MAJOR REQUIREMENTS WORKSHEET

Major courses should be distributed between one or two fields within international studies, identified by the student (e.g., international security, international economics, US foreign policy, global environmental politics, international human rights, Latin American studies, European studies, African studies, Asian studies, international development, etc).

The non-POLI, internationally-oriented courses, numbered 300 and above may come from any department (e.g., anthropology, comparative literature, economics, foreign cultures and literatures, geography, history, philosophy, public health, religious studies, sociology, women’s studies, etc.). NOTE: 200-level geography courses will count toward this requirement. All courses counted toward the major must be approved by advisor.

OPTIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES MAJORS 

1. General major - 27 hours, completed according to requirements listed on the front of this sheet.

2. BA with distinction – General major, plus 301, 498, and 499. This option is for students who wish to participate in significant research activities in collaboration with, or under the supervision of, a faculty mentor. Prerequisite: 3.6 minimum GPA in major courses and a minimum overall GPA of 3.3. A written sponsorship agreement from the faculty mentor will be placed on file in the department or college office. Students will produce a piece of original research and make a public presentation of that research in a venue approved by the faculty mentor. Venues include the annual meeting of the SC Political Science Association (or other annual meeting of the appropriate professional organization), a regular or special session of the Political Science Research Workshop, sessions scheduled for the Political Science Awards Day activities, USC Discovery Day, or successful submission of the research to a professional journal. Students who successfully complete these requirements and maintain a GPA of at least 3.6 in major courses and a 3.3 overall will be awarded their degree with “Distinction in International Studies” upon graduation.

3. Intensive major – General major plus six additional hours of approved major work and 499. Intensive majors must maintain a B or better in all major courses. Students must also demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language, demonstrated by earning a rating of “intermediate high” on the ACTFL/ETS examination or a “1+” rating on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) examination. In those languages for which such testing is not available within the languages department, proficiency will be demonstrated by passing with a C or better a minimum of 15 hours in one foreign language.

GUIDELINES FOR ADVISEMENT HANDBOOK

This handbook, published by the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, College of Liberal Arts, outlines and defines University and College degree requirements. Students should refer to this book for assistance in selecting courses to meet core and distribution requirements. It also provides assistance in minor/cognate selection and answers questions about many University and College of Liberal Arts academic requirements and academic procedures. Students are given one copy of this book when they enter the College. It is also available online at http://www.cas.sc.edu/ugrad/ under “Undergraduate Publications.”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 For additional information about the International Studies major, contact Janis Leaphart, Undergraduate Coordinator, in the POLI Office of Undergraduate Student Services at 777-7722 or email her at leaphartj@sc.edu.