Area Studies
Portland State University's undergraduate degree in international studies is offered through the College of Urban and Public Affairs' Department of International & Global Studies. The B.A. in International & Global Studies is an interdisciplinary degree that draws on approaches from multiple fields like sociology, economics, communications, history, and more. The program offers students the opportunity to focus on the Middle East through courses that span numerous departments and programs, such as the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the Graduate School of Education, the School of Fine and Performing Arts.
This program will provide the student with a basic understanding of the peoples and history of this diverse and culturally-rich region of the world and a firm foundation for further study. The cultural and language proficiency achieved will also serve as excellent preparation for a variety of job opportunities in teaching, business, government or foreign service.
Requirements to Major in Regional Studies
All students will be required to take 36 credits with the INTL prefix to graduate. This means that students will need to take three of their Connected Learning or Regional Focus classes (out of ten total) from within INTL.
In addition to general education University Studies requirements and those for the B.A. degree, majors must complete an individualized, advisor-approved curriculum, to include:
A. International Studies Core Courses - 24 credits required
- INTL 201 Introduction to International Studies - (4 Credits)
- INTL 2xx Intro to a World Region (fulfills 1 Sophomore Inquiry) - (4 Credits) *
- INTL 390 Foundations Of Global Studies - (4 Credits) **
- INTL 396 The United States and the World - (4 Credits)
- INTL 407 Seminar (small group discussion; not lecture format) - (4 Credits)
- INTL 471 Understanding the International Experience - (4 Credits)
* For INTL 2xx, the appropriate Mentored Inquiry section is required.
** INTL 201 is a prerequisite for INTL 390.
B. Connected Learning Courses - 20 credits required
These courses are topical (international, global) NOT regional in focus. At least 20 upper-division credits (with a grade C or above) from adviser-approved courses selected from departments and programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the Graduate School of Education, the School of Fine and Performing Arts, and the College of Urban and Public Affairs.
C. Regional Focus - 20 credits required
All majors must complete at least 20 upper-division credits (with a grade C or above) from adviser-approved, area-specific courses appropriate to the student's regional focus. Current regional focus tracks are:
- Africa
- East Asia
- Europe
- Middle East
- Latin America
Courses are typically selected from departments and programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Fine and Performing Arts, and the College of Urban and Public Affairs.
D. Foreign Language
Students must demonstrate competence in an appropriate foreign language either by completing the second year of the language in the final term or by passing a departmentally administered proficiency exam at the same level.
All required courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or above.