The International Studies Program offers a diverse selection of comparative and interdisciplinary courses in the fields of Social Sciences, Business, Humanities, Education, and others.
Students will be enrolled in a total of 4 courses taught in English. Each course is 45 hours and is worth 4,5 ECTS credits (3 US credits).
Academic Offer for Spring 2026
This course is mandatory for all students.
Course: Introduction to Spain
Description: This course will provide a broad overview of Spanish civilization and culture, from its prehistory to the present day. Spain’s significance in the history of thought and deed will be examined in wider international contexts, particularly those pertaining to Western Europe and America. Students will review Spanish culture in its many diverse representations, examining cultural expressions in terms of their perceived universality and authenticity. Topics will be linked to questions of political-cultural identity in contemporary Spain.
Instructor: Professor TBA-Instituto Franklin, Universidad de Alcalá.
Course: Propaganda and Historical Memory
Description: This course will provide a historical and theoretical foundation to systematically understand and analyze the ideological, societal, and economic underpinnings of historical and contemporary propaganda. Course content and activities will address the interplay between ideology and propaganda as well as the role of the rapidly changing media and communication technologies in furthering the agenda of propagandists. Special attention will be given to propagandist tactics, including the use of language and imagery, to develop the critical thinking and analytical skills to understand how propagandist messages use discourses and practices that further systemic oppression and exclusion of minoritized groups and communities.
Instructor: Fadoua Loudiy, Slippery Rock University
Course: Understanding Violent Extremism: Prevention in Sociopolitical Contexts
Description: This course explores the complexities of extreme violence in society, specifically when used to advocate for a social, religious or political goal. The focus of this course is on the rise of violent extremism in diverse contexts and how we can advocate for prevention.
Instructor: Sigrid Vazquez-Tirado, Universidad Ana G. Méndez
Course: International Commerce, Economics and Finance
Description: This course will focus on the economics of international commerce, along with looking at the various shipping industries and how they all contribute to the economy. Students will gain an understanding of the importance of international commerce and how the airlines, shipping companies, and trucking companies work together to move products to where customers need them. Students will learn how international commerce affects the economy and its importance to national and local governments. This course will make it clear to students the supply-chain difficulties experienced around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic and how the transportation industry did what it could to alleviate those difficulties. This course will examine air cargo alliances, market characteristics, flight and ground operations, distribution and marketing, and pricing and revenues. This course will cover everything from basic accounting to high-level finance and economics.
Instructor: Ken Godwin, University of Dubuque
This course is mandatory for all students.
Course: Introduction to Spain
Description: This course will provide a broad overview of Spanish civilization and culture, from its prehistory to the present day. Spain’s significance in the history of thought and deed will be examined in wider international contexts, particularly those pertaining to Western Europe and America. Students will review Spanish culture in its many diverse representations, examining cultural expressions in terms of their perceived universality and authenticity. Topics will be linked to questions of political-cultural identity in contemporary Spain.
Instructor: Professor TBA-Instituto Franklin, Universidad de Alcalá.
Course: Investigating Critical and Contemporary Issues in the American and Spanish Educational Systems
Description: The purpose of this course is to engage student in observations, interactions, and analyses of critical and contemporary educational issues in both the United States and Spain from a comparative perspective. Students will investigate issues influencing the social and political contexts of educational settings in both countries and explore similarities and differences between the American and Spanish educational systems. Students will actively examine the teaching profession from multiple vantage points and various stances. Against this backdrop, students will reflect on and interpret the meaning of education and schooling in a diverse culture and examine the moral and ethical responsibilities of teaching.
Instructor: Brian Gale Hibbs, Dalton State College
Course: Gender, Society & Globalization
Description: This interdisciplinary course explores the intersections of gender, globalization, and societal structures, examining how global processes shape and are shaped by gender roles, relations, and inequalities. This course combines theoretical frameworks with real-world case studies to deepen our understanding of issues such as labor, migration, reproductive rights, environmental justice, and transnational activism. Through readings, discussions, field trips, and collaborative projects, students will critically analyze the gendered dimensions of globalization and reflect on their roles as global citizens. This course is designed to challenge assumptions, foster intercultural understanding, and inspire action toward a more equitable world.
Instructor: Natalie Blanton, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Course: Human Resource Management
Description: This course introduces students to the major human resource activities and current issues, including human resource planning and job analysis, recruiting, selection, orientation, training and development, career planning, performance appraisal, compensation, health and safety, and labour relations.
The course was also taught in a collaborative online intercultural learning (COIL) format where the Douglas College-based Canadian students collaborated online with two different partner universities, one based in Ireland, and another based in the Philippines. The online collaboration allowed students to learn about how human resource management practices and the laws that governs it differ in Canada and Ireland, and Canada and the Philippines.
Since the students will be coming from different countries, they will benefit from being based in Spain as it will open up an opportunity for them to learn the multi-faceted and multi-cultural views in the practice of human resource management.
Instructor: Aurora Faundo, Douglas College
This course is mandatory for all students.
Course: Introduction to Spain
Description: This course will provide a broad overview of Spanish civilization and culture, from its prehistory to the present day. Spain’s significance in the history of thought and deed will be examined in wider international contexts, particularly those pertaining to Western Europe and America. Students will review Spanish culture in its many diverse representations, examining cultural expressions in terms of their perceived universality and authenticity. Topics will be linked to questions of political-cultural identity in contemporary Spain.
Instructor: Professor TBA-Instituto Franklin, Universidad de Alcalá.
Course: Criminal Law: A Comparative Analysis
Description: A comprehensive examination of substantive criminal law of the United States and Spain, emphasizing a critical assessment of their strengths, weaknesses, and overall effectiveness toward achieving justice.
Instructor: Michael Hulderman, Missouri Southern State University
Course: Correctional Practice and Policy
Description: This course examines a series of contentious topics in transatlantic/Canadian correctional practice and prison systems. Students will learn about the relationship between prison culture, correctional practice/policy and broader social structures in Canadian society. The course will address several topics, including: Canadian political climate and philosophies of punishment and corrections; pains of imprisonment and challenges working in and researching prisons; special issues in Indigenous populations in Canadian prisons; Canadian correctional policies and the portrayal of prison in North American popular culture, among other issues. The course will include a diversity of teaching techniques, including visual materials and documentaries, group discussion activities, guest speakers and field trips.
Instructor: Dr. Alicia Horton, Douglas College
Course: Introduction to the History of Rock Music
Description: A survey of popular rock'n'roll artists and their influences from precursors in blues and gospel to the present, beginning around 1900. This course includes regular review of basic music terms, styles, historicism, and active listening skills.
Instructor: Dr. Aaron Jacob Sentgeorge, University of Central Missouri