Major in IS

The International Studies degree offers students a distinctive curriculum consisting of 42 credit hours of course work. The instructional component of the International Studies degree features a core curriculum of 15 hours, an intensive foreign language requirement, an area or component specialization, a study abroad or internship experience, and a senior level methods and writing course. In addition, students are required to complete the general education requirements of the university and the College of Arts and Sciences. For freshmen and transfer students with less than 30 hours, there is a required one hour cognate elective (IS 1099) to acclimate student majors to the university academic experience.

Core Requirements

The core curriculum consists of five required courses (15 credit hours) in the sub-fields of international studies:
POL 2500; HIST 2200; ECON 2030; GEOG 1100; ANTH 1010; Two years foreign language study; Internship of Study Abroad experience (6 hours) chosen with the coordinator of International Studies and the Office of International Programs.

Second, students must complete two years of study in a single foreign language, after which they may choose to pursue oral proficiency certification in that language. The first year of study may fulfill the existing university general education requirement of six hours.

Third, students must complete a study abroad and/or internship experience (6 hours). The study-abroad courses may be selected according to the student's academic college and interests, with the approval of the Office of International Programs and the International Studies degree coordinator. Should students choose to complete an associated internship experience, the internship would need to be approved by the International Studies degree coordinator. Students will need to have completed the study abroad or internship before the beginning of their senior year.

Area Specialization

Each student is required to complete 12 hours of course work in one of the six subfields below (NOTE: Many of these courses have significant prerequisites. It is recommended that students choose a minor in a related field):

International Economics and Business
ECON 2110, 2120, 3010, 3030; FIN 3650; MKTG 4820; GEOG 2230; MGMT 3240, 4850.

International Relations/Comparative Government/International Law
POL 3550, 2600, 2650, 4040, 3000, 4320; CJ 4334, 4368, 3373.

International History, Culture and Society
ANTH 2110, 2120, 2130, 3180, 3130; ENG 2210, 2410, 4316; GEOG 2210, 2230, 2020, 3050, 3055, 3060, 3020, 3040, 3045, 4250, 4460; HIST 2830, 2930, 4280, 2300, 4620, 4810, 4900.

International language and Literatures
Two years of an additional foreign language or equivalent; two semesters of foreign literature taught in the target language.

International Public Health
ECON 2200, HSC 2250, HSC 3310, HSC 2375, GEOG 4210, GEOG 4270.

International Environmental Studies
GEOG 3450, 4800, 4250, 4460; BIOL 4730; CHEM 3650 or 3660; HS 4060.

Capstone Course

All International Studies students must complete a required senior-level capstone course entitled International Studies Seminar (IS 4000) that will cover theory and methods of international studies. This course also will involve the preparation of a seminar paper and attention to special topics in international studies.

Honors in International Studies:
Students approved for the honors program in International Studies must:

• Complete two designated international studies classes or independent studies at the 3000-4000 level as honors classes (6 credit hours).
• Complete a two-semester honors thesis project with a faculty mentor (6 credit hours), taking IS 4750 and IS 4850
• Earn a B or better in each honors course.
• Maintain a major GPA of 3.25 or higher.

Qualified students interested in beginning honors-level work in their freshman or sophomore years are encouraged to apply to the Honors College for advanced study in general education. See the Honors College section of this catalog for further details.