International Studies Advising Guide

International Studies is an interdisciplinary major that seeks to help students attain a well-rounded understanding of global developments and trends and to prepare them to succeed in the globalized world of the twenty-first century.  In addition to core courses in international politics, history and economics, students study a foreign language and choose an area of concentration in which they take a cluster of courses in one of three areas: a country or region of their choice;  globalization and sustainability; or security studies.  A distinguishing aspect of the major is the comprehensive oral examination which students take in the last semester of the senior year.

Courses appropriate for prospective majors 

1. INST/POSC 170, International Relations is the best point of entry into the major
2. ECON 111, Introduction to Microeconomics and ECON 112, Introduction to Macroeconomics, should also be taken early
3. Foreign language coursework should be continued or started. 

Introductory courses that fulfill distribution requirements 
Many of the courses in the major can serve as distribution requirements. 

For course descriptions and requirements for the major, refer to the Academic Bulletin: International Studies or the department webpage

Suggested curricular flow through the INST major

The INST major was designed with the hope and expectation that all of our students would spend a year abroad.  As a result, we developed the curriculum so that a student who did spend a year abroad could complete all the requirements for the major, as long as she or he followed a few guidelines. 

The guidelines are written for the entering student who knows he or she wants to major in INST.  Rather than specify the courses that you “must” have in a given semester, the following are general guidelines regarding courses that we suggest you take during each year.  You should think of these guidelines as giving you a fast track into the major – this provides maximum flexibility in your junior and senior year.

Suggested courses for the First Year 
INST/POSC 170
ECON 111
ECON 112
foreign language

For information regarding the suggested guidelines, please feel free to contact an IS faculty member.  Students not following these guidelines may still be able to study for a year abroad and still complete the major, but will face a more demanding senior year.  Many students who do study abroad for a year are able to complete both the INST major and a language major or a language minor, due to the overlap in these programs of study.  

Senior oral examination 
One especially challenging part of the major is the comprehensive oral examination at the end of the senior year.  The exam lasts for 40 minutes and involves questions about the student’s area of concentration and the core areas of the International Studies program.

 Opportunities for off-campus study            
Majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad, but study abroad is not a requirement.  Students should consult with the Chair of International Studies, Professor Douglas Stuart and with the Executive Director of the Center for Global Study and Engagement, Brian Brubaker. 

Additional remarks

Careers: Many International Studies majors pursue careers in government service, international business, banking and law.  Some go on to the Peace Corps. Others have found work with Non-governmental organizations.  Recent graduates have landed posts in the State Department, the Commerce Department, and the Department of Defense.  Others have continued and pursued advanced degrees in the leading graduate programs and professional schools in the United States, Europe, and Asia.