Gary Baker [Modern Languages], Brenda Boyle [English and Director of the Writing Center], John Cort [Religion], Katy Crossley-Frolick [Political Science], Susan Diduk [Soc/Anthro], Quentin Duroy [Economics],  Fadhel Kaboub [Economics - leave], Sangeet Kumar [Communications],  Andrew Law [Off-Campus Studies], Jeehyun Lim [English], Veerendra Lele [Director, Soc/Anthro], Damien Mahiet [Music], Diana Mafe [English], Isis Nusair [International Studies/Women's Studies - on leave], Jim Pletcher [Political Science], Taku Suzuki [International Studies], Peggy Wang [Art History], Ping Yang [Communication]

The concentration is four courses, selected by you to systematically explore a particular theme or topic in international studies. Since it is quite likely that not all the courses will be available, you must include two or three alternate courses for your concentration. Some students choose to focus on a particular geographical area such as sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia or North America. Other students focus on global processes involving changing patterns of production, human rights, diasporic identities or the increasing importance of transnational actors, to name only a few of many possibilities. In both cases you should be prepared to articulate how your concentration addresses issues that are central to international studies.

No, formulating your concentration is an opportunity for you to flex your intellectual muscles (with assistance from faculty advisors) and pursue your interest in the field.

First, think about your international studies coursework and/or issues that really capture your interest and imagination. Then, go see one, or several, members of the International Studies Committee. We are here to help you formulate your ideas and translate them into a coherent four-course concentration.

Ideally, your concentration in international studies should intersect with interests in your other major. However, do keep in mind that international studies is an interdisciplinary program. We want to encourage you to frame your concentration in a way that brings multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives to bear on a particular topic.

Yes, as long as you are participating in an off-campus study program that is approved by Denison and for which you will be receiving academic credit. You may count up to two courses from an off-campus study program toward your concentration. You must specify these courses in your proposal.

In most cases, yes. Our goal is to help you formulate and implement a coherent curricular program that integrates your academic interests with language skills and off-campus study. Your off-campus study program, or experience, should complement and enhance your academic work at Denison. In some cases Denison does not offer the languages spoken in particular areas (eg. Swahili in East Africa) and students make alternative arrangements to satisfy the language requirement.

Your choice of concentrations is somewhat restricted by course offerings at Denison. However, there are a number of ways to formulate concentrations in absence of specific topical courses. First, courses taken as part of off-campus study programs can count toward your major (within the guidelines outlined above). Second, if you know of a Denison faculty member who has expertise in the particular area you want to pursue, you can arrange to take one directed study as part of your major. Finally, you can include general courses, such as Comparative Politics or Modern European History, and indicate a desire to focus research asssignments on your particular topic or theme.

Refugees in Sub-Saharan Africa:
HIST 235     Modern Africa
SA 333     Hunger in Africa
OCS     Culture and Development in Kenya
OCS     Independent Project on Refugee Camps in Kenya

The German Colonial Experience in Southern Africa
HIST 235     Modern Africa
POSC 308     Politics of the Third World
GERM 299     German Politics
GERM 301     Contemporary German Culture

Spain as a Microcosmic Representation of European Integration
POSC 242     Intro to International Politics
POSC 370     The European Union
PHIL 126     Social and Political Philosophy
PSYC 315     Psychology of Language and Thought

National Identity in Latin America
POSC 222     Comparative Politics of Development Nations
ECON 312     Economic Development
SPAN 325     Survey of Latin American Literature
SPAN 335     Cultures of Latin America

Chinese Politics and Media During the Cultural Revolution
COMM 229     Gender, Race & Media
ART 292     Art of China
CHIN 340     Chinese Cinema in English
POSC 325     Politics of Southeast Asia

Latin American Women's Movements
HIST 323     Cuba, Central America and the U.S.
ENG 357     Post-Colonial Literature
SA 319     Indian Societies of Latin America
SPAN 325     Survey of Latin American Literature

European Integration and French National Identity
POSC 370     European Union
FREN 343     Modern French Civilization
FREN 301     French Practicum
HIST 258     History of France, Renaissance to Revolution

International Human Rights
POSC 242     Intro. International Politics
ECON 312     Economic Development
OCS     The Rights of Man (History of Human Rights)-Paris
OCS     Social Inequality-Paris

Latin American Women in Politics
POSC-221, Comp Politics Developing States
SPAN-299, Chilean Culture
LACS-201, Intro to Latin American Studies
WMST-210, Sex & Gender in Society


Sub-Saharan Political Development
OCS, Political-Social Change, Namibia
OCS, Development Process in Southern Africa
POSC-330, Transitions to Democracy
HIST-271, History of Southern Africa


Afro-Brazilian Identity
LACS-201, Intro to Latin American Studies
BLST-295, Africa on Film
REL-288, Rebellion, Resistance, Black Religion
OCS, Brazil:  Culture, Society, People

Third-generation North Africans in Europe
FREN-214, Area Study – France
HIST-215, Modern France
OCS, Muslim Presence in Europe
OCS, Cultures Francophones


Female Leadership in Organizations Ending Violence against Women in Cameroon
BLST-340, Social Justice Movements
SA-342, NGOs, Development and Human Rights
OCS, Development and Change
WMST-276, Gender, War and Conflict


Competing Environmental Discourses in Central America
BIO-370, Tropical Ecology & Conservation
SA-342, NGOs, Development and Human Rights
INTL-200, Human Rights, Indigenous Rights and Environmental Rights
COMM-205, Global Communication

Language, Identity and Nation Building in South America
COMM-244, Theories of Intercultural Communication
SPAN-361, Directed Study:   Language and Identity
OCS, Multiculturalism and Ethnicity in Argentina
OCS, Cultural Issues in Argentine History