Majoring & Minoring
The International Studies Program integrates a Disciplinary Major with an Area of Concentration, and consists of the following components: disciplinary major; global context; geographic focus; advanced language study; and study abroad.
By the end of the sophomore year at the latest, all students will complete the form called "International Studies Plan of Study." The form details your geographical area of emphasis, the disciplinary major, the way the international experience requirement will be met, and the language you intend to study. This form is used to explain what themes or personal interests hold these four items together. Students who wish to change the basic thrust of their plan (and not just individual courses) will be required to fill out a new plan setting forth the same four items. The plan of study must be approved by a member of the International Studies Committee, and must be submitted to the Registrar's Office.
MAJOR (minimum of 10 courses / 30 hours)
1. Disciplinary Major: Students can select Art History, History or Political Science as the disciplinary major. For students with a Latin American concentration, Anthropology may also be selected as a major. These majors provide a strong disciplinary base from which to study another culture. Students are required to take at least two courses in this major that focus on their geographical area of interest. Other disciplines may be considered through a formal petition to the International Studies Committee following a discussion with the Chair of International Studies.
2. Global Context: Each of the eligible majors includes required courses that provide global, international and/or comparative perspectives expanding students’ understanding of their geographical area of interest in a global context.
CONCENTRATION (6 courses / 18 hours)
3. Geographical Area of Emphasis: (4 courses/12 hours) Students can select from East Asia, Europe, or Latin America. Four courses, in addition to the two taken in the disciplinary major, are required in the student’s geographical area of emphasis. These courses are designed to help the student develop expertise in a specific geographical area. At least two of these courses, selected from the following list of approved International Studies courses, are to be taken in disciplines other than the student’s major so that the student will study the geographical area of emphasis on which they focus from at least three different disciplines. One course in the geographical area of emphasis whose scope is pre-1500 can be substituted for one of the approved International Studies courses listed below with the consent of the International Studies Committee.
4. Advanced Language: (2 courses/6 hours) Two courses at the 300 level or above must be taken in a language related to the student’s area of emphasis. This requirement is in addition to the language requirement incumbent upon all Southwestern students. These courses must include at least one literature course. Students are encouraged to take conversation classes, but these courses may not be used to satisfy this requirement.
5. Study Abroad: This requirement is satisfied by spending one or two semesters in a study abroad program directly related to the student’s geographic area of emphasis. The program must take place primarily in the language being studied as part of the International Studies requirements (Chinese, French, German, or Spanish). Students may choose from a set of approved study abroad programs compiled by the International Studies Committee.
Students wishing to participate in a program not on this list are expected to discuss their plans with their adviser and the Director of Intercultural Learning, and obtain approval from the Committee a year in advance of the experience. Students who wish to pursue a study abroad plan that does not meet these guidelines must petition the International Studies Committee two semesters before the study abroad program begins. The petition must demonstrate conformity to the criteria established by the International Studies Program.
Students may pursue a Paired Major with French, German, or Spanish. Students may choose from East Asia, Europe, or Latin America as their focus.
