Program Information: Global Systems Specialization

The Global Systems specialization in ISCOR focuses on the political, economic, and social characteristics of global systems, which includes the study of international relations, comparative regional studies, and internationally mobile populations. An ynderstanding of global systems will provide the context for analyzing issues of international security, cooperation and conflict. A minimum of 18 units is needed to complete this specialization. These units must be drawn from the following groups (A-D):

Group A: (three units)

• Economics 360: International Economic Problems
  International problems, economic communities, organizations, and other selected topics.

Group B: (select two courses from the following four for a total of six units)

• Economics 330: Comparative Economic Systems
  Current economic systems from laissez-faire to state controlled market economies.
  
  OR
  
  History 480: History of Corporations in the Modern World
  Comparative study of the modern corporation in the United States, Japan, Europe, and developing nations.
  
  OR
  
  ISCOR 475: Homeland Security
  Components of homeland security. Research and analysis of policies, laws, and civil rights, including comparisons between nations.
  
  OR
  
  Political Science 577: Principles of International Law
  The historical development of the ideas and rules of international law and their place in the modern diplomatic legal structure.

Group C: (three additional units from two of the following twelve numbered categories for a total of six units)

1. Aerospace Studies 400B: National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty
   Role of professional in democratic society, armed services, and national security forces. Political, economic, and social constraints of national defense structure.
   
   
2. Anthropology 350: World Ethnography
   Cultural patterns of representative peoples. Ethnological theories reviewed and applied in illustrative societies.
   
   
3. Asian Studies 570: The Asia Pacific and Global Economies
   Rise and development of Asia Pacific economies. Asia’s relationship with the global economy.
   
   
4. Chicana and Chicano Studies 306: Mexican Immigration
   Comparative study of political, economic, and cultural factors. Undocumented immigration and US law.
   
   
5. Economics 336: Economic History of Emerging Nations
   Evolution of economic organization, institutions, and policies of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
   
   OR
   
   Economics 365: Economics of Underdeveloped Areas
   The nature and causes of economic underdevelopment.
   
   
6. Geography 312: Culture Worlds
   Geographical characteristics and development of major cultural realms of the world. Analysis of conflict within and between these regions.
   
   
7. Geography 554: World Cities: Comparative Approaches to Urbanization II
   Worldwide trends in urbanization.
   
   
8. History 408: Modern Europe
   Social, cultural, economic, political, and intellectual trends, development of nation states, and sources of continental conflict.
   
   OR
   
   History 486: World War II
   Causes of WWII, its course, and its legacy for today’s world.
   
   OR
   
   History 512A: The Great War: A Turning Point in European History
   Forces and events that shaped Europe in period prior to and during World War I.
   
   OR
   
   History 512B: The Age of Dictators and Contemporary Europe
   Europe in the age of dictatorship, world war, decline, and recovery.
   
   
9. History 543: American Involvement in Vietnam 1941-75
   Causes and costs of America’s longest war: the war’s beginning, US involvement, impact of war on South- east Asia and the United States.
   
   OR
   
   History 544B: Modern American Foreign Relations
   Development of American foreign relations since 1900.
   
   
10. Political Science 361: Governments and Politics of East Asia
    The internal political structure and foreign policies of China, Japan, and Korea.
    
    OR
    
    Political Science 478: Conduct of American Foreign Relations
    Institutional arrangements by which American foreign policy decisions are formulated and implemented.
    
    OR
    
    Political Science 479: National Security Policy
    Objectives, instruments, and consequences of national security policy.
    
    OR
    
    Political Science 481: International Relations of the Developing Nations
    Cooperation and conflict between the developing nations.
    
    OR
    
    Political Science 555: Comparative Political Systems
    Analysis to determine similarities, differences and general patterns and universals among political systems.
    
    OR
    
    Political Science 560: Comparative Public Policy
    Ways that political and social factors shape policy choices. Policy areas chosen from: educa-tion, health, nutrition, crime, transportation, housing, energy, popula-tion control, poverty, unemployment, inflation.
    
    
11. Sociology 350: Population and Contemporary Issues
    Population processes as they affect/ are affected by such issues as rapid world population growth, environment, urbanization, family, aging, US-Mexican border, and undocumented migration.
    
    
12. Women’s Studies 580: Women and International Development
    Women’s role as agents and recipients of change worldwide.

Group D: (three additional units from one of the following six numbered categories for a total of three units)

1. Asian Studies 459: Modern Asian Cultures
   Continuity and change in traditions and values of Asian societies in face of urbanization and Westernization.
   
   
2. Chicana and Chicano Studies 355: The United States-Mexico International Border
   History, culture, economics, and politics of US/Mexico border region.
   
   
3. History 421: Asia’s Emerging Nations
   Historic changes which have contributed to the rise of modern Japan, India, and China.
   
   
   OR
   
   History 474: The Middle East Since 1500
   Middle Eastern history since 1500 C.E. Islamic empires, European colonialism, nationalism, and modernization.
   
   OR
   
   History 476: History of Africa Since the Nineteenth Century
   History of colonial an d postcolonial Africa 19th century to present.
   
   OR
   
   History 555: Modernization and Urbanization in Latin America
   Historical treatment of the phenomena of urbanization in Latin America with attention to pre-Colombian traditions.
   
   OR
   
   History 564: Southeast Asia in the Modern World
   Southeast Asian history since 1800. Considers transnational comparisons among Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
   
   OR
   
   History 565: Revolution and Social Change in Asia
   Study of contemporary problems in Asia emphasizing how indigenous peoples responded to the challenges of nationalism, reform, revolution, modernization, and neo-colonialism.
   
   
4. Political Science 363: Governments and Politics of the Middle East
   The political structures of states in the Middle East including Turkey, Israel and the Arab states.
   
   
5. Political Science 364: Political Change in Modern Africa
   Dynamics of social and political change in modern Africa.
   
   
6. Political Science 566: Political Change in Latin America
   Domestic and international politics of selected Latin American states.

NOTE: Select courses from SDSU, other universities (U.S. and foreign) and ISCOR 496: Selected Topics in ISCOR and ISCOR 499: Special Study may be substituted for electives on a case-by-case basis. Please see the ISCOR Director for approv