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INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
Students who take coursework offered by the International Studies department develop abilities to critically analyze and understand global issues and cultural identities.
International Studies offers college transfer courses in the humanities and social sciences.
Presently we offer:
Course Overview
COMM101 students explore the intersection between communication and culture. The course is designed for students to analyze the ‘cultural self,’ discovering and understanding how it shapes perceptions and behaviors. Topics covered include worldviews, norms and values, identity, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, prejudice and stereotyping, conflict strategies, cultural immersion, and intercultural communication in applied contexts.
COMM101 students rely on textbook readings and supplemental information provided by the instructor to develop their understanding of course content. Students are provided experiential learning exercises, interviews, and opportunities to present and analyze personal narratives. Students are evaluated on their participation, chapter quizzes, and discussion assignments.
Course Information
- Prerequisites: none
- Satisfies Humanities Credit Requirements
- Satisfies Cultural Diversity (CD) Credit Requirement
Student Support
- Explanations of textbook content and supplemental information are provided to students in note form.
- Audio files, videos, and other online content to enhance the learning experience.
- Numerous extra-credit opportunities.
- Thorough, timely review and commentary on assignment submissions provided.
- Timely replies to questions and concerns of students throughout the quarter.
Instructor
John Wies (Faculty/Department Chair)
- BA, Sociology/Anthropology. MA, Linguistics.
- Extensive intercultural experience and experience with non-native English speakers/students.
- 20 years of teaching experience, 9+ years experience with online course delivery.
- Contact: john.wies@edmonds.edu
Testimonials from COMM101 Students
“This class was one of the most interesting classes I ever had. I would recommend it to everyone.”
“Because of this class, I am able to understand people better, and I began to change my perspective on how I think about people.”
“I came into this class honestly thinking that it was just another required class. Now that the quarter is over, I have a whole new perspective. John taught really interestingly so it wasn’t hard to stay interested in the class.”
“This is the class I learned information that I can use in everyday life. I personally think that the reason I learned so much is because of the good relationships between classmates and the instructor.”
Course Overview
State of Capitalism disrupts the euro-centric story of the rise and origins of the ‘modern’ world. The course first focuses on the height of the Mongol Empire, at the time when Kublai Khan had unified all of China and established a realm of patrolled travel routes that extended to the Mediterranean Sea. It then charts the European fascination with China and the Indies, inspired by Marco Polo’s tales of the riches of the Orient. In its ambition to reach the East, Europe would transform from a backwater mired in its Dark Ages to the home of global explorers, traders, and conquerors. The class ends with an examination of the fall of China to the British during the Opium Wars, providing the backdrop that is essential to understanding the one-party, nationalist rule in China today.
Course Information
- Prerequisites: None
- 5.0 credits
- Satisfies Social Studies requirement
- Satisfies Cultural Diversity (CD) credit requirement
- Online course, combines short recorded lectures with videos and other interactive materials. Discussion forums based on easy-to-find titles by classic authors.
- One major writing assignment- a 6-8 page research paper – broken into several steps with extensive feedback from the instructor and focused on quality of thought and research.
- INSTD 200 credits transfer to the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies, providing a pathway to careers in diplomacy, international business, global health, international development, and foreign aid.
Student Support
- Weekly study guides for quizzes and exam.
- Highly supportive learning environment for both native and non-native English speakers.
Instructor
Monica Lombana
Ph.D., Public Policy
MA, International Economics & Finance
Contact: monica.lombana@edmonds.edu
Course Overview
This course explores how political and economic systems influence social development, analyzing the effect of the Industrial Revolution, colonialism, and the Cold War on the concepts of justice, freedom, and prosperity in various societies. These topics are also reviewed as practical objectives in a contemporary global context.
The initial focus of INSTD201 is the aftermath of World War I and World War II and the international institutions that were created, and that would shape the future of political and economic relations among nation-states. It then explores the parallel development of the Soviet and Western nations from the 1950s to the 1980s. Throughout this process, the course will look at the central political and economic powers of the time and how lower and middle-income countries developed. Finally, it ends with a survey of globalization in its diverse forms (including financial, military, and cultural issues) and a look at China’s one-party nationalist rulers and their plan to reestablish themselves as the global economic leader through the construction of a New Silk Road.
Course Information
- Prerequisites: None
- 5.0 credits
- Satisfies Social Studies requirement
- Satisfies Cultural Diversity (CD) credit requirement
- One major writing assignment ;- a 6-8 page research paper – broken into several steps with extensive feedback from the instructor and focused on quality of thought and research.
- INSTD 201 credits transfer to the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies, providing a pathway to careers in diplomacy, international business, global health, international development, and foreign aid.
Student Support
- Instructor provides a visual lecture presentation supported by written materials online.
- Instructor provides students with weekly discussion assignments and study guides for quizzes and exams.
- Instructor provides extensive feedback on student work.
- INSTD201 is optimized for native English Language learners and non-native English language Learners
Instructor
Monica Lombana
Ph.D., Public Policy
MA, International Economics & Finance
Contact: monica.lombana@edmonds.edu
Course Overview
This course takes the student on a journey from the consolidation of the Euro-centered world order dominant for over 200 years to the recent rise of Asia and the unmistakable role of religion in today’s interconnected world.
Students begin by exploring how culture defines social units in terms of class, religion, ethnicity, and other factors and how this affects interactions between these subgroupings at the national and international levels. Students review the last two centuries from a political and cultural perspective, and then take a closer look into the role of religion in political outcomes and international interactions, particularly in recent years. This examination then goes full circle by concluding with an analysis of religious actors in several countries and the secular world order they operate within. Finally, students consider what this may indicate about the future of global politics.
Course Information
- Prerequisites: None
- 5.0 credits
- Satisfies Social Studies requirement
- Satisfies Cultural Diversity (CD) credit requirement
- Hybrid course, combines bi-weekly in-person meetings with short recorded lectures and other interactive online materials, including discussion forums.
- One major writing assignment - a 6-8 page research paper – broken into several steps with extensive feedback from the instructor and focused on quality of thought and research.
- INSTD 202 credits transfer to the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies, providing a pathway to careers in diplomacy, international business, global health, international development, and foreign aid.
Student Support
- Weekly study guides for quizzes and exam.
- Highly supportive learning environment for both native and non-native English speakers.
Instructor
Monica Lombana
Ph.D., Public Policy
MA, International Economics & Finance
Contact: monica.lombana@edmonds.edu
The later two classes transfer directly to the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington.
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