2025-26 Undergraduate Catalog

Nov 27, 2025

2025-26 Undergraduate Catalog

International Studies: Disciplinary Concentration in Global History [IST_GHIS]

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Focusing on the last 500 years, this concentration in the International Studies Interdisciplinary Degree Program traces the historical basis of the modern world system and then allows students to focus on particular regions and historical topics.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Identify and reproduce historically based knowledge of global processes that shaped the world over the last 500 years.
Explain the major international political/economic theories and global processes in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Analyze the impact of global processes, developed during the 20th and 21st centuries, on cultures and nations outside the "West".
Demonstrate cross-cultural competence.
Integrate inter-disciplinary knowledge and conduct innovative studies through advanced research papers.
Offer clear, concise, and effective public presentations.

Bachelor's Degree Requirements

All relevant degree requirements must be completed, in addition to the major requirements listed below.

A. Required Courses: IST Core: 15 credit hours

HIS 101 - The World Since 1500 (3 cr. hr.)
IST 200 - Foundations of the International System (3 cr. hr.)
IST 210 - The Making of the Modern World (3 cr. hr.)
IST 330 - International Negotiation and Mediation (3 cr. hr.)
IST 400 - Themes in International Studies (3 cr. hr.)
Select IST 400, or a topic-approved course selected in consultation with advisor

B. Elective Course: 3 credit hours

HIS 100 - The World to 1500 (3 cr. hr.) or
HIS 111 - Western Civilization since 1500 (3 cr. hr.)

C. Non-western history electives: 9 credit hours

Select nine credit hours from the following:

HIS 321 - Africa, Human Origins to 1800 (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 322 - Modern Africa, 1800-Present (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 323 - History of African Development (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 325 - Colonial Latin America (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 326 - Modern Latin America (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 327 - Latin American Revolutions in the 20th Century (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 370 - Eurasia: West-East Perspectives, 800-1500 (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 381 - The World of the Silk Road, 800-1500 (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 384 - Modern China (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 385 - History of Japan (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 386 - Modern East Asia (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 402 - History of Latin American-U.S. Relations (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 422 - History of U.S. Latinos (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 432 - World Environmental History (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 433 - Slavery in World History (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 461 - Modern Israel and the Arab-Israeli Conflict (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 530 - Issues in African-American History (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 533 - Issues in Asian History (3 cr. hr.)

D. European history electives:

Select nine credit hours from the following:

HIS 318 - The History of Women in Modern Europe (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 334 - Russia Since 1894 (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 341 - Gender and Power in Medieval Europe (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 342 - Ancient Greece (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 343 - Roman History (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 344 - Medieval Europe: 300-1050 (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 345 - Medieval Europe: 1050-1300 (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 346 - Renaissance and Reformation (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 348 - Europe Since 1914 (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 349 - Central Europe 1789-1918 (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 441 - Britain since 1688 (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 447 - Germany since 1815 (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 460 - The Holocaust (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 465 - The Soviet Union, 1917-1953 (3 cr. hr.)
HIS 532 - Issues in European History Since 1500 (3 cr. hr.)
IST 320 - Introduction to the European Union (3 cr. hr.)

E. Upper-Division Electives: 21 credit hours

Select 21 credit hours in ATH, ESL, HIS, SPA or general electives at the 300 level or above to reach the SUNY mandate of 45 credits at the upper level (300 level or above). Those electives could include study abroad or build toward a minor or a second major in another department.

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 120

Example of the B.A. in International Studies over four years

First Year

Fall Total credit hours: 16

Foreign language
GE course

COR 101 - The Cortland Experience: A First Year Seminar (1 cr. hr.)
CPN 100 - Writing Studies I (3 cr. hr.) or
CPN 102 - Writing Studies in the Community I (4 cr. hr.)
HIS 101 - The World Since 1500 (3 cr. hr.)
IST 100 - Culture through Film (3 cr. hr.)

Spring Total credit hours: 15

Foreign language
GE course
GE course
IST concentration

CPN 101 - Writing Studies II (3 cr. hr.) or
CPN 103 - Writing Studies in the Community II (4 cr. hr.)

Second Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

Foreign language
GE course
GE course
Elective

IST 200 - Foundations of the International System (3 cr. hr.)

Spring Total credit hours: 15

Foreign language
IST concentration
GE course
GE course

IST 210 - The Making of the Modern World (3 cr. hr.)

Third Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

IST concentration
IST concentration
IST concentration
Upper-division elective

IST 330 - International Negotiation and Mediation (3 cr. hr.)

Spring Total credit hours: 15

Study Abroad

Fourth Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

IST concentration
IST concentration
Upper-division elective
Upper-division elective
Upper-division elective

Spring Total credit hours: 15

IST concentration
Upper-division elective
Upper-division elective
Upper-division elective

IST 400 - Themes in International Studies (3 cr. hr.)

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International Studies: Disciplinary Concentration in Global History [IST_GHIS]

Student Learning Outcomes

Bachelor's Degree Requirements

A. Required Courses: IST Core: 15 credit hours

B. Elective Course: 3 credit hours

C. Non-western history electives: 9 credit hours

D. European history electives:

E. Upper-Division Electives: 21 credit hours

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 120

Example of the B.A. in International Studies over four years

First Year

Fall Total credit hours: 16

Spring Total credit hours: 15

Second Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

Spring Total credit hours: 15

Third Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

Spring Total credit hours: 15

Fourth Year

Fall Total credit hours: 15

Spring Total credit hours: 15