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2018-2019 Catalog

International Studies (A.A.)

Associate in Arts

Program Advisor: Lois Cooper

413-236-4615 • lcooper@berkshirecc.edu

The International Studies concentration is designed for students wishing to have increased global awareness, including those intending to transfer to a baccalaureate institution to pursue a major in a field with an international component. Related majors at the baccalaureate level include anthropology, area studies, business, communications, economics, fine arts, history, journalism, law and politics.

This is a MassTransfer eligible program.

Expected Outcomes

Graduates of this program should be able to:

  • Understand the cultures, histories and/or politics of the countries they have studied;
  • Make connections in the study of international affairs in a multidisciplinary fashion;
  • Make informed comparisons between their own country and countries of the international community;
  • Continue their studies in upper division courses in a bachelor’s degree program; and
  • Use a foreign language with a proficiency equivalent to at least the first year of college language study.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.

Program Courses

ECO-150World Economy

3
-Or
ECO-212Principles of Macroeconomics

3
- 
ENG-Literature

3
-Foreign Language

8
-Free Electives

7
-International Studies Electives (see options below)

6
Total Credit Hours:27

Literature: See footnote 1
Foreign Language: See footnote 2

General Education Courses

ANT-101Cultural Anthropology

3
COM-Communication

3
ENG-English Composition/Writing

6
ENG-Literature

3
GEO-125World Geography

3
- 
HIS-113Western Civ to 1500

3
-Or
HIS-121World History to 1500

3
- 
HIS-114Western Civilization Since 1500

3
-Or
HIS-122World History Since 1500

3
- 
MAT-Mathematics

3
-Environmental Studies

1
-Natural or Physical Science

7
Total Credit Hours:35

COM Communication: See footnote 3
ENG Literature: See footnote 1
MAT Mathematics: See footnote 3
Environmental Studies: See footnote 5
Natural or Physical Science: See footnote 5

Additional Requirements

Core Competencies Portfolio 4 items
Forum 4 units
Health/Fitness 30 hours
Minimum Cumulative Average Overall 2.000

Suggested Pathway to Graduation

The following is a suggestion for completing this program in two years. The actual time needed to complete the program will vary according to each student’s individual needs.

First Semester

-Foreign Language

4
ANT-101Cultural Anthropology

3
COM-Communication

3
ENG-English Composition/Writing

3
- 
HIS-113Western Civ to 1500

3
-Or
HIS-121World History to 1500

3
Total Credit Hours:16

Foreign Language: See Footnote 2
COM Communication: See Footnote 2

Second Semester

-Foreign Language

4
ENG-English Composition/Writing

3
GEO -Geography

3
- 
HIS-114Western Civilization Since 1500

3
-Or
HIS-122World History Since 1500

3
- 
MAT-Mathematics

3
Total Credit Hours:16

Foreign Language: See footnote 2
MAT Mathematics: See footnote 4

Third Semester

ECO-150World Economy

3
-Or
ECO-212Principles of Macroeconomics

3
- 
ENG-Literature

3
-Free Elective

3
-International Studies Elective (see options below)

3
-Natural or Physical Science

4
Total Credit Hours:16

ENG Literature: See footnote 1
Natural or Physical Science: See footnote 5

Fourth Semester

-Free Elective

4
-International Studies Elective (see options below)

3
ENG-Literature

3
-Environmental Studies

1
-Natural or Physical Science

3
Total Credit Hours:14

ENG Literature: See footnote 1
Environmental Studies: See footnote 5
Natural or Physical Science: See footnote 5

Options for International Studies Electives

The professional concentration/electives, shown below, should be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor and should be consistent with career goals:

International Studies Electives

ECO-212Principles of Macroeconomics

3
ENG-204Literature of Peace and War

3
ENG-221Literature of Western Civilization I

3
ENG-222Literature of Western Civilization II

3
ENG-297Special Topics in Literature

3
FAS-171Pre-Renaissance Art History

3
FAS-172Renaissance to Modern Art History

3
FAS-173Twentieth Century Art History

3
HIS-113Western Civ to 1500

3
HIS-114Western Civilization Since 1500

3
HIS-121World History to 1500

3
HIS-122World History Since 1500

3
HIS-225Comparative Religions

3
HIS-232The World Since 1945

3
HIS-238History of the Holocaust

3
HON-298C17th Century: Emergence of Modern World

3
MUS-225Music History I

3
MUS-226Music History II

3
PHL-105World Security and Sustainability

3
SPA- Spanish

4
THR-111History of Theatre and Drama I

3
THR-112History of Theatre and Drama II

3

Footnotes

  1. One ENG literature course must be chosen from ENG-204, ENG-221, ENG-222, or ENG-297 with an international focus.
  2. Candidates for the International Studies Concentration must attain first-year college proficiency in a foreign language. Most students achieve this with one year of study at BCC earning eight credits. However, students with sufficient background may meet all or part of the requirement through the CLEP examination and then complete more elective credits to meet the required 62-credit total for this degree.
  3. COM-104, Intro to Interpersonal Communication, is recommended.
  4. MAT-123, Elementary Statistics, is recommended.
  5. The Natural or Physical Science requirement must be fulfilled by one 4-credit laboratory science and one-three credit non-laboratory science or by two 4-credit laboratory sciences. Completion of an environmentally focused laboratory science, such as BIO-109, BIO-110, ENV-101, ENV-102, fulfills both the Natural or Physical Science and the Environmental Studies