International Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to build student expertise in particular world regions and/or about diverse international issues including globalization; global population, migration, and health; international conflict, terrorism, governance, and law; imperialism, decolonization, and development; and the role of gender, race, and class in international contexts.
An MS degree in International Studies prepares students for a range of career possibilities in government service, in foundations and NGOs, and in the wide range of institutions offering services transnationally or otherwise working in global environments.
CCSU was designated as a Center for Excellence in International Education in 1986. Today, along with its Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in International Studies, CCSU boasts a wide variety of study abroad programs and initiatives. The continuing enrichment, expansion, and refinement of the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science programs in International Studies result from the institution’s established commitment to global awareness and global citizenship.
Course and Capstone Requirements
30 credits in International Studies (Plan A or Plan C)
1. Common Core
2. Geographical Areas and Global Themes (18 credits)
Students will select 6-12 Credits from each of our program’s two focuses, for a total of 18 credits.
Geographical Areas:
12 credits for students who wish to develop a primary focus in a particular world geographical area.
9 credits for students who wish to balance area and global focuses.
6 credits for students who wish to complement their primary focus on a global theme.
Courses listed below are for advisory purposes only. Additional courses may be identified with the approval of the advisor. For example, IS 550 (Graduate Internship in International Studies), IS 590 (Graduate Field Study Abroad), IS 596 (Independent Studies in International Studies), and IS 597 (Seminar in International Studies) could be included in each area, depending on the topic of those courses when offered.
2a. Geographical Areas:
Africa (6 to 12 credits)
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
East Asia (6 to 12 credits)
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
Europe (6 to 12 credits)
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
Latin America (6 to 12 credits)
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
Middle East (6 to 12 credits)
| PS 434 | Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| PS 439 | U.S. Middle East Policy | 3 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
| IS 597 | Graduate Seminar in International Studies | 3 |
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
2b. Global Themes (6 to 12 credits)
12 credits for students who wish to develop a primary focus on a particular global theme.
9 credits for students who wish to balance global and area focuses
6 credits for students who wish to complement their primary focus on a geographical area.
Courses below are for advisory purposes only. Additional courses may be approved by your advisor. For example, IS 550 (Graduate Internship in International Studies), IS 590 (Course Abroad), IS 596 (Independent Studies in International Studies), IS 597 (Seminar in International Studies), HIST 580 (Seminar in Non-Western World History), and HIST 585 (Modern World History) could be included in each Global Theme depending on the topic.
Global Themes
Communication and Diversity in the Global Context (6 to 12 credits)
| COMM 543 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| ENG 486 | World Literature and Film | 3 |
| EPS 528 | Comparative and International Education | 3 |
| PSY 520 | Global Psychology | 3 |
| SPAN 441 | Cross-Cultural Communication | 3 |
| WGSS 469 | Readings in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
Energy, Resources, and Environment (6 to 12 credits)
| COMM 451 | Environmental Communication | 3 |
| GEOG 433 | Issues in Environmental Protection | 3 |
| GEOG 473 | Geography of Natural Resources | 3 |
| GSCI 450 | Environmental and Engineering Geology | 3 |
| SUST 500 | Social, Political, and Ethical Dimensions of Global Sustainability | 3 |
| SUST 501 | Contemporary Challenges in Environmental Sustainability | 3 |
| SUST 502 | Science for Sustainability | 3 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
Governance, Security, and Human Rights (6 to 12 credits)
| CJ 510 | Law, Criminal Justice, and Issues of Inequality | 3 |
| COMM 454 | Communication and Social Change | 3 |
| HIST 420 | Imperialism | 3 |
| PS 445 | Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation | 3 |
| PS 501 | Advanced Studies in International Law | 3 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
Population, Mobility, and Development (6 to 12 credits)
For any course designated GEOG 4XX, graduate students must register for GEOG 516 to receive graduate credit.
3. Research and Capstone Requirements (6 credits)
Plan A:
| IS 598 | Advanced Research in International Studies | 3 |
| IS 599 | Thesis in International Studies | 3 |
Plan C:
| IS 595 | Special Project in International Studies | 3 |
| IS 598 | Advanced Research in International Studies | 3 |
4. Language Requirement and Study Abroad
The International Studies MS program requires that all students have a level of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding of a single world language relevant to the area of geographical specialization, equal to the completion of the 126-level (226-level for French, Italian, or Spanish). Fulfillment of this requirement will be determined by a CCSU instructor of the language, the Chair of the World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures Department, or a CCSU faculty member designated by the Director of International Studies.
In addition to the language requirement, IS students without significant life or study experiences abroad are strongly encouraged to participate in a study abroad program, whether a course abroad or a semester or summer exchange. Information about study abroad programs is available via the Center for International Education.
NOTE: No more than nine credits at the 400 level, as approved by the graduate advisor, may be counted toward the graduate planned program of study. Initially, on acceptance to the program, students are assigned to the International Studies Curriculum Coordinator for advice. As soon as possible, students will be assigned an advisor appropriate to their area or global specialization. This advisor will normally serve as the faculty member supervising the student's thesis or special project.