Apr 19, 2024  
2022-2023 SLCC General Catalog 
    
2022-2023 SLCC General Catalog [**** ATTENTION: YOU ARE VIEWING AN ARCHIVED CATALOG ****]

International Studies: AA


Associate of Arts | 61 credits

Program Website
Academic and Career Advising

Program Description
International Studies is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students broadly for the increasingly global contexts within which we live and work. Courses in the program provide students with the content knowledge, analytical skills, and methodologies necessary to understand international and global issues, their historical and cultural contexts, as well as providing them the tools necessary to live effectively in a world characterized by ethnic diversity, cultural pluralism, and increasing interdependence. The program consists of one general International Studies track, and three area studies tracks in Latin American Studies, Asian Studies and Middle East Studies.

As a standalone program, the value of International Studies resides in helping students see the interconnectedness between people and societies. It encourages students to explore economic, political, and cultural interdependence. It also helps them to see that just as issues are interconnected so are the solutions. This program trains students to synthesize knowledge across different fields of study and prepares them to engage meaningfully and confidently in global concerns, locally and globally. The value of the AA in International Studies is reflected in the mission, vision and values of Salt Lake Community College, specifically in relation to collaboration, community, inclusivity, learning and innovation. The program also supports the college-wide mission to engage and support students in educational pathways leading to successful transfer and meaningful employment.

As a program in the collective, International Studies is important as it is a demonstrably collaborative program, drawing expertise across disciplines. SLCC has acknowledged the importance of International Studies by recently adopting the IG General Education designation. The AA program is a logical offering, as more and more SLCC students discover this useful and fascinating field by means of a first course.

The International Studies AA Program will prepare students for transfer to a four-year USHE institution or to a college/university outside of Utah. We have an articulation agreement with the University of Utah, which allows for seamless transfer to its International Studies program, and also its Latin American Studies, Asian Studies, and Middle East Studies majors which require junior-level (3000-level) foreign language competency. All students completing the AA program must demonstrate intermediate proficiency (LANG 2020 equivalent) in a language counted toward the degree.

Career Opportunities
The IA program prepares students for active roles in the global economy, and in the world’s culturally diverse communities, and there are many practical fields that are open to them.  As an interdisciplinary program, majors are exposed to a variety of courses from different perspectives.  The overall objective is to train “students of the world,” people who think critically about global issues and problems.  Such individuals find opportunities in international business, international organizations, non-profit organizations with a global focus or reach, humanitarian agencies, policy and research think tanks, civil service, the tourism industry, media, and public relations. 

Transfer/Articulation Information
The program provides seamless transfer to the University of Utah’s International Studies, Latin American Studies, and Asian Studies Bachelor of Art Degree programs. Students who complete the AA degree in International Studies will transfer with Junior Status to one of these University of Utah programs. The program at the University of Utah leads to an individualized program of study in Culture/Identity, Global Health, Area Studies, Foreign Relations/Security, Development/Sustainability, or Trade/Commerce. Additionally, by taking one more required course, the program will facilitate transfer to Utah State University’s International Studies BA degree. The BA degrees in these areas at both the University of Utah and Utah State University require third-year (3000-level) foreign language competency and study abroad experience. It is strongly recommended that students complete LANG courses through 2020 (if necessary) while at SLCC.

Students transferring to the University of Utah with two semesters of Arabic, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Nahuatl are eligible to apply for a U.S. Dept. of Education FLAS (Foreign Language and Area Studies) fellowship.   These fellowships are also available to students In a program that combines any modern foreign language training with area or international studies.  See https://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsflasf/eligibility.html

Estimated Cost for Students
Tuition and student fees: http://www.slcc.edu/student/financial/tuition-fees.aspx
Supplies: $15
Course Fees: $15 per language course

NOTE: Fees may vary based upon specific registration and are subject to change.

General Education Requirements


Complete all General Education courses. Refer to Notes for program specific requirements and recommendations. 

  

Program General Education Notes


REQUIRED:

Language (LN): Language (LN)   

Like all AA programs, the IA program has a LANG 1020 (5-credit) language requirement for its degree.  But that requirement can be met in a variety of ways.  Dual-language immersion students, heritage speakers, and other students who have adequate proficiency in a second language may satisfy this 5-credit language requirement through a) proficiency testing, b) an AP score of 3 or higher, or c) equivalent prior college-level coursework.  ESL and non-native English speakers will meet the requirement through coursework in ESL or English, in accordance with the policies stated in the SLCC catalog.  Any student who demonstrates the required level of language ability  in fewer than 5 credit hours is required to complete an additional elective, to meet the AA degree’s credit hours total. 

Program Requirements


Required Courses and Elective Courses must add up to a minimum of 27 credits. The number taken in each area will depend on prior second language skills and the institution to which the student intends to transfer.

Required Courses (17-20 credits)


For University of Utah


All major courses must be taken for a minimum letter grade of C.

Track Requirements

Complete 1 of the following tracks, for 9 credits.

Language Requirement


All Tracks for University of Utah and Utah State University must take the following or pass a proficiency test demonstrating experiential equivalency (8 credits).

LANG prefix is a placeholder only - it is replaced by the prefix for the chosen individual language: ARB, CHI, FRN, ITL, JPN, NAV, POR, RUS, SAM, SPN, TNG.

At SLCC for Latin American Studies Track you can only take Spanish or Portuguese; and for Asian Studies Track only Chinese, Japanese, or Vietnamese; and for Middle East Studies Track you can take Arabic. Other languages may be available at transfer institutions

Elective Courses (6-12 credits)


For University of Utah


Complete 1 of the following tracks.

For Utah State University


Complete 9 credits from the following:

(Utah State University accepts only the following lower division electives depending on track selected, see Utah State University transfer advisors for more information.)

International Experience


Study Abroad (3 credits). See advisor for study abroad opportunities.

Optional Electives


Additional course options, including any required courses not taken above, which may be used to meet the 63 total credits required for program completion.

Time to Completion & Graduation Map


  • International Studies AA: Full-time  
  • Time to completion is four semesters based on a full-time minimum of 15 credits per semester. Fewer than 15 credits per semester may increase time to completion.

Program Learning Outcomes


Program learning outcome alignment with Student Learning Outcomes  in brackets.

  • Students will identify and give examples of key social, political, economic, cultural, and geographic events, themes, trends, processes, issues, and actors for various international and global issues. [4,8]
  • Students will, orally and in writing, examine, organize, synthesize, and discuss key concepts and significant topics in international and global affairs using methods from a range of social science and humanistic methods. [1,2,3,5]
  • Students will demonstrate oral proficiency in a 2nd language at the 2nd year college level (Intermediate) according to the standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). [1,2]
  • Students will apply their historical, geographic, economic, sociological, linguistic, and cultural knowledge to propose solutions to contemporary global and international issues. [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
  • Students will identify, discuss and explain the natural, political, historical, social and economic underpinnings of the local, national, and global communities to which they belong and how those are interrelated. [6,8]
  • Students will investigate, explain, and reflect on a variety of cultural experiences and values, and will identify and practice skills necessary to interact respectfully and collaborate effectively in a world characterized by ethnic diversity, cultural pluralism, and increasing interdependence. [1,2,4,6]