Guidelines of the International Studies Major

International Studies in a double major open to students who are also completing a second major in any of the disciplinary or programmatic majors offered at Denison. Students cannot major in International Studies as a single major. Students wanting to major in International Studies are encouraged to articulate a synergistic relationship between their other major and their program of study in International Studies. A double major in International Studies exposes students to frameworks that highlight connectedness on a global level in terms that are broadly historical and geographical. It also focuses on transnational processes involving, among other things, political regimes, cultural formations, and economic relations.

General Requirements

The general requirements for a major in international studies are:

• Three core courses in international studies: INTL-100, INTL-200 and INTL-400. These courses are taught by different members of the international studies faculty and should be taken in sequence, with the Senior Capstone seminar taken in fall semester in the senior year.
• Two foundation courses in theories and methodologies associated with the dominant paradigms of international studies: political-economy and approaches to culture. Courses that fulfill this requirement are offered in numerous departments and programs. The list of courses is updated and distributed each semester by the International Studies Program.
• Four courses organized into a thematic concentration. Concentrations are meant to be a focal point for a student's curricular plan, an area of scholarly interest where students seek more in-depth study. Students define a coherent thematic focus, defined in terms of their own specific interests, in consultation with an international studies faculty advisor. The four courses selected for the concentration are drawn from regular departmental and programmatic course offerings. The courses selected should reflect the multiple and interdisciplinary nature of International Studies Program. Students may include one on-campus independent study and up to two courses from an off-campus study program (subject to approval by the international studies committee and the Registrar). Since it is quite likely that not all four courses will be available during the students time at Denison, the proposal must also include four alternate courses for the concentration.
• One year of language training beyond the current General Education requirement. Where possible, language training should be consistent with the student's concentration and his or her off-campus experience. In most cases this additional year will be in the same language as that used to fulfil the General Education requirement, unless otherwise justified (e.g. in special cases where the concentration might warrant studying another language).
• Off-campus study experience that is relevant to the student's course of study. The off-campus experience can involve and approved off-campus study program, an internship related to international studies or a Denison course that has a significant (at least 4 weeks) off-campus component. The off-campus experience should carry academic credit.
• Students must declare their intention to major in international studies by the spring semester of their sophomore year. At that time, students submit a proposal in which they discuss the goals of their overall academic program, the linkages between their two majors, a curricular plan for both majors, their concentration in international studies and their plans for off-campus study. The proposal should be based on discussions between the student and his or her academic advisor. The International Studies faculty committee must approve the proposal.
• All International Studies majors must have on record with the Registrar an advisor from the International Studies faculty committee.
  

A total of three (3) courses may be double counted with the student's other major; of these, no more than two (2) of the concentration courses may be double counted. Courses may not be double counted within the International Studies major.