Majors
International studies major
Do you like visiting new places that are different than what you are used to? Do foreign cultures seem intriguing to you? You might want to consider an international studies major at Central College. Graduates have gone on to become language workshop coordinators, bilingual customer service representatives and graduate students in international communication.
International studies is an interdisciplinary major which develops international understanding of historical and contemporary world issues through basic course work in international issues, a focus on a particular world region, and proficiency in a foreign
language and study abroad. The program seeks to encourage cross-cultural sensitivity and emphasizes the interrelatedness of cultural, linguistic, political, social, economic, environmental and aesthetic issues in a particular region of the world. Students
choose to pursue either the West European studies (WES) track, the Latin American studies (LAS) track, or the African studies (AFS) track of the major, and are assigned to an area studies director to plan their programs.
Faculty
- Chia Ning, Ph.D., co-director of international studies, professor of history, chian@central.edu
- Allison Krogstad, Ph.D., co-director of international studies, associate professor of Spanish, krogstada@central.edu
- Mike Schrier, Ph.D., co-director of international studies, associate professor of history, schrierm@central.edu
- Jim Zaffiro, Ph.D., co-director of international studies, professor of political science, zaffiroj@central.edu
News about International studies
Going Green with Guatemalan Garbage
Over spring break, a group of 10 students tackled garbage and compost in a Guatemalan village. They also taught local women about sustainability.
Long Way Home
Omer Ali ’12, a Sudanese refugee, struggled with coming to America and to Central before finding his stride as an entrepreneur.
Writer in a Big Fur Hat
Paul Richardson ’84 is editor of Russian Life magazine and runs Russian Information Services. He has also published a novel about Russia and a collection about running.
Origin Story
Michael Harris, professor of English, returns to India after 30 years to study the rediscovery of Buddhism in its birthplace, ironically with British colonial help, 25 centuries later. Harris was awarded a Fulbright Grant for his research.
Successful Careers
- English teacher and translator, Idiomas Milagros, Leon, Spain
- Family development specialist, Hispanic Educational Resources, Des Moines,Iowa
- Program director, Reading Is Fundamental, Austin, Texas
- Graduate student in Latin American studies, University of New Mexico
- U.S. Embassy employee, Beijing and Chongqing
- English First representative, Urumuchi, China
- Ambassador to Niger, U.S. Deparmtent of State, Washington, D.C.
Internships
Learn more about internships at Central.
Learn more about internships at Central.
Courses
African studies track
- Introduction to international studies
- Cultural anthropology
- Modern African civilization
- African politics since 1935
- African history
- Ethnographic field methods
- Research seminar
- Topics in Francophone literature and civilization
- Environmental studies seminar
- African-American culture and history
- Culture theory
- Studies in non-Western art
- Global strategic management
- Intercultural communication
- Topics in cross-cultural perception and communication
- Principles of macroeconomics
- Principles of microeconomics
- Economic development
- International economics
- African and Caribbean literature
- African-American literature
- Field methods in linguistics
- Principles of linguistics
- Sociolinguistics
- World literature
- French civilization
- French for business
- World music
- Politics in foreign countries
- Introduction to international politics
- International political economy
- Global environmental politics
- International law and organizations
- Islam
- Minority groups
Latin American studies track
- Introduction to international studies
- Cultural anthropology
- Latin American civilization
- Politics in foreign countries
- Introduction to international politics
- Ethnographic field methods
- Seminar I history
- Research seminar
- Intercultural communication
- Topics in cross-cultural perception and communication
- Economic development
- International economics
- Teaching English as a second language
- Latin American music
- Modern Latin America
- Africa, Asia and Latin America in world affairs
- International law and organizations
- Cross-cultural ministry internship
- Minority groups
- Modern Spanish American literature
- Civilization of Hispanic America
- Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S.
- Studies in Hispanic literature
West European studies track
- Introduction to international studies
- Cultural anthropology
- Western civilization
- Politics in foreign countries
- Introduction to international politics
- Ethnographic field methods
- Seminar I history
- Research seminar
- Culture theory
- History of art: ancient through medieval
- History of art: renaissance through modern
- History of modern art
- International marketing
- Intercultural communication
- Topics in cross cultural perception and communication
- Principles of macroeconomics
- Principles of microeconomics
- Economic development
- International economics
- Comedy
- British literature II: 1660-1850
- British literature III: 1850-present
- Field methods in linguistics
- Principles of linguistics
- Sociolinguistics
- Shakespeare
- Teaching English as a second language
- World literature I
- Studies in 19th-century literature
- Studies in 20th-century literature
- French civilization
- Early French literature: Middle Ages and Renaissance
- French literature of the 17th and 18th centuries
- 19th-century French literature
- 20th-century French literature
- French for business
- Topics in Francophone literature and civilization
- Masterworks of German literature
- German for business
- History of the German language
- German cultural history
- Early Western civilization
- The USSR
- Greek and Roman history
- Studies in Music — central and eastern Europe
- Classical thought
- Modern thought
- Modern continental philosophy
- Political philosophy
- Contemporary Europe
- Africa, Asia and Latin America in world affairs
- International political economy
- Global environmental politics
- International law and organizations
- The Jewish experience
- The Reformation
- Medieval Christendom
- The early church
- Christianity and culture
- Minority groups
- Modern Spanish literature
- Seminar: Spanish literature
- Topics in Spanish culture and civilization
Sample Schedule
Freshman year
- Language courses
- Core courses and electives
Sophomore year
- Language courses
- Core courses and/or electives
- Study abroad
Junior year
- AFS/LAS/WES courses
- Study abroad
- Core courses and/or electives
Senior year
- AFS/LAS/WES courses
- Senior language seminar
- Core courses and/or electives
Get more details from the course catalog! (Note: this is a PDF file)
Facilities
The Weller Center for Business and International Studies houses faculty offices and classrooms for the economics, accounting, business management and modern language departments. The $3.9-million building was completed in 1999 and includes state-of-the-art technologies and a very energy efficient design, including solar panels on the roof. There is a 24-hour computer lab on the main floor and eight high-tech classrooms, two of which contain student computers.
Central College has an interactive computer language lab, which can be used by classes and individual students to supplement traditional methods of language learning located in the Weller Center. This lab has 26 student computer stations and a teacher station, with which teachers can organize a variety of conversational activities such as telephone, conference groups and written chat groups. The system allows for use of both digital and analog sound recordings for student listening activities and recording the voices of multiple students at one time.
Organizations
No matter what your interests are, Central has a student group or organization that you’ll want to join! Click here to learn how you can get involved with groups and organizations at Central. International studies students might be interested in joining Central's Culture Club
and Coalition for Multicultural Campus (CMCC).
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to study abroad with one of Central’s eight international programs to enhance their development as global citizens, or with Central’s Chicago program and the Washington, D.C., program. Learn more about Central’s study abroad programs.
