Western Carolina University

Transfer Guide

Western Carolina University
International Studies, BA

Transfer Guide for Associate in Arts

2024-2025

Delivery Method: On-Campus

Program Admission Notes:

Transfer students should apply to Western Carolina University at applynow.wcu.edu. A minimum 2.2 GPA is required for consideration, however, this does not guarantee admission. We recommend that you aim for an average cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on 12+ hours of college credit for competitiveness with other incoming transfer applicants.

Please note that admission to the institution does not guarantee admission to specific programs, and some programs do require a supplemental application. Check the program website at WCU.edu for supplemental application details and instructions, or reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 828.227.7317.

Contact:

Advising Center
transferadvising@wcu.edu

Revised: May, 2024

College Level Foreign Language Requirements:

Foreign Language 111 and 112 course to meet pre-requisites for program Foreign Language requirements.

Major-Specific Course Recommendations:

Students are encouraged to build the Community College course recommendations below into the associate degree to best prepare for the intended major.

Recommended CC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
MAT 152: Statistical Methods I 4 MATH 170: Applied Statistics & MATH 19A: Lower Level Electives UGETC Math Suggested Course, General Education
Foreign Lang. 111: Elementary Level I 3 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses Suggested Course, General Education
Foreign Lang. 112: Elementary Level II 3 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses Suggested Course, General Education

Remaining Associate Degree Requirements:

In addition to major-specific course recommendations above, students should work with a community college advisor to select additional community college courses to fulfill the remaining associate degree requirements identified below.

Recommended CC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
ENG 111: Writing and Inquiry 3 ENGL 101: Writing and Rhetoric English Composition General Education
ENG 112: Writing/Research in the Disc 3 ENGL 202: Writing and Critical Inquiry English Composition General Education
COM 231: Public Speaking 3 COMM 201: Foundations of Communication UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 6 University Equivalencies UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 9 University Equivalencies UGETC Social/Behavioral Sciences General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 4 University Equivalencies UGETC Natural Sciences General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 8 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses General Education
ACA 122: College Transfer Success 1 ELEC 19A: Lower Level Electives Academic Transition Elective
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 14 University Equivalencies Elective/Pre-Major Courses Elective

Additional Information From Western Carolina University:

International Studies is a designated as a coordinate major, so all INST majors must also declare a second major.

INST majors must also finish an approved Engaged Learning Experience (ELE) to complete the requirements for the degree.  Students must work with their program advisors to develop an ELE contract no later than the end of drop/add period in the semester prior to their graduating semester, and that contract must be completed no later than the last day of classes of the semester prior to their graduating semester.  This contract will detail the specific activities and outcomes of the ELE. 

For INST majors, Engaged Learning Experiences may be associated with a travel course/study abroad, independent study, internship, or a designated Engaged Learning course.

Remaining Bachelor’s Degree Requirements at University:

University Course Credit
Hours		 University Course Notes
International Studies Required Courses 6

Students must take INST 200 and INST 400 as requirements of the major.  INST 200 should be taken toward the beginning of a student’s course of study, and INST 400 should be taken during a student’s final year at WCU.

  • INST 200 - Introduction to International Studies Credits: 3
  • INST 400 - International Studies Capstone Credits: 3
International Studies Area of Concentration 12

To focus their studies on a particular topic or region, students are also required to choose a concentration.  Students must take 12 hours of courses within their designated concentration, and those courses must draw from at least two different prefixes/disciplines.

Concentration: Peace, Violence, and Security If students choose Peace, Violence, and Security as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses:

  • COMM 431 - International Reporting Credits: 3
  • HIST 317 - History of Twentieth-Century International Relations Credits: 3
  • HIST 402 - History of Peace and Conflict in Africa Credits: 3
  • HIST 416 - Europe in the Twentieth Century Credits: 3
  • HIST 425 - Modern European Military History Credits: 3
  • PSC 352 - International Security Credits: 3
  • PSC 357 - Political Violence Credits: 3
  • PSC 358 - United States Foreign Policy Credits: 3
  • PSC 370 - Politics of Ethnic Conflict Credits: 3
  • PSC 451 - Model United Nations Credits: 3, R6
  • PSC 361 - On War Credits: 3

Concentration: Global Governance, Human Rights, and Law Students must take 12 hours from the following list of courses:

  • CJ 354 - Comparative Criminal Justice Systems Credits: 3
  • CJ 475 - International Studies in Law and Society Credits: 3, R6
  • GEOG 444 - Political Geography Credits: 3
  • HIST 342 - American Diplomatic History Credits: 3
  • LAW 320 - International Business Law Credits: 3
  • PAR 392 - Global Justice, Liberty, and Human Rights Credits: 3
  • PSC 353 - International Political Economy Credits: 3
  • PSC 354 - International Environmental Politics Credits: 3
  • PSC 359 - International Law Credits: 3
  • PSC 370 - Politics of Ethnic Conflict Credits: 3
  • PSC 451 - Model United Nations Credits: 3, R6

Concentration: Global Poverty and Economic Development If students choose Global Poverty and Economic Development as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses:

  • ANTH 327 - Economic Anthropology Credits: 3
  • GEOG 350 - Economic Geography Credits: 3
  • MKT 407 - Global Consumer Culture Credits: 3
  • NAS 452 - The Roots of Health Disparities in Native American Populations Credits: 3
  • PAR 354 - Religion, Suffering, and the Moral Imagination Credits: 3
  • PSC 353 - International Political Economy Credits: 3
  • PSC 354 - International Environmental Politics Credits: 3
  • PSC 380 - Politics of Developing Areas Credits: 3

Concentration: Religions, Cultures, and Civilizations If students choose Religions, Cultures, and Civilizations as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses:

  • ANTH 361 - World Archaeology Credits: 3
  • ANTH 465 - Cultures of Latin America Credits: 3
  • ANTH 473 - Contemporary Cherokee Culture and Society Credits: 3
  • ENGL 242 - Cultural Studies & Non-Western World Literature Credits: 3
  • ENGL 366 - Literature and Immigration Credits: 3
  • ENGL 470 - Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Postcolonial Literature Credits: 3
  • ENGL 496 - Seminar in World Literature Credits: 3
  • HIST 236 - Native American Lives Credits: 3
  • HIST 415 - Early Modern Travel Credits: 3
  • HIST 425 - Modern European Military History Credits: 3
  • HT 238 - Travel and Tourism Credits: 3
  • NAS 471 - Indigenous and Western Psychologies Credits: 3
  • PAR 251 - Islam, Past and Present Credits: 3
  • PAR 260 - Religion, Gender, Sexuality Credits: 3
  • PAR 354 - Religion, Suffering, and the Moral Imagination Credits: 3
  • PAR 356 - Buddhism Credits: 3
  • PAR 357 - Hinduism Credits: 3
  • PAR 367 - Native American Religions Credits: 3
  • SM 350 - Global Sport and Culture Credits: 3
  • SOC 373 - Globalization Credits: 3
  • SPAN 321 - Hispanic Cultures I Credits: 3
  • SPAN 322 - Hispanic Cultures II Credits: 3

Concentration: Asia If students choose Asia as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses:

  • GEOG 440 - Regional Geography Credits: 3, R12
  • HIST 218 - Modern Asia Credits: 3
  • HIST 301 - Modern Chinese History: From the Middle Kingdom to the People’s Republic Credits: 3
  • HIST 302 - India in the Modern World Credits: 3
  • JPN 305 - Introduction to Japanese Literature in Translation Credits: 3
  • JPN 306 - Anime, Manga and Japan Credits: 3
  • JPN 307 - Japanese Language in Cinema Credits: 3
  • PAR 356 - Buddhism Credits: 3
  • PSC 378 - Asian Politics Credits: 3

Concentration: Africa and Middle East If students choose Africa and Middle East as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses:

  • ENGL 470 - Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Postcolonial Literature Credits: 3
  • GEOG 440 - Regional Geography Credits: 3, R12
  • HIST 210 - African History to 1880 Credits: 3
  • HIST 211 - African History Since 1880 Credits: 3
  • HIST 303 - The African Diaspora Credits: 3
  • HIST 401 - History of Sexualities in Africa Credits: 3
  • HIST 402 - History of Peace and Conflict in Africa Credits: 3
  • PAR 251 - Islam, Past and Present Credits: 3
  • PSC 376 - African Politics Credits: 3

Concentration: Europe If students choose Europe as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses:

  • GEOG 440 - Regional Geography Credits: 3, R12
  • HIST 281 - Transformations in European Religious History Credits: 3
  • HIST 330 - Modern Germany Credits: 3
  • HIST 416 - Europe in the Twentieth Century Credits: 3
  • HIST 425 - Modern European Military History Credits: 3
  • PAR 306 - Early Modern Philosophy from Copernicus to Kant Credits: 3
  • PSC 375 - European Politics Credits: 3
  • SPAN 321 - Hispanic Cultures I Credits: 3
  • SPAN 322 - Hispanic Cultures II Credits: 3
  • SPAN 394 - Immersion Experience Credits: 3-6, R12

Concentration: The Americas If students choose the Americas as their concentration, they must take 12 hours from the following list of courses:

  • ANTH 362 - Southeastern Archaeology Credits: 3
  • ANTH 431 - North American Archaeology Credits: 3
  • ANTH 461 - Indigenous Cultures of North America Credits: 3
  • ANTH 465 - Cultures of Latin America Credits: 3
  • ANTH 473 - Contemporary Cherokee Culture and Society Credits: 3
  • GEOG 440 - Regional Geography Credits: 3, R12
  • HIST 212 - Latin American History I Credits: 3
  • HIST 213 - Latin American History II Credits: 3
  • HIST 345 - Modern Native America Credits: 3
  • HIST 352 - Cherokee History Credits: 3
  • NAS 470 - Cherokee Culture and History Credits: 3
  • PAR 367 - Native American Religions Credits: 3
  • PSC 379 - Latin American Politics Credits: 3
  • SPAN 321 - Hispanic Cultures I Credits: 3
  • SPAN 322 - Hispanic Cultures II Credits: 3
  • SPAN 432 - North American and Caribbean Literature Credits: 3, R6
  • SPAN 434 - South American Hispanic Literature Credits: 3
International Studies Guided Elective 3

Students must take three hours outside of their concentration:

  • ANTH 327 - Economic Anthropology Credits: 3
  • ANTH 361 - World Archaeology Credits: 3
  • ANTH 362 - Southeastern Archaeology Credits: 3
  • ANTH 431 - North American Archaeology Credits: 3
  • ANTH 461 - Indigenous Cultures of North America Credits: 3
  • ANTH 465 - Cultures of Latin America Credits: 3
  • ANTH 473 - Contemporary Cherokee Culture and Society Credits: 3
  • CJ 354 - Comparative Criminal Justice Systems Credits: 3
  • CJ 475 - International Studies in Law and Society Credits: 3, R6
  • COMM 431 - International Reporting Credits: 3
  • ENGL 242 - Cultural Studies & Non-Western World Literature Credits: 3
  • ENGL 366 - Literature and Immigration Credits: 3
  • ENGL 470 - Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Postcolonial Literature Credits: 3
  • ENGL 496 - Seminar in World Literature Credits: 3
  • GEOG 350 - Economic Geography Credits: 3
  • GEOG 440 - Regional Geography Credits: 3, R12
  • GEOG 444 - Political Geography Credits: 3
  • HIST 210 - African History to 1880 Credits: 3
  • HIST 211 - African History Since 1880 Credits: 3
  • HIST 212 - Latin American History I Credits: 3
  • HIST 213 - Latin American History II Credits: 3
  • HIST 218 - Modern Asia Credits: 3
  • HIST 236 - Native American Lives Credits: 3
  • HIST 281 - Transformations in European Religious History Credits: 3
  • HIST 301 - Modern Chinese History: From the Middle Kingdom to the People’s Republic Credits: 3
  • HIST 302 - India in the Modern World Credits: 3
  • HIST 303 - The African Diaspora Credits: 3
  • HIST 317 - History of Twentieth-Century International Relations Credits: 3
  • HIST 330 - Modern Germany Credits: 3
  • HIST 342 - American Diplomatic History Credits: 3
  • HIST 345 - Modern Native America Credits: 3
  • HIST 352 - Cherokee History Credits: 3
  • HIST 401 - History of Sexualities in Africa Credits: 3
  • HIST 402 - History of Peace and Conflict in Africa Credits: 3
  • HIST 415 - Early Modern Travel Credits: 3
  • HIST 416 - Europe in the Twentieth Century Credits: 3
  • HIST 425 - Modern European Military History Credits: 3
  • HT 238 - Travel and Tourism Credits: 3
  • INST 480 - Independent Study Credits: 3
  • INST 493 - Topics in International Studies Credits: 3
  • JPN 305 - Introduction to Japanese Literature in Translation Credits: 3
  • JPN 306 - Anime, Manga and Japan Credits: 3
  • JPN 307 - Japanese Language in Cinema Credits: 3
  • LAW 320 - International Business Law Credits: 3
  • MKT 407 - Global Consumer Culture Credits: 3
  • NAS 452 - The Roots of Health Disparities in Native American Populations Credits: 3
  • NAS 470 - Cherokee Culture and History Credits: 3
  • NAS 471 - Indigenous and Western Psychologies Credits: 3
  • PAR 251 - Islam, Past and Present Credits: 3
  • PAR 260 - Religion, Gender, Sexuality Credits: 3
  • PAR 306 - Early Modern Philosophy from Copernicus to Kant Credits: 3
  • PAR 354 - Religion, Suffering, and the Moral Imagination Credits: 3
  • PAR 356 - Buddhism Credits: 3
  • PAR 357 - Hinduism Credits: 3
  • PAR 367 - Native American Religions Credits: 3
  • PAR 392 - Global Justice, Liberty, and Human Rights Credits: 3
  • PSC 352 - International Security Credits: 3
  • PSC 353 - International Political Economy Credits: 3
  • PSC 354 - International Environmental Politics Credits: 3
  • PSC 357 - Political Violence Credits: 3
  • PSC 358 - United States Foreign Policy Credits: 3
  • PSC 359 - International Law Credits: 3
  • PSC 361 - On War Credits: 3
  • PSC 370 - Politics of Ethnic Conflict Credits: 3
  • PSC 375 - European Politics Credits: 3
  • PSC 376 - African Politics Credits: 3
  • PSC 378 - Asian Politics Credits: 3
  • PSC 379 - Latin American Politics Credits: 3
  • PSC 380 - Politics of Developing Areas Credits: 3
  • PSC 451 - Model United Nations Credits: 3, R6
  • SM 350 - Global Sport and Culture Credits: 3
  • SOC 373 - Globalization Credits: 3
  • SPAN 321 - Hispanic Cultures I Credits: 3
  • SPAN 322 - Hispanic Cultures II Credits: 3
  • SPAN 394 - Immersion Experience Credits: 3-6, R12
  • SPAN 432 - North American and Caribbean Literature Credits: 3, R6
  • SPAN 434 - South American Hispanic Literature Credits: 3
Modern Foreign Languages 9
  • MFL 231-232 or 240 (six hours) and three hours of MFL at the 300 level in the same language.

or

  • MFL 231-232 or 240 (six hours) in the same language and three hours MFL in a second language.
Second major or approved course of study 37

Credit hours will range based on what is added.
General Electives 30

To complete 120 hours, students may need to take additional General Electives (the number depends on how many Liberal Studies courses also count toward the major).