Global Opportunities

Students interested in overseas projects or exchange programs in International Studies should attend the Global Opportunities Fair each September in the Campus Center Odeum. Contact the IGSD at other times of the year to ask about the opportunities for off-campus study during the coming year.

Consider the possibilities: 

• Alexia Bililies '09, a double-major in International Studies and Hispanic Studies, will be a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in Denmark in 2009-10 to study disaster management. She studied in several WPI programs: a Spanish language program at Granada, Spain, an interdisciplinary project on HIV/AIDs prevention strategies in Windhoek, Namibia, and a major project on the community health system in the Dominican Republic. 
• Virginia Ward '08, a double-major in International Studies and Society, Technology and Policy, was a Fulbright Scholar in Taiwan in 2008-09 in preparation for a career in the diplomatic service. She completed projects in Britain, Namibia, and Morocco.  
• Sanouri Ursprung '08, International Studies major, recently won the Provost's MQP Award for the best project in any area of the humanities and arts for "Battling Malaria:  A History of International Health Aid." She is currently a research associate at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and plans a career in public health.
• Nicholas McBride '07, a Biomedical Engineering major and International Studies minor, completed a project on erosion and flood control in the settlement of Otjomuise in Windhoek, Namibia, which is described in a website, video, and photo gallery.  Nick recently received an NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Biomedical Scholarship to study for his Ph.D in biomedical engineering at Cambridge University.  
• Anne St. Martin '06, a double-major in International Studies and Chemistry, is attending law school to study international intellectual property.  She completed her Interdisciplinary Project in Namibia, her Chemistry Major Project in Nancy, France, and her International Studies Major Project in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.  See Anne's interview with Worcester Magazine or a profile in WPI Transformations for more information...

Selected courses related to International Studies
offered in 2010-2011

Please check the Registrar's course schedule to confirm terms and course availability. 

Consider:

HI 1341. INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL HISTORY. Cat I. 
An introduction to the study of global history since 1500. Topics include global expansion, the Columbian exchange, and the slave trade; Renaissance, Reformation, and revolution in Europe; global industrialization, imperialism, and nation building; the world wars and revolutionary movements; decolonization and the Cold War. The course will also discuss case studies of developing nations of interest to students. Especially appropriate as background for students interested in International Studies or any of WPI's global Project Centers. Term A

HU 1412. INTRODUCTION TO ASIA. Cat I. 
This course will explore Asia through an interdisciplinary approach. We will examine tradition and modernity in some or all of four cultural regions--South Asia (India), East Asia (China), Southeast Asia (Vietnam or Thailand), Inner Asia (Tibet)--and globalization in Japan and/or Hong Kong. We will explore the cultural traditions of these various regions, paying special attention to history, religion, society. We will also consider modern developments in these same regions. The impact of colonialism, nationalism, revolution, industrialization and urbanization on the lives of Asian peoples will be illustrated through films and readings. Term A

HU 3411. PRO-SEMINAR IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES. Cat. II
This course examines the fundamentals of intercultural communication to prepare students to live and work with people from other cultures. It explores how different patterns of thinking and behavior, assumptions and values, have arisen from different cultural traditions and divergent histories in the world. Racism, prejudice, and bigotry—often the result of cultural, social, and technological differences in human experience—are among the concerns of the class. This course cannot teach students how to behave and think in all parts of the world, but it raises questions about ethnocentric assumptions often taken for granted by those working or studying in another culture. It is excellent preparation for an international IQP or educational exchange. Term C

HU 4411. SENIOR SEMINAR IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES., Cat. I
This course is designed to integrate each student's international courses, projects, and experiences in a capstone seminar in International Studies. Students will reflect on what they have learned in their previous courses and international experiences. They will assess what happened to them overseas, why it happened, and how it might be understood. They will also prepare a paper with an instructor in their area of international studies that integrates their previous academic courses. Students will also explore how they might translate their courses and experiences into future personal and professional opportunities.  Recommended background: Previous courses in international studies, such as HI 1341 and HU 3411, and completion of an international IQP or an international educational exchange. Term C

HU 2441. AFRICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE. Cat. II
This survey course uses an interdisciplinary approach to examine fundamental issues in African political, social, and cultural history. The course may include various topics, such as ancient African kingdoms, the influence of Islam, the Atlantic slave trade, imperialism and decolonization, contemporary democratization, or African literature and art. Suggested background: HI 1341 Introduction to Global History. This course will be offered in 2007-08 and in alternating years thereafter. Term D

HI 1313. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF FOREIGN POLICY AND DIPLOMATIC HISTORY. Cat. II
An introduction to the various components of U.S. foreign policy decision-making and the basic techniques of diplomatic history. The course will focus on one or two topics in the history of American foreign relations, using a variety of primary documents and secondary sources. Term B

HI 1321. INTRODUCTION TO EUROPEAN SOCIAL HISTORY.  Cat. I
An introduction to the study of modern European social history since the Industrial Revolution. Topics will include industrialization in Britain and Europe, class formation, gender and the condition of women, technology and economy, culture and society. Students will learn to work with historical sources, to formulate arguments, to read critically, and to write clearly.  Term A

HI 1322. INTRODUCTION TO EUROPEAN CULTURAL HISTORY. Cat. I
In this course students think through some of the major intellectual currents that have defined modern Western Civilization. Topics include the philosophical impact of science on modern thought, the development of liberalism and socialism, the crisis of culture in the twentieth century. Students read selections from major thinkers in the Western tradition and develop their skills at critical thinking, analysis, oral and written argument.  Term A

HI 2321. EUROPE FROM THE FRENCH REVOLUTION TO WORLD WAR I. Cat. I
A survey of the major socio-economic, political, and cultural developments in European history from the Old Regime to World War I. The course will focus upon those factors and events that led to the formation of modern European society: Nation-State building, The French Revolution, industrialization; liberalism, democracy, and socialism; national unification of Italy and Germany; the coming of World War I. Term B

HI 2322. EUROPE SINCE WORLD WAR I., Cat. I
A survey of the major political, socio-economic, and cultural developments in European history since World War I. The course will focus upon those factors and events that have led to the current world situation: the World Wars, fascism and communism, the Holocaust, the Cold War, the welfare state, decolonization, post-industrial society, popular culture, the collapse of communism, contemporary Europe. No prior knowledge of European history is required. Term C

HI 2328. HISTORY OF REVOLUTIONS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. Cat. I
A survey of some of the most important revolutionary movements of the twentieth century. We will consider topics such as racial, nationalist, feminist and non-violent revolutionary ideologies, communist revolution, the "green" revolution and cultural revolution. No prior knowledge of the history of revolutions is expected. This course will be offered in 2007-08 and in alternate years thereafter.

HI 2334. EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT. Cat. I
A survey of the development of technology in Europe from the late medieval period to World War I. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the evolution of technology within its cultural, social, and political contexts. Topics may include the military, mechanical, maritime, and building technologies of the medieval and Renaissance periods; the commonly misunderstood figures of Leonardo da Vinci; the causes and nature of the Industrial Revolution; the effects of the British Industrial Revolution in France and Germany in the 19th century; the transition from craft-based industries to those that are science based such as the dyestuffs and electrical power industries; World War I as a technological conflict.

HI 2341. CONTEMPORARY WORLD ISSUES IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. Cat. II
This course examines the historical origins of contemporary global crises and political transformations. Students keep abreast of on-going current events through periodical literature and explore the underlying long-term causes of these events as analyzed by scholarly historical texts. Topics will vary each time the course is taught but may include such topics as: The European Union, The Israeli-Palestinian Crisis, Democratization in Africa, The Developing World and Debt Relief. No prior knowledge of world history is required. This course will be offered in 2007-08 and in alternating years thereafter.

HI 3321. TOPICS IN MODERN EUROPEAN HISTORY. Cat. II
This seminar course examines topics in the cultural, socio-economic and political history of modern Europe, with a focus on Great Britain. Topics may vary each year among the following: nationalism, class and gender, political economy, environmental history, sport and society, film and history. Readings will include primary and secondary sources. This course will be offered in 2007-08 and in alternating years thereafter.

HI 3341. TOPICS IN IMPERIAL AND POSTCOLONIAL HISTORY. Cat. II
This seminar course examines topics in the history of European imperialism, colonialism, and the postcolonial aftermath. Topics vary each year among the following: culture and imperialism, the expansion of Europe, the economics of empire, travel and exploration narratives, imperialism in literature and anthropology, decolonization in Asia and Africa, postcolonial studies. Readings will include primary and secondary sources.

HI 3342. TOPICS IN COMPARATIVE CIVILIZATIONS. Cat. II
This seminar course compares and contrasts major religious, philosophical, social, and political themes in different civilizations. Comparisons will vary each year but may be drawn from Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Africa, and indigenous cultures of the Americas. It examines the historical foundations of these civilizational differences and draws comparisons with common features of Western civilization. One important goal of the course is to enhance student appreciation of non-Western values and traditions.

HI 3331. TOPICS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY. Cat. I
A seminar course on the relationships among science, technology, and society in Europe through a series of case studies. Topics from which the case studies might be drawn include: the harnessing of science for industrial purposes; the role of the chemical industry in war; the function of the science advisor in government; the military-industrial complex in Nazi Germany; the political views and activities of major scientists such as Einstein. Students will use current theories and critiques of “autonomous technology” to analyze the case studies. Term D

HI 3343. TOPICS IN ASIAN HISTORY. Cat. I. 
This seminar course examines topics in the cultural, socio-economic, and political history of East Asia. Topics vary each year and may include the following: nationalism and the writing of history, travel and exploration narratives, cross-cultural contact, the role of religion and ideology in political history, development and the environment in Asia, film and history, and the place of minorities and women in Asian societies. Term D.

EN/WR 3214. WRITING ABOUT DISEASE AND PUBLIC HEALTH. Cat. I
This writing workshop focuses on the purposed and genres of writing about disease and public health. We will consider how biomedical writers communicate technical information about disease and public health to general audiences; how writers capture the human experience of disease and health care; how writers treat the public policy implications of disease; and how writers design publicity to promote public health. We will examine such genres as the experimental article, news reports, medical advice, profiles, commentary, and public health messages. Term B

GN 3514. SEMINAR ON SELECTED TOPICS IN GERMAN LITERATURE. Cat. II
The content of the seminar will change from time to time. The course will focus either on an author (e.g., Goethe, Heine, Kafka, Gunter Grass, Christa Wolf), a genre (e.g., lyric poetry, drama, narrative prose), a literary movement (e.g., Romanticism, expressionism), or a particular literary problem (e.g., literature and technology, writing and the Holocaust, writing and the city). The seminar will be conducted entirely in German. The course will be offered in 2005-06 and in alternating years thereafter. Recommended background: GN 3511 (Advanced German I) and GN 3512 (Advanced German II) or equivalent.

GN 3516. GERMAN FILM, Cat. II
Since its beginnings in the early 20th century, film has been a powerful medium for popular entertainment as well as a potent expression of society's dreams, fears, and values. Films made in the German-speaking countries are no exceptions, from early expressionist films like The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari through Nazi documentaries like Triumph of the Will to today's feature films such as Grizzly Man and Run Lola Run! Many German directors have achieved international renown. This course, conducted in German, will examine representative German-language films from various perspectives: historical, socio-political, and thematic. Films will be shown in German with English subtitles. The course will include weekly screenings, discussion sessions, and substantial written assignments.

SP 3524. SPANISH-AMERICAN LITERATURE IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.  Cat. I
This course, taught in the Spanish language, focuses on the major literary movements in Spanish America, from the “Modernista” movement at the turn of the century to the Latin American “Boom” of the 1960s to the political literature of the ‘70s and ‘80s. The work of representative authors, such as Rubén Dario, Julio Cortázar, Rosario Castellanos, Elena Poniatowska, will be discussed. Term A

SP 3525 SPANISH AMERICAN FILM/MEDIA: CULTURAL ISSUES, Cat. I
Through Latin American and Caribbean films, and other media sources, this course studies images, topics, and cultural and historical issues related to modern Latin America and the Caribbean. Within the context and influence of the New Latin American Cinema and/or within the context of the World Wide Web, radio, newspapers, and television, the course teaches students to recognize cinematographic or media strategies of persuasion, and to understand the images and symbols utilized in the development of a national/regional identity.  Among the topics to be studied are:  immigration, gender issues, national identity, political issues, and cultural hegemonies.  This course is taught in Spanish. Term B

SP 3527. TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS SPANISH Cat. I
The course focuses on the linguistic concepts, terminology, and grammar involved in business and technical Spanish. Students will be required to produce and edit business documents such as letters, job applications, formal oral and written reports, etc. The objective of this course is to help students develop the basic written and oral communication skills to function in a business environment in Latin America and the Caribbean. Term C

SP 3529. CARIBBEANNESS: VOICES OF THE SPANISH CARIBBEAN Cat II
A survey of Caribbean literature and arts that takes a multimedia approach to examining the different voices that resonate from the Spanish Caribbean and what appears to be a constant search for identity. By studying the works of major authors, films, music and the plastic arts, we will examine the sociocultural context and traditions of this region in constant search for self-definition. Special attention will be given to the influential role ethnicity, colonialism, gender and socio-economic development play in the interpretation of works from Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Venezuela as well as those of the Caribbean diaspora. This course is taught in Spanish. Recommended background: SP3521 (Advanced Spanish I) and SP 3522 (Advanced Spanish II) or equivalent. This course will be offered in 2006-07 and in alternating years thereafter. Term D

SP/ID 354X. SPANISH FILM/MEDIA: CULTURAL ISSUES Cat. II
This course is an introduction to various aspects of life in Spain, from early times to the present. The main focus is on Spain's social, political, and cultural development and its experience of diversity within its European context. Typical topics for study include: the Reconquista and the Arab influence in Spanish culture, the Spanish monarchy, its evolution into a democracy, the development of modern politics, the importance of the Spanish Civil war, and the influence of writers (such as Federico García Lorca), painters (such as Pablo Picasso), and art in general in modern Spanish culture. This course is taught in Spanish.  Recommended background: SP 3521 (Advanced Spanish I) and SP 3522 (Advanced Spanish II) or equivalent. Term B

SP/ID 352X. CONTEMPORARY U.S. LATINO LITERATURE AND CULTURE
This course is taught in Spanish.  Recommended background: SP 3521 (Advanced Spanish I) and SP 3522 (Advanced Spanish II) or equivalent. Term C.

BUS 1900. INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS IN AN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, Cat. I
This course focuses on the operation of a company conducting business in an international environment. It addresses cultural differences and their importance in international trade and in such business functions as operations, human resources, marketing and accounting. MG 1900 is an appropriate course for all WPI students regardless of a major. Term B

PY/RE 1731. INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION. Cat. I
This course provides an overview of key concepts, methods and authors in both fields. These introduce the student to the types of reasoning required for the pursuit of in-depth analysis in each discipline. Emphasis on topics and authors varies with the particular instructor.

PY 2716. PHILOSOPHY OF DIFFERENCE. Cat. II
This course examines philosophical presuppositions and questions of value underlying and expressed in the construction of masculinity and femininity in modern society. The course may also examine social identities rooted in race, ethnicity, sexual preference , and ability/disability. Possible topics include: changing conceptions of love, sex, marriage, and parenting; how our conceptions of masculinity and femininity are influenced by and influence (for example) religion, science, politics, work, and art; and the relations between feminist theory and other critical social theories. This course will be offered in 2004-05 and in alternating years thereafter.

RE 2721. RELIGION AND CULTURE. Cat. I
The purpose of this course is to examine how the two institutions of religion and culture interact and mutually influence one another. To do this a variety of definitions of religion and culture will be presented as well as an analysis of how religion interacts with such cultural phenomena as economics, politics, the state, war and the basic problem of social change. The purpose of this is to obtain a variety of perspectives on both religion and culture so that one can begin to articulate more clearly the different influences that occur in the development of one’s own personal history and the culture in which one lives. Term B

RE 2724. RELIGIONS OF THE EAST.  Cat. II
The purpose of this course is to examine, from the perspectives of history text, practice, and philosophy, some or all of the following religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto. The course will attend to the social context in which these religions began, their relations with their culture, their rituals and their continuing influences in the East and West. Suggested background: PY/RE 1731 and RE 2721.

ECON 1130 INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMETRIC MODELING Cat. I
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an introduction to econometric modeling as it is applied in the social sciences and to illustrate how it can be used in harmony with, or as an alternative to, system dynamics modeling. The first quarter of the course is devoted to discussing the methodological similarities and differences between econometric and system dynamics modeling, acquainting students with both the primary (survey instruments and controlled experiments) and secondary (government agencies and NGOs) sources of economic and social science data, and reviewing the basics of descriptive and inferential statistics. The remaining three quarters of the course are devoted to an examination of the assumptions that underlie the ordinary least squares model, the problems that occur when these assumptions are violated, and the methods that are available for correcting these problems. Throughout this process, the use of socioeconomic data, and the roles of economic theory and econometric software in modeling are emphasized. The course concludes with a presentation of how the econometric modeling can be used to complement system dynamics modeling. Term B

ECON 2117. ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS. Cat. II
This course investigates the effect of human activity upon the environment as well as the effect of the environment on human well beingwell-being. It pays special attention to the impact of production and consumption of material goods upon the quantity and quality of environmental goods. The analysis focuses on the challenges presented in mixed economics where markets are combined with government intervention to manage pollution and scarcity. The course reviews efforts to measure the costs and benefits of improving environmental conditions and evaluates current and potential policies in terms of the costs of the environmental improvements they may yield. Attention is also paid to the special difficulties which arise when the impacts of pollution spill across traditional political boundaries. Recommended background: SS 1110. This course will be offered in 2004-05 and in alternating years thereafter. Term D

GOV 1320. TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS Cat. II.
GOV 1320 is a survey course designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of international relations: power and influence, nations and states, sovereignty and law. These concepts will be explored through the study of issues such as diplomacy and its uses, theories of collective security and conflict, and international order and development. The study of international organizations such as the UN, the European Union or the Organization of American States will also supplement the students' understanding of the basic concepts. The course may also include comparative political analysis of states or regions. It is designed to provide the basic background materials for students who wish to complete IQPs on topics that involve international relations or comparative political systems.

PSY 2406. CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY: HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE. Cat. II
This course is an introduction to the study of the ways in which social and cultural forces shape human behavior. Cross-Cultural psychology takes a global perspective of human behavior that acknowledges both the uniqueness and interdependence of peoples of the world. Traditional topics of psychology (learning, cognition, personality development) as well as topics central to social psychology, such as intergroup relations and the impact of changing cultural settings, will be explored. Cultural influences on technology development and transfer, as they relate to and impact upon individual behavior, will also be investigated. Students preparing to work at international project centers, International Scholars, and students interested in the global aspects of science and technology will find the material presented in this course especially useful.

SOC 1202 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY. Cat. I
The aim of this course is to provide a useful perspective on the group level phenomena studied by the field of Sociology and delve somewhat into the subject of culture, which is normally covered in courses on Anthropology. The major concepts that define social structures and major institutions will be covered as well. An important theme of the course is the process of modernization as it has been experienced in Europe or America and in former colonies of England such as Nigeria, which is used to address the interaction of technology and society. The course will also address the international competition between nations with space agencies so that cultural diversity can be examined in the context of other factors shaping the development of a strategically significant technology. The course culminates in a live role playing game in which the class will simulate an international negotiation between space faring nations brokered by the UN, as it tries to take space technology in a different direction and involve more nations in its development. Students will be briefed in detail on the cultures, nations and agencies they are expected to represent in this activity, and teach each other about their assigned nations through their actions as well as their words. Term A

General Social Sciences Advice:

Interactive Project preparation courses at global project centers such as ID/SS 2050 also count towards International Studies programs.  Also check for courses in micro-economics, macro-economics, and systems dynamics.

 

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