The major is rigorously structured to ensure breadth as well as depth. Students majoring in International Studies:
International Studies is a 12-course major composed of three elements:
The language and introductory courses provide the foundation for the major. The thematic focus relates to the social scientific study of some aspect of relations among states and peoples.
Students with a major in International Studies may seek to develop their own thematic focus, but the onus is on the student to demonstrate that the theme is appropriate and that there are sufficient courses to support the theme. The thematic focus should provide the student with a significant degree of breadth and depth in the theoretical study of their theme.
In addition to the thematic focus, students with a major in International Studies are expected to develop a degree of regional expertise. They should have sufficient knowledge of the states in a particular region of the world so that they can effectively apply their thematic coursework to that region. The study of a language from their proposed region is central to the major. Students completing the major must pursue a minimum of foreign language study at the 300 level of their language. Students are also strongly advised to study abroad in their language, and (with the exception of varsity athletes) most have studied abroad for at least one semester. Experiencing the part of the world that is the focus of the major and achieving competency in the language is considered an important aspect of the major.
Language at the 301 level
ECON 110 Principles of Economics
2 of the following 3 courses:
- POLS-102: Introduction to Comparative Politics
- POLS-103: Introduction to International Relations
- ANTH-101: The Anthropological Perspective
ECON 110 and ANTH 101 must be taken within your first two years at Holy Cross.
One History Course from your geographic region
Three electives related to your geographic region (should correspond to the language you are studying)
Latin America
ANTH 266 Peoples and Cultures of Latin America
ANTH 399 Diaspora, Identity and Belonging
ECON 239 Latin American Economic Development
HIST 127 Modern Latin America
HIST 275 US-Mexican Border
HIST 277 Afro-Latin America
HIST 278 Raza e Identidad
HIST 279 America’s Colony: Puerto Rico
HIST 299 Sex and Revolution in Latin America
HIST 352 Rebels and Radical Thinkers
POLS 251 Latin American Politics
RELS 280 Liberation Theology
RELS 295 Un tal Jesus
SPAN 399 Health, Culture, and Social Justice in Latinx/America
Europe
AFST 260 Black Europe
CISS 392 The Holocaust
ECON 210 Economics of the European Union
FREN 431 Contemporary France
HIST 114 Napoleon to European Union
HIST 241 French Rebels and Revolutionaries
HIST 242 Britain and Empire, 1783-1901
HIST 243 Britain and Empire Since 1901
HIST 255 Europe: Mass Politics & Total War 1890-1945
HIST 256 Europe and the Superpowers, 1939-1991
HIST 261 Germany in the Age of Nationalism
HIST 262 Germany from Dictatorship to Democracy
ITAL 323 Introduction to Contemporary Italy
POLS 242 European Political Parties
POLS 265 European Politics
POLS 267 Politics of the European Union
PSYC 314 Science, Medicine and the Holocaust
RELS 327 Holocaust: Confronting Evil
SPAN 303 Aspects of Spanish Culture
Africa
ANTH 273 Anthropology of Africa
ANTH 251 Informal Economies
ECON 215 African Economies
HIST 196 African Colonial Lives
HIST 198 Modern Africa since 1800
HIST 296 South Africa and Apartheid
POLS 270 African Politics
STWL 235 Topics in African Cinema
Middle East
ANTH 299 Arab Women’s Worlds
HIST 291 Making of the Modern Middle East 1
HIST 292 Making of the Modern Middle East 2
HIST 392 Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
POLS 235 Islamic Political Thought
POLS 272 Politics of the Middle East
RELS 147 Judaism
RELS 107 Islam
RELS 315 Islamic Philosophy & Theology
Asia
ENGL 399 Visualizing the Vietnam War
HIST 155 World War II in East Asia
HIST 282 Modern China
HIST 298 Asian Revolutions
HIST 299 British Empire and Gandhi
HIST 299 Mao and Memory
PHIL 361 Confucian Values and Human Rights
POLS 276 South Asian Politics
POLS 278 East Asia in World Politics
RELS 107 Islam
RELS 108 Hinduism
SOCL 299 Social Stratification in India
Russian & Eastern Europe*
*Contingent on the availability of faculty courses
HIST 245 Imperial Russia East/West
HIST 253 The Soviet Experiment
HIST 256 Europe and the Superpowers
HIST 329 Collapse of Communism
RUSS 258 Russian Cinema
4 courses related to the theme.
NOTE: The major curriculum must be approved through the application process, and changes in the curriculum must be approved by the director.
International Political Economy & Development Studies
ANTH 251 Informal Economies
ANTH 253 Gender & Development
ANTH 257 Anthropology of Debt
CISS 250 Introduction to Global Health
ECON 210 Economics of the European Union
ECON 239 Latin American Economic Development
ECON 299 Gender in Latin American Economic Development
ECON 299 Development Economics
HIST 212 History of Capitalism in US & World
HIST 244 Medicine, Health, and Empire
HIST 399 Gilded Age-US and World
POLS 257 Politics of Development
POLS 275 International Political Economy
POLS 287 Humanitarianism
POLS 288 Politics of Globalization
SOCL 210 Consumer & Corporate Sustainability
SOCL 281 Sociology of Travel & Tourism
SOCL 399 Food + Mobility
Conflict & Conflict Resolution
ANTH 264 Race, Racism and Anthropology
ANTH 299 Anthropology of Law
ANTH 386 Global Queer Activism
CISS 392 The Holocaust
CLSS 199 Stolen History
ENGL 399 Visualizing the Vietnam War
HIST 155 World War II in East Asia
HIST 241 French Rebels and Revolutionaries
HIST 242 Britain and Empire, 1783-1901
HIST 255 Europe: Mass Politics & Total War 1890-1945
HIST 296 South Africa and Apartheid
ITAL 299 Race, Migration and Identity
MUSC 299 Music in Global Protest
POLS 217 The Constitution in Wartime
POLS 278 East Asia in World Politics
POLS 282 American Foreign Policy
POLS 284 Human Rights
POLS 287 Humanitarianism
POLS 289 International Law
POLS 290 National Security Policy
POLS 333 Ethics & International Relations
POLS 337 Refugees
RELS 124 Theology of Protest
RELS 279 Religion and Violence
RELS 280 Liberation Theology
SOCL 299 Social Stratification in India
SOCL 299 Global Anti-Racism
Global Governance & International Law
CISS 209 Section One – Pandemic Policy (counts as POLS)
ECON 210 Economics of the European Union
POLS 275 International Political Economy
POLS 281 Global Governance
POLS 282 American Foreign Policy
POLS 284 Human Rights
POLS 287 Humanitarianism
POLS 288 Politics of Globalization
POLS 289 International Law
POLS 299 European Union Politics
POLS 333 Ethics & International Relations
POLS 337 Refugees
While not required, International Studies majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad in their region or participate in a summer (Maymester) opportunity to travel abroad. Ideally, students should study abroad in their second language, though that may not be possible in every case. Students may count up to 2 courses from one semester abroad and up to 4 courses from a full year abroad toward the International Studies major, with the approval of the director.
The Holy Cross International Club cultivates community and a sense of belonging, rooted in international identity. By bringing together members of the College who wish to be part of a vibrant community, the club celebrates cultural diversity and international identity.
Students interested in the International Studies major should contact the program director to discuss their interests. Students must apply for the major through the STAR system. This is a non-competitive application. There is no cap on the number of majors or minimum GPA requirement for the major. The application is intended to assist students in developing an appropriate major curriculum related to their regional focus and major theme.
Holy Cross students interested in the International Studies major should contact the program director to discuss their interests. After this meeting, students must apply for the major through the Student Program Application system. There is no cap on the number of majors or minimum GPA requirement for the major. The application is intended to assist students in developing an appropriate major curriculum related to their regional focus and major theme.
The application opens on the first day of classes and closes at the start of fall break.
The application opens on the first day of classes and closes at the start of spring break.
