The International University's Bachelor degrees require forty three (43) courses; this totals a minimum of 129 credit hours (most courses earn 3 academic credit hours). Each 3-credit hour course meets for approximately 45 hours of classroom instruction. For the Bachelor’s program, this comprises a total of approximately 1935 actual hours of lecture and interaction with professors and students exploring course material. Added to this is the fact that for every hour in class a student normally spends 2 hours of outside class time in study, homework, research, etc. For one academic course, the outside study and research time required is approximately 100 hours. Therefore, it is very fitting to use the terminology “academic career” to describe the American educational approach at The International University.
The International University (IU) offers the following Bachelor's degrees:
IU's academic programs are based on the American Liberal Arts educational system which has gained worldwide respect, and is built on the tradition of Great Britain. The liberal arts tradition, requiring the student scholar to examine several fields in addition to his/her chosen Major, provides a well-rounded education and a broad base of knowledge for any profession or life situation. In a liberal arts university like IU, the student chooses a Major, the specialization in which he/she will earn the academic degree. In addition to the major, the student completes prescribed liberal arts requirements and elective courses.
The Undergraduate Studies are comprised of three (3) sub-categories:
General Education courses (45 Credit Hours, 15 courses)
Courses in the student’s chosen Major area of studies (Business Administration or Diplomatic Studies) – (60 credit hours, 20 courses),
The General Education courses should be completed within the first two years of study, helping the student to possess a strong, expansive foundation for his/her Major area of emphasis. General Education courses are highly interdisciplinary, providing authentic knowledge and adding depth and breadth to the student’s intellectual life. (There are no General Education requirements on the Master’s level; rather, Master’s level requirements are comprised solely of courses in the field of Business Administration or Diplomatic Studies).
NOTE CONCERNING RESEARCH: In General Education (Liberal Arts) courses, research papers and/or projects are assigned at the discretion of the faculty member for 2,000-level courses. A research paper must be completed in English Composition II.
Required General Education Courses:
Computer Literacy (3 credit hours) BCS 1311 Personal Computers and Applications
English Language and Literature (15 credit hours) ENG 1311 English Composition I ENG 1312 English Composition II ENG 2310 Sacred Literature Plus any two (2) courses from: American, British, Comparative or World Literature
History (12 credit hours) HIS 1312 Development of Christianity HIS 2313 Sacred History
plus two of the courses listed below: HIS 2311 Contemporary European History HIS 2312 Contemporary United States History HIS 1311 Western Civilization
Mathematics (3 credit hours) MAT 1312 College Algebra
Philosophy (6 credit hours) PHIL 1332 Fundamentals of Philosophy
plus one of the courses listed below: PHIL 1311 Philosophy of Biblical Literature PHIL 1333 World Religions
Psychology/Sociology (3 credit hours) PSY 1331 General Psychology SOC 1311 Fundamentals of Sociology
Speech Communication (3 credit hours) SPC 1332 Introduction to Speech Communication
NOTE: Some other courses at IU may be substituted with permission from the Academic Dean.
General Education Course Descriptions
BCS 1311 Personal Computers and Applications is an introductory course on micro processors and applications to business procedures. It includes basic concepts and hands-on experience with DOS, Windows, Word Perfect for Windows, spreadsheets, data base models, and MS Office Professional for Windows, including Excel and Access.
ENG 1311 English Composition I emphasizes instruction and practice in the structure of the English sentence, paragraph, and essay. The student should include this course during the first study year since academic success is based upon knowledge of and skill in the use of English.
ENG 1312 English Composition II includes writing advanced level essays and the research paper. Required of all students.
ENG 2310 Sacred Literature is a study of Christ and Christianity as it spread throughout the Roman world.
ENG 2311 British Literature is a survey of literature of British writers from Beowulf to the present. Prerequisite: ENG 1312
ENG 2321 American Literature surveys literature of American writers to the present. Prerequisite: ENG 1312
ENG 2352 World Literature introduces the student to the literature of Africa, Asia, Australia, America and Europe in the 20th century. Prerequisite: ENG 1312.
HIS 1311 Western Civilization covers the development of the ancient world (Greeks, Mesopotamia, Roman Empire, the emergence of Christianity), the medieval civilization (creation of Europe, Byzantine Empire, crusades), the coming of the New World (Renaissance, Reformation), the modern world (enlightenment, liberalism and its reactions), imperialism, world wars and collectivism.
HIS 1312 Development of Christianity studies the life and teachings of Christ from key passages in the Gospels. It includes the establishment of the Church as recorded in the Book of Acts.
HIS 2311 Contemporary European History is a survey from 1900 to the present. It examines the twilight of the European era, with attention given to political, economic, social, and cultural developments in the modern era. Emphasis is given to the two World Wars and their aftermath.
HIS 2312 Contemporary US History is a survey from 1900 to the present. It examines the rise of the U.S. as a "Superpower" and its relation to other nations in the world. It gives students an insight into how the American system works and how it has achieved its current preeminence.
HIS 2313 Sacred History is a survey of the books of the Old Testament, with in-depth study of selected passages. MAT 1312 College Algebra teaches the system of real numbers, functions, graphs, exponents, radicals, fractions, equations, inequalities, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, complex number systems, sequences, permutations, combinations, and probability. Exam results will be used to determine which students may enroll in College Algebra and which students must take Intermediate Algebra or Remedial Math first.
PHIL 1311 Philosophy of Biblical Literature is designed as an introductory study of the Bible with attention given to apologetics, revelation, inspiration, organization, and major themes.
PHIL 1332 Fundamentals of Philosophy provides an opportunity for students to study the ideas of some of the major thinkers, traditions, and problems of philosophy. Philosophy of religion and ethics is included.
PSY 1331 General Psychology is an introductory course covering a variety of topics within the field of psychology such as development, biological aspects, sensation and perception, consciousness, learning and memory, intelligence, motivation, emotion, stress and health, personality, psychological disorders, and social psychology.
SOC 1331 Fundamentals of Sociology is a basic study of the nature of human society with emphasis upon the relationship of the individual to the society and culture of which he/she is a part.
SPC 1332 Introduction to Speech Communication is a study of the fundamental principles of effective oral communication in interpersonal relationships, the workplace, and wherever humans seek to understand one another. Special experience in presenting speeches is incorporated into the course.
For the Liberal Arts Approach brochure please click here.
