Title of Program: War and Peace Studies Major
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in International Studies – War and Peace
Administrative Unit: International Studies
Revised 3/2/10
Introductory Descriptive Statement
The purpose of the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies – War and Peace--is to educate students in security studies from an interdisciplinary perspective. The program will address the increased need for graduates with a background in security studies. Students have shown interest in the development of a thematic major, a break from the tradition of our traditional area studies focus. The core courses, study abroad/internship and language requirements mirror the requirements of the 4 other undergraduate International Studies majors. The remainder of the curriculum involves a rich diversity of courses and faculty across the university which will be refreshed each year (much like the other majors). No financial requirements are needed for this program since all courses are currently on the books. We would like to implement the program in Fall ’10. The course list is long enough so that we are confident the major will successfully transition from quarters to semester s.
Program Need
There has been a recent and dramatic spike in the demand for graduates in security studies. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security, new emphases on improved intelligence analysis and risk assessments, border control, immigration, heightened proliferation threats in Iran, North Korea, and other countries around the globe, increased attention and hiring in the areas of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency, as well as reconstruction and development in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan, culminate in demand for students well trained in war and peace studies. In addition, our students would be well equipped for careers at NGOs, IGOs, multinational corporations, and think tanks, as well as pursue a graduate degree in a related field.
No other school in Ohio has a program of this kind.
The closest to the proposed program is the Department of Political Science’s world politics track. However, this is not an interdisciplinary program and focuses exclusively on Political Science offerings, and second, once we move to semesters, the track system in Political Science will be eliminated.
Faculty from the following departments have reviewed proposal (in addition to the BAIS Faculty Advisory Board, an interdisciplinary group of 18, which helped to conceptualize the major):
AAS
ANTH
COMS
GEOG
HIST
ML
PHIL
POLS
PSY
SOC
An interdisciplinary program in War and Peace Studies would be an excellent recruitment device, not only in Ohio but from further afield geographically. We will have connections to a number of think tanks in DC, London, and Geneva, which will make it a very attractive program both in terms of scholarship, but also in terms of making connections and getting real world experience.
We expect 5 students per year to join the major much like the other International Studies majors. This program will be very attractive to students already at Ohio University as well as new students thinking about applying to universities who are interested in war and peace.
Curriculum
Total Required Hours: 57-69 hours
Core Courses (complete 13 hours):
ANTH 101 - Cultural Anthropology
GEOG 241 - Global Issues in Environmental Geography
POLS 250 - International Relations
Core War and Peace Courses (complete 12 hours):
ANTH 353 - Anthropology of Violence and Peace
COMS 110 – Communication between Cultures
HIST 321D - War, Violence, and Modernity
PHIL 446 – Justice and Liberty
POLS 458 - War and Its Causes
SOC 484 – Crimes against Humanity
War and Peace Thematic Options (16 required hours, only 12 of which may be from one discipline):
AAS 101 - African American History I
AAS 202 – African American History II
AAS 364 - Comparative Study of Injustice
HIST 265A - Nazi Germany
HIST 305 - The United States and the Vietnam War
HIST 300C - Rev Era 1763-1789
HIST 303 US in World War II
HIST 305 US & Vietnam War
HIST 308B Civil War and Reconstruction
HIST 321A – American Military to 1898
HIST 321B – American Military since 1898
HIST 333 Oil and World Power
HIST 341C Modern Africa
HIST 353C History of the Crusades
HIST 360C - Women Warriors: Women and War in Europe
HIST 361 French Revolution
HIST 364A - Europe Between World Wars
HIST 369A The Pacific War 1931-1945
HIST 374B - Origins of World War II, 1914-1941
HIST 374C – Cold War
HIST 369Y Roman Warfare
HIST 375 - World War I
HIST 377 - Jewish Holocaust
HIST 382B - Russia: Road to Revolution 1825-1917
HIST 382D - The USSR in World War II
POLS 340 - The Politics of Developing Areas
POLS 352 – International Peace
POLS 354 – America Foreign Policy
POLS 427 – Formulation of American Foreign Policy
POLS 449 - Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict
POLS 455 - International Law
POLS 456 - International Organizations
POLS 457 - National Security in the Post-Cold War World
POLS 460 - International Political Economy
POLS 490N – Terrorism
POLS 490P - Intn'L Human Rights Org
PSY 337 Social Psychology of Justice
SOC 230 - Sociology of Poverty
Area Studies Options (Complete 4 hours):
HIST 246 The Rise of Modern Asia
INST 113 Modern Africa
INST 118 European Studies
INST 121 Interdisciplinary Survey of Latin America
Language With Advisor’s approval, complete either 3 years (12 hours beyond College requirement) of coursework in a single language, 2 years of each of 2 different languages (24 hours beyond College requirement), or demonstration of equivalency. Students may petition their Advisor to have a language they take elsewhere fulfill the requirement.)
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ARAB***
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FR***
GER***
GK***
HINDI***
INDO***
ITAL***
JAP***
KHMR***
KIKU***
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RUS***
SOMA***
SPAN***
SUDN***
SWAH***
THAI***
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Study Abroad or Internship: Advisor approved study abroad or internship experience(s) which reflects major/language of study. Students may earn academic coursework towards the major to fulfill this requirement through a study abroad program or enrolling in INST 495 internship (students must find own internship placement). Students should complete study abroad experience prior to their senior year to ensure credits earned are transferred before anticipated graduation date. Preparation for a study abroad experience should begin 2 quarters in advance. Information on study abroad is available at http://www.ohio.edu/educationabroad.
Transfer of credit from other institutions and programs at Ohio University will be accepted.
We have initiated conversations with the departments teaching core courses in order to
avoid conflicts.
Ohio State has a Security and Intelligence program which is not as broadly conceived as ours; Miami of Ohio has a Conflict, Peace, and Diplomacy major which is also not as broadly or coherently conceptualized as ours will be.
There is no accreditation agency that accredits such a program.
Faculty and Instruction
Existing courses for the new major will continue to be taught by current faculty members. All courses being taught as part of the curriculum of this major will be taught by faculty members or other instructors having at least an MA, Ph.D. preferred. Participation in this major will not impact current teaching loads of faculty. Courses currently being used for the program are already being taught as part of each faculty member’s regular load.
Admission Requirements
Students who are admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences will be admitted into this program. No new monies will be necessary to run this program.
Administration
The Bachelor of Arts in International Studies Faculty Advisory Board, chaired by the Executive Director of the Center for International Studies, will govern the curriculum.
Timing and Evaluation
No external publicity about this program has been generated.
We would like the program to start in Fall ’10.
Budget and Financial
We do not anticipate any new expenses for this program.