INST 488

INST 488 International Studies: Senior Project

Prerequisites: Senior standing or permission of the instructor. 

Credit Hours: (3) Three hours research/activity

Students research and present a senior project appropriate to their particular area of concentration supervised by a faculty adviser. Students must earn a grade of B- or better to graduate with the minor.

This course is one option as the culminating experience for students minoring in International Studies. The other option is INST 490: International Studies Capstone.

A project proposal should be submitted to the minor director in advance of registering for the course.

Note(s): Cultural or Behavioral Analysis designated course.

 

Detailed Description of Content of Course

The senior project will vary according to the student's individual course of study. The following, and many others, are examples of the kinds of general topics that a student might research and present as meeting the requirements of this course:

• Economic Development within the Third World (or a particular country)
• Population Growth & Birth Control Programs in Developing Countries
• Adapting Islam to the Modern World
• Survival Strategies of the Israeli Government in Historical Perspective
• Comparative Guerilla Movements in the 20th Century
• Ecological Preservation or Economic Development: Dilemmas in a Developing Country
• A Comparative Analysis of Legal Rights for Women in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
• The Historical Origins of the Martial Arts in Korea
• A Comparison of Opera in Form and Structure in its European and Chinese Settings
• An Examination of the Ideas of Buddha and Confucius in a Cultural Context
• The Structure of Education in a Comparative International Context
• International Perspectives on Traditional Medicine and Its Practitioners

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of the Course

The instructor working with the minor director will frame the requirements and expectations for the course with the student. In addition to traditional library research, the project might include a variety of activities such as oral projects, in-service or internship experience, surveying and the analysis of statistical data, and artistic compositions. The student would also be expected to present this project publicly in a university or community setting. The supervising instructor may wish to garner feedback from other faculty members but will be responsible for determining the final grade for the project.

 

Goals and Objectives of the Course

Specific goals will vary with each project, but generally, students completing this course will

1. Describe behaviors, beliefs, cultures, social institutions, and/or environments. 

2. Analyze the interactions of behaviors, beliefs, cultures, social institutions, and/or environments.

3. Gain a deep and practical understanding of research methods based upon their academic training and the knowledge obtained from a specialized course of study

4. Develop new ideas independently; cultivate an inquisitive and inquiring mind; examine viewpoints and perspectives with an open-mind.

Assessment Measures

Assessment will be the responsibility of the individual supervising Instructor. Grades may be assigned for various preliminary stages of the project such as initial drafts, preliminary reports, or bibliographies.

 

Other Course Information

None

 

Review and Approval

September 2001 Reviewed & Approved Charles W. McClellan

March 01, 2021