International and Area Studies

Overview

In response to the unique challenges of global interdependence, the International Studies program offers a variety of curricular options. The International and Area Studies Area of Concentration (IAS AOC) is designed to meet the need for a new generation trained to enter the international arena with a comprehensive view of the international system and an in-depth understanding of a major region or issue in world affairs. The IAS Area of Concentration offers three tracks to both meet a range of student interests and provide solid training for future study or work in the area. The “area studies” track combines fundamental courses on the international political and economic systems with the student’s choice of specialization in a regional area; the “systemic track” focuses on a deeper understanding of international political and economic systems; and the “issue” track is designed for students with a specific interest in a major international issue that affects more than one region, such as global health, peace and conflict, or climate change.

In addition to these three tracks in the IAS AOC, we offer separate AOCs in Caribbean and Latin American Studies, East Asian Studies, and European Studies. These AOCs are designed for students with intensive interests in one of these regions and less of a focus on the international system. Students are free to concentrate in other regional areas either under the IAS area studies track or as an individually designed major.

International and Area Studies, Asian Studies, Caribbean and Latin American Studies, East Asian Studies, and European Studies are also very appropriate joint AOCs for students combining them with disciplinary AOCs, so we offer a reduced set of requirements for those options.
 
The AOC requirements listed are the minimum expected; students are encouraged to take more classes and complete ISPs and tutorials in areas that interest them. In exceptional cases, students may petition the International Studies Committee to substitute a different course for a requirement. (For example, a biology student doing fieldwork in Latin America might count that experience toward the study abroad requirement or toward the “area course” requirements.) The student’s baccalaureate committee must also approve the substitution.

Faculty in International and Area Studies

Yidong Gong, Assistant Professor of Anthropology (On Leave)
Manuel Lopez, Associate Professor of Religion/International & Area Studies Student Advisor
Gerardo Toro-Farmer, Associate Professor of Coastal and Marine Science
Hugo Viera-Vargas, Associate Professor of Caribbean and Latin American Studies and Music
Jing Zhang, Associate Professor of Chinese Language and Culture/Director of International and Area Studies

Affiliated Faculty (Faculty that Teach Courses Related to International and Area Studies)

Frank Alcock (Political Science and Environmental Studies), Carrie Beneš (History), David Brain (Sociology and Urban Studies), Katherine Brion (Art History), Nat J. Colletta (International Studies), Tracy Collins (Economics), Erin Dean (Anthropology), Kristopher Fennie (Epidemiology), Sandra Gilchrist (Biology), Yidong Gong (Medical Anthropology), David Harvey (History), Sarah Hernandez (Sociology), Barbara Hicks (Political Science), Tarron Khemraj (Economics and International Economics), Mariam Manzur-Leiva (Spanish), Sonia Labrador-Rodriguez (Spanish Language and Literature), Fang-yu Li (Chinese Language and Culture), T. J. H. McCarthy (Medieval History), Nassima Neggaz (Religion and Islamic Studies), José Alberto Portugal (Spanish Language and Literature), Amy Reid (French and Gender Studies), Xia Shi (History), Wendy Sutherland (German Language), Hugo Viera-Vargas (Caribbean/Latin American Studies and Music), Alina Wyman (Russian Language and Literature), Jessica Young (English), Sherry Yu (Economics), Queen Zabriskie (Sociology)

Requirements for the AOC in International and Area Studies

International and Area Studies - Area Studies Track

Course List

Code	Title
Required Courses
Completion of the 5th -semester course (or equivalent) of a language appropriate to your area of specialization
POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
Select one Comparative Politics course
For example:
POLS 2200	Comparative Politics*
or POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
ECON 2100	Introductory Microeconomics*
or ECON 2150	Introductory Macroeconomics*
ECON 3400	International Economics
or ECON 3050	Development Economics
Select at least four courses in your regional area of specialization, including the following:
1 Non-language Humanities course
1 History course
1 Non-History Social Science course
1 Elective in any area
Additional Requirements
Study abroad for a semester or summer. (A full semester is preferable.)
The thesis or thesis project must be on an international or area studies topic. At least two members of the affiliated faculty for the IAS program must be on your baccalaureate committee.
Strongly Recommended
Students should take a research design or theory and methods course in the field most related to their thesis topic. Please consult your potential thesis advisor about such a course early in your fifth contract (fourth if you plan to graduate in seven contacts).
Since language ability is essential to work in the international arena, students should continue to take language courses – either more advanced courses or a second language – throughout their study even after they have achieved the required level.

International and Area Studies - Systemic Track

Course List

Code	Title
Required Courses
Completion of the 4th -semester course (or equivalent) of a language appropriate to your area of specialization
POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
Select one Comparative Politics course
For example:
POLS 2200	Comparative Politics*
or POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
ANTH 3400	Race and Ethnicity in Global Perspective*
Select at least 3 of the following:
ECON 2100	Introductory Microeconomics*
or ECON 2150	Introductory Macroeconomics*
ECON 3400	International Economics
ECON 3050	Development Economics
Select two Modern History courses
For example:
HIST 4200	Contemporary French History
HIST 3320	The Dictatorships of the Iberian Peninsula: Fátima, Fado, and Futebol
Select one Environmental Politics course covering international or cross-border isssues
For example:
POLS 2860	Governing the Marine Environment
POLS 2870	Climate Change: Science, Policy, Media, and Politics
POLS 3310	Global Environmental Politics
Optional
If possible, select an ecology or science course dealing with a major global ecosystem (climate, oceans)
For example:
BIOL 2550	Marine Pollution
BIOL 2650	Introduction to Oceanography*
BIOL 3140	Marine Ecology

International and Area Studies - Issue Track

Course List

Code	Title
Required Courses
Completion of the 4th -semester course (or equivalent) of a language appropriate to your area of specialization
POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
Select one Comparative Politics course
For example:
POLS 2200	Comparative Politics*
or POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
ANTH 3400	Race and Ethnicity in Global Perspective*
ECON 2100	Introductory Microeconomics*
or ECON 2150	Introductory Macroeconomics*
ECON 3400	International Economics
or ECON 3050	Development Economics
Issue of Specialization Courses and Activities
Select at least 4 courses in your issue of specialization, e.g. global health. The following activities may count for this requirement:
Courses taught here (usually on an occasional basis)
Courses taken at other institutions, if they meet NCF standards
Courses taken abroad, if they meet NCF standards
Up to 2 tutorials

Caribbean and Latin American Studies

Course List

Code	Title
Language
Completion of the 6th -semester course (or equivalent) of Spanish (culture or literature in the original language). 1
Required Foundation Courses
LCRS 2100	Introduction to Caribbean and Latin American Studies* (introductory)
SOCI 4100	Latin American Social Theory (advanced)
Select one Interdisciplinary Framework Course on the Caribbean and Latin America (intermediate)
For Example:
LCRS 2220	Sweet Paradises: Expressive Cultures of the Hispanic Caribbean*
LCRS 3420	Bittersweet Societies: A Critical Exploration of the Caribbean*
Methodology Course
Select one Methodology course (in any relevant area of study: e.g. a field within social sciences, natural sciences, or humanities)
Core Course Electives
Select five Core Course Electives with Caribbean and Latin American content, including at least one course in each of the following: 2
Humanities
Social Sciences
Natural Sciences
Additional Requirements
Study abroad for a semester or summer. (A full semester is preferable.)
The thesis or thesis project must be on an international or area studies topic. At least two members of the affiliated faculty for the IAS program must be on your baccalaureate committee.
Strongly Recommended
Students should take a research design or theory and methods course in the field most related to their thesis topic. Please consult your potential thesis advisor about such a course early in your fifth contract (fourth if you plan to graduate in seven contacts).
Since language ability is essential to work in the international arena, students should continue to take language courses – either more advanced courses or a second language – throughout their study even after they have achieved the required level.

¹

Students must complete an advanced course or tutorial in the language during their final year at NCF. Students working primarily in a country using a language other than Spanish may substitute 2 semesters of that language (e.g., Portuguese or French) for the 5th and 6th semesters of Spanish, although they are encouraged to attain advanced-level Spanish as well. 

²

At least 3 courses must be at the intermediate or advanced level.

East Asian Studies

Course List

Code	Title
Required Courses
Completion of the 6th-semester course (or equivalent) of Chinese (or another major East Asian language). Students must complete an advanced course or tutorial in the language during their senior year at New College.
Select one Asian Humanities elective outside of language.
For example:
LITR 2085	Chinese Martial Arts Film*
LITR 2680	Classical Chinese Literature: A Survey*
RELI 3250	Chinese Religions: From Confucius To Mao
Select one:
Select the 2-course core History sequence on China (if specializing in China)
Or, select two Asian history courses, one of which must be the East Asian survey
For example:
HIST 2200	East Asian Civilization*
HIST 3800	Chinese History to 1800*
HIST 3875	Chinese History Since 1800*
HIST 3885	Environmental History of China
HIST 4350	The Age of Openness: China Before Mao (1912-49)
Select one Politics course that addresses Asia
For example:
POLS 3280	Politics of South Asia
Select one Economics course that addresses developing countries or international economics 1
For example:
ECON 3200	Chinese Economy
ECON 3400	International Economics
ECON 3410	World Economic History
Electives
Select three electives in any field covering Asia, one of which must focus on the pre-modern period. If appropriate to specialization, up to two of these electives may focus on the issues of developing countries.
Additional Requirements
Study abroad for a semester or summer. (A full semester is preferable.)
The thesis or thesis project must be on an international or area studies topic. At least two members of the affiliated faculty for the IAS program must be on your baccalaureate committee.
Strongly Recommended
Students should take a research design or theory and methods course in the field most related to their thesis topic. Please consult your potential thesis advisor about such a course early in your fifth contract (fourth if you plan to graduate in seven contacts).
Since language ability is essential to work in the international arena, students should continue to take language courses–either more advanced courses or a second language–throughout their study even after they have achieved the required level.

¹

These courses normally require an introductory-level economics course

European Studies

Course List

Code	Title
Required Courses
Completion of the 6th-semester course (or equivalent) of a major European language (culture/literature in the original).
Select one European literature, art, music, culture, or philosophy course
For example:
ARTH 2500	Masterpieces: Medieval/Renaissance/Baroque*
ARTH 3650	Representing Difference: Race, Ethnicity, and Visual Arts from Age of Enlightenment to 21st Century
LITR 2700	Seduction & Gender in English, French, & German Bourgeois Drama: Late 16th - Early 19th Century*
MUSC 2180	Baroque Revivals*
LITR 2889	The Russian Short Story in Translation*
PHIL 3310	The Philosophy of Leibniz
European History course
HIST 2700	Modern European History I (1640-1870)*
HIST 2750	Modern European History II (1870 to Present)*
Select one Medieval or Renaissance course on Europe
For example:
HIST 2285	Medieval Cities*
HIST 2400	The Sixth Liberal Art: Music, Ritual and Performance in the Middle Ages and Renaissance*
LITR 3150	Rewriting the Renaissance:Transforming Authorship*
LITR 3210	Chaucer: Imaginary Persons and Narrative Form
Select one Politics course that addresses Europe
For example:
POLS 3230	Politics of the European Union
POLS 3240	Politics of Central and Eastern Europe: From "Soviet Bloc" to United Europe
Select one Economics course that addresses Europe 1
For example:
ECON 2510	Introduction to International Business*
ECON 3400	International Economics
Electives
Select two electives in any field covering Europe
Additional Requirements
Study abroad for a semester or summer. (A full semester is preferable.)
The thesis or thesis project must be on an international or area studies topic. At least two members of the affiliated faculty for the IAS program must be on your baccalaureate committee.
Strongly Recommended
Students should take a research design or theory and methods course in the field most closely related to their thesis topic. Please consult your potential thesis advisor about such a course early in your fifth contract (fourth if you plan to graduate in seven contacts).
Since language ability is essential to work in the international arena, students should continue to take language courses–either more advanced courses or a second language–throughout their study even after they have achieved the required level.

¹

Might require an intro-level economics course

African Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, or South Asian Studies

Students wanting to complete an AOC in one of these areas are encouraged either to complete the International and Area Studies “area track” with a concentration in their regional area of choice or to design their own special combined majors with strong training in another discipline. They should consult with both their advisors and the Director of International Studies in designing such special majors.

For All Students with AOCs in International and Area Studies, Caribbean and Latin American Studies, East Asian Studies, and European Studies

• Every student should study abroad for a semester or summer (a full semester is preferable). In unusual circumstances, another significant multicultural experience may be substituted for this requirement upon approval of the International Studies Committee and the student’s own baccalaureate committee. Language courses taken abroad may be counted to your requirements if they lead to at least as much progress as we would expect in a semester here. You are also likely to be taking a few area courses, which can count toward your area course requirements if they are substantial. (Please bring home your syllabi and copies of your work for your committee to review.)  
• Students completing a double major should not count more than two classes toward both majors.
• The thesis or thesis project must be on an international or area studies topic.
• At least two members of the affiliated faculty for the IAS program must be on your baccalaureate committee.
• A research design or theory and methods course in the field most related to their thesis topic is strongly recommended. Please consult your potential thesis advisor about such a course early in your fifth contract (fourth if you plan to graduate in seven contacts).
• Strongly recommended: since language ability is essential to work in the international arena, students should continue to take language courses–either more advanced courses or a second language–throughout their study even after they have achieved the required level.

Requirements for a Joint AOC

International and Area Studies - Area Studies Track

Course List

Code	Title
Completion of the 3th-semester course (or equivalent) of a language appropriate to your area of specialization
POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
POLS 2200	Comparative Politics*
or POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
ECON 2100	Introductory Microeconomics*
or ECON 2150	Introductory Macroeconomics*
ECON 3400	International Economics
or ECON 3050	Development Economics
Select at least three courses in your regional area of specialization, at least one in History. Other areas:
Non-language Humanities course
Non-History Social Science course
Students combining IAS with an AOC in Political Science, Economics, or History will have already met some of the requirements above and should take additional courses outside of their AOC as substitutes.

International and Area Studies - Systemic Track

Course List

Code	Title
Completion of the 3th-semester course (or equivalent) of a language appropriate to your area of specialization
POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
Select one Comparative Politics course
For example:
POLS 2200	Comparative Politics*
or POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
ECON 2100	Introductory Microeconomics*
or ECON 2150	Introductory Macroeconomics*
ECON 3400	International Economics
or ECON 3050	Development Economics
Select two Modern History courses
For example:
HIST 4200	Contemporary French History
HIST 3320	The Dictatorships of the Iberian Peninsula: Fátima, Fado, and Futebol
Students combining IAS with an AOC in Political Science, Economics, or History will have already met some of the requirements above and should take additional courses outside of their AOC as substitutes.

International and Area Studies - Issue Track

Course List

Code	Title
Completion of the 4th-semester course (or equivalent) of a language appropriate to your area of specialization
POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
Select one Comparative Politics course
For example:
POLS 2200	Comparative Politics*
or POLS 2300	Introduction to World Politics*
ECON 2100	Introductory Microeconomics*
or ECON 2150	Introductory Macroeconomics*
ECON 3400	International Economics
or ECON 3050	Development Economics
Select at least 3 courses in your issue of specialization, e.g. global health.
Students combining IAS with an AOC in Political Science or Economics will have already met some of the requirements above and should take additional courses outside of their AOC as substitutes.

Caribbean and Latin American Studies

Course List

Code	Title
Language
Completion of the 4th-semester course or equivalent of Spanish language. 1
Three Required Foundation Courses
LCRS 2100	Introduction to Caribbean and Latin American Studies* (introductory)
SOCI 4100	Latin American Social Theory (advanced)
Interdisciplinary Framework Course on the Caribbean and Latin America (intermediate)
For example:
LCRS 2220	Sweet Paradises: Expressive Cultures of the Hispanic Caribbean*
LCRS 3420	Bittersweet Societies: A Critical Exploration of the Caribbean*
Core Course Electives
Select three Core Course Electives with Caribbean and Latin American content.
Electives
Students must choose 3 electives in the Caribbean and Latin America in at least two Divisions outside of their other AOC.

¹

Students working primarily in a country using a language other than Spanish may substitute 2 semesters of that language (e.g., Portuguese or French) for the 3rd and 4th semesters of Spanish, although they are encouraged to attain intermediate-level Spanish as well.

East Asian Studies or Asian Studies

Course List

Code	Title
If the Disciplinary Concentration You are Combining is Not in an Asian Language and Literature/Culture
Completion of the 3rd -semester course or equivalent of a major Asian language
Select one Asian Humanities elective outside of language.
For example:
LITR 2085	Chinese Martial Arts Film*
LITR 2680	Classical Chinese Literature: A Survey*
RELI 3250	Chinese Religions: From Confucius To Mao
Select one:
Select the 2-course core History sequence on China (if specializing in China)
Select two Asian history courses, one of which must be the East Asian survey
For Example:
HIST 3800	Chinese History to 1800*
HIST 3875	Chinese History Since 1800*
HIST 3800	Chinese History to 1800*
HIST 3885	Environmental History of China
HIST 4350	The Age of Openness: China Before Mao (1912-49)
Select one Social Science elective (outside of the other AOC you are combining) that addresses Asia or developing countries
For example:
POLS 3280	Politics of South Asia
ECON 3200	Chinese Economy
ECON 3400	International Economics
ECON 3410	World Economic History
ANTH 3215	China, Africa, and Globalization
Select 1 more elective on Asia in a Division outside of your AOC

Course List

Code	Title
If the Disciplinary Concentration You are Combining is in an Asian Language and Literature/Culture
Select one Asian Humanities elective outside of language.
For example:
LITR 2085	Chinese Martial Arts Film*
LITR 2680	Classical Chinese Literature: A Survey*
RELI 3250	Chinese Religions: From Confucius To Mao
Select one:
Select the 2-course core History sequence on China (if specializing in China)
Select two Asian history courses, one of which must be the East Asian survey
For Example:
HIST 3800	Chinese History to 1800*
HIST 3875	Chinese History Since 1800*
HIST 3800	Chinese History to 1800*
HIST 3885	Environmental History of China
HIST 4350	The Age of Openness: China Before Mao (1912-49)
Select three Social Science electives that address Asia or developing countries (2 of them must be outside History)
For example:
POLS 3280	Politics of South Asia
ECON 3200	Chinese Economy
ECON 3400	International Economics
ECON 3410	World Economic History
ANTH 3215	China, Africa, and Globalization

European Studies

Course List

Code	Title
If the Disciplinary Concentration You are Combining is Not in a European Language and Literature
Completion of the 3rd-semester course (or equivalent) of a major European language (culture/literature in the original).
Select one European Humanities elective outside of language
For example:
ARTH 2500	Masterpieces: Medieval/Renaissance/Baroque*
ARTH 3650	Representing Difference: Race, Ethnicity, and Visual Arts from Age of Enlightenment to 21st Century
LITR 2700	Seduction & Gender in English, French, & German Bourgeois Drama: Late 16th - Early 19th Century*
MUSC 2180	Baroque Revivals*
PHIL 3310	The Philosophy of Leibniz
HIST 2700	Modern European History I (1640-1870)*
HIST 2750	Modern European History II (1870 to Present)*
Select 2 Social Science electives (outside of the other AOC you are combining) that address Europe or developed countries
For example:
POLS 3230	Politics of the European Union
POLS 3240	Politics of Central and Eastern Europe: From "Soviet Bloc" to United Europe
HIST 4200	Contemporary French History
HIST 4750	The Spanish Civil War

Course List

Code	Title
If the Disciplinary Concentration You are Combining is in a European Language and Literature
Completion of the 3rd-semester course (or equivalent) of a major European language (culture/literature in the original).
Select one European Humanities elective outside of language and literature
For example:
ARTH 2500	Masterpieces: Medieval/Renaissance/Baroque*
ARTH 3650	Representing Difference: Race, Ethnicity, and Visual Arts from Age of Enlightenment to 21st Century
MUSC 2180	Baroque Revivals*
PHIL 3310	The Philosophy of Leibniz
HIST 2700	Modern European History I (1640-1870)*
HIST 2750	Modern European History II (1870 to Present)*
Select three Social Science electives (outside of the other AOC you are combining) that address Europe or developed countries
For example:
POLS 3230	Politics of the European Union
POLS 3240	Politics of Central and Eastern Europe: From "Soviet Bloc" to United Europe
HIST 4200	Contemporary French History
HIST 4750	The Spanish Civil War

For All Students with Joint AOCs in International and Area Studies, Caribbean and Latin American Studies, East Asian Studies, Asian Studies, and European Studies

• Study abroad is highly recommended. Language courses taken abroad may be counted to your requirements if they lead to at least as much progress as we would expect in a semester here. You are also likely to be taking a few area courses, which can count toward your area course requirements if they are substantial. (Please bring home your syllabi and copies of your work for your committee to review.)
• Students should not count more than one course to both their AOC and the Joint AOC (or to both halves of a combined AOC)
• The thesis or thesis project should have some international or area studies content.
• At least one faculty member affiliated with the IAS program must be on your baccalaureate committee.
• Recommended: Students completing a Joint AOC will normally be taking a research design or methods course in their AOC. Where this is not the case (or students are combining two slashes), it is advisable that the student take a research design course in the field most related to the thesis topic. Please consult your potential thesis advisor about such a course prior during your fifth contract at the latest.