Requirements
(Enrolled in Major prior to Fall 2025)

The Comparative International Studies program offers a B.A. Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences (Major Code: 22997). The comparative international studies major is an impacted program. To be admitted to the comparative international studies program, students must meet the following criteria:

  1. Complete the preparation for the major courses listed below;
  2. Complete a minimum of 60 transferable semester units;
  3. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above.

Download the advising check sheet

  1. Compare social, political, economic, and cultural challenges in two or more regions

  2. Analyze popular narratives about regional differences – in society, economics, and/or politics – using qualitative and quantitative data

  3. Read and write at least at the intermediate level in one foreign language

  4. Hold a conversation about current events in one foreign language

Download the course matrix 

Choose 3 units from each of the following groups:

  • Humanities: History 100 or 101, Humanities 101, Religious Studies 101, Women Studies 102
  • Social Sciences: Anthropology 102, Geography 102 or 106, Linguistics 101, Political Science 103, Women’s Studies 101
  • Statistics: Economics 201, Political Science 201, Sociology 201 or equivalent

Choose 6 units from the following regions:

  • Asia: Asian Studies 100 or 101
  • Europe: European Studies 101
  • Latin America and the Caribbean: Latin American Studies 101
  • North Africa and West Asia: History 100 or 101, Religious Studies 101

Choose 9 units from three of the following thematic areas selected from two or more departments:

NOTE: In addition to the courses listed below, the new CINTS courses (CINTS 301,
CINTS 330 or 435) can be applied to any of the thematic areas)

  • Human and Social Development: Geography 353, 573, History 441, Linguistics 551, Political Science 361, Sociology 352, 433, Women’s Studies 310, 580
  • Culture and Society: : Anthropology 303, 350, 353 [or Sustainability 353], 410, 422, 424 [or Religious  Studies 424], 439, Geography 312, 554, Linguistics 350, Philosophy 340
  • Populations and Borders: Anthropology 402, Chicana and Chicano Studies 355 [or Latin American Studies 355], 554, Geography 354, Latin American Studies 430 [or Political Science 430], Philosophy 332 [or Sustainability 332], Political Science 380, 565, Sociology 350, Women’s Studies 581
  • Institutions and Change: Philosophy 328, 344, Political Science 375, 485, 577, Sociology 457, Women’s Studies 530

Complete 21 units from two of the six following world regions selecting 12 units from primary region and 9 units from secondary region:

  • Africa: Africana Studies 320, 465 [or French 465], 473, Comparative Literature 440, Humanities 350, Political Science 364;
  • Asia (China): Asian Studies 351 [or Philosophy 351], 458 [or Religious Studies 458] or History 420, History 421 [or Asian Studies 421], 567, 566 or Political Science 575, Political Science 365;
  • Asia (General): Asian Studies 300 or 320, Asian Studies 451 [or Comparative Literature 451], 456, 459, 460, History 570, Korean 321 [or Asian Studies 321], Philosophy 353 or Religious Studies 338 or 341 or 345, 565, Political Science 362 or 575, Religious Studies 315 or 339, Women’s Studies 331;
  • Europe: Classics 320 or 330, Comparative Literature 513, European Studies 301, 424, 501, French 424 or Humanities 310, German 320, History 408, 527, Italian 424 or Humanities 340, Philosophy 505 or 506 or 508, Political Science 356, Russian 310 or Humanities 330, Women’s Studies 340;
  • Latin America and the Caribbean: Anthropology 442, Chicana and Chicano Studies 400 [or Latin American Studies 400], Comparative Literature 445, Geography 324, History 415 [or Latin American Studies 415], 416, 551, 558, Latin American Studies 307 [or Portuguese 307], Political Science 366 [or Latin American Studies 366], 566;
  • North Africa and West Asia (Middle East): Arabic 330, History 473, 474, Political Science 363, Religious Studies 310, 320, 328, 330, Women’s Studies 560.

Advising

Visit our Faculty and Advising page for more information.

Important Links

Class Schedule | SDSU General Catalog | Major Academic Plan (MAP)