International Studies
Office: 204 New England Bldg.,Website:
depts.vassar.edu/~intstud/InternationalStudies.html,
Phone: (845)437-7140, e-mail: international@vassar.edu
Director: To be announced; Steering Committee:
Pinar Batur-Vanderlippe (Sociology); Robert Brigham
(History); Patricia-Pia Celerier (French); Andrew Davison
(Political Science); Leah Haus (Political Science);
Katherine Hite (Political Science); Maria Höhn
(History); M. Glen Johnson (Political Science); Martha
Kaplan (Anthropology); David Kennett (Economics);
Christopher Kilby (Economics); Alexis Klimoff (Russian
Studies); Timothy Longman (Political Science and Africana
Studies); Leslie Offutt (History); Lizabeth
Paravisini-Gebert (Hispanic Studies); Miki Pohl (History);
Stephen Rock (Political Science); Jeffrey Schneider (German
Studies); Silke von der Emde (German Studies); Yu Zhou
(Geography). Panel of Advisers: Program Faculty.
The multidisciplinary program in International Studies is
designed to provide a solid and systematic grounding in the
study of global interdependence while allowing students to
develop strengths in at least two traditional departmental
disciplines. A student's course of study for the major is
designed in close consultation with the director and the
Panel of Advisers. The objectives are to build a core of
knowledge in the international social sciences and develop
fluency in at least one language, while ensuring a
multidisciplinary perspective by encouraging students to
approach international issues from the viewpoints that
interest them most. Consequently, approved programs of study
may include upper-level work in the sciences, humanities,
literature and arts as well as the social sciences and
languages. In general, the advising process should be
initiated early in the sophomore year, especially if a
student is interested in study abroad in the first semester
of the junior year. Entry to the Program is limited.
Requirements for the concentration:
1) 15 units, including International Studies 106, in a
program of study that has been approved by the Panel of
Advisers of the International Studies Program. These units
must comprise a coherent and integrated program of study,
and the rationale for the program must be given in a formal
proposal. Credit to the program will not normally be given
for courses at the 100-level except for International
Studies 106, Political Science 160, and Geography 105, or if
the course is accepted as filling one of the program
recommendations given below.
2)Competency in one foreign language through the
third-year college level as demonstrated by completion of
the relevant courses or special examination. The language
studied should be directly relevant to the geographical area
of emphasis.
3)4 units of work at the 300-level: International Studies
305, a senior seminar of 1 unit; a senior thesis of 1 unit
(normally International Studies 301-302); and at least 1
unit from each of two departments. The senior seminar and
the thesis constitute the Senior-Year Requirement.
4)1 unit of intermediate work directly relevant to
international issues in each of three departments. One of
these departments must be economics and the other two
courses may be drawn from political science, history, and
geography.
5) At least one unit of work dealing with issues of
nationality, race, ethnicity, class, and/or gender in
American society.
Recommendations for the concentration:
1)At least one course concerning the history, politics,
economics, geography, anthropology or sociology of Latin
America, Asia, or Africa.
2) Familiarity with research methods appropriate to the
student's concentration in the International Studies major.
The following courses may satisfy this recommendation:
Anthropology 245 (The Ethnographer's Craft); Economics 209
(Probability and Statistics); Geography 222 (Geographic
Research Methods); Political Science 207 (Political
Analysis); Psychology 270 (Statistics and Experimental
Design); or Sociology 254 (Research Methods).
3)Systematic inquiry into the area of ethics. This
recommendation may be satisfied by any of the following
courses: Philosophy 106 (Philosophy and Contemporary
Issues), Philosophy 234 (Ethics), Philosophy 238 (Social and
Political Philosophy), or another approved course.
5)A structured foreign area experience. This is
especially recommended for students who have not lived or
worked abroad. It may be satisfied by approved programs for
JYA, exchange living or study/travel.
I. Introductory
106b. Perspectives in International Studies
(1)
An introduction to the varied perspectives from which an
interdependent world can be approached. Themes which the
course may address are nationalism and the formation of
national identity, state violence and war, immigration,
religion, modernization, imperialism, colonialism and
postcolonialism, indigenous groups, cultural relavitism, and
human rights. These themes are explored by examining the
experiences of different geographic areas. This
multidisciplinary course uses texts from the social sciences
and the humanities.
The particular themes and geographic areas selected, and
the disciplinary approaches employed, vary with the faculty
teaching the course.
This course is required for all International Studies
majors. Sophomores and freshmen should take this course if
they are interested in pursuing an International Studies
major. Program faculty.
110b. International Studies Study Trip (1)
Normally the study trip takes place in the spring
semester break. The course, which is taught in conjunction
with the study trip, provides a systematic multidisciplinary
introduction to the social, cultural, religious, historical,
geographic, political, and economic aspects of the place of
travel. The precise disciplinary foci of the trip varies
depending on the faculty leading the trip and teaching the
course. Language instruction is required when
appropriate.
Destination 2000/01: Africa.
II. Intermediate
280-289a or b. Special Studies Courses (1)
A series of special study courses which will be offered
by the program. These courses deal with issues of current
interest approached in a multidisciplinary framework.
Courses taught have dealt with the history of the Middle
East; human rights; women and economic development; the rise
and fall of economic superpowers.
283b. Gender, Postcolonialism and Visual
Representation (1)
(Same as Women's Studies 283)
290a or b. Field Work (1/2 or
1)
298a or b. Independent Work (1/2
or 1)
III. Advanced
300a or b. Senior Thesis (1)
A 1-unit thesis written in the fall or spring semester.
Students may elect to write their theses in one semester
only in exceptional circumstances. Usually students will
adopt International Studies 301-302.
301a-302b. Senior Thesis (1)
A 1-unit thesis written in two semesters.
305a. Senior Seminar (1)
An examination of selected global topics in a
multidisciplinary framework. Topics vary from year to year.
The program faculty.
399a or b. Senior Independent Work
(1/2 or 1)
The program faculty.