Undergraduate Catalog 2012-2013

International Option: Degree Designation

Coordinator: Dr. Dwight Call

The application for enrolling in the International Option as a degree-designation is available in the International Education Center or at www.gcsu.edu/international/internationaloption.htm

The International Option is an academic program offered within Georgia College's baccalaureate programs for students who seek to integrate substantive and challenging international preparation into their studies. The option includes both international study and related experiences that are integrated into a student's undergraduate major. Degree requirements are not modified, but are satisfied with specialized courses and appropriate choices of elective courses. Completion of the International Option requirements as part of a baccalaureate degree program will be recognized by the designation "International Option" on a student's transcript. The International Option is open to all baccalaureate degree programs that choose to participate.

Requirements for the International Plan Designation

The requirements for the International Option ensure that all recipients achieve a basic level of international education and experience while allowing flexibility for academic units to tailor their programs in a manner most beneficial to their majors. The evaluation of course content, approval of course substitutions and unit degree requirements, and similar curricular actions will follow Georgia College academic policies and procedures. A student must complete the following International Option requirements to receive the designation. Individual degree programs may add additional restrictions to these requirements.

  1. A student must complete all degree requirements for an undergraduate degree that has been approved by Georgia College to participate in the International Option. The "International Option" designation will be conferred along with the degree and the designation will be recorded on the student's transcript. The International Option designation may not be conferred retroactively upon students who have graduated.
  2. A student must complete the following coursework, language competency, and international experience requirements.
    1. Course Requirements These courses constitute the curricular component of the International Option. They provide both an academic foundation and a context to complement the international experience. The descriptions are not intended to restrict the courses to specific disciplines or units. Each student who enrolls in the International Option must take four three credit hour courses (for a total of 12 credit hours) from among at least three of the following four categories of courses in International Studies. Courses that count toward a student's major requirements can also count toward the International Option, There is an appendix of the approved course list.

      International relations – Study of relationships among countries, governments, peoples, and organizations from a global perspective, including topics such as the role of state sovereignty and nationalism and non-state actors in the international system; international conflict, peace, security, intervention, and nation-building; international organizations, law, and ethics; transnational problems of the environment, terrorism, health, and migration; and other related issues.

      Global business, economics, and resources – Study of the many aspects of conducting business in the global economy, including topics such as international trade, finance, investment, and production; regional economic integration; economic development and modernization; and questions of natural resource sustainability.

      Country or regional studies – Study of a country or region that allows for systematic comparisons with their own society and culture. This course could come from various disciplinary perspectives, including history, public policy, philosophy, international affairs, literature, economics, management, architecture, among others. This course should be directly relevant to the international context of the intended overseas experience in Part C.

      Cultural awareness – Study of cross-cultural issues or intercultural communications to promote understanding and respect for cultural diversity.

    2. Foreign Language Competency Requirement - Students must demonstrate listening, reading, writing and oral proficiency at the Intermediate Mid Level (ACTFL) by completing a 3000-level course in a language other than English. This language requirement may be satisfied in a student's native language if it is not English. Appropriate outside evaluators will be consulted for languages not taught at Georgia College. Students may also transfer in appropriate courses in any language other than English from other countries or universities.
    3. International Experience Requirement - Students must study abroad for at least one full semester (three months), either on exchange with one of our own partner universities or International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) universities or through transient enrollment at a foreign university or an approved program provider. Equivalents to study abroad might be international internships, research, service-learning projects, or volunteer opportunities. Living among and immersed in the local foreign academic, research or work community will increase students' international understanding and their language competence. If deemed appropriate by the major advisor, chair and dean, students may combine shorter term programs to achieve the equivalent of one semester. International Plan required courses may be taken during the period of study overseas if these courses are deemed equivalent to the required courses and acceptable by the major advisor, chair and dean.

      Students whose normal residence is outside the U.S. may not complete the International Experience in that country unless granted an exception.  In such cases, the student should clearly demonstrate how the proposed International Experience will contribute to achievement of the International Option objectives.

      International experience plans must be approved in advance by the student's major department and college, verifying the suitability of the planned coursework and that the overall experience is appropriate to the student's area of study. Plans also must be approved by the International Education Center.

    4. Capstone - Each student must design a capstone project with his or her department that integrates knowledge of the major discipline and the international experience in a global context. Alternatively, if approved by the major department, the student might participate in a multi-disciplinary capstone together with other International Option participants.
  3. Students will achieve the following student learning outcomes:
    1. Understand global issues and systems from a multi-disciplinary perspective:

      Assessed through faculty group review of the capstone paper according to a rubric. Assessed through a summative group review of the student's study abroad portfolio according to a rubric. Communicate at Intermediate Mid Level competence in a language other than English:

      Assessed through tests, papers, and oral exercises embedded in a 3000-level course to measure listening, reading, writing, and oral proficiency.

    2. Uses knowledge, diverse cultural frames of reference, and alternate perspectives to think critically and solve problems:

      Assessed through a summative group review of the student's study abroad portfolio according to a rubric.

    3. Accept cultural differences and tolerate cultural ambiguity:

      Assessed through faculty group review of the capstone paper according to a rubric (same capstone as "a" above).

  4. The International Option requirements listed in Item 2 are subject to the following constraints:
    1. Courses used to satisfy the International Option requirements also may be used to satisfy course requirements in a student's major degree program or minor, whether required by name and number or used to fulfill electives. In order to complete the International Option within the normal credit hour limit, many students will select language courses to satisfy their humanities electives and will use one or more of the courses in requirements in 2) a) as part of their social sciences electives.
    2. Courses used to satisfy the International Option requirements must be completed with an overall grade point average of at least 3.00.
  5. In order to apply for admission to the International Option and to continue to pursue it, a student must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA or better. An application outlining how the student proposes to complete the International Option needs to be approved by the Chair of the student's major department, the Dean of the College, and the Assistant Vice President for International Education, prior to being submitted to the Registrar. The form is available in the International Education Center or at www.gcsu.edu/international/internationalplan.htm.

The academic advisor and the Assistant Vice President for International Education will monitor the student's progress. Students who fail to maintain a GPA of at least 2.5 in any semester or who fail to achieve an overall GPA of at least 3.0 prior to the start of the International Experience will be evaluated to determine if they will be allowed to continue in the International Option Program.

Upon completion of the International Option, a student needs to submit the form a second time with the exact list of courses and capstone, together with all signatures including that of the Department Chair, to the Assistant Vice President for International Education and check the box for completed program .

International Option Operation and Oversight

Primary responsibility for the International Option rests with the colleges and departments that choose to participate. The evaluation of course content, approval of course substitutions and degree requirements, and similar curricular actions are the responsibility of the individual academic units, following Georgia College academic policies and procedures.

Because the International Option degree designation is awarded by Georgia College and will be available to students in many disciplines, there is also university-level oversight and program guidance. The Curriculum Subcommittee of the International Education Committee, comprised of faculty from each of the colleges, along with representatives from the International Education Center and the Office of the Registrar, will be responsible for providing academic leadership for the International Option program, ensuring consistency across units, identifying and disseminating effective practices, and assisting units in developing courses and international experience options. This group is also responsible for making decisions on student petitions; reviewing proposals for new courses, international experience plans, etc.; and for making recommendations to the International Education Committee.

Appendix of Approved Courses

Note: Students may petition the Curriculum Subcommittee of the International Education Committee for other appropriate courses to be added to this list.

International Relations

GEOG 4205Political Geography

3

POLS 3501Comparative Government

3

POLS 4600Rise & Fall of Civilizations

3

POLS 3635National Security Policy

3

POLS 4611Contemporary Int'l Problems

3

POLS 4621Comparative Foreign Policy

3

POLS 4650Contemporary Amer Foreign Poli

3

Special Topics, Independent Studies, or other classes as approved

Global Business, Economics, and Resources

ACCT 3110International Accounting

3

BIOL 4710Biogeography

4

BIOL 4740Environmental Conservation

3

BIOL 4800Plants and People of The World

3

CBIS 4215Electronic Commerce

3

ECON 3220International Trade

3

ECON 3240International Finance

3

ECON 3440Comparative Economic Systems

3

ECON 3850International Economic Develop

3

GEOG 4220Economic Geography

3

GEOG 4400Resource Use

3

GEOG 4450Environment & Society

3

MGMT 4145International Management

3

MKTG 3180Intl Marketing Enviornment

3

MKTG 4175Intl Marketing Strategies

3

Special Topics, Independent Studies, or other classes as approved

Country or Regional Studies

AFST 3500Geography of Africa

3

AFST 3580/BLST 3580Traditional African Worldview and Education

3

AFST 3615/BLST 3615/CRJU 3615Law and Social Change in Africa

AFST 3800/BLST 3800/MUSC 3800African Music & Dance

3

AFST 4010African Country Project

3

AFST 4451African Literature

3

AFST 4452African Women Writers

3

AFST 4541Politics of Modern Africa

3

AFST 4845African Art History

3

ARTS 4880Asian Art History: Chinese Art

3

ARTS 4881Asian Art History: Indian Art

3

ARTS 4882Asian Art History: SE Asia

3

AFST 4950Special Topics

1 - 4

ANTH 3200Indigenous Peoples Latin Am

3

ENGL 4955Special Topics in Intern'l Lit

3

ENGL 4447Comparative Literature

3

ENGL 4451African Literature

3

ENGL 4452African Women Writers

3

FREN 3210Survey of French Literature I

3

FREN 3220Survey of French Literature II

3

GEOG 3500Regional Geography:Spec Topics

3

GEOG 4500Comparative Regional Geography

3

HIST 3301England to 1660

3

HIST 3305England Since 1660

3

HIST 3700Asia to 1500

3

HIST 3705Asia since 1500

3

HIST 3715Colonia Latin America

3

HIST 3720Modern Latin America

3

HIST 4045World War I

3

HIST 4050World War II

3

HIST 4150Crime and Punishment in Early Modern Europe

3

HIST 4155Early Modern Europe

3

HIST 4160Science, Medicine and Society in Europe before 1800

3

HIST 4170Women in Early Mod Europe

3

HIST 4180Epidemic Disease in History from Black Death to AIDS

3

HIST 4210French Revolution & Napoleon

3

HIST 4215Nineteenth-Century Revolutions

3

HIST 4220Modern Europe

3

HIST 4230Modern France

3

HIST 4245Modern Germany

3

HIST 4250Twentieth Century Russia

3

HIST 4285Int & Clt His of Eur Since1550

3

HIST 4335Modern Britain

3

HIST 4360Cul His of Wales, Scotlnd, Ire

3

HIST 4380Brit Emp & Cmnwlth of Nations

3

HIST 4690Hist US/Latin Amer Relations

3

HIST 4700Conquest of Latin America

3

HIST 4710Modern Middle East

3

HIST 4720The Vietnam War

3

HIST 4730Modern China

3

HIST 4800Modern Mexico

3

HIST 4805Span Amer Wars of Independence

3

HIST 4810Modern Caribbean

3

MUSC 3800African Music & Dance

3

POLS 4503The Politics of Spain

3

POLS 4505Intro to the European Union

3

POLS 4531Politics of the Middle East

3

POLS 4561Politics of Latin America

3

SPAN 3210Survey of Span Literature I

3

SPAN 3220Survey of Span Literature II

3

SPAN 3230Survey of Latin American Lit I

3

SPAN 3240Survey of Latin Amer Lit II

3

Special Topics, Independent Studies, or other classes as approved

Cultural Awareness

AFST 3580/BLST 3580Traditional African Worldview and Education

3

ARTS 4851Comparative Aesthetics

3

BCOM 4283Global and Intercul Bus Comm

3

ENGL 4447Comparative Literature

3

FREN 3110French Culture & Civ, I

3

FREN 3120French Culture & Civ, II

3

GEOG 4305Cultural Geography

3

GRMN 4450German Civilization

3

MUSC 4800Studies in World Music

3

POLS 3501Comparative Government

3

RELI 4405Comparative Religion

3

RHET 3320Intercultural Communication

3

SPAN 4450Spanish Civilization

3

SPAN 4500Seminar in Contemp Lat/Am Cult

3

THEA 3100Theatre History I

3

THEA 3110Theatre History II

3

THEA 1310Improv for Social Change

3

THEA 3320Theatre as Social Change

4

Special Topics, Independent Studies, or other classes as approved