Department website: http://internationalstudies.wvu.edu/
Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Arts
Nature of the Program
The international studies major is composed of internationally oriented courses drawn from several disciplinary and interdisciplinary study areas. Students take courses from departments such as economics, geography, history, political science, sociology/anthropology, and world languages.
Students who earn a degree in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences must complete the University requirements, the College requirements for their specific degree program, and their major requirements.
Minors
All students have the possibility of earning one or more minors; a list of all available minors and their requirements is available at http://catalog.wvu.edu/undergraduate/minors/. Please note that students may not earn a minor in their major field.
Study Abroad, Internships, and Other Experiential Education Opportunities
Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of opportunities for professional internships and study abroad, which may be undertaken for academic credit (often fulfilling specific course requirements for the major) with the approval of students’ designated international studies advisers. Through internships, students gain first-hand knowledge of organizations engaged in international social, economic, and governmental affairs. To experience another society and in many cases to improve their foreign language capabilities, students may also study abroad for a summer, one semester, or an entire academic year. Interested students should consult their international studies adviser. Additional experiential education opportunities available to international studies majors include academic simulation programs and global service-learning.
Second Majors, Minors, and Other Coursework
Students are encouraged to work closely with their international studies advisor and faculty in the program to select relevant courses, second majors, and/or minors that will complement their work in international studies and lead to meaningful career options.
Faculty
Director
- Clarissa Estep - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
Department of Political Science
Professors
- Clarissa Estep - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
Department of Political Science, International Relations - Christina Fattore - Ph.D. (Florida State University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Department - Joe D. Hagan - Ph.D (University of Kentucky)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Barnette Professor in Political Science, International Relations and World Politics, Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis - Daniel Renfrew - Ph.D. (Binghamton University, State University of New York)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Environmental and political anthropology, Social movements, Latin American cultures
Associate Professors
- R. Scott Crichlow - Ph.D. (Louisiana State University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Department of Political Science, International Relations, Foreign Policy Decision-making, Middle East Politics - Karen Culcasi - Ph.D. (Syracuse University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Department of Geology and Geography, Political Geography, Middle East - William Hal Gorby - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
Associate Graduate Faculty, Department of History, West Virginia, Appalachia, Immigration - David M. Hauser - Ph.D. (University of Pittsburgh)
Department of Political Science, International Conflict, National Security Analysis - Mason W. Mosley - Ph.D. (Vanderbilt University)
Regular Graduate Faculty, Department of Political Science, Comparative Politics, Latin American Politics, Comparative Political Institutions
Admissions for 2026-2027
- First Time Freshmen are admitted directly to the major.
- Students transferring from another WVU major or from another institution with at least a 2.0 overall GPA are admitted directly to the major.
Major Code: 1453
Click here to view the Suggested Plan of Study
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Degree Requirements
Students must complete WVU General Education Foundations requirements, Eberly Edge Program requirements, major requirements, and electives to total a minimum of 120 hours.
Departmental Requirements for the B.A. in International Studies
- Calculation of the Major GPA: A minimum GPA of a 2.0 is required in all courses applied to major requirements. If a course is repeated, all attempts will be included in the calculation of the GPA, unless the course is eligible for a D/F repeat.
- Writing and Communication Requirement: International Studies Bachelor of Arts students fulfill the Writing and Communication Skills requirement by completing ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 (or ENGL 103), and any two additional SpeakWrite Certified CoursesTM selected from: ANTH 350, ANTH 458, CHIN 301, CHIN 303, COMM 309 FCLT 310, FLIT 217, FLIT 239, FLIT 266, FRCH 301, FRCH 302, FRCH 303, FRCH 304, GEOG 243, GEOG 302, GEOG 415, GEOG 443, GEOG 455, HIST 180, HIST 209, HIST 221, HIST 225, HIST 242, HIST 318, HIST 325, HIST 439, HIST 464, INTS 300, INTS 488 (3 credit hour),POLS 230, POLS 240, POLS 250, POLS 300, POLS 355, POLS 491A, RELG 230, RELG 231, RELG 301, SPAN 312.
- Area of Emphasis: A minimum GPA of a 2.0 is required in all courses applied to the Area of Emphasis. Students must declare an Area of Emphasis.
- Minor Requirement: Students must select a minor (or second majors) approved by their INTS academic adviser.
- Capstone Requirement: The university requires the successful completion of a Capstone course. For International Studies majors, INTS 488 will fulfill this requirement.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 46 | |
| Eberly Edge Requirements | 15 | |
| International Studies Major Requirements | 59 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 | 19 | |
| INTS 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives | 26 | |
| Total Hours | 46 | |
Eberly Edge Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDG 1: Data and Society * | 3 | |
| EDG 2: Effective and Civil Communication | 3 | |
| EDG 3: Ethics and Civil Responsibility | 3 | |
| EDG 4: Global and Regional Perspectives (POLS 260) | ||
| EDG 5: Practicing Arts and Sciences (ARSC 380) | 3 | |
| EDG 6: High Impact Experience | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- *
International Studies majors who complete INTS 300 satisfactorily may use the course to fulfill EDG 1.
International Studies Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CORE COURSES | 11 | |
| Professional Development: Success After International Studies | ||
| Professional Development: The Job Search | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| Survey of Economics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics | ||
| Social Inquiry in International Studies | ||
or POLS 300 | Empirical Political Analysis | |
or SUST 302 | Research for Sustainable Development | |
| REGIONAL AND LANGUAGE CONCENTRATION | 15 | |
Select a regional and language concentration (15 hours) from Arabic, Chinese, French, or Spanish | ||
Arabic | ||
| Elementary Modern Standard Arabic 1 and Elementary Modern Standard Arabic 2 and Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic 1 and Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic 2 | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Modern Arabic Literature | ||
or FLIT 316 | Arab Women Writers | |
or HIST 348 | The International Middle East | |
or POLS 356 | Politics of the Middle East | |
or RELG 232 | History and Practice of Islam | |
or any ARBC course at the 300-level or above | ||
Chinese | ||
| First Year Chinese 1 and First Year Chinese 2 and Second Year Chinese 1 and Second Year Chinese 2 | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
or any CHIN course at the 300-level or above | ||
French | ||
| Elementary French 1 and Elementary French 2 and Intermediate French 1 and Intermediate French 2 | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
or any FRCH course at the 300 or 400 level | ||
Spanish | ||
| Elementary Spanish 1 and Elementary Spanish 2 and Intermediate Spanish 1 and Intermediate Spanish 2 | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Latin American Culture | ||
or FCLT 360 | Latin American Cinema | |
or FLIT 266 | Latin American Literature | |
or HIST 209 | Twentieth Century Europe | |
or HIST 370 | Latin America and the World | |
or INTS 360 | The European Union and Contemporary European Affairs | |
or INTS 361 | European Identity and French-German Cooperation along the Rhine | |
or POLS 352 | Politics of the European Union | |
or POLS 353 | Western Democratic Governments | |
or POLS 452 | European Union Law/Legal Systems | |
or POLS 453 | European Union Law/Institutions | |
or any SPAN course at the 300 or 400 level | ||
| AREA OF EMPHASIS | 15 | |
Global Connections | ||
Or Security and Diplomacy | ||
| REQUIRED MINOR | 15 | |
| CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE | 3 | |
| Capstone International Studies | ||
| Total Hours | 59 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| INTS 191 | 1 | ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| GEF 2 and Lab | 4 | EDG 2: Effective and Civil Communication | 3 |
| Language 101 (GEF 8) | 3 | GEF 3 | 3 |
| EDG 1: Data and Society | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 |
| POLS 260 (EDG 4; GEF 7) | 3 | Language 102 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| General Elective | 1 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | AoE Course 1 | 3 |
| INTS 288 | 1 | Minor Course 1 | 3 |
| EDG 3: Ethics and Civic Responsibility | 3 | Language 204 | 3 |
| ECON 200 or ECON 201 & ECON 202 | 3 | GEF 4 | 3 |
| Language 203 (GEF 8) | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| General Elective | 2 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Minor Course 2 | 3 | Minor Course 3 | 3 |
| AoE Course 2 | 3 | AoE Course 3 | 3 |
| Regional Concentration Course | 3 | AoE Course 4 | 3 |
| INTS 300 or POLS 300 or SUST 302 | 3 | ARSC 380 (EDG 5) | 3 |
| INTS 388 | 1 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 2 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AoE Course 5 | 3 | INTS 488 | 3 |
| Minor Course 4 | 3 | Minor Course 5 | 3 |
| EDG 6: High Impact Experience | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
- *
Students completing a second minor, a second major or a dual degree already meet F8.
Areas of Emphasis Offered:
Majors are required to select an area of emphasis for specialized advanced study.
Global Affairs
Global Connections Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select five of the following courses from at least two disciplines: | 15 | |
| Environmental Anthropology | ||
| International Economics | ||
| Economic Development | ||
| Introduction to International Development | ||
| Migration and Human Rights | ||
| Applied International Development | ||
| Global Environmental Change | ||
| American Foreign Relations 1941 to Present | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| International Law and Institutions | ||
| Comparative Foreign Policy | ||
| International Law | ||
| American Foreign Relations | ||
| Contentious Politics | ||
| Gender and International Relations | ||
| Sociology of Globalization | ||
| Just Sustainable Development | ||
| Sustainable Governance | ||
| Climate and Environmental Justice | ||
| Sustainability, Planning and Development | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Security and Diplomacy Area of Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select five of the following courses from at least two disciplines: | 15 | |
| Terrorism | ||
| Political Geography | ||
| Migration and Human Rights | ||
| Geospatial Problem Solving | ||
| American Foreign Relations to 1941 | ||
| American Foreign Relations 1941 to Present | ||
| Introduction to National Security | ||
| Introduction to Intelligence Analysis | ||
| Intelligence Analysis Methods | ||
| National Security Law & Policy | ||
| Politics of Terrorism | ||
| International Political Economy | ||
| International Law and Institutions | ||
| Comparative Foreign Policy | ||
| International Law | ||
| American Foreign Relations | ||
| Foreign Policy Decision-Making | ||
| Politics of War and Peace | ||
| Contentious Politics | ||
| Gender and International Relations | ||
| Transformation of War | ||
| Intelligence Failures | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Degree Progress
Benchmark Expectations
By the third semester in the program, students should have:
- Completed or be registered for: POLS 260, ECON 200 or ECON 201, and one additional course from the core list.
- Made progress toward the world language requirement.
All majors must meet with an INTS adviser each semester (double majors should meet with both advisers).
Students who do not meet these requirements may be removed from their major.
Major Learning Outcomes
International Studies
Knowledge
- Students will apply theories and concepts drawn from appropriate disciplines such as political science, history, economics, geography, and sociology to international affairs.
- Students will display substantive knowledge of global and/or regional challenges through synthesis of the history, culture, society, geography, politics, and economy of a major world region.
Skills
- Students will demonstrate basic receptive and productive proficiency (four or more semesters) in a language appropriate for their chosen regional focus.
- Students will apply interdisciplinary social science research methods, including using library databases to find relevant literature, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of academic arguments, and applying basic quantitative and qualitative methods to make solid, evidence-based decisions.
Attitudes
- Students will exhibit the intellectual and ethical responsibilities of active global citizenship.