International Studies

The International Studies program aims to educate students for global-oriented careers and to be engaged citizens in an increasingly interconnected world where understanding other peoples and cultures—and communicating and collaborating with them—are becoming indispensable aspects of effective public and private decision-making. Emphasizing an interdisciplinary and integrative approach to learning, the International Studies program is designed to prepare students with the critical and analytical skills necessary to be engaged citizens in a changing world.

Through the study of cultures, international events, and foreign languages, students learn about and interact with foreign environments and people. They learn to be conversant in global affairs. In turn, students should be able to understand international issues from an interdisciplinary perspective, and apply this to global, as well as local, problems.

The major is intended for those who want an international emphasis in their studies. As a multidisciplinary major, International Studies is well-suited to serve as one component in a dual-major combination, and it also serves as suitable preparation for taking the Foreign Service Exam and for a career in government. Employment with non-governmental organizations, as well as advanced study in professional and graduate programs, such as law, business, or globally-focused humanities study are among the many career options for IS majors.

Program Learning Objectives

The RU International Studies program offers students the opportunity to build an interdisciplinary set of courses to explore regions or topics in global context. The program is guided by the following learning objectives:

1. Demonstrate foundational and specific knowledge of global issues, processes, trends, and policies (knowledge);

2. Apply interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches, including humanities and social scientific methods, foreign language skills, and international experience (methods); 

3. Make critical, informed evaluations and judgments about global issues, processes, trends, and policies (analysis and argument); and

4. Devise and implement sophisticated, appropriate, and workable solutions to address complex global problems at multiple levels from the workplace through the global sphere (solutions).

The Program of Study

The IS major draws its courses from numerous departments across Rockford University. Students can choose courses from multiple disciplines including political science, history, economics, sociology, philosophy, art history, business, performing arts, religion, classics, modern foreign language and others.

The International Studies major has four required components:

1. Core Courses  These provide a common introduction and overview of international relations, global issues, historical context, political affairs, economic forces, and contemporary problems.

2. Supporting Courses  Chosen from the Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences, these allow personalized study within a desired focus area. These courses offer students the opportunity to study and understand the larger world outside the United States. While these courses may overlap with a student’s course work for a double major or a minor, there are limits to the allowed use of courses for more than one major or minor; consultation with the Department Chair and Registrar on such questions is advised. 

3. Foreign Language or Focused Global Study  Either two courses in foreign language or three courses in the study of cultures foreign to the students’ own provides greater insight into others’ perspectives. While all majors are encouraged to study foreign language, which is a norm in the field, if it is not possible to do so, students can substitute other coursework. These courses will be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.

4. Study Abroad or International Experience Project  Majors will participate in a short- or semester-long study abroad program, or instead develop a project (driven by the student and their interests) to explore one or more international experiences more locally and/or regionally. Financial aid may be available for study abroad and several program options are offered. Further, students may wish to coordinate their study abroad with research for their Senior Seminar. Consultation with their academic advisor, the financial aid director, and the Office of Global Affairs is recommended to plan an appropriate study abroad option. 

The nature of International Experience Projects is negotiated between the student, advisor, and Department Chair and can be in the form of a written, audio, visual, video, personal, or other presentation. We encourage students to think broadly about how they might more fully experience another culture for their projects. Some examples of areas for global experience include visiting ethnic neighborhoods locally and in nearby cities, shopping in ethnic stores, eating at authentic ethnic restaurants, watching foreign films, reading foreign literature, listening to or performing foreign music, visiting museums, and others to experience international culture closer to home. The projects will be analytical and seek to answer questions posed by students who will work with a faculty mentor to guide development and completion of the project.