This is an unofficial description for this program. For official information check the Academic Catalog.
International Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to build student expertise in particular world regions and/or about diverse international issues including globalization; global population, migration, and health; international conflict, terrorism, governance, and law; imperialism, decolonization, and development; and the role of gender, race, and class in international contexts.
An MS degree in International Studies prepares students for a range of career possibilities in government service, in foundations and NGOs, and in the wide range of institutions offering services transnationally or otherwise working in global environments.
CCSU was designated as a Center for Excellence in International Education in 1986. Today, along with its Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in International Studies, CCSU boasts a wide variety of study abroad programs and initiatives. The continuing enrichment, expansion, and refinement of the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science programs in International Studies result from the institution’s established commitment to global awareness and global citizenship.
Course and Capstone Requirements
30 credits in International Studies (Plan A or Plan C)
2. Geographical Areas and Global Themes (18 credits)
Students will select 6-12 Credits from each of our program’s two focuses, for a total of 18 credits.
Geographical Areas:
12 credits for students who wish to develop a primary focus in a particular world geographical area.
9 credits for students who wish to balance area and global focuses.
6 credits for students who wish to complement their primary focus on a global theme.
2a. Geographical Areas:
Africa (6 to 12 credits)
ANTH 416 Archaeology of Africa 4 Credits
ANTH 424 Peoples and Cultures of Africa 4 Credits
GEOG 446 Sub-Saharan Africa 3 Credits
HIST 431 Ancient Northeast Africa 3 Credits
HIST 432 History of South Africa 3 Credits
PS 421 Government and Politics of Africa 3 Credits
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
East Asia (6 to 12 credits)
GEOG 435 Japan and Korea 3 Credits
HIST 422 Topics in Japanese History 3 Credits
PS 425 Asian Politics 3 Credits
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
Europe (6 to 12 credits)
GEOG 444 European Union 3 Credits
GEOG 448 Russia and Neighboring Regions 3 Credits
HIST 540 Seminar in European History 3 Credits
ITAL 571 20th-Century Italian Literature 3 Credits
PS 435 Central and Eastern European Politics 3 Credits
SPAN 571 Generation of '98 3 Credits
SPAN 572 20th-Century Spanish Literature 3 Credits
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
Latin America (6 to 12 credits)
ANTH 428 Cultures of Latin America 4 Credits
GEOG 434 Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean 3 Credits
GEOG 436 South America 3 Credits
HIST 583 Seminar in Latin American History 3 Credits
PS 420 Government and Politics of Latin America 3 Credits
SPAN 545 The Spanish-American Essay 3 Credits
SPAN 588 Topics in the Contemporary Spanish-Speaking World 3 Credits
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
Middle East (6 to 12 credits)
PS 434 Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa 3 Credits
PS 439 U.S. Middle East Policy 3 Credits
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
2b. Global Themes (6 to 12 credits)
12 credits for students who wish to develop a primary focus on a particular global theme.
9 credits for students who wish to balance global and area focuses
6 credits for students who wish to complement their primary focus on a geographical area.
Global Themes
Communication and Diversity in the Global Context (6 to 12 credits)
COMM 543 Intercultural Communication 3 Credits
ENG 486 World Literature and Film 3 Credits
EPS 528 Comparative and International Education 3 Credits
PSY 520 Global Psychology 3 Credits
SPAN 441 Cross-Cultural Communication 3 Credits
WGSS 469 Readings in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies 3 Credits
Energy, Resources, and Environment (6 to 12 credits)
COMM 451 Environmental Communication 3 Credits
GEOG 433 Issues in Environmental Protection 3 Credits
GEOG 473 Geography of Natural Resources 3 Credits
GSCI 450 Environmental and Engineering Geology 3 Credits
SUST 500 Social, Political, and Ethical Dimensions of Global Sustainability 3 Credits
SUST 501 Contemporary Challenges in Environmental Sustainability 3 Credits
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
Governance, Security, and Human Rights (6 to 12 credits)
CJ 510 Law, Criminal Justice, and Issues of Inequality 3 Credits
COMM 454 Communication and Social Change 3 Credits
HIST 420 Imperialism 3 Credits
PS 445 Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation 3 Credits
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
Population, Mobility, and Development (6 to 12 credits)
ANTH 401 City Life & Culture 4 Credits
ANTH 475 Topics in Anthropology 3 Credits
ECON 430 International Economics 3 Credits
ECON 435 Economic Development 3 Credits
GEOG 470 Geography of Health & Disease 3 Credits
GEOG 544 The Geography of World Economic Development 3 Credits
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
3. Research and Capstone Requirements (6 credits)
Plan A:
4. Language Requirement and Study Abroad
The International Studies MS program requires that all students have a level of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding of a single world language relevant to the area of geographical specialization, equal to the completion of the 126-level (226-level for French, Italian, or Spanish). Fulfillment of this requirement will be determined by a CCSU instructor of the language, the Chair of the World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department, or a CCSU faculty member designated by the Director of International Studies.
In addition to the language requirement, IS students without significant life or study experiences abroad are strongly encouraged to participate in a study abroad program, whether a course abroad or a semester or summer exchange. Information about study abroad programs is available via the Center for International Education.
Total Credit Hours: 30