International Studies Classes

HIST 152 (3): World Civilization Since 1500: A study of the trends and cultures of the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific World since 1500, emphasizing political, diplomatic, economic, and social development. An emphasis on non-Western cultures. Majors who transfer 2 or 6 hours in Western Civilization or World Civilization from another institution must not repeat 151 or 152 or both, but instead take 3 or 6 hours of History at the 300 level or above. See department chair. Spring.

POLS 380 (3): Globalization and Its Critics: Examines the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of globalization and its historic antecedents. Emphasis is placed on how globalization is experienced and interpreted by non-Western cultures and their responses to globalization’s challenges. Even years Spring.

3 Hours from

ANTH 100 (3): Introduction to Cultural Anthropology: Introduces the study of culture and human diversity. Through reading ethnographies (case studies) students learn about different societies around the world, including their own. They also learn how different anthropologists have gone about studying societies. The class pays particular attention to concepts of culture, cultural relativism, holism, and participant observation. Fall and Spring.   
POLS 281 (3): International Relations: An Introduction to the basic concepts, theories, and methods dealing with the study of international relations. The course will emphasize the current forces and trends that have shaped and are shaping the international system, including the role of transnational actors. Fall and Spring.
ECON 250 (3): Economic Globalization: An introduction to theories, institutions, and impacts of economic globalization. In addition to economics, the course will consider political, cultural, ethical, and historical factors. Topics include basic international trade theory and policy, international economic institutions and organizations, exchange rates, international financial crises, and international economic history. The views of both advocates and critics of economic globalization will be considered. Fall.

6 Hours Foreign Language at or above 200 level

3 Hours from

INTS 361 (1-2 hrs): Contemporary Issues in World Affairs: A seminar facilitating discussion of current international issues. Students are required to attend public presentation or activities addressing contemporary world affairs, pursue additional independent research on selected topics, followed by directed discussion in a seminar setting. May be repeated for a total of 4 hours credit. Spring and Fall.  
INTS 362 (1-2 hrs): Participatory Learning in World Affairs: Students gain an intimate understanding of international and global issues and institutions through simulation and competitions such as Model United Nations and Moot International Court of Justice. May be repeated for a total of 4 hours credit. See International Studies Director.

INTS 495 (1): Senior Colloquium: Student formally present and discuss their research finding and/or service learning projects. Students are required to demonstrate mastery in their work and its significance. Prerequisite: INTS 499; or appropriate research seminar in another discipline with approval of International Studies Director. Spring.
INTS 499 (1-6): Undergraduate Research in INTS: Independent research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. An IP grade may be awarded at discretion of instructor. May be repeated for a total of 6 hours credit. See International Studies Director.

Area of Emphasis: 15 hours, 9 of them in one area

(generally, that means 5 classes, 3 in one area):

1) Society and Culture in the Global Community

ANTH 325 (3): Culture and Mind:  Explores how people in different places around the world make and communicate meaning. On the way, we ponder the nature of culture and mind. Texts include classic and contemporary works in symbolic and psychological anthropology Odd years Spring.
ANTH 350 (3): Body, Disability, and Culture: Using ethnographies, memoirs, and films, this course examines the concepts of the body and disability in a variety of cultures, including our own. Particular attention is paid the different ways that the body and disability are both gendered and sexed. Topics include mind/body distinctions, stigma, normalcy, and the role of narrative in the cultural construction of the body and disability. Odd years Fall.
ANTH 361 (3): Writing Gender: Examines the cross-cultural representation of gender, through ethnographies, documentary films and writing exercise. The course considers how culture affects our understanding and experience of gender. Issues such as hierarchies and power, the body and sexualities, and the dilemmas of writing about identities are explored. Even years Fall.
ANTH 365 (3): Death and Dying: Everybody dies. Not everybody manages death the same way. The class takes a cross-cultural look at the ways people die and cope with death around the world, by reading a variety of classic and contemporary literature on death, and by taking field trips to graveyards and funeral homes. Spring.
ANTH 425 (3): Manhood and Masculinities: Looks cross-culturally and critically at men’s experiences, the meaning of manhood, and the practices of masculinity. Drawing on a variety of theoretical perspectives, the class studies manhood within a wider field of gendered meaning. Even years Spring.
ARTH 360 (3): Modern Art and Modernism: This course explores the critical concept of Modernism as it applies to European and American art of the first half of the 20^th century. Lectures are supplemented with class discussions, theoretical and historical readings, and written assignments on the topic. Fall.
DRAM/LIT 355 (3): Modern Drama: A study of form and meaning in modern drama from Ibsen to the present. See department chair.
MCOM 482 (3): International Mass Communication: Communication of news and opinion among nations and under various political and economic systems; role of media international affairs; barriers to the free flow of information; comparison of world press and entertainment systems. Odd years Fall.  
SOC 359 (3): Women of Color and Feminism: Overviews the emerging scholarship of feminists of color while offering a critique of dominant Western feminist theories as they relate to the experiences and live of women of color. Special attention is paid to the diversity of experiences among women of color in a global context. Fall.
SOC 364 (3): Population and the Environment: an International Perspective: Uses the tolls of demography, sociology, and anthropology to explore population processes in different parts of the world, the politics of population, and population policies as they relate to the environment, development, food, and energy. Using a comparative approach, the course emphasizes the importance of cultural difference in understanding the dynamics of population growth. Spring.

2) International Law and Human Rights

PHIL 214 (3): Philosophy of Human Rights: An analytical introduction to the concept of human rights. Readings will be drawn from both historical and contemporary philosophical sources. Fall.
POLS 331 (3): Immigration and Refugee Law & Policy: Examines the demographic, economic, and political forces which shape the response of the United States to a major characteristic of globalization. Emphasis is placed on the legal and public policy issues facing the country.
POLS 384 (3): Liberal Universalism and Its Critics: Liberal universalism is a dominant theme in international relations as evidenced by the global spread of liberal democracy and the advocacy of universal human rights and civil liberties. This course examines the origins and principles of liberal universalism and some of the political, cultural, and economic criticisms it has inspired. Odd years Spring.  
POLS 387 (3): International Organizations: Examines the evolving goals and methods and strengths and weaknesses of some of the most influential international organizations. Special emphasis is placed on the United Nations system. Prerequisite: POLS 281 or permission of instructor. Even years Fall.
POLS 388 (3): Human Rights and International Politics: Examines the political, social, and legal dimensions of the modern human rights movement and its implications for international affairs and United States foreign policy. Analyzes contemporary debates on various issues including the hierarchy of rights, conflicts between individual rights and societal priorities, refugees, international migration, asylum, repatriation, and the challenges created by transition to democracy. Even years Spring.
POLS 389 (3): International Law: Examines the institutions, processes, and decision rules traditionally used to adjudicate disputes between nations but increasingly applied to conflict involving individuals. Prerequisite: POLS 281, or permission of instructor. Even years Spring.
SOC 480 (3): Sociology of Law: Problematizes the law as a social institution, revealing how its meaning and content are as changeable as the political, social, and economic forces of society. A central theme of the course is the complex and reciprocal relationship between law and social change. Special attention is given to law in theory and practice relative to cultural values, conflicting interests, cultural resistance, status and power, and popular will. Even years Spring.

3) Trade and Development:

ECON 314 (3): Economic Growth and Development: An examination of the determinants, constraints, and implications of economic growth and development. The particular problems of low-income countries are explored, along with historical examples of economic transformation. Political, social, and economic factors are considered. Prerequisite: ECON 101. Even years Spring.
ECON 350 (3): International Trade and Finance: A survey of international economic theory, including trade, the balance of payments, international currency and capital transactions, and exchange rate determination. Topics include trade policy, exchange rate management, and open economy complications for domestic economic policy. Prerequisites: ECON 101; 102. No credit given to students who have credit for ECON 350 (International Trade) or ECON 351. Odd years Spring.
MGMT 398 (3): International Management and Marketing Strategies: Identifies, explains, and analyzes concepts and strategies involved in conducting management and marketing operations in the international environment. No credit given to students who have credit for MGMT 308. Fall and Spring.
POLS 363 (3): The Political Economy of Development: Examines the interaction of domestic and international political, economic, and social forces in the evolution of less developed countries. Prerequisite: POLS 281 or Permission of instructor. Even years Fall.  
POLS 383 (3): International Political Economy: Investigates patterns in the organization, competition and distribution of power and wealth within and between nations by examining the actors, institutions, and processes that regulate the competition for influence and control at the center of international public relations. Emphasis is placed on the interplay of political competition and compromise on issues such as production, trade, and finance. Prerequisite: POLS 281. Even years Spring.

SOC 446 (3): Working Class Organizations in North America, Europe, and Latin America: How successful have working class organization been in their attempts to shape socio-political as well as economic conditions of their countries? In looking at comparative cases of working class organizations from the United States, Europe, and Latin America, this course examines how these organizations have influenced the historic course of capitalism and democracy in these regions. Odd years Spring.

International Experience:

You need 6 hours from one of the following:

1. Study abroad (must be done before last 30 hours at UNCA)
2. INTS 365 (3-6): International Experimental Learning Project (3-6): Students participate in a service learning project or internship either overseas or with an approved international organization in the US. An IP grade may be awarded at discretion of instructor. May be repeated for a total of 6 hours credit. Prerequisite: permission of International Studies Director. See International Studies Director.
3. 300-400 level foreign language not previously used