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DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
INTERNATIONAL AFAIRS APPROVED CORE COURSES
ASIAN STUDIES COURSES
LACS COURSES
RUSSIAN & EASTERN EUROPEAN STUDIES COURSES
GRADUATE STUDIES

Undergraduate Department of International Affairs

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES & PUBLIC POLICY

Department of International Affairs Website

Director: Na'ama Nagar (Social Sciences); Director of Undergraduate Studies: Whitney Bendeck (Social Sciences); Director of Internships and Professional Development: Lee Metcalf (Social Science)

The Departments of Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion, Sociology, and Urban and Regional Planning, as well as the School of Public Administration and Policy, cooperate in the offering of an interdepartmental major and minor in International Affairs at the undergraduate level. The program develops a student's knowledge of global history, culture, and contemporary political and economic issues. The requirements for the International Affairs major allow students to pursue a variety of distinct interests that align with a student's personal and professional goals. Employment opportunities are to be found in government service, international organizations (public, private, or non-profit), business, journalism, and teaching.

Digital Literacy Requirement

Students must complete at least one course designated as meeting the Digital Literacy Requirement with a grade of “C–” or higher. Courses fulfilling the Digital Literacy Requirement must accomplish at least three of the following outcomes:

  • Evaluate and interpret the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of digital information

  • Evaluate and interpret digital data and their implications

  • Discuss the ways in which society and/or culture interact with digital technology

  • Discuss digital technology trends and their professional implications

  • Demonstrate the ability to use digital technology effectively

  • Demonstrate the knowledge to use digital technology safely and ethically

Each academic major has determined the courses that fulfill the Digital Literacy requirement for that major. Students should contact their major department(s) to determine which courses will fulfill their Digital Literacy requirement.

Undergraduate majors in international affairs satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of “C–” or higher in any course at FSU which meets the CoreFSU Curriculum computer competency designation, though it is strongly recommended that students take either CGS 2060 or CGS 2100 in order to satisfy this requirement.

International Affairs Degree Requirements

The degree in International Affairs allows students to pursue a general track major in International Affairs; a specialized regionally focused major in Asian Studies, Latin American & Caribbean Studies, or Russian & East European Studies; or a regionally focused major with specialized business emphasis in Asian Studies or Latin American & Caribbean Studies.

All majors within the International Affairs degree program require students to complete a minimum of 40 semester hours in the major. A grade of “C–” or better is required in each major course. A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in all coursework applied to the major must be maintained. Proficiency in an intermediate modern foreign language is required but does not count towards the 40 credits in the major. For Area Studies majors, a relevant area language is required. The International Affairs degree does not require a minor.

All courses counted toward any International Affairs major must come from the approved list of courses provided by the International Affairs program each term. These term course lists are available on the College's Office of Academic Affairs website and from a College academic advisor. A master list of approved courses (excluding approved Special Topics courses) in the participating departments is provided below.  Some departments may have recommended prerequisite coursework prior to enrolling in upper-level courses. Coursework must include the required core courses INS 2010 Professional Development for International Affairs Majors (one credit hour) and INS 3003 Introduction to International Affairs (three credit hours). INS 3003 meets the university requirement for upper-division writing (CoreFSU website).

In addition to a 2.0 overall GPA across coursework credited to the major, all students must meet “mapping” requirements. See the Academic Program Guide website for more information.

Language Requirement

While Students may choose to obtain either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, in both cases they must complete coursework in a modern foreign language to the intermediate level (2220 or equivalent course) or demonstrate intermediate proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking a modern foreign language. Ancient or classical languages do not satisfy this requirement. Any credit hours taken to meet this requirement do not count towards the 40 credit hours required to complete the major. Students majoring in any of the regionally focused majors (Asian Studies, Latin American & Caribbean Studies, or Russian & East European Studies) must satisfy their language requirement from the approved list of languages for their major or as approved by the International Affairs program director.

Students majoring in Asian Studies are required to complete relevant area language coursework to the intermediate level or demonstrate proficiency to the intermediate college level in Chinese, Japanese, or Arabic (at 2200 level or equivalent course).

Students majoring in Latin American and Caribbean Studies are required to complete relevant area language coursework to the intermediate level or demonstrate proficiency to the intermediate college level in Spanish, Portuguese, or French (at 2200 level or equivalent course).

Students majoring in Russian and East European Studies are required to complete relevant area language coursework to the intermediate level or demonstrate proficiency to the intermediate college level in. Languages available at FSU are Russian, German, and Ukrainian (at 2200 level or equivalent course).

Major in International Affairs

Coursework for the general track major in International Affairs must include classes from at least three participating departments as provided in the approved course list. The major requires completion of a departmental concentration of a minimum of 12 semester hours and a maximum of 18 semester hours in one of the listed participating departments. No more than 18 credit hours may be credited to the major from any one department. At least 18 semester hours credited to the major must be above the 2999 level. A maximum combined total of 12 semester hours in internship (INS 4941 or INS 4940), directed individual study (INR 4905), or upper-division honors in the major (INR 4937) may be credited to the major. The major requires completion of language coursework or demonstrated competency through the intermediate level (see below).

Students are advised to coordinate their coursework with foreign language study, focusing on a regional concentration (e.g., Africa, the Middle East, East or South Asia, Russia, Eastern and Central Europe, Western Europe, or Latin America).  

Major in Asian Studies or Latin American and Caribbean Studies or Russian and East European Studies

Students majoring in Asian Studies, Latin American & Caribbean Studies, or Russian & East European Studies are to construct their study program around four components: (1) the respective language requirement, (2) the International Affairs core courses, (3) twenty-four hours of area-specific coursework from the respective approved course list, and (4) twelve hours of additional elective coursework taken from the general International Affairs or respective area-specific course list. At least 18 semester hours credited to the major must be above the 2999 level. A maximum combined total of 12 semester hours in internship, directed individual study, or upper-division honors in the major may be credited to the major. The major requires completion of language coursework or demonstrated competency through the intermediate level.

Major in Asian Studies or in Latin American and Caribbean Studies with Business Emphasis

Students pursuing a major in either Asian Studies with Business Emphasis or in Latin American & Caribbean Studies with Business Emphasis construct their program of study around four components: (1) the respective language requirement, (2) the International Affairs core courses, (3) at least twenty-one hours of area-specific coursework from the respective approved course list, and (4) completing one of two fifteen semester hour business coursework options in either an international marketing/management track or an international finance track. The prerequisites for both tracks include ECO 2013 and ECO 2023, which may be taken as part of the student's CoreFSU Curriculum requirements. In addition, students opting for the international finance track must complete ACG 2021 as a prerequisite. At least 18 semester hours credited to the major must be above the 2999 level. A maximum combined total of 12 semester hours in internship, directed individual study, or upper-division honors in the major may be credited to the major. The major requires completion of language coursework or demonstrated competency through the intermediate level.

International Marketing/Management Track

MAN 3240 Organizational Behavior

MAN 3600 Multinational Business Operations (Prerequisites: ECO 2013, ECO 2023)

MAR 3023 Basic Marketing Concepts (Prerequisite: ECO 2023)

And six hours selected from:

MAN 4401 Management of Labor and Industrial Relations (Corequisite: MAN 3240)

MAN 4605 Cross-Cultural Management (Prerequisite: MAN 3240)

MAN 4680 Selected Topics in International Management (Prerequisites: ECO 2013, ECO 2023, MAN 3600)

MAN 4701 Business and Society (Prerequisite: MAN 3240 or MAN 3025)

MAR 4156 Multinational Marketing (Prerequisite: MAR 3023, MAN 3600)

International Finance Track

FIN 3244 Financial Markets, Institutions, and International Finance Systems (Prerequisites: ACG 2021, ECO 2013)

FIN 3403 Financial Management of the Firm (Prerequisites: ACG 2021, ECO 2023)

MAN 3600 Multinational Business Operations (Prerequisites: ECO 2013, ECO 2023)

And six hours selected from:

FIN 4424 Problems in Financial Management (Prerequisites: CGS 2518, FIN 3244, FIN 3403)

FIN 4504 Investments (Prerequisites: CGS 2518, FIN 3244, FIN 3403)

FIN 4514 Security Analysis and Portfolio Management (Prerequisites: CGS 2518, FIN 4504)

FIN 4604 Multinational Financial Management (Prerequisites: CGS 2518, FIN 3244, FIN 3403)

GEB 4455 Perspectives on Free Enterprise (Prerequisites: FIN 3244, FIN 3403)

Study Abroad

Students pursuing a degree in International Affairs are strongly encouraged to study abroad either through FSU International Programs (International Programs website) or the Center for Global Engagement (Global Exchanges website). Students can earn academic credit towards the International Affairs major at a variety of international destinations. Students should consult with their academic advisor about any study abroad programs they wish to pursue. Coursework taken abroad must be approved in advance for credit toward the major.

Internship

The Program in International Affairs encourages students to take advantage of internships at the state, national, and international level. There are opportunities to work in the international arena through agencies and businesses in Florida's capital, the Washington Center Program in Washington, DC., and Florida State's International Programs in Valencia, Panama, and London. Most significantly, International Affairs students can apply for one of the several prestigious internships in London, where students may be placed in Parliament, the American Embassy, Amnesty International, NBC, the Associated Press, the British-American Chamber of Commerce, and other significant organizations, or in Panama where the United Nations has regional offices. Students wishing to earn major academic credit for an internship must meet the following prerequisites: active, upper division student (earned at least 52 credits), cumulative 3.0 GPA, and instructor approval. In order to obtain the internship application form, please visit the undergraduate International Affairs Canvas site. Applications must be submitted, and all internships must be approved the term before the internship takes place. Students approved for academic credit in an International Affairs internship will be enrolled in and must satisfactorily complete INS 4941 International Affairs Internship, which meets the university's formative experience requirement (CoreFSU website). See the International Affairs program specialist in 211 Bellamy for further information.

Honors in the Major

The Program in International Affairs offers honors in the major (INR 4937) to encourage talented students to undertake independent research. For requirements and other information, see the “University Honors Office and Honor Societies” chapter of this General Bulletin.

Second Majors

When students pursue a second major, they may count six semester hours of overlapping coursework toward both of their majors. Otherwise, all major requirements listed above must be met.

Requirements for a Minor in International Affairs

A minor consists of eighteen semester hours  with grades of “C–” or better. Courses must include work from at least three participating departments, and all of those courses must be from the approved list of courses below or terms lists provided by the program. Modern language courses numbered above 2999 may count toward the minor, except that no courses used to complete any university, college, or major language requirements may count toward the minor. Nine of the 18 semester hours must be numbered above 2999. A maximum combined total of six semester hours in International Affairs internship or directed individual study may apply to the minor.

Requirements for a Minor in Asian Studies or Latin American & Caribbean Studies or Russian & East European Studies

A minor consists of eighteen semester hours with grades of “C–” or better. Courses must be selected from the respective approved list of area-specific courses below or term lists provided by the program. Modern language courses numbered above 2999 may count toward the minor if in a language approved for the respective program, except that no courses used to complete any university, college, or major language requirements may count toward the minor. Nine of the 18 semester hours must be numbered above 2999. A maximum combined total of six semester hours in International Affairs internship or directed individual study may apply to the minor.