All sophomore students who wish to continue in the International Studies major must submit a brief proposal early in the spring semester. The purpose of the proposal is twofold.

•    First, we want to encourage you to begin formulating your own interests in the field of International Studies. Most students begin by thinking about issues in the core courses that they have found interesting. You will pursue this interest in your four-course concentration.

•    Second, we want you, with the advice of two faculty advisors from the International Studies Committee, to make a coherent plan for how you will pursue your interests in International Studies during your final two years at Denison.  This involves mapping out your courses in International Studies for the next two years—including coursework from off-campus study programs that you wish to count toward the INTL major.

Our goal is to help you integrate coursework, off-campus study (or an internship), and language training in a way that allows you to develop a coherent area of expertise within International Studies. Since this is a double major, we also need to make sure that you will be able to fit in all the requirements of International Studies and another major.  Of course, some parts of your curriculum plan may change—courses may not be offered, off-campus study plans may be altered for a variety of interests, or you may decide to shift focus on your concentration as a result of developing an interest in a different topic.  The proposal will allow us to help you make an initial plan and make good decisions about revisions to that plan should the need arise.

In writing your concentration proposal you will have the advice and guidance of two faculty members from the International Studies program committee who will be assigned to you.  You will need to meet with them several times as you develop your proposal.

Developing your proposal will require that you do some research about available courses, both at Denison and on your off-campus program, that will allow you to study your proposed topic.  You will need to research courses in the Denison catalogue and on the web pages of the relevant departments.  You may want to contact specific faculty members for more information about their courses.  You will also need to contact the relevant departments to find out when the specific courses will be offered while you are at Denison.  Departments may not be able to give you specific information about when courses will be offered.  Because of this unavoidable uncertainty, we require that in your proposal you list four alternate courses in addition to the four you choose for your concentration.  Two courses in your concentration can be taken off campus, and two can be cross-listed and double-counted with your other major.  (Courses cannot be double-counted within your International Studies major.)

Courses can fill different functions in your concentration.  Some study the broad International Studies theme (such as globalization, migration, human rights, development, gender) within which you locate your concentration.  Some study the specific topic of your concentration.  Some provide you with necessary theoretical skills (such as specific theories and skills in disciplines and fields such as Anthropology, Art History, Communication, English, Environmental Studies or Women’s Studies, to name just a few).  Some provide you with necessary cultural and historical background on the region or period on which your concentration focuses.

Your proposal should include the following:
•    Completed Proposal Coversheet including both International Studies proposal advisors’ signatures (be sure to keep a copy for yourself, and give a copy to each advisor)
•    Completed curriculum plan (see attached form)
•    Responses to essay question (please, no longer than three typed, double-spaced pages)
•    Unofficial transcript or registrar’s counseling report

Schedule and deadlines in the proposal process are as follows:

  • Tuesday, Feb. 3:  initial meeting
  • Wednesday. Feb 4:  you will be notified who your two proposal advisors are
  • Wednesday, Feb. 11, 4:30-5:30 p.m., in Fellows 423:  workshop with Prof. Brenda Boyle of the Writing Center on how to write a proposal
  • Friday, February 13, by this date you should have your first meeting with both proposal advisors  
  • Monday, March 2, 4:30 p.m.: completed proposal due in International Studies office (4th Floor Fellows), complete with advisors’ signatures and transcript or counseling report

Faculty Members of the International Studies Committee:  John Cort, Director (International Studies and Religion), Gary Baker (Modern Languages), Susan Diduk (Sociology/Anthropology), Quentin Duroy (Economics—on leave), Joanna Grabski (Art History), Fadhel Kaboub (Economics), Andrew Law (Off-Campus Studies), Veerendra Lele (Sociology/Anthropology), Margaret Meriwether (History—on leave), Isis Nusair (International Studies and Women’s Studies), David Oh (Communication), Jim Pletcher (Political Science), Taku Suzuki (International Studies).  You can learn more about the scholarly areas of interest of our faculty on the International Studies home page.  Anita Mannur (English) and Donald Schilling (History) can also help you with your proposal if your other major is in one of their departments, or your proposed concentration is in their area of research and teaching.

Faculty Members of the International Studies Committee

Gary Baker (Modern Languages), John Cort, Director (Religion), Susan Diduk (Sociology/Anthropology, ), Quentin Duroy-on leave Spring 2009 (Economics),  Joanna Grabski (Art History), Fadhel Kaboub (Economics), Andrew Law (International & Off-Campus Studies), Veerendra Lele (Sociology/Anthropology),  Marlee Meriwether -on leave Spring 2009 (History), Isis Nusair (International Studies, Women's Studies), David Oh, (Communications), Jim Pletcher (Political Science), Taku Suzuki (International Studies)