Special Programs
International Studies
The Office of International Programs offers a minor that allows undergraduate students to pursue an interdisciplinary and comparative study of foreign cultures and societies while they fulfill the academic requirements for a major in one of the approved University degree programs. Students who minor in International Studies select one of five academic tracks (African Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, International Business, or a self-designed track focused on a particular issue, theme and/or region).
Students who minor in International Studies choose from a variety of courses and disciplines, including foreign languages, humanities, social sciences, and business. Students plan their individual programs of study with their department advisers and the Associate Vice Chancellor for International Programs. The minor is designed to provide students with cultural and intellectual enrichment for more rewarding lives in an increasingly interdependent world. The program is of particular value to those with career objectives in government, business, trade, finance, law, journalism, teaching, military service, and health. It also serves those who will seek employment with international agencies such as the United Nations and with private religious and humanitarian service organizations.
Education Abroad. Students who take advantage of the education abroad opportunities provided by the Office of International Programs may apply their overseas study credits to the minor, or where appropriate, to their major.
Core courses. 6 hours of introductory coursework selected from:
GEOG 1101 World Regional Geography (3) POLS 1150 Introduction to International Politics (3) HIST 1100 The World Since 1945 (3) ANTH 1101 General Anthropology (3)Foreign Languages. 8 semester hours of foreign language at the 2201 and 2202 level in a language related to the area track selected. If 2201 and 2202 courses are not available in the language, 1201 and 1202 in a second appropriate language may be presented. (See description of area tracks for appropriate foreign languages.)
Area Track. 12 semester hours of coursework appropriate to one of the tracks listed below. All courses must be chosen outside the student's major and from at least 2 departments. Some courses which may be appropriate for a selected area track may not be listed below. Students may take non-listed courses with the permission of an International Studies Minor adviser. The tracks and their requirements are:
African Studies. Language. Students pursuing the International Studies Minor with a concentration in African Studies are encouraged to choose French to fulfill the language requirement. Courses:
AAAS 2205 African Culture (or ANTH 2111)
AAAS 2206 African Literature, Music and Art
AAAS 2207 Introduction to Pan Africanism
AAAS 2221 Introduction to Contemporary Africa
(or HIST 2211)
AAAS 3265 African Economic Development
AAAS 4103 Warfare, the Military, and Civil Wars in Africa
ANTH 2111 Peoples of Africa (or AAAS 2205)
ENGL 4155 Pan-African Literature
HIST 2210 Pre-Colonial Africa
HIST 2211 Modern Africa (or AAAS 2221)
HIST 3151 South Africa
HIST 3180 Slavery in the Americas
POLS 3143 African Politics
Asian Studies. Language. Students pursuing the
International
Studies Minor with a concentration in Asian Studies are required
to take either four semesters of Japanese (through level 2202
or equivalent) or two semesters of Japanese (through level 1102
or equivalent) and two semesters of Chinese (through level 1102
or equivalent). Courses:
HIST 2200 Asian Civilization HIST 2201 History of Modern Asia HIST 3161 China in Revolution HIST 3165 History of Modern Japan HIST 3169 The West in Asia POLS 3148 Chinese Politics POLS 3149 Japanese Politics POLS 3165 East Asia in World Affairs POLS 3167 The United States and Japan RELS 2102 Introduction to Asian Religions RELS 3154 Hinduism RELS 3157 Buddhism RELS 3163 Religious Art and Architecture in India RELS 3166 Taoism RELS 3169 Zen Buddhism RELS 3172 Religion in Asian LiteratureEuropean Studies. Language. Students pursuing the International Studies Minor with a concentration in European Studies are required to take four semesters of French, German, Russian, or Spanish (through level 2202 or equivalent). If only two semesters of Russian are available, the second year should consist of two semesters of another European language. Courses:
ECON 3133 Economic History of Europe ENGL 3128 British Literature since WW I ENGL 4123 The Modern British Novel ENGL 4124 Modern Irish Literature ENGL 4152 Modern European Literature FORL 3160 European Cinema FREN 3203 Introduction to French Literature FREN 3209 Studies in French Culture and Civilization FREN 4202 Survey of French Literature II GERM 3050 Studies in German Culture GERM 4204 Survey of German Literature II HIST 2261 Britain since 1688 HIST 2271 France, 1815 to the Present HIST 2281 Twentieth Century Germany HIST 3116 Twentieth Century Europe HIST 3134 European Intellectual History since 1789 HIST 2252 Russian History 1917 - Present POLS 3141 Government and Politics of Western Europe POLS 3145 Government and Politics of the USSR SPAN 3203 Introduction to Spanish Literature SPAN 3209 Spanish Civilization and Culture SPAN 4202 Twentieth Century Spanish LiteratureInternational Business. Language. Students pursuing the International Studies Minor with a concentration in International Business are required to take either four semesters (or the equivalent) of a single foreign language or two semesters (or the equivalent) of two foreign languages. Students are encouraged to take commercial or business language courses where these are available. Courses.
At least 9 semester hours must be selected from the following courses:
FINN 3223 International Financial Management MGMT 3274 International Business Processes MKTG 3215 International Marketing Management ACCT 3150 International Accounting MKTG 3218 Export Marketing and Logistics ECON 3171 International Economics for Non-MajorsThree semester hours may be selected from the list above or the following courses:
AAAS 3265 African Economic Development ANTH 4120 Intercultural Communications POLS 3151 International Political EconomyNOTE: Enrollment in courses offered by The Belk College of Business Administration is subject to all class standing and prerequisite requirements of the College. These requirements may be waived or modified by permission of the Coordinator of the International Business Program or by the chairperson of the department offering the course.
Self-designed Track. Students who choose to focus their study around a particular issue, theme, or region not covered by the other area tracks may do so with the advice and consent of an International Studies faculty adviser. Working together they will design a program of study and select an appropriate foreign language. Students seeking to self-design a track must see an adviser prior to declaring the minor.
Students are encouraged to begin planning for study or work abroad while they are freshmen or sophomores. The study abroad experience may take place during the sophomore, junior, or senior year. Regular UNC Charlotte financial aid is often applicable to study abroad.
The Office of International Programs assists students in choosing and applying for education abroad programs. It also provides cross-cultural orientation and re-entry (to the United States) assistance.
Further information about the Study Abroad or International Student Exchange programs may be obtained from the Office of International Programs.