Degree: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Major: International Studies

Program Overview

By completing a major in international studies, students develop expertise in a region of the world, including one of its languages, and in a transnational topic. They also become familiar with a variety of international issues and frameworks. They use this expertise and knowledge to understand and analyze the dynamics and complexity of the human world.

Popular transnational topics include international security and diplomacy, global environment, international development, global health, international business, intercultural communications, global arts, and international law. Common languages to study are Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish.

Students majoring in international studies earn a BA degree. The major is useful for careers in the arts, business, engineering, government, health, law, media, and the nonprofit sector, among other fields.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will acquire knowledge about a foreign geographic area and/or the international significance of a topic through written and/or spoken communication in a foreign language.
• Students will be able to analyze, in written and spoken English, topics relevant to either a specific foreign geographic area, or topics of broad international significance using questions, methods, concepts and/or theories from at least two disciplines.
• Students will be able to utilize the knowledge and skills acquired in their major and during their practicum to conduct research in a topic related to their field and geographical areas of interest.
• Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of the complexity and dynamics of the human world.

Undergraduate Policies

For undergraduate policies and procedures, please review the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.

Accelerated Master's Programs

Undergraduate students may participate in accelerated programs toward graduate or professional degrees. For more information and details of the policies and procedures related to accelerated studies, please visit the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.

Program Requirements

Students seeking to complete this major and degree program must meet the general requirements for bachelor's degrees and the Unified General Education Requirements. Students completing this program as a secondary major while completing another undergraduate degree program do not need to satisfy the school-specific requirements associated with this major.

The major in international studies requires a minimum of 33 credit hours, chosen from approved topical and area studies courses, plus satisfaction of a language competency requirement. Each student will prepare a program of study that includes course selections meeting the seven requirements below. Two courses from each other major or minor can count simultaneously toward the international studies major if they fit the requirements. Courses taken to satisfy the language competency requirement are exempted from this rule, and several international studies courses contribute to the completion of general education requirements.

Requirements for the Major:

a

Two courses that concentrate on a single region of the world. Such courses are offered in many departments and programs. In order to count toward the area focus, courses from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures must include content other than exclusively language learning, such as the study of literature or cinema. Area foci include Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa.

b

A related pair of courses that examine a transnational topic. Topical foci include, but are not limited to, international security and diplomacy, global environment, international business, global health, international development, and global arts.

c

Two additional courses toward the area focus or topical focus. Students must include courses from at least two different departments or programs among their six area focus, topical focus, and elective area or topical courses. These courses should be selected in consultation with the International Studies Program director.

d

The senior project offers students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the complexity and dynamics of the human world as a result of majoring in international studies. In the required course, students analyze topics relevant to the foreign geographic area and broad theme they have chosen for their major foci. To do so, they draw on their international experience, knowledge acquired through a foreign language, and prior coursework for the major. Students share their conclusions in the seminar itself and in a public presentation.

Language Competency:

In addition to the 33 credit hours of international studies course work, students must demonstrate competency in a language other than their native language. This may be done by:

1. completing a language course at the 300-level or above
2. completing four semesters in a single language
3. demonstrating to the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures a non-native language competency equivalent to that attained by completing a 300-level or above course

Honors: Honors are awarded to students who meet three requirements: an exceptional senior project (grade of A), a 3.3 overall GPA, and a 3.7 GPA in international studies courses (area focus, topical focus, and electives).

There is no minor in international studies. International studies can be a secondary major.