International Studies Major
The International Studies major focuses on important contemporary themes relating to the transnational relationships among states and peoples. The major is inherently interdisciplinary, as it applies historical, political, and sociological lenses to analyze global topics and phenomena. Students majoring in International Studies should expect to complete coursework in some combination of Anthropology, Economics, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, and Sociology, as well as demonstrating competence in a foreign language. Students pursuing an International Studies major are challenged to develop critical thinking and writing skills, to master an additional language, and to engage important questions of our day from the perspectives of multiple disciplines.
Students interested in the International Studies major should contact the program director to discuss their interests. Students must apply for the major through the online Student Program Application system. This is a non-competitive application. There is no limit on the number of majors or minimum grade point average requirement to apply for the major. The application is intended to assist students in developing an appropriate major curriculum. Applications are accepted twice per year in September and February. Students should contact the program director for the application deadlines.
The International Studies major is composed of three elements — a set of four core requirements, a thematic focus, and a regional focus. The language and introductory courses provide the foundation for the major. The thematic focus relates to the social scientific study of some aspect of relations among states and peoples. Potential majors can choose from themes such as Conflict and Conflict Resolution, Global Governance and International Law, and International Political Economy and Development Studies. Students may seek to develop an alternative thematic focus, but the onus is on the student to demonstrate in the application that the theme is appropriate and that there are sufficient courses to support the theme. The thematic focus should provide the student with a significant degree of breadth and depth in the theoretical study of their theme.
In addition to the thematic focus, students with a major in International Studies are expected to develop a degree of regional expertise. They should have sufficient knowledge of the states in a particular region of the world so that they can effectively apply their thematic coursework to that region. The study of a language from their proposed region of the world is central to the major. Students completing the major must pursue a minimum of foreign language study at the 300 level of their language. Students are also strongly encouraged to study abroad in a country where the language they are studying is spoken. Experiencing the part of the world that is the focus of the major and achieving competency in the language is considered a very important aspect of the major.
Program Advanced Placement Policy
Students with a score of 4 or 5 in a required Core course earn placement in the curriculum but not progress toward the minimum of 12 courses required by the major. They will be expected to take a fifth course in either their regional or their thematic focus.
Requirements
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Core Requirements | |
| ECON 110 | Principles of Economics 1 |
| Select two of the following: | |
| Anthropological Perspective 1 | |
| Introduction To Comparative Politics | |
| Introduction to International Relations | |
| Language at the 301 level or higher | |
| Geographic Region | |
| One history course from the region. | |
| Three electives related to the region. 2 | |
| Major Theme | |
| Four electives related to the theme. | |
| 1 | ECON 110 Principles of Economics and ANTH 101 Anthropological Perspective must be taken in the student’s first or second year at Holy Cross. |
| 2 | Your geographic region should correspond to the language you are studying. |
In addition, students majoring in International Studies may count up to 2 courses from one semester abroad and up to 4 courses from a full year abroad toward the International Studies major requirements with the approval of the director.
Students pursuing a double major may count no more than two courses from the department of the second major toward the International Studies major. (Note that the double counting rule does not apply to International Studies core requirements, with one exception: a POLS major counting both POLS 102 and 103 towards core requirements is only permitted to count one additional POLS course towards the International Studies major.)
Note that the major curriculum must be approved through the application process, and changes in the curriculum must be approved by the director.