German. The following sequence is one way to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement and is appropriate for students without previous knowledge of German.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GRMN:1001 | Elementary German I | 4 |
| GRMN:1002 | Elementary German II | 4 |
| GRMN:2001 | Intermediate German I | 4 |
| GRMN:2002 | Intermediate German II | 4 |
Students may use varied combinations of German language courses approved to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Those with previous knowledge of German may be able to substitute GRMN:1010 First-Year German Review for GRMN:1001 and GRMN:1002 in the preceding sequence. Some students may be evaluated as ready for GRMN:2001 or GRMN:2002. Consult the department for appropriate placement.
Greek
Courses in Greek are offered by the Department of Classics. The following sequence is one way to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement and is appropriate for students without previous knowledge of Greek.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLSG:1001 | Classical and New Testament Greek I | 5 |
| CLSG:1002 | Classical and New Testament Greek II | 5 |
| CLSG:2001 | Second-Year Greek I | 3 |
| CLSG:2002 | Second-Year Greek II | 3 |
Students with previous knowledge of Greek should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Italian
Courses in Italian are offered by the Department of French and Italian. The following sequence is one way to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement and is appropriate for students without previous knowledge of Italian.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ITAL:1101 | Elementary Italian I | 5 |
| ITAL:1102 | Elementary Italian II | 5 |
| ITAL:2203 | Intermediate Italian I | 4 |
| ITAL:2204 | Intermediate Italian II | 4 |
Students with strong language learning abilities or a background in Italian or another Romance language may be able to substitute ITAL:1103 Intensive Elementary Italian for ITAL:1101 and ITAL:1102 in the preceding sequence. Consult the department for appropriate placement.
Japanese
Courses in Japanese are offered by the Department of Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures. The following sequence is one way to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement and is appropriate for students without previous knowledge of Japanese.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JPNS:1001 | First-Year Japanese: First Semester | 5 |
| JPNS:1002 | First-Year Japanese: Second Semester | 5 |
| JPNS:2001 | Second-Year Japanese: First Semester | 5 |
| JPNS:2002 | Second-Year Japanese: Second Semester | 5 |
Students may use varied combinations of Japanese language courses approved to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Those with previous knowledge of Japanese should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Korean
Courses in Korean are offered by the Department of Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures. The following sequence is one way to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement and is appropriate for students without previous knowledge of Korean.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| KORE:1101 | First-Year Korean: First Semester | 4 |
| KORE:1102 | First-Year Korean: Second Semester | 4 |
| KORE:2101 | Second-Year Korean: First Semester | 4 |
| KORE:2102 | Second-Year Korean: Second Semester | 4 |
Students with previous knowledge of Korean should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Latin
Courses in Latin are offered by the Department of Classics. The following sequence is one way to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement and is appropriate for students without previous knowledge of Latin. Students must take both CLSL:2001 and CLSL:2002 in order to fulfill the fourth-level pathway of the World Languages requirement. These courses require a similar knowledge of Latin, but one focuses on poetry and the other on prose. Other world languages permit a student to complete the last courses in the sequence to meet the GE CLAS Core requirement because the final course is more difficult than the previous ones. This is not true with the Latin sequence, and therefore, both courses must be successfully completed.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLSL:1001 | Elementary Latin I | 5 |
| CLSL:1002 | Elementary Latin II | 5 |
| CLSL:2001 | World of Cicero | 3 |
| CLSL:2002 | Golden Age of Roman Poetry | 3 |
Students with previous knowledge of Latin should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Portuguese
Courses in Portuguese are offered by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Two sequences in Portuguese are approved to achieve fourth-level proficiency. All courses are open to entering first-year students.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PORT:2000 | Accelerated Elementary Portuguese | 5 |
| PORT:2500 | Accelerated Intermediate Portuguese | 5 |
Students may also substitute PORT:2010 Elementary Portuguese I and PORT:2015 Elementary Portuguese II for PORT:2000 in the preceding sequence.
Students with previous knowledge of Portuguese should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Russian
Courses in Russian are offered by the Department of Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures. The following sequence is one way to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement and is appropriate for students without previous knowledge of Russian.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RUSS:1111 | First-Year Russian I | 5 |
| RUSS:1112 | First-Year Russian II | 5 |
| RUSS:2111 | Second-Year Russian I | 4 |
| RUSS:2112 | Second-Year Russian II | 4 |
Students with previous knowledge of Russian should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Spanish
Courses in Spanish are offered by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. The following sequence is one way to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement and is appropriate for students without previous knowledge of Spanish.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPAN:1001 | Elementary Spanish I | 4 |
| SPAN:1002 | Elementary Spanish II | 4 |
| SPAN:1501 | Intermediate Spanish I | 4 |
| SPAN:1502 | Intermediate Spanish II | 4 |
Students may use varied combinations of Spanish language courses to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Those with previous knowledge of Spanish may be able to substitute SPAN:1003 Elementary Spanish Review for SPAN:1001 and SPAN:1002 in the preceding sequence.
The accelerated course SPAN:1503 Accelerated Intermediate Spanish, which combines SPAN:1501 and SPAN:1502, may be appropriate for some students.
The accelerated course SPAN:1505 Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers may be appropriate for other students.
Students with previous knowledge of Spanish should take the language placement test in Spanish to help determine proper placement.
Swahili
Courses in Swahili are offered by the Department of French and Italian. The following sequence is one way to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement and is appropriate for students without previous knowledge of Swahili. Each of these courses is open to entering first-year students.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SWAH:1001 | Elementary Swahili I | 4 |
| SWAH:1002 | Elementary Swahili II | 4 |
| SWAH:2001 | Intermediate Swahili I | 4 |
| SWAH:2002 | Intermediate Swahili II | 4 |
Students with previous knowledge of Swahili should consult the department for appropriate placement.
World Language and Cultural Exploration
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA:1005/JPNS:1005 | Scripts and Trips: A Journey Through East Asia | 3 |
| ASL:1500 | Exploring the Deaf World | 3 |
| FREN:1500 | Trip to Belgium, France, and Switzerland | 3 |
| GRMN:1550 | German Food, History, and Culture: Beyond Bier and Bratwurst | 3 |
| ITAL:2205 | Exploring Italy: Culture, Society, and Communication | 3 |
| JPNS:2127/ASIA:2127/CLSA:2127 | Books of the Silk Roads | 3 |
| LAS:2700/COMM:2800/IS:2700/SPAN:2700/PORT:2700 | Introduction to Latin American Studies | 3 |
| LING:1080 | Communicating Across Linguistic Differences | 3 |
| SPAN:1800 | Writing and Writers from Latin America | 3 |
| SWAH:2100 | Exploring East African Languages and Cultures | 3 |
| TRNS:2578 | Translation in the Humanities: Modes and Approaches | 3 |
Other Course Sequences
A student who successfully completes a four-semester world language sequence that has not been approved for the GE CLAS Core may have the sequence substituted for a proficiency test to fulfill the GE CLAS Core requirement.
Students who complete a world language sequence this way should notify the department that offers the sequence; the department will contact Degree Services in the Office of the Registrar, which will update a student's degree audit to show fulfillment of the World Languages requirement.
Sustainability
Courses in the Sustainability area focus on identifying concepts and terminology associated with sustainability and systems-thinking, investigating the interconnectedness of human and natural systems, and evaluating how students’ own actions affect and are affected by society’s ability to meet sustainability goals. Students also investigate institutional and/or cultural processes or natural systems processes.
Sustainability learning outcomes are integrated with the outcomes for another GE CLAS Core area so that one approved course satisfies this requirement without adding semester hours. Students complete this requirement by choosing one of the following courses that have been approved for Sustainability and another GE CLAS Core area.
Sustainability and Natural Sciences
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM:1050 | Chemistry of Our World | 3 |
| EES:1080/ENVS:1080 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3-4 |
| EES:1085/ENVS:1085 | Fundamentals of Environmental Science | 4 |
| EES:1400 | Natural Disasters | 3 |
| GEOG:1020 | The Global Environment | 3 |
Sustainability and Quantitative or Formal Reasoning
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG:1030 | Our Digital Earth | 3 |
Sustainability and Social Sciences
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH:2261 | Human Impacts on the Environment | 3 |
| GEOG:2013/BUS:2013/SUST:2013/URP:2013 | Introduction to Sustainability | 3 |
| SOC:1040 | Energy, Sustainability, and Society | 3 |
| URP:2020/PBAF:2020 | Environment and Society: Sustainability, Policy, and Politics | 3 |
Sustainability and Historical Perspectives
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST:1115/EES:1115/ENVS:1115/GEOG:1115 | The History of Oil | 3 |
Sustainability and International and Global Issues
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CPH:2200 | Climageddon: Understanding Climate Change and Associated Impacts on Health | 3 |
| GEOG:1070 | Contemporary Environmental Issues | 3 |
| GWSS:1046/ANTH:1046/GEOG:1046/SJUS:1046 | Environmental Politics in India | 3 |
| POLI:1510 | International Politics of Environmental Issues | 3 |
| POLI:2500 | Politics of Natural Disasters | 3 |
| SPST:2170 | Sport and Globalization | 3 |
Sustainability and Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| TDSN:2210 | Introduction to 3D Design | 3 |
Sustainability and Values and Culture
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JMC:1800 | Twenty-first-Century Science: Environmental Communication in the Digital Age | 3 |
Natural, Quantitative, and Social Sciences
Natural Sciences
Courses in the Natural Sciences area explore the scope and major concepts of a scientific discipline. Students learn the attitudes and practices of scientific investigators: logic, precision, experimentation, tentativeness, and objectivity. In courses with a laboratory component, students gain experience in the methods of scientific inquiry.
All students must complete at least 7 s.h. of coursework in the Natural Sciences area, including at least one natural science lab component. The following courses are approved for the area; courses with a lab component are noted "(lab)."
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH:1301 | Human Origins | 3 |
| ASTR:1060/BIOL:1060/EES:1060 | Big Ideas: Origins of the Universe, Earth, and Life | 3 |
| ASTR:1070 | Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| ASTR:1079 | Introductory Astronomy Laboratory (lab only) | 1 |
| ASTR:1080 | Exploration of the Solar System (lab) | 4 |
| ASTR:1085 | Citizen Astronomy | 3 |
| ASTR:1771 | Fundamental Astronomy I: The Solar System and Exoplanets (lab) | 4 |
| ASTR:1772 | Fundamental Astronomy II: Evolution of Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:1140 | Human Biology: Nonmajors (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:1141 | Human Biology: Health Professions (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:1251 | How the Brain Works (and Why it Doesn't) | 3-4 |
| BIOL:1260 | Plants and Human Affairs | 2-3 |
| BIOL:1261 | Introduction to Botany (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:1370 | Understanding Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL:1411 | Foundations of Biology (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:1412 | Diversity of Form and Function (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:2120 | Good Genes Gone Bad: Genetic Disorders of Notable Celebrities | 3 |
| CHEM:1050 | Chemistry of Our World | 3 |
| CHEM:1060 | Technology and Society Laboratory (lab only) | 1 |
| CHEM:1070 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM:1080 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM:1100 | Chemistry in Industry and the Economy | 3 |
| CHEM:1110 | Principles of Chemistry I (lab) | 4 |
| CHEM:1120 | Principles of Chemistry II (lab) | 4 |
| CHEM:1160 | Principles of Chemistry Lab (lab only) | 2 |
| EES:1030/CEE:1030 | Introduction to Earth Science (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| EES:1031/CEE:1031 | Introduction to Earth Science Laboratory (lab only; students must have previously completed EES:1030/CEE:1030 without the lab) | 1 |
| EES:1040 | Evolution and the History of Life (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| EES:1050 | Introduction to Geology (lab) | 4 |
| EES:1070 | Age of Dinosaurs (lab) | 4 |
| EES:1080/ENVS:1080 | Introduction to Environmental Science (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.; not for students who have taken EES:1085 or ENVS:1085) | 3-4 |
| EES:1081/ENVS:1081 | Introduction to Environmental Sciences Laboratory (lab only) | 1 |
| EES:1085/ENVS:1085 | Fundamentals of Environmental Science (lab; not for students who have taken EES:1080 or ENVS:1080) | 4 |
| EES:1290 | Energy and the Environment | 3 |
| EES:1400 | Natural Disasters | 3 |
| GEOG:1020 | The Global Environment | 3 |
| GEOG:1021 | The Global Environment Lab (lab only) | 1 |
| HHP:1100 | Human Anatomy | 3 |
| HHP:1110 | Human Anatomy Laboratory (lab only) | 1 |
| HHP:1300 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology | 3 |
| HHP:1400 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| HHP:2310 | Nutrition and Health | 3 |
| PCOL:2220 | Drug Use and Abuse | 3 |
| PHYS:1200 | Physics of Everyday Experience | 3 |
| PHYS:1400 | Basic Physics (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| PHYS:1409 | Basic Physics Lab (lab only) | 1 |
| PHYS:1410 | Physics of Sound (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| PHYS:1511 | College Physics I (lab) | 4 |
| PHYS:1512 | College Physics II (lab) | 4 |
| PHYS:1611 | Introductory Physics I (lab) | 4 |
| PHYS:1612 | Introductory Physics II (lab) | 4 |
| PHYS:1619 | Introductory Physics II Lab (lab only; students must have previously completed PHYS:1612 without the lab) | 1 |
| PHYS:1701 | Physics I (lab) | 4 |
| PHYS:1702 | Physics II (lab) | 4 |
| SIED:3164 | Introduction to Global Socioscientific Challenges | 3 |
Quantitative or Formal Reasoning
Courses in the Quantitative or Formal Reasoning area help develop analytical skills through the practice of quantitative or formal symbolic reasoning. Courses focus on presentation and evaluation of evidence and argument; understanding the use and misuse of data; and organization of information in quantitative or other formal symbolic systems, including those used in computer science, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, and statistics.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Quantitative or Formal Reasoning area. Students also may fulfill this GE CLAS Core requirement by completing a course that lists an approved GE CLAS Core course as a prerequisite. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMM:1117 | Advocacy and Argument | 3 |
| CPH:1600 | Public Health Science: Inquiry and Investigation in Public Health | 3 |
| CS:1020 | Principles of Computing | 3 |
| CS:1110 | Introduction to Computer Science | 3 |
| CS:1210 | Computer Science I: Fundamentals | 4 |
| GEOG:1030 | Our Digital Earth | 3 |
| LING:1050 | Language and Formal Reasoning | 3 |
| MATH:1020 | Elementary Functions | 4 |
| MATH:1120 | Logic of Arithmetic | 4 |
| MATH:1260 | PokeMath: The Mathematics of Pokemon Go | 3 |
| MATH:1340 | Mathematics for Business | 4 |
| MATH:1350 | Quantitative Reasoning for Business | 4 |
| MATH:1440 | Mathematics for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
| MATH:1460 | Calculus for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
| MATH:1550 | Engineering Mathematics I: Single Variable Calculus | 4 |
| MATH:1850 | Calculus I | 4 |
| PHIL:1636 | Principles of Reasoning: Argument and Debate | 3 |
| POLI:1050/RELS:1050 | Big Ideas: Introduction to Information, Society, and Culture | 3 |
| POLI:1700 | Introduction to Political Analysis | 3 |
| PSY:2811 | Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology I | 3 |
| STAT:1010 | Statistics and Society | 3 |
| STAT:1015/DATA:1015 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
| STAT:1020/PSQF:1020 | Elementary Statistics and Inference | 3 |
| STAT:1030 | Statistics for Business | 4 |
| STAT:2010 | Statistical Methods and Computing | 3 |
Social Sciences
Courses in the Social Sciences area focus on human behavior and the institutions and social systems that shape and are shaped by that behavior. Courses provide an overview of one or more social science disciplines, their theories, and their methods.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Social Sciences area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH:1101/IS:1101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:2100 | Anthropology and Contemporary World Problems | 3 |
| ANTH:2136 | Race, Place, and Power: Urban Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:2261 | Human Impacts on the Environment | 3 |
| ASP:1800/CSD:1800/NURS:1800/SSW:1800/TR:1800 | Aging Matters: Introduction to Gerontology | 3 |
| COMM:1170 | Communication Theory in Everyday Life | 3 |
| COMM:1174 | Media and Society | 3 |
| CPH:1400 | Fundamentals of Public Health | 3 |
| CRIM:1410 | Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
| CSD:3117/LING:3117 | Psychology of Language | 3 |
| CSD:3118/LING:3118 | Language Acquisition | 1-3 |
| ECON:1100 | Principles of Microeconomics | 4 |
| ECON:1200 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 4 |
| EDTL:2630 | Introduction to the Psychology of Music | 3 |
| GEOG:1090 | Globalization and Geographic Diversity | 3 |
| GEOG:2013/BUS:2013/SUST:2013/URP:2013 | Introduction to Sustainability (GE status effective summer 2022; students with a first degree-seeking session of summer 2011 and beyond may use this course for the Social Sciences GE requirement) | 3 |
| GEOG:2110/GHS:2110 | Eight Billion and Counting: Introduction to Population Dynamics | 3 |
| GEOG:2910 | The Global Economy | 3 |
| JMC:1100 | Introduction to Media Effects | 3 |
| LAW:1010 | Introduction to the Legal System and Practice | 3 |
| LING:1010 | Language and Society | 3 |
| LING:1060 | Languages of the World | 3 |
| MUSM:3001/ANTH:3001/EDTL:3001/SIED:3001 | Introduction to Museum Studies | 3 |
| POLI:1100 | Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1200 | Introduction to Political Behavior | 3 |
| POLI:1300 | Introduction to Political Thought and Action | 3 |
| POLI:1400 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1401 | Introduction to Russian Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1449 | Introduction to European Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1500 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| POLI:1501 | Introduction to American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POLI:1600 | Introduction to Political Communication | 3 |
| POLI:2415/LAS:2415 | Latin American Politics | 3 |
| PSQF:2115 | Introduction to Counseling Psychology | 3 |
| PSY:1001 | Elementary Psychology | 3 |
| PSY:2301 | Introduction to Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| PSY:2401 | Introduction to Developmental Science | 3 |
| PSY:2601 | Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| SOC:1010 | Introduction to Sociology | 3-4 |
| SOC:1040 | Energy, Sustainability, and Society | 3 |
| SOC:1220 | Principles of Social Psychology | 3-4 |
| TR:1070 | Perspectives on Leisure and Play | 3 |
| URP:1001/PBAF:1001 | How to Change the World | 3 |
| URP:2020/PBAF:2020 | Environment and Society: Sustainability, Policy, and Politics | 3 |
Culture, Society, and the Arts
Historical Perspectives
Courses in the Historical Perspectives area help students comprehend the historical processes of change and continuity; develop the ability to generalize, explain, and interpret historical change; and understand the past in its own terms.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Historical Perspectives area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH:1201 | World Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTH:1010 | Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:1050 | From Cave Paintings to Cathedrals: Survey of Western Art I | 3 |
| ARTH:1060 | From Mona Lisa to Modernism: Survey of Western Art II | 3 |
| ARTH:1070 | Asian Art and Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:1090 | Earthly Paradises: A Global History of Gardens | 3 |
| ARTH:2320/CLSA:2226 | Ancient Art from the Great Pyramids of Egypt to the Colosseum in Rome | 3 |
| ARTH:2920 | Introduction to American Art | 3 |
| CLSA:1181/GHS:1181 | Ancient Medicine | 3 |
| CLSA:1830 | Greek Civilization | 3 |
| CLSA:1840 | Roman Civilization | 3 |
| CLSA:2444/RELS:2444 | Cities of the Bible | 3 |
| EPLS:4250 | Education In Black America | 3 |
| FREN:3120 | French Civilization | 3 |
| HIST:1010 | History Matters | 3 |
| HIST:1016 | The History That Made Our World | 3 |
| HIST:1101 | The Modern World | 3 |
| HIST:1115/EES:1115/ENVS:1115/GEOG:1115 | The History of Oil | 3 |
| HIST:1261 | American History to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST:1262 | American History 1877-Present | 3 |
| HIST:1401 | The West and the World: Ancient | 3 |
| HIST:1402 | The West and the World: Medieval | 3 |
| HIST:1403 | The West and the World: Modern | 3 |
| HIST:1601/ASIA:1601 | Civilizations of Asia: China from Origins to the 17th Century | 3 |
| HIST:1602/ASIA:1602 | Civilizations of Asia: China from the 17th Century to the Present | 3 |
| HIST:1604/ASIA:1604 | Civilizations of Asia: Japan | 3-4 |
| HIST:1606/ASIA:1606/RELS:1606 | Civilizations of Asia: South Asia | 3-4 |
| HIST:1607/ASIA:1607 | Civilizations of Asia: Korea | 3-4 |
| HIST:2461/CLSA:2461/RELS:2361 | Middle East and Mediterranean: Alexander to Suleiman | 3 |
| ITAL:2550 | Images of Modern Italy | 3-4 |
| JMC:1200 | Introduction to Media and Culture | 3 |
| MUS:1303 | Roots, Rock, and Rap: A History of Popular Music | 3 |
| MUS:2301 | History of Western Music I | 3 |
| MUS:2302 | History of Western Music II | 3 |
| PHIL:1033 | The Meaning of Life | 3 |
| PHIL:1034 | Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness | 3 |
| RELS:1001 | Judaism, Christianity, and Islam | 3 |
| RELS:1225/HIST:1025 | Medieval Religion and Culture | 3 |
| RELS:1250/HIST:1050 | Modern Religion and Culture | 3 |
| RELS:2930/COMM:2079 | Digital Media and Religion | 3 |
| RUSS:1531 | Slavic Folklore | 3 |
| RUSS:1532 | Traces of Ancient Russian Culture (IX-XVII Centuries): Vikings, Mongols, and Tsars | 3 |
| RUSS:2110 | Russian Sports: Politics, Scandal, Glory | 3 |
| THTR:1400 | Theatre and Society: Ancients and Moderns | 3 |
| THTR:1401 | Theatre and Society: Romantics and Rebels | 3 |
| THTR:2410 | History of Theatre and Drama I | 3 |
| THTR:2411 | History of Theatre and Drama II | 3 |
| UICB:2190/ENGL:2901/HIST:2190 | The Book in Global History | 3 |
International and Global Issues
Courses in the International and Global Issues area focus predominantly on countries or issues outside the United States, encouraging students to understand contemporary issues from an international perspective. Students develop knowledge of one or more contemporary global or international issues, gain a greater awareness of varied international perspectives, and improve their skills of analysis and critical inquiry.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the International and Global Issues area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH:2100 | Anthropology and Contemporary World Problems | 3 |
| ANTH:2136 | Race, Place, and Power: Urban Anthropology | 3 |
| ARTH:1040 | Arts of Africa | 3 |
| CPH:2200 | Climageddon: Understanding Climate Change and Associated Impacts on Health | 3 |
| FREN:1006 | Global Sports and National Cultures | 3 |
| FREN:1510 | Cultural Misunderstandings: France and U.S.A. | 3 |
| GEOG:1070 | Contemporary Environmental Issues | 3 |
| GEOG:1090 | Globalization and Geographic Diversity | 3 |
| GEOG:2910 | The Global Economy | 3 |
| GHS:2000/ANTH:2103 | Introduction to Global Health Studies | 3 |
| GRMN:2720/HIST:2420 | Germany in the World | 3-4 |
| GWSS:1046/ANTH:1046/GEOG:1046/SJUS:1046 | Environmental Politics in India | 3 |
| HIST:1016 | The History That Made Our World | 3 |
| HIST:1403 | The West and the World: Modern | 3 |
| HIST:1602/ASIA:1602 | Civilizations of Asia: China from the 17th Century to the Present | 3 |
| HIST:1604/ASIA:1604 | Civilizations of Asia: Japan | 3-4 |
| HIST:1606/ASIA:1606/RELS:1606 | Civilizations of Asia: South Asia | 3-4 |
| HIST:1607/ASIA:1607 | Civilizations of Asia: Korea | 3-4 |
| IS:2000 | Introduction to International Studies | 3 |
| IS:2560 | Global Food Migrations | 3 |
| ITAL:2770 | The Mafia and the Movies | 3 |
| LING:1040/ANTH:1040 | Language Rights | 3 |
| POLI:1400 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1401 | Introduction to Russian Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1449 | Introduction to European Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1500 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| POLI:1501 | Introduction to American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POLI:1510 | International Politics of Environmental Issues | 3 |
| POLI:2415/LAS:2415 | Latin American Politics | 3 |
| POLI:2500 | Politics of Natural Disasters | 3 |
| RELS:1130/HIST:1030 | Introduction to Islamic Civilization | 3 |
| RELS:2852/GWSS:2052 | Women in Islam and the Middle East | 3 |
| RUSS:1132 | Russia Today | 3 |
| RELS:2955/IS:2955 | Human Rights and Islam | 3 |
| RUSS:2050/WLLC:2050 | Women from an Unknown Land: The Fight for Independence | 3 |
| SPST:2170 | Sport and Globalization | 3 |
Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts
Courses in the Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts area provide students with opportunities to appreciate the arts and to analyze them within their historical and theoretical contexts. They also help students develop the analytic, expressive, and imaginative abilities necessary for understanding, appreciating, and creating art.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM:1240/MUS:1740 | The Art of Listening to Jazz | 3 |
| AMST:1800 | American Gothic: Film, Literature, and Popular Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:1010 | Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:1020 | Masterpieces: Art in Historical and Cultural Perspectives | 3 |
| ARTH:1030 | Themes in Global Art | 3 |
| ARTH:1040 | Arts of Africa | 3 |
| ARTH:1050 | From Cave Paintings to Cathedrals: Survey of Western Art I | 3 |
| ARTH:1060 | From Mona Lisa to Modernism: Survey of Western Art II | 3 |
| ARTH:1070 | Asian Art and Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:1095/NAIS:1095 | Native American Art | 3 |
| ARTH:2920 | Introduction to American Art | 3 |
| ARTS:1010 | Elements of Art | 3 |
| ARTS:1030 | Elements of Jewelry and Metal Arts | 3 |
| ARTS:1050 | Elements of Printmaking | 3 |
| ARTS:1080 | Elements of Sculpture | 3 |
| CERM:2010 | Ceramics I: Handbuilding | 3 |
| CHIN:1702 | Chinese Popular Culture | 3 |
| CINE:1100 | The Art of Smartphone Filmmaking | 3 |
| CINE:1602 | Introduction to Film Studies | 3 |
| CINE:1610 | Contemporary Cinema | 3 |
| CLSA:1010 | Hero, God, Mortal: Literature of Greece | 3 |
| CLSA:1020 | Love and Glory: The Literature of Rome | 3 |
| CLSA:1740/WRIT:1740 | Writing Strategies: Word Origins and Word Choice | 3 |
| CLSA:1809 | Ancient World on the Modern Screen | 3 |
| CLSA:2016 | Classical Mythology | 3 |
| CNW:1620 | Introduction to Creative Nonfiction | 3 |
| CW:1800 | Creative Writing Studio Workshop | 3 |
| DANC:1010 | Beginning Tap | 3 |
| DANC:1020 | Beginning Jazz | 3 |
| DANC:1025 | Beginning Hip Hop Dance | 3 |
| DANC:1030 | Beginning Ballet | 3 |
| DANC:1040 | Beginning Modern Dance | 3 |
| DANC:1110 | Continuing Tap | 3 |
| DANC:1120 | Continuing Jazz | 3 |
| DANC:1125 | Continuing Hip Hop Dance | 3 |
| DANC:1130 | Continuing Ballet | 3 |
| DANC:1140 | Continuing Modern Dance | 3 |
| DANC:2020 | Intermediate Jazz | 3 |
| DANC:2025 | Intermediate Hip Hop Dance | 3 |
| DANC:2060 | Dance and Society in Global Contexts | 3 |
| EDTL:2122 | Creativity, Imagination, Play, and Human Development through the Arts | 3 |
| ENGL:1100 | City of Literature | 3 |
| FREN:4100 | French Cinema | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2275 | Scandinavian Crime Fiction | 3 |
| GRMN:2630 | German Cinema: Greatest Hits | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2666/WLLC:2666 | Pact with the Devil | 3 |
| GRMN:2785 | Cyborgs, Monsters, and the Uncanny | 3 |
| HONR:2992 | Classic Cult Cinema | 3 |
| ITAL:2440 | Italian Arts for International Success | 3 |
| LATS:1700/SPAN:1700 | Latina/o/x Literature in the United States | 3 |
| MUS:1001 | Group Piano I: Non-Music Majors | 1 |
| MUS:1009 | Jazz Cultures in America and Abroad | 3 |
| MUS:1012 | Creativity in Music | 3 |
| MUS:1020 | Performance Instruction for Nonmajors | 1 |
| MUS:1066 | Introduction to Film Music | 3 |
| MUS:1301 | Concepts and Contexts of Western Music | 3 |
| MUS:1302 | Great Musicians | 3 |
| MUS:1310 | World Music | 3 |
| MUS:1720 | History of Jazz | 3 |
| MUS:1800 | World of the Beatles | 3 |
| MUS:2005 | Issues in Popular Music: Women Who Rock | 3 |
| MUS:2301 | History of Western Music I | 3 |
| MUS:2302 | History of Western Music II | 3 |
| MUS:2311/LAS:2311 | Music of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| PORT:2850/LAS:2850/SPAN:2850 | Brazilian Narrative in Translation | 3 |
| SCLP:2810 | Undergraduate Sculpture I | 3 |
| TDSN:2210 | Introduction to 3D Design | 3 |
| THTR:1140 | Basic Acting | 3 |
| THTR:1400 | Theatre and Society: Ancients and Moderns | 3 |
| THTR:1401 | Theatre and Society: Romantics and Rebels | 3 |
| THTR:1412/DANC:1412 | The Arts in Performance | 3 |
| THTR:2301 | Playwriting I | 3 |
| THTR:2410 | History of Theatre and Drama I | 3 |
| THTR:2411 | History of Theatre and Drama II | 3 |
| TRNS:1240/CLSA:1040 | World Literature in Translation I | 3 |
| TRNS:1241 | World Literature: 1700 to Present | 3 |
| UICB:2110 | Introduction to Book Arts | 3 |
Values and Culture
Courses in the Values and Culture area focus on how culture shapes the human experience and the role of values in society, with students asking fundamental questions regarding the human experience while exploring their own values and beliefs.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Values and Culture area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AMST:1010 | Understanding American Cultures | 3 |
| AMST:1049/HIST:1049/NAIS:1049 | Introduction to Native American and Indigenous Studies | 3 |
| AMST:1154 | Food in America | 3 |
| AMST:2000 | Introduction to American Studies | 3 |
| ANTH:1101/IS:1101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ARTH:1030 | Themes in Global Art | 3 |
| ARTH:1045 | Race and Art in America | 3 |
| ARTH:1095/NAIS:1095 | Native American Art | 3 |
| ARTS:2000/ASP:2000/EDTL:2000/RHET:2000 | Big Ideas: Creativity for a Lifetime | 3 |
| ASIA:1502/RELS:1502/SOAS:1502 | Asian Humanities: India | 3 |
| ASIA:1609/HIST:1609 | India Now! Surveying the World's Largest Democracy | 3-4 |
| ASIA:2450 | India Beat: The Aesthetics and Politics of India Today | 3 |
| CHIN:1504 | China Beyond Walls | 3 |
| CHIN:1800 | Chinese Calligraphy and Culture | 3 |
| CLSA:1340 | Magic in the Ancient World | 3 |
| CLSA:1454 | Hebrew Bible for Everyone | 3 |
| CLSA:1455 | New Testament for Everyone | 3 |
| CLSA:1875 | Ancient Sports and Leisure | 3 |
| CLSA:2016 | Classical Mythology | 3 |
| CLSA:2482/RELS:2182 | Ancient Mediterranean Religions | 3 |
| CLSA:2651/GWSS:2651 | Gender and Sexuality in the Ancient World | 3 |
| COMM:1174 | Media and Society | 3 |
| DANC:1150/LAS:1150 | Brazilian Culture and Carnival | 3 |
| EPLS:4180 | Human Relations for the Classroom Teacher | 3 |
| GHS:2100/GWSS:2100 | Foundations of Health Humanities | 3 |
| GRMN:2618/WLLC:2618 | Film and Literature of the Holocaust | 3 |
| GWSS:1060/AMST:1060/ENGL:1410 | Sex and Popular Culture in America | 3 |
| HHP:2200 | Physical Activity and Health | 3 |
| HIST:1708 | Civilizations of Africa | 3 |
| HONR:1670 | Values and Culture | 3 |
| ITAL:2550 | Images of Modern Italy | 3 |
| ITAL:2880 | Italian Food Culture | 3 |
| JMC:1500 | Introduction to Social Media | 3 |
| JMC:1800 | Twenty-first-Century Science: Environmental Communication in the Digital Age | 3 |
| JPNS:1506 | Ghostly Japan | 3 |
| LATS:1700/SPAN:1700 | Latina/o/x Literature in the United States | 3 |
| LING:2900 | Language and Gender | 3 |
| MUS:1009 | Jazz Cultures in America and Abroad | 3 |
| MUS:1720 | History of Jazz | 3 |
| MUS:2311/LAS:2311 | Music of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| PHIL:1401 | Matters of Life and Death | 3 |
| PHIL:1861 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL:2402 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| POLI:1300 | Introduction to Political Thought and Action | 3 |
| RELS:1070 | Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament | 3 |
| RELS:1080 | Introduction to the New Testament | 3 |
| RELS:1130/HIST:1030 | Introduction to Islamic Civilization | 3 |
| RELS:1350/AFAM:1250 | Introduction to African American Religions | 3 |
| RELS:1404/ASIA:1040/HIST:1610 | Introduction to Asian Religions | 3 |
| RELS:1506/ASIA:1060/HIST:1612 | Introduction to Buddhism | 3 |
| RELS:1702 | Religion in America Today | 3 |
| RELS:1810 | Happiness in a Difficult World | 3 |
| RELS:1903 | Quest for Human Destiny | 3 |
| RELS:2852/GWSS:2052 | Women in Islam and the Middle East | 3 |
| RELS:2986 | Religion and Women | 3 |
| RHET:2070 | Persuasive Stories | 3 |
| RUSS:1082 | Youth Subcultures After Socialism | 3 |
| RUSS:1131/WLLC:1131 | Introduction to Russian Culture | 3 |
| RUSS:1132 | Russia Today | 3 |
| RUSS:1531 | Slavic Folklore | 3 |
| RUSS:1532 | Traces of Ancient Russian Culture (IX-XVII Centuries): Vikings, Mongols, and Tsars | 3 |
| RUSS:2100 | Russian Mindset: Sex, Business, and Politics | 3 |
| SOC:1310/GWSS:1310 | Gender and Society | 3 |
| SOC:2710 | The American Family | 3 |
| SOC:2810 | Social Inequality | 3 |
| SPAN:2901 | Diversity and Cultures in Spain | 3 |
| SRM:1070 | Recreation and Parks in the United States: Foundations and Impact | 3 |
| SSW:1022/SOC:1022 | Social Justice and Social Welfare in the United States | 3 |
| THTR:1411 | Comedy and Society | 3 |
| THTR:1412/DANC:1412 | The Arts in Performance | 3 |
The flexible structure of the international studies major allows students to tailor the degree to fit a wide range of academic interests and career goals. International studies is an ideal complement to a variety of academic degree programs and many students combine the international studies major with another major such as in world languages, business, journalism, health sciences, or the arts.
International studies alumni find employment in a range of career sectors such as education, nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), business, government, and translation/interpreting.
Specific examples of organizations where recent graduates have found post-graduation opportunities include Doctors without Borders (New York City, New York), the International Visitor Leadership Program/U.S. Department of State (Washington, D.C.), Coyote Logistics (Chicago, Illinois), Peace Corps (Cambodia and Uganda), American Councils for International Education (Washington, D.C.), CET Study Abroad Programs (Greece), RefugeeRISE AmeriCorps (Des Moines and Iowa City, Iowa), Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (Japan), The Bold Italic (San Francisco, California), and Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid (Austin, Texas).
International studies graduates also have used their cross-cultural, interdisciplinary education to win prestigious awards such as the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (Czech Republic, Taiwan, Brazil, Russia), the Gilman Scholarship, the Stanley Undergraduate Award for International Research, the Princeton in Latin America Fellowship, and the Critical Language Scholarship.
Additionally, the international studies major is excellent preparation for graduate and professional programs in law, international development, medicine, nonprofit management, higher education, public health, and urban and regional planning.
The Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.
Four-Year Graduation Plan
The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete in order to stay on the university's Four-Year Graduation Plan. Courses in the major are those required to complete the major; they may be offered by departments other than the major department.
Students who intend to study abroad during their junior year should schedule an appointment during their fourth semester to meet with an advisor from International Programs Study Abroad; those who intend to study abroad during their senior year should schedule an appointment during their sixth semester.
Before the fifth semester begins: at least two 3 s.h. foundation courses, and one global perspectives course or world cultures and societies course.
Before the seventh semester begins: at least nine courses in the major and at least 90 s.h. earned toward the degree.
Before the eighth semester begins: at least 12 courses in the major.
During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining coursework in the major (including capstone course if not already taken), all remaining GE CLAS Core courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate.
Iowa Degree in Three
University of Iowa majors who are strongly motivated can graduate with a degree in three years under the Iowa Degree in Three. The program is available to students who can complete more semester hours each term than they would on the Four-Year Graduation Plan.
Students sign an agreement during their first semester of enrollment; meet with an advisor at least once a semester to review their plans and progress; take courses during summer sessions, if necessary; meet specific course checkpoints; and maintain the grade-point average required for the major.
Students are allowed to bring Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), or transfer credit upon admission to reduce the number of semester hours required for their degree. They should consult their advisor about the program.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
International Studies, BA
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| The international studies program encourages students to develop cross-cultural skills through study abroad and/or involvement with internationally-focused U.S.-based organizations. a | ||
| Honors students must choose IS:3010 Writing and Research for the World for their capstone option and complete IS:4991 Honors Thesis in International Studies. | ||
| GE CLAS Core: Sustainability b | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| IS:2000 | Introduction to International Studies c | 3 |
| ENGL:1200 or RHET:1030 |
The Interpretation of Literature or Rhetoric |
3 - 4 |
| GE CLAS Core: Values and Society d | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: World Languages First Level Proficiency or elective course e | 4 - 5 | |
| First-Year Seminar course with international content encouraged | 1 | |
| CSI:1600 | Success at Iowa | 2 |
| Hours | 16-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| IS:2500 or IS:1000 |
Working Internationally c or Designing Your International Studies Major |
1 |
| IS:2009 | World Travel: Cross-Cultural Skills for International Business, Education, and Service c | 3 |
| RHET:1030 or ENGL:1200 |
Rhetoric or The Interpretation of Literature |
3 - 4 |
| GE CLAS Core: World Languages Second Level Proficiency or elective course e | 4 - 5 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Hours | 14-16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| IS:2020 | World Events Today! c | 3 |
| Major: world cultures and societies course (may select optional concentration course) g, h | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: Natural Sciences without Lab d | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: World Languages Third Level Proficiency or elective course e | 4 - 5 | |
| Elective course f | 2 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Major: global perspectives course (may select optional concentration course) g, i | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts d | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: Quantitative or Formal Reasoning d | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: World Languages Fourth Level Proficiency or elective course e | 4 - 5 | |
| Elective course f | 2 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| IS:1000 or IS:2500 |
Designing Your International Studies Major c or Working Internationally |
1 |
| Major: world cultures and societies course (may select optional concentration course) g, h | 3 | |
| Major: language requirement course j | 3 - 5 | |
| GE CLAS Core: Historical Perspectives d | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: Natural Sciences with Lab d | 4 | |
| Elective course f | 1 | |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Major: global perspectives course (may select optional concentration course) g, i | 3 | |
| Major: world cultures and societies course (may select optional concentration course) g, h | 3 | |
| Major: language requirement course j | 3 - 5 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-17 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| IS:3010 | Writing and Research for the World g, i | 3 |
| Major: world cultures and societies course (may select optional concentration course) g, h | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: Social Sciences d | 3 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| IS:3012 | Service Learning in International Studies g, i | 3 |
| Major: global perspectives course (may select optional concentration course) g, i | 3 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Elective course f | 3 | |
| Degree Application: apply on MyUI before deadline (typically in February for spring, September for fall) k | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120-130 | |
- a
- Students meet regularly with the international studies academic advisor for help in identifying experiential learning activities and integrating them into their academic plans.
- b
- Sustainability must be completed by choosing a course that has been approved for Sustainability AND for one of these General Education areas: Natural Sciences; Quantitative and Formal Reasoning; Social Sciences; Historical Perspectives; International and Global Issues; Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts; or Values and Society.
- c
- Students earn a minimum of 10 s.h. in foundation courses.
- d
- GE CLAS Core courses may be completed in any order unless used as a prerequisite for another course. Students should consult with an advisor about the best sequencing of courses.
- e
- Students who have completed four levels of a single language or two levels of two different languages in high school or college have satisfied the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Students who have completed three levels of a single language may complete a fourth-level course in the same language or may choose an approved World Language and Cultural Exploration course. Enrollment in world languages courses requires a placement exam, unless enrolling in a first-semester-level course. Contact your academic advisor or CLAS Undergraduate Programs Office with questions concerning the World Languages requirement.
- f
- Students may use elective courses to earn credit towards the total s.h. required for graduation or to complete a double major, minors, or certificates.
- g
- Students have the option to complete a 15 s.h. concentration. They choose global perspectives courses and world cultures and societies courses approved in one of the three concentrations: global business and communication, international human rights and public service, or international sustainable development.
- h
- Students earn a minimum of 12 s.h. in world cultures and societies courses including at least 6 s.h. numbered 2000 or above; see the General Catalog for list of approved courses.
- i
- Students earn a minimum of 12 s.h. in global perspectives courses including at least 6 s.h. numbered 2000 or above; see the General Catalog for list of approved courses.
- j
- Students must complete a minimum of two world language courses beyond that required by the GE CLAS Core program. If students have not completed the fourth level of a single language in fulfilling the GE CLAS Core requirement, then they must complete the fourth level of a single world language to fulfill the international studies major language requirement. If a student completes the fourth level of a single language prior to completed the international studies major language requirement, this requirement can be met by completing additional courses in the same language or two courses in a second world language at at any level. A single course in a second language may not be used alone. A maximum of one 3 s.h. course from the GE CLAS Core World Language and Cultural Exploration course list may also be used toward the major requirement.
- k
- Please see Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar website for current degree application deadlines. Students should apply for a degree for the session in which all requirements will be met. For any questions on appropriate timing, contact your academic advisor or Degree Services.