International and Area Studies
Academic Programs with International Focus
Butler University is committed to providing academic programs of
the highest quality in international and area studies. These
programs include:
Change and Tradition/ Global and Historical Studies
As an introduction to the study of historical world cultures,
Change & Tradition (C&T) has been a centerpiece of the
Butler curriculum since 1983. All sophomores take two semesters of
C&T as a vital part of the core curriculum. Currently, fall
semester includes units on Chinese civilization and Islamic
civilization, while spring semester features units on the emergence
of modern Europe and on colonial and post-colonial West Africa.
Individual sections of C&T are taught by faculty from colleges
and departments throughout the university who share a common
interest in interdisciplinary study of global cultures. View more
information on Change and Tradition.
Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures
(MLLC)
Offers extensive programs in French, German, Spanish and Chinese
as well as beginning Italian. The curriculum utilizes a large
component of film and video, exposing students to a foreign
language in its natural setting, at its natural pace and in a
cultural context. Butler also organizes three faculty-led language
programs abroad - a semester-long program in Spain, based at the
University of Alcalá de Henares; a six-week summer Chinese language
and culture program based at Nankai University in Tianjin, PRC; and
a three-week summer intensive Spanish language program in
Guadalajara, Mexico.
The study of other languages and cultures offers students
communicative skills and understanding that are increasingly
valuable in many fields. Students also may attend graduate school
and continue their education in a foreign language or related area.
View more information on Modern
Languages, Literatures and Cultures
International Studies (major and minor)
An interdisciplinary program designed to give students an
awareness of the diversity, complexity and interdependence of the
world community, and to provide them with the background to
understand and analyze the political, economic, social and cultural
aspects of current world problems and issues.
The program draws on the resources of the departments of
English, History, Geography and Anthropology, Modern Foreign
Languages, Philosophy and Religion, Political Science, and
Sociology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the
Department of Economics in the College of Business. Students can
focus their studies on various world regions. Students are
encouraged to pursue a second major or minor in a complementary
discipline. Studying abroad, although not required, is an important
component of the program. View more information on International Studies
Program
International Management Major
Competition and markets are becoming increasingly global in
scope. The international management major helps students understand
and respond to this dynamic and complex business environment.
International management majors explore issues that impact the
domestic and world economy: oil prices, competing imports, domestic
interest rates, and stock price changes, and more.
Within the curriculum, students design international business
courses and foreign language classes based on their interests and
backgrounds. Students generally study abroad for one semester and
also take a concentration in a functional business area, such as
marketing or finance. View more information on an International Management Major.
Anthropology
Anthropology promotes a critical understanding of human
variation on a global scale. The program's primary focus is
socio-cultural anthropology, where engagement in original,
empirical-field research is emphasized. The local urban community
serves as an arena for exploring cultural diversity and gaining a
deeper understanding of ourselves as members of our respective
cultures. Course offerings prepare students for advanced graduate
study in anthropology and other social sciences and provide
background and perspectives invaluable to students choosing careers
in such fields as health, business, museums, education, and
international relations. View more information on Anthropology
Asian Studies
Butler offers a wide range of courses in Asian studies,
including Asian history, politics, religious studies, anthropology
and ethnomusicology, as well as beginning, intermediate and
advanced Chinese language. Students who complete two years of
college-level Chinese are eligible to participate in the Butler
summer intensive Chinese language and culture program held at
Nankai University in Tianjin, PRC. View more information on China
Studies.
Butler gratefully acknowledges the support of the Freeman
Foundation, which awarded us a four-year grant through its
"Undergraduate Asian Studies Funding Initiative." Grant funds have
enabled Butler to undertake a number of initiatives to strengthen
Asian Studies, including:
- establishing a new faculty position in modern East Asian
history;
- providing scholarships for study abroad in Asian
countries;
- operating our summer intensive Chinese language and culture
program at Nankai University;
- providing student-faculty collaborative research grants for
fieldwork in Asian settings;
- enhancing the library collection in Asian studies; and
establishing a new faculty position in modern East Asian
history;
- engaging in Asia-related community outreach projects in the
areas of secondary education, international business, and the
visual and performing arts.
The Center for Faith and Vocation
The Center for Faith and Vocation provides opportunities to help
students see the world. In 2004, the center introduced The Field
Seminar on Ministry, a series of international trips led by Butler
faculty. It allowed students who were discerning their own sense of
calling to reflect on vocation in a unique way. In 2008, the center
will offer students studying abroad through Butler the chance to
explore faith and calling in their region of interest. Check the Center for
Faith and Vocation website often or email Marguerite Stanciu at the Center for
Faith and Vocation for details.
Washington, D.C. Program
Butler University is proud to offer its students a semester-long
academic and internship program in Washington, D.C. A wide variety
of international companies, government offices, and cultural
institutions are located in D.C., providing Butler students from
any academic major with substantive internship opportunities. View
more information Washington Learning
Program.