Effective Fall 2025
Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. Exception: The major prerequisite of INTLSTD 101/GEOG 145 may be used in LSA Distribution.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2025 - )
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2025
Exclusions:The International Security, Norms, and Cooperation (ISNC) sub-plan is only available to declared International Studies majors and is not a major or minor. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript.
Advising
An International Studies advisor will assist students in developing a program of study.
The major in International Studies offers students the opportunity to take a set of courses across disciplines to bring multiple methods and concepts together to address global problems. Students will be exposed to topics such as global health trends, human rights and refugees, cultural homogenization and hybridization, environmental and energy crises, terrorism, transnational social movements, immigration, and the spread of technology. The major will draw on methods developed in specific disciplines such as economics, sociology, psychology, comparative literature, political science, anthropology, and history, and some methods emerging from cross-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary fields.
Due to the inter-disciplinary nature of the program, students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern.
For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
Additional pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth-term proficiency.
- Program Core (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies, or one 300 level INTLSTD Core Faculty Lecture (INTLSTD 300, 341); and
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Research Design Course (3 credits): INTLSTD 390: Designing Research in International Studies
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study. There is no pre-approved list of regional courses. Students must seek and obtain approval of the regional course from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
- ISNC Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list, to gain knowledge in the sub-plan area.
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan and core course lists may be found on the PICS courses page.
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plan. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no pre-approved list of electives. Because there is no list, students must seek and obtain the approval of electives - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. Exception: The major prerequisite of INTLSTD 101/GEOG 145 may be used in LSA Distribution.
Political Economy & Development (PED) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2025 - )
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
Political Economy & Development (PED) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2025
Exclusions:The Political Economy and Development (PED) sub-plan is only available to declared International Studies majors and is not a major or minor. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript.
Advising
An International Studies advisor will assist students in developing a program of study.
The major in International Studies offers students the opportunity to take a set of courses across disciplines to bring multiple methods and concepts together to address global problems. Students will be exposed to topics such as global health trends, human rights and refugees, cultural homogenization and hybridization, environmental and energy crises, terrorism, transnational social movements, immigration, and the spread of technology. The major will draw on methods developed in specific disciplines such as economics, sociology, psychology, comparative literature, political science, anthropology, and history, and some methods emerging from cross-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary fields.
Due to the inter-disciplinary nature of the program, students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern.
For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
Additional pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth-term proficiency.
- Program Core (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies, or one 300 level INTLSTD Core Faculty Lecture (INTLSTD 300, 341); and
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Research Design Course (3 credits): INTLSTD 390: Designing Research in International Studies
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study. There is no pre-approved list of regional courses. Students must seek and obtain approval of the regional course from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
- PED Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list, to gain knowledge in the sub-plan area.
- At least one course must be a listed ECON class. (Note: these courses may have additional prerequisites)
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan and core course lists may be found on the PICS courses page.
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plan. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no pre-approved list of electives. Because there is no list, students must seek and obtain the approval of electives - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. Exception: The major prerequisite of INTLSTD 101/GEOG 145 may be used in LSA Distribution.
Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2025 - )
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2025
Exclusions:The Comparative Culture and Identity (CCI) sub-plan is only available to declared International Studies majors and is not a major or minor. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript.
Advising
An International Studies advisor will assist students in developing a program of study.
The major in International Studies offers students the opportunity to take a set of courses across disciplines to bring multiple methods and concepts together to address global problems. Students will be exposed to topics such as global health trends, human rights and refugees, cultural homogenization and hybridization, environmental and energy crises, terrorism, transnational social movements, immigration, and the spread of technology. The major will draw on methods developed in specific disciplines such as economics, sociology, psychology, comparative literature, political science, anthropology, and history, and some methods emerging from cross-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary fields.
Due to the inter-disciplinary nature of the program, students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern.
For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
Additional pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth-term proficiency.
- Program Core (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies, or one 300 level INTLSTD Core Faculty Lecture (INTLSTD 300, 341); and
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Research Design Course (3 credits): INTLSTD 390: Designing Research in International Studies
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study. There is no pre-approved list of regional courses. Students must seek and obtain approval of the regional course from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
- CCI Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list, to gain knowledge in the sub-plan area.
- Globalization and Culture: One course must be chosen from the following short list:
- ANTHRCUL 222: The Comparative Study of Cultures;
- COMPLIT 240: Literature Across Borders, or COMPLIT 322: Translating World Literatures, or GTBOOKS/COMPLIT 212: Great Books in World Literatures;
- INTLSTD 205/HISTORY 101: What is History?; or
- ROMLANG 253: The Mediterranean: History and Culture.
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan and core course lists may be found on the PICS courses page.
- Globalization and Culture: One course must be chosen from the following short list:
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plan. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no pre-approved list of electives. Because there is no list, students must seek and obtain the approval of electives - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. Exception: The major prerequisite of INTLSTD 101/GEOG 145 may be used in LSA Distribution.
Global Environment & Health (GEH) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2025 - )
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
Global Environment & Health (GEH) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2025
Exclusions:The Global Environment and Health (GEH) sub-plan is only available to declared International Studies majors and is not a major or minor. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript.
Advising
An International Studies advisor will assist students in developing a program of study.
The major in International Studies offers students the opportunity to take a set of courses across disciplines to bring multiple methods and concepts together to address global problems. Students will be exposed to topics such as global health trends, human rights and refugees, cultural homogenization and hybridization, environmental and energy crises, terrorism, transnational social movements, immigration, and the spread of technology. The major will draw on methods developed in specific disciplines such as economics, sociology, psychology, comparative literature, political science, anthropology, and history, and some methods emerging from cross-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary fields.
Due to the inter-disciplinary nature of the program, students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern.
For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
Additional Pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth-term proficiency.
- Program Core (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies, or one 300 level INTLSTD Core Faculty Lecture (INTLSTD 300, 341); and
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Research Design Course (3 credits): INTLSTD 390: Designing Research in International Studies
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study. There is no pre-approved list of regional courses. Students must seek and obtain approval of the regional course from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
- GEH Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list, to gain knowledge in the sub-plan area.
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan and core course lists may be found on the PICS courses page.
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plan. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no pre-approved list of electives. Because there is no list, students must seek and obtain the approval of electives - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. Exception: The major prerequisite of INTLSTD 101/GEOG 145 may be used in LSA Distribution.
Political Economy & Development (PED) (Sub-Major) (Winter 2021 - Summer 2025)
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
Political Economy & Development (PED) (Sub-Major)
Effective Winter 2021
Exclusions:The Political Economy and Development (PED) sub-plan is only available to declared International Studies majors and is not a major or minor. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript.
Advising
The International Studies Advisor will assist students in developing a program of study. Advising for the Honors plan is provided by the PICS Director and the PICS Honors Thesis advisor. For more information, see: www.ii.umich.edu/pics/undergraduates/advising.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all required PICS courses.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies (Grade of C- or better).
- ECON 101: Principles of Economics I (Grade of C or better).
- Students must have started or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
Additional Pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth term proficiency.
- Core Courses (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Research Methods Course (3 credits): One research methods course chosen from the following list:
- ECON 309: Experimental Economics
- ECON 401: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 451: Intermediate Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics I
- POLSCI 300: Quantitative Empirical Methods of Political Science
- POLSCI 391/CMPLXSYS 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- POLSCI 490: Game Theory & Formal Models
- SOC 210: Elementary Statistics
- STATS 250: Introduction to Statistics & Data Analysis
- STATS 280: Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
Note: Completion of the Methods requirement is recommended prior to enrolling in INTLSTD 301.
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study.
- PED Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list (see below), to gain knowledge in sub-plan area.
- At least one course must be an ECON course on approved sub-plan list. (Note: these courses may have additional prerequisites.)
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan course lists may be found on the PICS courses website.
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plans. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no preapproved list of electives. Because there is no preapproved list, students must seek and obtain the approval of elective courses - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
PED courses include, but are not limited to:
- AAS / HISTORY 246: Africa to 1850
- AAS / HISTORY 247: Modern Africa
- AAS 357: Environmental Governance and African Development, sections titled "Environmental Governance and African Development" or "Energy Matters: Environment, Culture, Power and the Oil State"
- AAS 408: African Economies: Social and Political Settings
- AAS 458: Issues in Black World Studies, section titled “Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
- AAS 495: Senior Seminar, section titled, "Contemporary Africa and the World"
- ALA 210: Defining Critical Global Issues
- ALA 470: Applied Liberal Arts Topics, section titled "Organizing for Global Justice"
- AMCULT 281: How to Become a Billionaire: Business Tycoons and the Development of Western Capitalism
- ANTHRARC 281: Making Things: Three Million Years of Materials and Culture
- ANTHRCUL 298: Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology, section titled "Goods and Goodness"
- ANTHRCUL 317: Communism and Capitalism in Eastern Europe
- ANTHRCUL 328: Globalizing Consumer Cultures
- ANTHRCUL 332: Exchange, Commodities, and Money, section titled "Gift, Commodity, and Money"
- ANTHRCUL / HISTORY 346: Latin America: The Colonial Period, section titled "Issues in Race and Ethnicity"
- ANTHRCUL / INTLSTD 350: Corporations and Democracy
- ANTHRCUL 456: Global Supply Chains: Anthropology of Transborder Trade
- ANTHRCUL 458: Topics in Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology, section titled "Energy Matters: Environment, Culture, Power and the Oil State"
- ASIAN / HISTORY 204: East Asia: Early Transformations
- ASIAN / HISTORY 205: Modern East Asia
- ASIAN 389: Culture in East Asian Business, Past and Present
- BA 310: Cross-Cultural Business
- CMPLXSYS 251: Computational Social Sciences
- COMM 404: Special Topics in Mass Media and Mass Communication, section titled "Poverty and the Environment in the US and Colombia: Learning through Podcast Creation"
- COMM 439: Seminar in Journalistic Performance, section titled "The Media's Role in the Rise and Fall of Democracies"
- ECON 340: International Economics
- ECON 396: Topics in Macroeconomics and Macroeconomic Policy, section titled "The Economics of Government Intervention"
- ECON 412: Topics in Macroeconomics, section titled, "Global Imbalances and Government Policy"
- ECON 441: International Trade Theory
- ECON 442: International Finance
- ECON 461: The Economics of Development I
- ECON 483: Positive Political Economy
- ECON 487: Urban Economics
- ECON 492: Capitalisms
- ECON 494: Topics in Economic History, section titled "Global Economic History"
- ECON 495: Seminar in Economics, section titled "Applied Topics in International Trade"
- ENVIRON 235: Environmental Economics & Policy
- ENVIRON 270: Our Common Future: Ecology, Economics & Ethics of Sustainable Development
- ENVIRON 302: Topics in Environmental Social Science, section titled "Environ Governance African Dev"
- ENVIRON 434: Poverty and the Environment in the US and Colombia: Learning through Podcast Creation
- HISTART 384: Principal Greek Archaeological Sites, section titled " Living in a Material World Europe and the World 1492-1800"
- HISTORY 240: The World Since 1492
- HISTORY 282: History of the Economy
- HISTORY 328: HU Topics in History, section titled "Walking and Modern History: Land, Power, and Rights on Foot"
- HISTORY / SOC 332 / POLSCI / REEES / SLAVIC 395: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- HISTORY / INTLSTD 348: Latin America: The National Period
- HISTORY 443: Modern Middle East History, section titled "From Napoleon to Trump"
- HISTORY 496: History Colloquium, sections titled "The End of Empires: Decolonization After World War II" or "The World of the Ship"
- HISTORY 497: History Colloquium, sections titled "Making the Modern Mediterranean" or "History of Socialism"
- HONORS 230: Honors Core SS, section titled "Violent Environments: Oil, Development, and the Discourse of Power"
- INTLSTD 210: Nature and Power: An Introduction to Political Ecology
- INTLSTD 247: Modern Africa
- INTLSTD / HISTORY 348: Latin America: The National Period
- INTLSTD 384: International and/or Comparative Topics in the Humanities, section titled, "Imagining Home in Socialist and Capitalist Societies"
- INTLSTD 385: International Topics in Social Science, see dept. for specific topic sections
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar, sections titled
“Humanitarian Dilemmas”
“Migration, Human Smugglings and Trafficking”
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
“Origins of Economic Growth”
“Norm Diffusion: International, Regional & Public Policy”
“The Politics of Debt” - INTLSTD 470: INTLSTD Special Topics, section titled "German Politics in Europe Since 1945"
- LACS 455: Topics in Latin American Studies, section titled "Latin America"
- MIDEAST 214: Collapse and Resilience: The Bronze Age in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean
- MKT 315: International Marketing
- ORGSTUDY 440: Organizations in the Developing World
- POLSCI 340: Governments and Politics in Western Europe
- POLSCI 347: Politics and Society in Latin America
- POLSCI 348: Political Economy of Development
- POLSCI 353: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- POLSCI 355: Democracy and Development in Africa
- POLSCI 369: Politics of International Economic Relations
- POLSCI 387: Comparative Analysis of Government Institutions
- POLSCI 389: Topics in Political Science, sections titled "Politics of International Aid" or "Culture in East Asian Business, Past and Present"
- POLSCI / REEES / SLAVIC 395 / HISTORY / SOC 332: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- POLSCI 396 / SLAVIC 396 / REEES 396 / SOC 393: East Central Europe: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy
- POLSCI 489: Advanced Topics in Contemporary Political Science, sections titled
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
“African Economies: Social and Political Settings”
"German Politics in Europe Since 1945"
"International Development"
"Sociology of Latin America" - POLSCI 497: Undergraduate Seminar in Comparative and Foreign Government, section titled “Development & the Quality of Governance”
- POLSCI 498: Undergraduate Seminar in International Politics, sections titled
“Politics of International Finance”
“Norm Diffusion: International, Regional & Public Policy”
“The Politics of Debt” - PPE 300: Introduction to Political Economy
- PUBPOL 475: Topics in Public Policy, section titled "Africa in Context: Diplomacy, Democracy, and Development"
- PUBPOL 495: Policy Seminar, section titled "World Economic History"
- RCSSCI / SOC 220: Political Economy
- RCSSCI 250: Topics in Social Theory and Practice, section titled "Global Workers' Rights"
- REEES / POLSCI / SLAVIC 395 / HISTORY / SOC 332: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- REEES 396 / SLAVIC 396 / POLSCI 396 / SOC 393: East Central Europe: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy
- SOC 295: Topics in Sociology, section titled "Poverty and Inequality in the Global South"
- SOC 315: Economic Sociology: Money, Markets, and Power
- SOC 422: Latin America
- SOC 460: Social Change
- STRATEGY 310: The World Economy
- STRATEGY 361: International Management
- STRATEGY 445: Base of the Pyramid: Business Innovation and Social Impact
Constraints
Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.
International Studies (Major) (Winter 2021 - Summer 2025)
Effective Winter 2021
Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript.
Advising
The International Studies Advisor will assist students in developing a program of study. Advising for the Honors plan is provided by the PICS Director and the PICS Honors Thesis advisor. For more information, see: www.ii.umich.edu/pics/undergraduates/advising.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all required PICS courses. Language requirement courses are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies (Grade of C- or better).
- Students declaring Political Economy & Development sub-plan must complete ECON 101 with a grade of C or better.
- Students must have started or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major.
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
We believe that language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and that students who major in international studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will not only be of benefit to the students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world but will also be an important signal to employers or graduate admissions committees about how our students are well-rounded and focused on the world and not just the United States.
Please see PICS website for details of and further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
See Sub-Plans for course requirements:
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.Honors
Students interested in the Honors subplan typically elect the Honors section of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies, and must complete INTLSTD 101 with a grade of B+ or better. Students who have declared a major in International Studies must have an overall GPA of 3.4, must complete all International Studies requirements for the major with a 3.4 or higher average in those courses, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
Students must earn C- or better in all required PICS courses.
During their senior year, students writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 489 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term. The thesis will have a minimum length of 50 pages. Students are responsible for locating their own PICS faculty thesis advisor. Advisor and topic must be approved by PICS director.
An instructor will oversee the Honors subplan. This will include a class meeting with all Honors thesis students as a collective, at least twice per semester of their senior year, and once at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Each student will have an oral defense of the thesis in a meeting with the Honors thesis advisor, the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education, plus one outside reader from the faculty.
Student grades on the thesis and Honors level will be determined by the PICS instructor in consultation with the Honors thesis advisor.
Advising for the Honors Plan is provided by the Honors advisor and the PICS Honors Plan advisor.
International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2020 - Summer 2025)
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2020
Exclusions:Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
The International Studies Advisor will assist students in developing a program of study. Advising for the Honors plan is provided by the PICS Director and the PICS Honors Thesis advisor. For more information, see: www.ii.umich.edu/pics/undergraduates/advising.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all required PICS courses.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies (Grade of C- or better).
- Students must have started or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
Additional Pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth term proficiency.
- Core Courses (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Research Methods Course (3 credits): One research methods course chosen from the following list:
- ECON 309: Experimental Economics
- ECON 401: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 451: Intermediate Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics
- POLSCI 300: Quantitative Empirical Methods of Political Science
- POLSCI 391/CMPLXSYS 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- POLSCI 490: Game Theory & Formal Models
- SOC 210: Elementary Statistics
- STATS 206: Introduction to Data Science
- STATS 250: Introduction to Statistics & Data Analysis
- STATS 280: Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
Note: Completion of the Methods requirement is recommended prior to enrolling in INTLSTD 301.
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study.
- ISNC Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list (see below), to gain knowledge in sub-plan area.
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan course lists may be found on the PICS courses website.
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plans. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no preapproved list of electives. Because there is no preapproved list, students must seek and obtain the approval of elective courses - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
ISNC courses include, but are not limited to:
- AAS 246: Africa to 1850
- AAS / WGS 304: Gender and Immigration: Identity, Race, and Place, section titled "Refugees of Unjust Worlds: Globalization, Gender and Nation"
- AAS 356 / POLSCI 355: Democracy and Development in Africa
- AAS 358: Black World Studies, section titled "Problems in Society and Social Theory: Fanon"
- AAS 395: Germany and the Black Diaspora
- AAS 453: Southern Africa, section titled "Culture, Class and Conflict in Southern Africa"
- AAS 458: Issues in Black World Studies, sections titled “Fighting with Human Rights – Africa” or "Political Violence in Africa"
- AAS 495: Senior Seminar, section titled "Justice in Africa"
- AMCULT 204: Themes in American Culture, section titled "Beyond Sea to Shining Sea: The United States and the Pacific World"
- AMCULT / AMAS 356: Law and Border
- ANTHRCUL 237: Digital Futures: Media Technologies and Social Transformation Around the World
- ANTHRCUL 252: Law and Culture
- ANTHRCUL 333: Non-Western Legal Systems, I
- ANTHRCUL 346 / HISTORY 347: Latin America: The Colonial Period
- ANTHRCUL 450: Anthropologies of Insurgency: Bandits, Rebels and Freedom Fighters
- ANTHRCUL 456: Global Supply Chains: Anthropology of Transborder Trade
- ARMENIAN / HISTORY / MIDEAST 389: From Natives to Foreigners: Armenians in Turkey and the Diaspora
- ASIAN 259 / HISTORY 255: Modern India and S. Asia
- BCS 450: In No Man's Land: Walls, Migrations and Human Trafficking in the Balkans and Mediterranean
- BL 411: Cross-cultural Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
- CJS 451: Topics in Japan, section titled "Empire, Colonialism and De/coloniality Across Modern Asian and Latin America"
- CLCIV 375: War in Greek and Roman Civilizations
- COMM 405: Seminar in Mass Media and Mass Communication, section titled "Media, Culture, and Communication in Contemporary China"
- COMM 439: Seminar in Journalistic Performance, sections titled "The Media's Role in the Rise and Fall of Democracies" or "Global Threats to Press Freedom"
- COMM 447: Women and Islam: The Politics of Representation
- COMM 466: Global Digital Politics
- COMPLIT 376: Literature and Ideas, section titled "Humanitarianism and Morals"
- COMPLIT 438: Studies in Film, section titled "In No Man's Land: Walls, Migrations and Human Trafficking in the Balkans and Mediterranean"
- ECON 492: Capitalisms
- EDUC / MENAS 463: Arab-Israeli Conflict
- ENVIRON 365: International Environmental Policy
- ENVIRON 462: Topics in Environmental Social Science, section titled "The Human Condition in the Anthropocene"
- ENVIRON 490: War and Environment: A Lethal Reciprocity
- FTVM / GERMAN 333: Fascist Cinemas
- GERMAN 391 / HISTORY / JUDAIC 386: The Holocaust, section titled "Issues in Race & Ethnicity"
- GERMAN 449: Special Topics in English Translation, section titled "German Politics in Europe Since 1945"
- JUDAIC 218: Humanities Topics in Judaism, section titled "Policing and Civil Rights"
- HISTART 393: Undergraduate Seminar, section titled "Art & Resistance"
- HISTART 394: Special Topics in the Humanities, section titled "The Art of Power in Colonial Latin America"
- HISTORY 216: World War I
- HISTORY 230: Topics in History/HU, sections titled
"War, Gender, Masculinity, Violence"
"Jews in the Modern World"
"History, Power, and Violence in Putin's Russia" - HISTORY 231: Social Science Topics in History, section titled "History of Terrorism"
- HISTORY 254: Europe, 1648-Present: Legacies of War, Empire, and Revolution
- HISTORY 241: America and Middle Eastern Wars
- HISTORY 255 / ASIAN 259: Modern India and S. Asia
- HISTORY 287: Early Modern Spain and Portugal
- HISTORY 306 / ISLAM / MIDEAST 319: History of the Ottoman Empire: The "Classical Age", (ca. 1300-1600)
- HISTORY 307 / ISLAM / MIDEAST 320: Ottoman History II
- HISTORY 319: Europe Since 1945
- HISTORY 328: History Topics in the Humanities, sections titled, "Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths" or "Walking and Modern History: Land, Power, and Rights on Foot"
- HISTORY 347 / ANTHRCUL 346: Latin America: The Colonial Period
- HISTORY / LACS 349: Revolutionary Movements in Modern Latin America
- HISTORY 384 / JUDAIC 388: Antisemitism
- HISTORY 407: Advanced Study in Comparative and Transnational History, sections titled
“Japan, Asia and WWII: Culture, History, Memory”
“Gender, Sexuality, & International Human Rights”
“Christianity and Politics in African History” - HISTORY / INTLSTD 348: Latin America: The National Period
- HISTORY 472: Topics in Asian History, section titled "US-China Relations in 20th C"
- HISTORY 478: Topics in Latin American History, section titled "The Colonial Period"
- HISTORY 487: Conversions and Christianities in the Early Modern World and Beyond
- HISTORY 496: History Colloquium, sections titled
"The End of Empires: Decolonization After World War II"
"Fascism from a Comparative Perspective"
"The World of the Ship" - HISTORY 497: History Colloquium, sections titled
"Making the Modern Mediterranean"
"History of Socialism"
"Peace and Peace Movements in Islam" - HONORS 230: Honors Core SS, section titled "Violent Environments: Oil, Development, and the Discourse of Power"
- HS / WGS 404: Gender Based Violence: From Theory to Action
- INTLSTD 270: INTLSTD Special Topics, sections titled
"Digital Futures: Media Technologies and Social Transformation Around the World"
"International Migration and the Politics of Membership in a Globalizing World"
"Sociology of International Migration and Refugees" - INTLSTD / HISTORY 348: Latin America: The National Period
- INTLSTD 370: INTLSTD Special Topics, section titled "Indigenous Politics"
- INTLSTD 385: International Topics in Social Sciences, sections titled
"Political Terror: State Repression of Human Rights"
"Indigenous Communities vs Globalization in South America"
"Politics of International Aid"
"International Organizations"
"Latin America: Colonial Period"
"Global Workers' Rights" - INTLSTD 386: Topics in International Security, Norms and Cooperation
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar, sections titled
“Women and Islam: The Politics of Representation”
“Fighting with Human Rights – Africa”
“Migration, Human Smugglings and Trafficking”
“History and Memory of Genocide”
“Gender, Sexuality, & International Human Rights”
“Christianity and Politics in African History”
“Norm Diffusion: International, Regional & Public Policy”
“The Politics of Debt” - INTLSTD 470: INTLSTD Special Topics, sections titled
"Sociology of World Politics: International Relations and Law"
"German Politics in Europe Since 1945"
"Strategic Thinking in World Politics"
"The Art of Domination and Resistance"
"Migration, Exile, and Political Rights" - INTLSTD 486: Topics in International Security, Norms and Cooperation
- ISLAM / MIDEAST 321: Jihad in History
- JUDAIC 253: The Mediterranean: Jewish Studies, section titled "Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths"
- JUDAIC / MIDEAST / SLAVIC 281: Jews in the Modern World: Texts, Images, Ideas
- JUDAIC 318: HU Topics in Judaism, section titled "Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land"
- JUDAIC 360 / MIDEAST 386: A Global History of the Jews of Spain
- JUDAIC 388 / HISTORY 384: Antisemitism
- JUDAIC 417: Topics in Judaic Studies, section titled "Jews of the Middle East"
- LACS 391: Latin American and Caribbean Studies Mini-Course in Social Science, section titled "Indigenous Politics"
- LACS 455: Topics in Latin America, sections titled "Empire, Colonialism and De/coloniality Across Modern Asia and Latin America" or "Latin America"
- MENAS / EDUC 463: Arab-Israeli Conflict
- MIDEAST 214: Collapse and Resilience: The Bronze Age in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean
- MIDEAST / ISLAM 321: Jihad in History
- MIDEAST 326: The Arab-Israeli Conflict in Middle Eastern Literature and Film
- NAVSCI / UC 410: Evolution of Warfare
- PHIL / COMPLIT 311: Topics in Philosophy and Literature, section titled "Rights & Races"
- PHIL 355: Contemporary Moral Problems
- POLSCI 347: Politics and Society in Latin America
- POLSCI / JUDAIC / MENAS 353: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- POLSCI 364: Public International Law
- POLSCI 368: Modern Warfare
- POLSCI 369: Politics of International Economic Relations
- POLSCI / INTLSTD 373: Data Science for International Studies
- POLSCI 378: The Historical Evolution of the Sovereign State System
- POLSCI 385: Political Science Special Topics Mini Course, section titled "Indigenous Politics"
- POLSCI 389: Topics in Contemporary Political Science, sections titled
"Democracy and Development in Africa"
"International Organization"
"Politics of International Aid"
"State Repression of Human Rights"
"Authoritarian Politics" - POLSCI 407: Marxism and 20th-Century Radicalism
- POLSCI 436: Research Seminar on Middle East Politics and Society
- POLSCI 447: The Politics of Human Rights
- POLSCI 489: Advanced Topics in Political Science, sections titled
"German Politics in Europe Since 1945"
"Political Violence in Africa"
"Strategic Thinking in World Politics"
"Saving the World or Wasting Time: Social Movement Efficacy"
"The German and European Left"
"The Arts of Domination and Resistance"
"Sociology of Latin America" - POLSCI 495: Undergraduate Seminar in Political Theory, sections titled
"The Muslim Question"
"Women and War: Contemporary and Historical Perspectives"
"The Human Condition in the Anthropocene" - POLSCI 498: Undergraduate Seminar in International Politics, sections titled
“Norm Diffusion: International, Regional & Public Policy”
"The Politics of Debt”
"Sociology of World Politics: International Relations and Law"
"Conflict-Related Sexual Violence" - PUBPOL 474: Values & Ethics, section titled "Social Inequality and Violence"
- PUBPOL 475: Topics in Public Policy, section titled "Africa in Context: Diplomacy, Democracy, and Development"
- PUBPOL 480: Global Engagement Seminar: Costa Rica
- PUBPOL 495: Policy Seminar, section titled "Counterterrorism Policy and Strategy"
- RCLANG 324: Readings in Spanish, sections titled "Pigmentocracy, Racism and Social Stratification in Latin America" or "Indigenous Activism in the Age of Globalization"
- RCSSCI 250: Topics in Social Theory and Practice, section titled "Global Workers' Rights"
- RCSSCI 461: Senior Seminar, section titled “Gender, Sexuality, & International Human Rights”
- RCSTP 350: Topics in Social Theory and Practice, sections titled "Law and Border" or "Nonviolence"
- ROMLANG 400: Topics in Romance Languages and Literature, section titled "Indigenous Politics"
- SCAND 331: Introduction to Scandinavian Civilization
- SI 430: Information Technology and Global Society
- SOC 208: Terrorism, Torture, and Violence
- SOC 295: Topics in Sociology, section titled "Nonviolence"
- SOC 350: Human Rights in the United Nations
- SOC 422: Latin America
- SOC 495: Topics in Sociology, sections titled
“Global and Local Connections: Understanding our World at Home and Abroad”
"Sociology of World Politics: International Relations and Law"
"Women & Migration"
"The German & European Left"
"Migration Exile & Poli Rights" - SPANISH 280: Conversation Through Spanish/Latin American Film, section titled "Visualizing Spanish contemporaneity through film: from Fascism to Democracy (1936-1982)"
- SPANISH 296: Special Topics in Literature and Culture, section titled "Como (no) hacer propaganda: el arte de la revolucion, la revolucion del arte"
- SPANISH 315: Contemporary Issues in the Caribbean and South America, section titled "Climate Anxiety in Latin American Cultural Production"
- SPANISH 438: Political and Economic Thought in Latin America/Spain, section titled "Slavery and Racial Capitalism in the Americas"
- SPANISH 439: Social Movements in Latin America/Spain, section titled "The 'Environmentalization' of Social Struggles in Latin America"
- SPANISH 442: Historical Memory and Testimony, section titled "Technologies of historical memory"
- SPANISH 444: Nations and Nationalisms in the Hispanic World, section titled "Revolutionary Nationalism and its Discontents in 20th-21st Century Mexico"
- SPANISH 467: Literary and Artistic Movements in Latin America/Spain, section titled "Art as Social Revolt"
- SPANISH 473: Colonial/Postcolonial Studies in Latin-American Cultures, sections titled "Latin American Wars" or "Colonial Discourse and Postcolonial Theory"
- SPANISH 485: Case Studies in Peninsular Spanish and Latin American Literature, section titled "Human Rights, Latin America, and the Movies"
- UC 270: UC Special Topics, sections titled "Addressing Critical Global Issues", and "GSP: Defining Critical Global Issues"
- UC / NAVSCI 410: Evolution of Warfare
- WGS 213: Topics in Gender and the Humanities, section titled "War, Gender, Masculinity, Violence"
- WGS 250: Race, Gender and Nation
- WGS 345: Special Topics in Gender in a Global Context, section titled "The Sexual Life of Colonialism and Empire"
- WGS 346 (WOMENSTD 346): Special Topics in Gender in a Global Context, section titled "Women's Policies and Society in India"
Constraints
The International Security, Norms, and Cooperation (ISNC) sub-plan is only available to declared International Studies majors and is not a major or minor. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.
International Studies (Major) (Fall 2020)
Effective Fall 2020
Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript.
Advising
The International Studies Advisor will assist students in developing a program of study. Advising for the Honors plan is provided by the PICS Director and the PICS Honors Thesis advisor. For more information, see: www.ii.umich.edu/pics/undergraduates/advising.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all required PICS courses. Language requirement courses are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies (Grade of C or better).
- Students declaring Political Economy & Development sub-plan must complete ECON 101 with a grade of C or better.
- Students must have started or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major.
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
We believe that language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and that students who major in international studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will not only be of benefit to the students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world but will also be an important signal to employers or graduate admissions committees about how our students are well-rounded and focused on the world and not just the United States.
Please see PICS website for details of and further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
See Sub-Plans for course requirements:
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.Honors
Students interested in the Honors subplan typically elect the Honors section of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies, and must complete INTLSTD 101 with a grade of B+ or better. Students who have declared a major in International Studies must have an overall GPA of 3.4, must complete all International Studies requirements for the major with a 3.4 or higher average in those courses, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
Students must earn C- or better in all required PICS courses.
During their senior year, students writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 489 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term. The thesis will have a minimum length of 50 pages. Students are responsible for locating their own PICS faculty thesis advisor. Advisor and topic must be approved by PICS director.
An instructor will oversee the Honors subplan. This will include a class meeting with all Honors thesis students as a collective, at least twice per semester of their senior year, and once at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Each student will have an oral defense of the thesis in a meeting with the Honors thesis advisor, the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education, plus one outside reader from the faculty.
Student grades on the thesis and Honors level will be determined by the PICS instructor in consultation with the Honors thesis advisor.
Advising for the Honors Plan is provided by the Honors advisor and the PICS Honors Plan advisor.
Political Economy & Development (PED) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2020)
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
Political Economy & Development (PED) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2020
Exclusions:The Political Economy and Development (PED) sub-plan is only available to declared International Studies majors and is not a major or minor. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript.
Advising
The International Studies Advisor will assist students in developing a program of study. Advising for the Honors plan is provided by the PICS Director and the PICS Honors Thesis advisor. For more information, see: www.ii.umich.edu/pics/undergraduates/advising.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all required PICS courses.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies (Grade of C or better).
- ECON 101: Principles of Economics I (Grade of C or better).
- Students must have started or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
Additional Pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth term proficiency.
- Core Courses (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Research Methods Course (3 credits): One research methods course chosen from the following list:
- ECON 309: Experimental Economics
- ECON 401: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 451: Intermediate Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics I
- POLSCI 300: Quantitative Empirical Methods of Political Science
- POLSCI 391/CMPLXSYS 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- POLSCI 490: Game Theory & Formal Models
- SOC 210: Elementary Statistics (FA20 or later)
- SOC 310: Introduction to Research Methods (only until FA20)
- STATS 250: Introduction to Statistics & Data Analysis
- STATS 280: Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis (FA20 or later)
Note: Completion of the Methods requirement is recommended prior to enrolling in INTLSTD 301.
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study.
- PED Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list (see below), to gain knowledge in sub-plan area.
- At least one course must be an ECON course on approved sub-plan list. (Note: these courses may have additional prerequisites.)
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan course lists may be found on the PICS courses website.
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plans. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no preapproved list of electives. Because there is no preapproved list, students must seek and obtain the approval of elective courses - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
PED courses include, but are not limited to:
- AAS / HISTORY 247: Modern Africa
- AAS 408: African Economies: Social and Political Settings
- AAS 458: Issues in Black World Studies, section titled “Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
- ANTHRCUL 298: Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology, section titled "Goods and Goodness"
- ANTHRCUL 328: Globalizing Consumer Cultures
- ASIAN / HISTORY 204: East Asia: Early Transformations
- ASIAN / HISTORY 205: Modern East Asia
- BA 310: Cross-cultural Business
- ECON 340: International Economics
- ECON 441: International Trade Theory
- ECON 442: International Finance
- ECON 461: The Economics of Development I
- ECON 492: Capitalisms
- ENVIRON 235: Environmental Economy & Policy
- ENVIRON 270: Our Common Future: Ecology, Economics & Ethics of Sustainable Development
- HISTORY / ASIAN 204: East Asia: Early Transformations
- HISTORY / ASIAN 205: Modern East Asia
- HISTORY / AAS 247: Modern Africa
- HISTORY / SOC 332 / POLSCI / REEES / SLAVIC 395: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- HISTORY / INTLSTD 348: Latin America: The National Period
- HISTORY 496: History Colloquium, section titled "The End of Empires: Decolonization After World War II"
- HONORS 230: Honors Core SS, section titled "Violent Environments: Oil, Development, and the Discourse of Power"
- INTLSTD / HISTORY 348: Latin America: The National Period
- INTLSTD 385: International Topics in Social Science, sections titled "Indigenous Communities vs Globalization in South America" or "Latin America: The National Period"
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar, sections titled
“Humanitarian Dilemmas”
“Migration, Human Smugglings and Trafficking”
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
“Origins of Economic Growth”
“Norm Diffusion: International, Regional & Public Policy”
“The Politics of Debt” - ORGSTUDY 440: Organizations in the Developing World
- POLSCI 348: Political Economy of Development
- POLSCI 353: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- POLSCI 355: Democracy and Development in Africa
- POLSCI 369: Politics of International Economic Relations
- POLSCI 387: Comparative Analysis of Government Institutions
- POLSCI / REEES / SLAVIC 395 / HISTORY / SOC 332: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- POLSCI 396 / SLAVIC 396 / REEES 396 / SOC 393: East Central Europe: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy
- POLSCI 489: Advanced Topics in Contemporary Political Science, sections titled
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
“African Economies: Social and Political Settings”
"German Politics in Europe Since 1945" - POLSCI 497: Undergraduate Seminar in Comparative and Foreign Government, section titled “Development & the Quality of Governance”
- POLSCI 498: Undergraduate Seminar in International Politics, sections titled
“Politics of International Finance”
“Norm Diffusion: International, Regional & Public Policy”
“The Politics of Debt” - REEES / POLSCI / SLAVIC 395 / HISTORY / SOC 332: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- REEES 396 / SLAVIC 396 / POLSCI 396 / SOC 393: East Central Europe: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy
- SLAVIC / POLSCI / REEES 395 / HISTORY / SOC 332: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- SLAVIC 396 / POLSCI 396 / REEES 396 / SOC 393: East Central Europe: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy
- SOC / HISTORY 332 / POLSCI / REEES / SLAVIC 395: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- SOC 393 / SLAVIC 396 / POLSCI 396 / REEES 396: East Central Europe: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy
- STRATEGY 310: The World Economy
- STRATEGY 361: International Management
Constraints
Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.
Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2020 - Summer 2025)
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2020
Exclusions:The Comparative Culture and Identity (CCI) sub-plan is only available to declared International Studies majors and is not a major or minor. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript.
Advising
The International Studies Advisor will assist students in developing a program of study. Advising for the Honors plan is provided by the PICS Director and the PICS Honors Thesis advisor. For more information, see: www.ii.umich.edu/pics/undergraduates/advising.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all required PICS courses.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies (Grade of C- or better).
- Students must have started or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
Additional Pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth term proficiency.
- Core Courses (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Methods of CCI (3 credits): At least one course chosen from the following list:
- ANTHRCUL 222: The Comparative Study of Cultures
- COMPLIT 322: Translating World Literatures
- SOC 310: Sociological Research Methods
Note: Completion of the Methods requirement is recommended prior to enrolling in INTLSTD 301.
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study.
- CCI Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list (see below), to gain knowledge in sub-plan area.
- Globalization and Culture: One course must be chosen from the following short list:
- COMPLIT 240: Literature Across Borders
- GTBOOKS / COMPLIT 212: Great Books in World Literatures
- INTLSTD 205 / HISTORY 101: What is History?
- ROMLANG 253: The Mediterranean: History and Culture
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan course lists may be found on the PICS courses website.
- Globalization and Culture: One course must be chosen from the following short list:
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plans. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no preapproved list of electives. Because there is no preapproved list, students must seek and obtain the approval of elective courses - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
CCI courses include, but are not limited to:
- AAS 200: Introduction to African Studies
- AAS 202: Introduction to Afro-Caribbean Studies (only if elected FA19 or later)
- AAS 206: Issues in African Studies, section titled "Symbolic Language and Communications in West African Visual and Performing Arts"
- AAS 208: Introduction to African Art, section titled "Introduction to African Art and Visual Culture"
- AAS 211: Dynamics of the Black Diaspora, section titled "Religion and Revolution" (only if elected WN20 or later)
- AAS 247 / HISTORY 247: Modern Africa
- AAS 317 / ENGLISH 307 / WGS 347: Threads: What Does Clothing Have to Do with Race, Culture, Politics, and the Environment?
- AAS 342: Hip Hop Africa
- AAS 355 / ANTHRCUL 355 / HISTORY 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- AAS 358: Black World Studies, sections titled
"Jewish Life in Colonial North Africa"
"Theory and Practice of Visionary Organizing"
"Problems in Society and Social Theory: Fanon" - AAS / ENGLISH 385: African Literature
- AAS 395 / GERMAN / HISTORY 396: Black Germany
- AAS 407 / HISTART 406: Looking at African Things
- AAS 422 / ANTHRCUL 411: African Cultures
- AAS 426: Cities in Contemporary Africa, section titled "Cities in Contemporary Africa"
- AAS 458: Issues in Black World Studies, sections titled
“Human Rights & LGBTI in Sub-Saharan Africa”
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
“Fighting with Human Rights – Africa”
"Anti-colonial Archaeology and Ancient History" - AAS 495: Senior Seminar, section titled "Justice in Africa"
- ALA 210: Defining Critical Global Issues
- ALA 211: Addressing Critical Global Issues
- ALA 470: Applied Liberal Arts Topics, section titled "Organizing for Global Justice"
- AMAS 311: Arab American Studies and the Humanities, sections titled "Art and Music of the Islamic World" or "Contemporary Film of the Islamic World"
- AMCULT 311: American Culture and the Humanities, section titled "Oceanic Visual Cultures"
- AMCULT / ASIANPAM 325 / ENGLISH 388: Pacific Literary and Cultural Studies
- AMCULT 405: Topics in American Culture, section titled "Border Country: Mexico, American and Country Music"
- ANTHRARC / MATSCIE 281: Making Things: Three Million Years of Materials and Culture
- ANTHRARC 296: Archaeology Topics, section titled "Making Things: Three Million Years of Materials and Culture"
- ANTHRARC 386: Early Civilizations, section titled "Early New World Civilization"
- ANTHRCUL 222: Comparative Study of Cultures
- ANTHRCUL 237: Digital Futures: Media Technologies and Social Transformation Around the World
- ANTHRCUL / ISLAM / RELIGION 246: Anthropology of Religion
- ANTHRCUL 254: The Anthropology of Food
- ANTHRCUL / LING 272: Language in Society
- ANTHRCUL 256 / ENVIRON 256: Culture, Adaptation and Environment
- ANTHRCUL 298: Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology, section titled "Transborder Trade"
- ANTHRCUL 319: Latin American Society and Culture
- ANTHRCUL 325 / WGS 324 (WOMENSTD 324): Childbirth & Culture
- ANTHRCUL 328: Globalizing Consumer Cultures
- ANTHRCUL 333: Non-Western Legal Systems, I
- ANTHRCUL 344: Medical Anthropology
- ANTHRCUL 348 / INTLSTD 381 / MIDEAST 381: Anthropology of Islam
- ANTHRCUL 349: Indigenous Political Movements
- ANTHRCUL 355 / HISTORY 355 / AAS 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- ANTHRCUL 356: Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology, section titled "In Sickness and in Health: Medical Anthropologies of Kinship, Relatedness, and the Human"
- ANTHRCUL / LING 370: Language & Discrimination
- ANTHRCUL / LING 374: Language and Culture
- ANTHRCUL 404: Peoples and Cultures of Southeast Asia
- ANTHRCUL 411 / AAS 422: African Cultures
- ANTHRCUL 430 / HISTORY 430 / MIDEAST 480: History, Memory, and Silence in the Middle East
- ANTHRCUL 450: Anthropologies of Insurgency: Bandits, Rebels and Freedom Fighters
- ARMENIAN / HISTORY / MIDEAST 389: From Natives to Foreigners: Armenians in Turkey and the Diaspora
- ASIAN / HISTORY 205: Modern East Asia
- ASIAN / HISTORY 204: East Asia: Early Transformations
- ASIAN 210 / HISTORY 219: The Philippines: Culture and History
- ASIAN 257: Great Cities in Asia
- ASIAN / ENVIRON 258: Food and Drink of Asia
- ASIAN / RELIGION 305: Religion and Violence, section titled "Investigating the Changing World Order"
- ASIAN 307 / HISTORY 308 / RELIGION 307: Eat, Pray, Love: Devotional Traditions in South Asia
- ASIAN 342 / WGS 332: Gender and Power in Southeast Asia
- ASIAN 343: SE Asian Politics through the Arts
- ASIAN 348: Humanities Topics in SE Asian Studies, section titled "Violence and Cultural Change in Southeast Asia"
- ASIAN / ENVIRON / INTLSTD 351: Chinese Food in Crisis: Health, Ecology, and Identity in an Age of Globalization
- ASIAN / LING 367: Languages of Asia
- ASIAN / RCSSCI 371: Natural Disasters in East Asia
- ASIAN 389: Culture in East Asian Business, Past and Present
- ASIAN 408 / HISTORY 438 / WGS 408: Gender and Health in East Asia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
- BA 310: Cross-Cultural Business
- BA 319: Developing Global Competency
- BCS 450: In No Man's Land: Walls, Migrations and Human Trafficking in the Balkans and Mediterranean
- BL / BUSABRD 411: Cross Cultural Negotiation & Resolution
- CLARCH 375: Engaging Antiquity: Heritage, Museums, Media, Tourism, and Communities
- CLCIV 253: The Mediterranean: Classical Studies, sections titled "The Mediterranean: Classics" or "The Mediterranean"
- CLCIV 250: Topics in the Ancient World, section titled "On the Edges of the Roman Empire: Armenians and Syrians in the Medieval Middle East"
- CLCIV / HISTORY / WGS 303: Women in the Ancient Mediterranean
- CLCIV 392: Ancient Medicine in Greece & Rome
- COMM 306: Survey of Media Topics in the Humanities, section titled "African Digital Cultures"
- COMM 405: Seminar in Mass Media and Mass Communication, section titled "Media, Culture, and Communication in Contemporary China"
- COMM 439: Seminar in Journalistic Performance, section titled "Global Threats to Press Freedom"
- COMM 447: Women and Islam: The Politics of Representation
- COMM 455: Global Visual Cultures
- COMM 466: Global Digital Politics
- COMPLIT 212 / GTBOOKS 212: Great Books in World Literature
- COMPLIT 240: Literature Across Borders
- COMPLIT 300: Global Humanities
- COMPLIT 322: Translating World Literatures
- COMPLIT 350: The Text and Its Cultural Context, section titled "Nineteenth Century Russian Prose and Beyond"
- COMPLIT 376: Literature and Ideas, section titled "Trauma and Healing in the 'Global South'"
- COMPLIT 438: Comparative Studies in Film, section titled "In No Man's Land: Walls, Migrations and Human Trafficking in the Balkans and Mediterranean"
- COMPLIT 490: Comparative Cultural Studies, section titled “Narratives of Immigration”
- DANCE 342: Topics in World Dance
- ENGLISH 317: Literature & Culture, section titled "Armenian Relationality: Diasporas Old, New, and in the Making"
- ENGLISH 375: World Literatures in English
- ENGLISH / AMAS / ISLAM 378 / AMCULT 382: Muslim and Arab Literatures, section titled "Palestinian and American Literature"
- ENGLISH / AAS 385: African Literature
- ENVIRON 219 / MIDEAST 209: Food and Drink in the Middle East
- ENVIRON 256 / ANTHRCUL 256: Culture, Adaptation and Environment
- FRENCH 235: Advanced French, section titled "Sociopolitical and Multicultural Issues"
- FRENCH 240: French and Francophone Topics in Translation, section titled "Global History of Hip-Hop"
- FRENCH 444: Readings in French and Francophone Studies (in English Translation), section titled "Jewish Life in Colonial North Africa"
- FTVM / GERMAN 333: Fascist Cinemas
- FTVM 353: Film History: Post New Wave
- FTVM 366: Film, TV & Pop Cult, section titled "Who Gets to Be an Auteur?: Ideology, Gendered Politics, and Filmmakers from the Global South"
- FTVM 441: National Screens, section titled "Introduction to Global Bollywood"
- FTVM 455: Topics in Film, section titled "Transnational Women's Cinema"
- GERMAN 303: Ger Cult & Arts, section titled "Czech, German Jewish"
- GERMAN 391/ HISTORY / JUDAIC 386: The Holocaust, section titled "Issues in Race & Ethnicity"
- GERMAN 416: Seminar in German Studies, section titled "Film and Media after Fascism"
- GTBOOKS 212 / COMPLIT 212: Great Books in World Literature
- HISTART 253: The Mediterranean: Art History
- HISTART 285: Visual Culture in Islam
- HISTART 294: Special Topics, section titled "Mapping Race + (Dis)placement"
- HISTART 383: Modern Art in a Multi-Ethnic Asia
- HISTART 393: Topics in U.S. History, sections titled
"Art & Resistance"
"Art and Resistance: Global Responses to Oppression"
"Arts of the Silk Roads"
"Art and Conflict in the Middle East, 1900-Present"
"Palestinian Art" - HISTART 394: Special Topics in the Humanities, sections titled "Living in a Material World: Europe and the Globe, 1492-c. 1800" or "The Art of Power in Colonial Latin America"
- HISTART 406 / AAS 407: Looking at African Things
- HISTART 489: Special Topics in Art and Culture, section titled "Soviet Visual Culture: 1917-1953"
- HISTART 497: Upper-Level Seminar, sections titled "Nomad Civilizations" or "Visualizing Race Comparatively"
- HISTORY / INTLSTD / RELIGION / STS 209: Death, Immortality, and Afterlife
- HISTORY 216: World War I
- HISTORY 230: Humanities Topics in History, sections titled
"War, Gender, Masculinity, Violence"
"Imagining Home in Socialist and Capitalist Societies"
"On the Edges of the Roman Empire: Armenians and Syrians in the Medieval Middle East"
"Jews in the Modern World"
"History, Power, and Violence in Putin's Russia" - HISTORY 241: America and Middle Eastern Wars
- HISTORY 242 / MIDEAST 201 / STS 202: Madness, Medicine, and Magic in the Middle East
- HISTORY 247 / AAS 247: Modern Africa
- HISTORY / JUDAIC 290 / MIDEAST 287: Jews and Muslims
- HISTORY 308 / ASIAN / RELIGION 307: Eat, Pray, Love: Devotional Traditions in South Asia
- HISTORY 309: After Alexander: The Hellenistic Age in the Mediterranean and the Near East
- HISTORY 328: Humanities Topics in History, sections titled
"Global History of the Jews of Spain"
"Jewish Life in Colonial North Africa"
"Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths"
"Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land"
"Walking and Modern History: Land, Power, and Rights on Foot"
"Blackness and Jewishness: A History of Encounters"
"Women and Gender in the Cold War"
"From Baghdad to Amsterdam: Jews as a Minority Group in Medieval and Early Modern Times"
"Gender and Sexuality in Soviet History"
"Decolonizing Museums: Colonialism, Collections and Return" - HISTORY 333 / RUSSIAN 375: Literature and Empire: Nineteenth-Century Russian Prose
- HISTORY / INTLSTD 348: Latin America: The National Period
- HISTORY 355 / ANTHRCUL 355 / AAS 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- HISTORY 358: Religion Magic and Mystery
- HISTORY 384: Antisemitism and Philosemitism: Jews in Myth and Thought
- HISTORY 399: Topics in History, section titled "Islam and the West"
- HISTORY 407: Advanced Study in Comparative and Transnational History, sections titled
“Japan, Asia and WWII: Culture, History, Memory”
“Christianity and Politics in African History”
"Latin American Feminist Histories"
"Global Cultural Encounters Since 1800" - HISTORY 469: Precolonial SE Asia, section titled "Problems in Early SE Asian History"
- HISTORY 481: Topics in European History, sections titled "Soviet Visual Culture, 1910s-1940s: Pictures, Propaganda, Politics" or "Soviet Visual Culture: 1917-1953"
- HISTORY 487: Conversions and Christianities in the Early Modern World and Beyond
- HISTORY 496: History Colloquium, sections titled
"Monks & Mystics: Spiritual Striving in Medieval Europe and Byzantium"
"The World of the Ship"
"Fascism from a Comparative Perspective" - HISTORY 497: History Colloquium, sections titled "Making the Modern Mediterranean" or "Peace and Peace Making Movements in Islam"
- INTLSTD 270: INTLSTD Special Topics, section titled "Digital Futures: Media Technologies and Social Transformation Around the World"
- INTLSTD 348: Latin America: The National Period
- INTLSTD 351: Chinese Food in Crisis: Health, Ecology, and Identity in an Age of Globalization
- INTLSTD 384: International and/or Comparative Topics in the Humanities, sections titled
"Imagining Home in Socialist and Capitalist Societies"
"Blackness and Jewishness: A History of Encounters"
"Trauma and Healing in the 'Global South'" - INTLSTD 389: Topics in Comparative Culture and Identity
- INTLSTD 385: International and/or Comparative Topics in the Social Sciences, sections titled
"Indigenous Communities vs Globalization in South America"
"Global Workers' Rights"
"Modern Africa" - INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar, sections titled
“Human Rights & LGBTI in Sub-Saharan Africa”
“Women and Islam: The Politics of Representation”
“Fighting with Human Rights – Africa”
“Christianity and Politics in African History”
“Humanitarian Dilemmas”
“Migration, Human Smugglings and Trafficking”
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries” - INTLSTD 489: Topics in Comparative Culture and Identity
- ITALIAN 240 / AMCULT 280: Italian Mafia
- ISLAM 390: Topics in Islamic Studies, section titled "Palestinian Art 1945-Present"
- ISLAM 392: Humanities Topics in Islamic Studies, section titled "Art and Music of the Islamic World"
- ISLAM 433 / MIDEAST 433 / WGS 496: Gender and Representation in the Modern Middle East
- IOE 430: Global Cultural Systems Engineering
- JUDAIC 210 / HISTORY 258: Sources of Jewish History
- JUDAIC 218: Humanities Topics in Judaism, sections titled "Policing and Civil Rights" or "Arts and Cultures of Central Europe: Czech, German Jewish"
- JUDAIC 253: The Mediterranean: Jewish Studies, section titled "Jerusalem: Once City, Three Faiths"
- JUDAIC / MIDEAST 262 / RELIGION 261: The Bible and the Quran
- JUDAIC / MIDEAST / SLAVIC 281: Jews in the Modern World: Texts, Images, Ideas
- JUDAIC 318: Humanities Topics in Judaism, sections titled
"Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land"
"Jerusalem: One City Three Faiths"
"Blackness and Jewishness: A History of Encounters"
"From Baghdad to Amsterdam: Jews as a Minority Group in Medieval and Early Modern Europe" - JUDAIC 340 / FRENCH 347 / MENAS 341 / MIDEAST 313: Jewish Life in Colonial North Africa
- JUDAIC 341: Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land
- JUDAIC 360 / MIDEAST 386: A Global History of Jews in Spain
- JUDAIC 417: Topics in Judaic Studies, section titled "Jews of the Middle East"
- LACS 455: Topics in Latin American Studies, section titled "Latin America"
- LATINOAM 405: Topics in Latina/o Studies, section titled "Border Country: Mexico, American and Country Music"
- LING / ANTHRCUL 374: Language and Culture
- LING 497: Capstone Seminar, section titled "Biology and Evolution of Language"
- MEMS 360: Special Topics in Medieval and Early Modern Studies, section titled "Baghdad to Amsterdam"
- MIDEAST 202/ RELIGION 201: Introduction to Judaism, Christianity, Islam
- MIDEAST 203: Sports and Games in the Middle East
- MIDEAST / ISLAM / HISTART 285: Visual Culture Islam
- MIDEAST 291: Humanities Topics in Middle East Studies, section titled "Sports and Games in the Middle East"
- MIDEAST / ISLAM 319 / HISTORY 306: History of the Ottoman Empire: The "Classical Age", (ca. 1300-1600)
- MIDEAST / ISLAM 321: Jihad in History
- MIDEAST 344: Topics in Humanities, section titled "Art and Music of the Islamic World"
- MIDEAST 355 / CLARCH 327 / CLCIV 327 / RELIGION 326: Jews in the Roman Mediterranean: Archaeology, Religion, and Culture
- MIDEAST 391: Humanities Topics in Middle East Studies, sections titled
"Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land"
"Blackness and Jewishness: A History of Encounters"
"Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land" - MUSEUMS 498: Special Topics in Museum Studies, section titled "Decolonizing Museums: Colonialism, Collections and Repatriation"
- PHIL / COMPLIT 311: Topics in Philosophy and Literature, section titled "Rights & Races"
- PHIL 475: Topics in 20th Century Philosophy
- POLSCI 303: Religion and Politics
- POLSCI / JUDAIC / MENAS 353: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- POLSCI 389: Topics, section titled "Culture in East Asian Business, Past and Present"
- POLSCI 436: Research Seminar on Middle East Politics and Society
- POLSCI 489: Advanced Topics in Contemporary Political Science, sections titled
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
"The German and European Left"
"Sociology of Latin America" - POLSCI 495: Undergraduate Seminar in Political Theory, section titled "The Muslim Question"
- PSYCH 477: Current Topics in Clinical Psychology, section titled "Mental Health and Culture: National & International Perspectives
- PSYCH 487: Current Topics in Social Psychology, section titled "The Psychology of Prejudice"
- PSYCH 497: Current Topics in Personality and Social Contexts, section titled "Psychology of the Arab/MENA Experience"
- RCIDIV 305: The Literature of Environmental and Social Justice, section titled "Leading a Good Life: Civility, Engagement & Justice"
- RCIDIV 351: Special Topics, section titled "Refugee Narratives"
- RCHUMS 235: Topics in World Dance
- RCHUMS 315: Representation in the Arts, section titled "Art & Music of the Islamic World"
- RCHUMS 334: Special Topics in the Humanities, sections titled
"Latina/o Theatre for Social Change"
"Art and Resistance: Global Responses to Oppression"
"Art and Conflict in the Middle East, 1900-Present"
"Literature and Empire: Nineteenth-Century Russian Prose"
"Trauma and Healing in the 'Global South'" - RCHUMS / ENVIRON 337: Children Under Fire: Narratives of Sustainability, section titled "Narratives of Sustainability and Leadership"
- RCHUMS 357: What Art Means: Analysis and Interpretation, section titled "Palestinian Art"
- RCLANG 324: Readings in Spanish, sections titled
"Travel and Movement: Exploring Cultural Landscapes and the Self"
"Indigenous Activism in the Age of Globalization"
"Pigmentocracy, Racism and Social Stratification in Latin America"
"Women, Words and Images: Literary and Visual Dialogues on Gender in Latin America" - RCSSCI 250: Topics in Social Theory and Practice, section titled "Global Workers' Rights"
- RCSTP 350: Topics in Social Theory and Practice, sections titled "Nonviolence" or "Theory and Practice of Visionary Organizing"
- RCSTP 450: Advanced Topics in Social Theory and Practice, section titled "Latin American Feminist Histories"
- RELIGION / AAS 307 / HISTORY 308: Eat, Pray, Love: Devotional Traditions in South Asia
- REES 230: REES Topics in the Humanities, section titled "Imagining Home in Socialist & Capitalist Societies"
- REES 405: Topics in REEES, section titled "Soviet Visual Culture, 1910s-1940s: Pictures, Propaganda, Politics"
- ROMLANG 498: Senior Seminar RLL, section titled "AIDS, the Other Pandemic"
- RUSSIAN 358: Central Asia through Russian Eyes: Cultural Appropriation of an Exotic Land
- SEAS 455: Topics SE Asian Study, section titled "Introduction to Southeast Asian Studies"
- SI 430: Information Technology and Global Society
- SLAVIC 225: Art & Culture of Central Europe, section titled "Czech, German Jewish"
- SLAVIC 270 / JUDAIC 271: Contact and Conflict: Jewish Experience in Eastern Europe through Art, Film and Literature
- SLAVIC 290: Studies E Euro Cult: Imagining Home in Socialist & Capitalist Societies
- SLAVIC 470: Topics in Cultural Studies of Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe, section titled "Soviet Visual Culture: 1917-1953"
- SOC 295: Topics in Sociology, section titled "Nonviolene"
- SOC 350: Human Rights in the United Nations
- SOC 422: Latin America
- SOC 495: Topics in Sociology, sections titled
“Global and Local Connections: Understanding our World at Home and Abroad”
"Sex, Love, and Marriage in Comparative Perspective"
"Gender and Family in East Asia"
"The German and European Left" - SOC 503: The Sociology of Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
- SPANISH 232: Second Year Spanish, sections titled
"The Hispanic World Through Food"
"LGBTQA in the Hispanic World: Artistic & Cultural Manifestations"
"Artefactos y patrimonio cultural"
"Gender Equality in Latin America"
"Historia, instrumentos, balles y musica de Latinoamerica" - SPANISH 280: Conversation Through Spanish/Latin American Film, sections titled "Borders and Boundaries" or "Visualizing Spanish contemporaneity through film: from Fascism to Democracy (1936-1982)"
- SPANISH 295: Introduction to Literature, Culture, and the Arts in the Hispanic World
- SPANISH 296: Special Topics in Hispanic Literatures and Cultures, section titled "Fact and Fiction: Encounters Between Art and Science in the Hispanic World"
- SPANISH 315: Contemporary Issues in the Caribbean and South America, section titled "Climate Anxiety in Latin American Cultural Production"
- SPANISH 342: Contemporary Latin American Culture
- SPANISH 373: Topics in Hispanic Culture, sections titled
"Bilingualism in the Spanish-Speaking World"
"iGol!: The Culture of Soccer in Latin America"
"World-Making: Art in Times of Global War" - SPANISH 385: Race and Ethnicity in the Hispanic World, sections titled "The Language of Reggaeton" or "Race and Ethnicity in the Hispanic World: An Introduction"
- SPANISH 423: Visual Cultures in the Hispanic World, section titled "Visions from the Mangrove: The Afro-Pacific Imaginary in Colombia"
- SPANISH 430: Advanced Studies in Hispanic Culture, section titled "Comparative Topics in Spanish and Portuguese: Stories and Histories of Race in Brazil and Argentina"
- SPANISH 439: Social Movements in Latin America/Spain
- SPANISH 442: Historical Memory and Testimony
- SPANISH 444: Nations and Nationalisms in the Hispanic World, section titled "Revolutionary Nationalism and its Discontents in 20th-21st Century Mexico"
- SPANISH 470: Colonial Latin America, section titled "First Images of the Americas"
- SPANISH 472: Indigenous Societies, section titled "Indigenous Societies in the Andes"
- SPANISH 473: Colonial/Postcolonial Studies in Latin-American Cultures, sections titled "Colonial Discourse and Postcolonial Theory" or "Colonial Discourse and Postcolonial Theory"
- WGS 213: Topics in Gender and the Humanities, section titled "War, Gender, Masculinity, Violence"
- WGS 313: Special Topics in Gender and the Humanities, section titled "Gender and Sexuality in Soviet History"
- WGS 324 (WOMENSTD 324) / ANTHRCUL 325: Childbirth & Culture
- WGS 331: Theory of Gender and Health
- WGS 345: Topic Gender Global, sections titled
"Gender in Premodern Japan and East Asia"
"Sexual Violence and the State"
"Women and the Cold War" - WGS / HISTORY 375: A History of Witchcraft: The 1692 Salem Trials in Historical and Cross-Cultural Perspective
- WGS 377: Topics in Gender and Social Science, section titled "In Sickness and in Health: Medical Anthropologies of Kinship, Relatedness, and the Human"
- WGS 400: Reproductive Health
WGS 433: Advanced Topics in Gender, Race and Ethnicity in the U.S., section titled "Border Country: Mexico, American and Country Music" - WGS 435:Advanced Topics in Gender in a Global Context, sections titled "Transnational Women's Cinema" or "Latin American Feminist Histories"
- WGS 462 / SPANISH 432: Gender, Sexuality, and Culture, section titled "The theory of gaze in the Hispanic cinema: visual pleasure between monstrosity and normalization"
Constraints
Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.
Global Environment & Health (GEH) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2020 - Summer 2025)
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
Global Environment & Health (GEH) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2020
Exclusions:The Global Environment and Health (GEH) sub-plan is only available to declared International Studies majors and is not a major or minor. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript.
Advising
The International Studies Advisor will assist students in developing a program of study. Advising for the Honors plan is provided by the PICS Director and the PICS Honors Thesis advisor. For more information, see: www.ii.umich.edu/pics/undergraduates/advising.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all required PICS courses.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies (Grade of C- or better).
- Students must have started or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
Additional Pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth term proficiency.
- Core Courses (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Research Methods Course (3 credits): One research methods course chosen from the following list:
- ECON 309: Experimental Economics
- ECON 401: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 451: Intermediate Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics
- POLSCI 300: Quantitative Empirical Methods of Political Science
- POLSCI 391/CMPLXSYS 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- POLSCI 490: Game Theory & Formal Models
- SOC 210: Elementary Statistics
- STATS 206: Introduction to Data Science
- STATS 250: Introduction to Statistics & Data Analysis
- STATS 280: Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
Note: Completion of the Methods requirement is recommended prior to enrolling in INTLSTD 301.
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study.
- GEH Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list (see below), to gain knowledge in sub-plan area.
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan course lists may be found on the PICS courses website.
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plans. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no preapproved list of electives. Because there is no preapproved list, students must seek and obtain the approval of elective courses - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
GEH courses include, but are not limited to:
- AAS 261 / ENVIRON 209 / INTLSTD 210: Nature and Power: An Introduction to Political Ecology
- AAS 309: Global Health in African Contexts, section titled "Global Health in Africa"
- AAS 317 / ENGLISH 307 / WGS 347: Threads: What Does Clothing Have to Do with Race, Culture, Politics, and the Environment?
- AAS / ANTHRCUL / HISTORY 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- AAS 357: Environmental Governance and African Development, section titled "Environmental Governance and African Development"
- AAS 358: Topics in Black World Studies, section titled "Med. Anthropologies of Kinship"
- AAS / ANTHRCUL / WGS 365: Global Perspectives on Gender, Health & Reproduction
- AAS 426: Cities in Africa, section titled "Cities in Contemporary Africa"
- AAS 458: Issues in Black World Studies, sections titled "Energy Matters: Environment, Culture, Power and the Oil State" or "Anti-colonial Archaeology and Ancient History"
- ALA 210: Defining Critical Global Issues
- ALA 470: Applied Liberal Arts Topics, section titled "Organizing for Global Justice"
- AMCULT / HISTORY 284: Sickness & Health in Society: 1492 to the Present
- ANTHRCUL / WGS 212 (WOMENSTD 212) / NURS 225: The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
- ANTHRCUL 256 / ENVIRON 256: Culture, Adaptation and Environment
- ANTHRCUL 258: Honors Seminar in Anthropology, section titled "Culture and Medicine"
- ANTHRCUL 325 / WGS 324 (WOMENSTD 324): Childbirth & Culture
- ANTHRCUL / AAS 335 / WGS 339: Medical Anthropologies of Kinship, Relatedness, and the Human
- ANTHRCUL 344: Medical Anthropology
- ANTHRCUL 355 / HISTORY 355 / AAS 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- ANTHRCUL 356: Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology, section titled "In Sickness and in Health: Medical Anthropologies of Kinship, Relatedness, and the Human"
- ANTHRCUL 458: Topics in Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology, section titled "Energy Matters: Environment, Culture, Power and the Oil State"
- ARCH 423 / ENVIRON 370 / URP 423: Introduction to Urban and Environmental Planning
- ASIAN 280: Topics in Asian Studies, section titled "Extractive Environments and Climate Change in Southeast Asia"
- ASIAN / RCSSCI 371: Natural Disasters in East Asia
- ASIAN 408 / HISTORY 438 / WGS 408: Gender and Health in East Asia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
- CLIMATE 463: Air Pollution Meteorology
- CMPLXSYS / ENVIRON / PUBPOL 250: Energy & Climate Change
- COMM 404: Special Topics in Mass Media and Mass Communication, section titled "Poverty and the Environment in the US and Colombia: Learning through Podcast Creation"
- COMPLIT 376: Literature and Ideas, section titled "Trauma and Healing in the 'Global South'"
- EARTH 201 / ENVIRON 209 / GEOG 201: Introduction to Environmental Science and Geography
- EARTH 206: How the Earth Works: The Water Cycle and Environment
- EARTH 219 / ENVIRON 229: Introduction to Environmental Science
- EARTH 222 / ENVIRON 232: Introduction to Oceanography
- EARTH / ENVIRON 262: Plants and People
- EARTH 314: Applied Geophysics
- EARTH / ENVIRON 333: The Inexhaustible Seas? Marine Resources and Environmental Issues
- EARTH / ENVIRON 380: Mineral Resources, Economics & the Environment
- EAS 518 / ENVIRON 438: Wildlife Ecology and Management
- EAS 503: Sustainable Sites and Historical Precedent
- ECON 466: Economics of Population
- EEB / ENVIRON 315: The Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases
- ENVIRON 204: Under Pressure: Water Systems, Society, and the Environment
- ENVIRON 207: Sustainability and Society
- ENVIRON 209 / EARTH / GEOG 201: Introduction to Environmental Science and Geography
- ENVIRON 222: Introduction to Environmental Justice
- ENVIRON 229 / EARTH 219: Introduction to Environmental Science
- ENVIRON 232/ EARTH 222: Introduction to Oceanography
- ENVIRON 235: Environmental Economics & Policy
- ENVIRON / HISTORY 236: Environment and History in Preindustrial Europe
- ENVIRON / CMPLXSYS / PUBPOL 250: Energy & Climate Change
- ENVIRON / ANTHRCUL 256: Culture, Adaptation and Environment
- ENVIRON / EARTH 262: Plants and People
- ENVIRON 270: Our Common Future: Ecology, Economics & Ethics of Sustainable Development
- ENVIRON 302: Topics in Environmental Social Science, section titled "Energy Politics" or "Environ Governance African Dev" or "Extreme Events"
- ENVIRON 306: Global Water
- ENVIRON / EEB 315: The Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases
- ENVIRON 317: Conservation of Biological Diversity
- ENVIRON 320: Environmental Journalism
- ENVIRON 345 / POLSCI 331 / SOC 380: Environmental Public Opinion Analysis
- ENVIRON 365: International Environmental Policy
- ENVIRON / EARTH 380: Mineral Resources, Economics & the Environment
- ENVIRON 434: Poverty and the Environment in the US and Colombia: Learning through Podcast Creation
- ENVIRON 453: Tropical Conservation & Ecology
- ENVIRON 462: Topics in Environmental Social Science, section titled "Food Policy"
- ENVIRON 465: Interdisciplinary Environmental Topics, sections titled, "Technologies and Policies for Decarbonization" or "Sustainable Sites and Historic Precedents"
- ENVIRON 490: War and Environment: A Lethal Reciprocity
- GEOG / EARTH 201 / ENVIRON 209: Introduction to Environmental Science and Geography
- HISTORY / INTLSTD / RELIGON / STS 209: Death, Immortality, and Afterlife
- HISTORY 234 / STS 234: History of Medicine in the Western World from the 18th Century to the Present
- HISTORY 242 / MIDEAST 201: Madness, Medicine, and Magic in the Middle East
- HISTORY 297 / ASIAN 265: Health and Disease in Chinese History
- HISTORY / AMCULT 284: Sickness & Health in Society: 1492 to the Present
- HISTORY / INTLSTD / LACS 304 / WGS 306: Maternal and Infant Health in Latin American History
- HISTORY 328: HU History Topics, section titled "Walking and Modern History: Land, Power, and Rights on Foot"
- HISTORY / ANTHRCUL / AAS 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- HISTORY 407: Advanced Study in Comparative and Transnational History, section titled "Global Histories of Medicine, Disease, and the Body"
- HISTORY 497: History Colloquium, section titled "Making the Modern Mediterranean"
- HONORS 230: Honors Core SS, section titled "Violent Environments: Oil, Development, and the Discourse of Power
- HS 225 / WGS 212: Global Perspectives on the HIV and AIDS Epidemic
- INTLSTD 351: Chinese Food in Crisis: Health, Ecology, and Identity in an Age of Globalization
- INTLSTD 384: International and/or Comparative Topics in the Humanities, section titled "Trauma and Healing in the 'Global South'"
- INTLSTD 385: International and/or Comparative Topics in the Social Sciences, section titled "Population, Equity and Environmental Change"
- INTLSTD 387: Topics in Global Environment and Health, section titled “Implementation Solutions for Global Health Equity”
- INTMED 387: Implementation Solution for Global Health Equity
- MICRBIOL 450: Global Impact of Microbes
- NRE 501: Grad Experimental, section titled, "Foundations of Sustainable Food Systems"
- NURS 225 / ANTHRCUL / WGS 212 (WOMENSTD 212): The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
- NURS 421: Perspectives in Global Health
- PHIL 250: Changing the World
- POLSCI 309 / ENVIRON 307: Theoretical Perspectives on Environmental Change
- POLSCI 331 / ENVIRON 345 / SOC 380: Environmental Public Opinion Analysis
- POLSCI 389: Topics in Contemporary Political Science, section titled "Politics of Public Health"
- PSYCH 477: Current Topics in Clinical Psychology, section titled "Mental Health and Culture: National and International Perspectives"
- PUBHLTH 313: LGBTQ+ Health Promotion: Local and Global Strategies
- PUBHLTH 360: Community, Culture, and Social Justice (CCSJ) in Public Health
- PUBHLTH 381: Public Health Systems: Achievements and Challenges
- PUBHLTH 450: Critical Reflections on Global Public Health
- PUBPOL 250 / ENVIRON / CMPLXSYS: Energy & Climate Change
- PUBPOL 475: Topics in Public Policy, section titled "Government Regulation of Industry & the Environment"
- RCHUMS 334: Special Topics in the Humanities, section titled "Trauma and Healing in the 'Global South'"
- RCHUMS / ENVIRON 337: Children Under Fire: Narratives of Sustainability, section titled "Narratives of Sustainability and Leadership"
- RCIDIV 305: Literature in Environment and Social Justice
- RCSSCI / ASIAN 371: Natural Disasters in East Asia
- ROMLANG 498: Senior Seminar in RLL, section titled "AIDS, the Other Pandemic"
- SEAS / UC 215: Contemporary Social Issues in SE Asia
- SOC 380 / POLSCI 331 / ENVIRON 345: Environmental Public Opinion Analysis
- SOC 474: Social Inequalities in Health
- SOC 475: Introduction to Medical Sociology
- SPANISH 231: Second-Year Spanish, section titled "Ecologia y Activismo"
- STS / ENVIRON / HISTORY 237: Global Environmental History
- STS 399: Topics in Science, Technology, Medicine and Society, section titled "Historical and analytical approaches for identifying and managing issues in global health interventions"
- UC / SEAS 215: Contemporary Social Issues in Southeast Asia
- WGS (WOMENSTD) / ANTHRCUL 212 / NURS 225: The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
- WGS 324 (WOMENSTD 324) / ANTHRCUL 325: Childbirth & Culture
- WGS 331: Theory of Gender and Health
- WGS 342: Topics in Gender and Health, section titled "Biomedical Knowledge: Behavior, Science and Gender"
- WGS (WOMENSTD) / AAS 365: Global Perspectives on Gender, Health & Reproduction
- WGS 377: Topics in Gender and Social Science, section titled "In Sickness and in Health: Medical Anthropologies of Kinship, Relatedness, and the Human"
- WGS 400: Women's Reproductive Health
Constraints
Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.
Global Environment & Health (GEH) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2016 - Summer 2020)
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
Global Environment & Health (GEH) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2016
Requirements
Additional Pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth term proficiency.
- Core Courses (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Research Methods Course (3 credits): One research methods course chosen from the following list:
- CMPLXSYS 391 / POLSCI 391. Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- ECON 309: Experimental Economics
- ECON 401: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 451 (or 405 prior to Fall 2014): Intermediate Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics
- POLSCI 300 (or 499 prior to Winter 2016): Quantitative Empirical Methods of Political Science
- POLSCI 391 / CMPLXSYS 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- POLSCI 490: Game Theory & Formal Models
- SOC 210: Elementary Statistics (FA20 or later)
- SOC 310: Introduction to Research Methods (only until FA20)
- STATS 206: Introduction to Data Science (FA20 or later)
- STATS 250: Introduction to Statistics & Data Analysis
- STATS 280: Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis (FA20 or later)
Note: Completion of the Methods requirement is recommended prior to enrolling in INTLSTD 301.
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study.
- GEH Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list (see below), to gain knowledge in sub-plan area.
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan course lists may be found on the PICS courses website.
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plans. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no preapproved list of electives. Because there is no preapproved list, students must seek and obtain the approval of elective courses - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
GEH courses include, but are not limited to:
- AAS 309: Global Health in African Contexts
- AAS 322 / ENVIRON 335: Intro to Environmental Politics
- AAS / ANTHRCUL / HISTORY 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- AAS / WGS 365 (WOMENSTD 365): Global Perspectives on Gender, Health & Reproduction
- AAS 409 / ANTHRCUL 408: Maternal/Child Health & Env Pollution in Africa
- AAS 426: Cities in Africa, section titled "Cities in Contemporary Africa"
- AAS 432: Violent Environments
- AAS / WGS 443 (WOMENSTD 443): Pedagogy of Empowerment: Activism in Race, Gender, and Health
- AAS 458: Issues in Black World Studies, section titled "Health & African Development"
- AAS 462: Globalization & African Health
- AAS 495: Senior Seminar, section titled "AIDS in Africa"
- ALA 210: Defining Critical Global Issues
- AMCULT / HISTORY 284: Sickness & Health in Society: 1492 to the Present
- ANTHRBIO 363: Genes, Disease, and Culture
- WOMENSTD 212 / HS 225: The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
- ANTHRCUL / ENVIRON 256: Culture, Adaptation and Environment
- ANTHRCUL 258: Honors Seminar Anthropology, section titled Culture and Medicine
- ANTHRCUL 325 / WGS 324 (WOMENSTD 324): Childbirth & Culture
- ANTHRCUL / RCSSCI 327 / WGS 307 (WOMENSTD 307): Critical Theory in Medicine & Healing
- ANTHRCUL 344: Medical Anthropology
- ANTHRCUL / HISTORY / AAS 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- ANTHRCUL 408 / AAS 409: Maternal/Child Health & Env Pollution in Africa
- ARCH / URP 357: Architecture, Sustainability and the City
- ASIAN 365 / HISTORY / CLCIV 339: Doctors in the Ancient World
- ASIAN / RCSSCI 371: Natural Disasters in East Asia
- CLCIV / HISTORY 339 / ASIAN 365: Doctors in the Ancient World
- CMPLXSYS / ENVIRON / PUBPOL 250: Energy & Climate Change
- EARTH 201 / ENVIRON 209 / GEOG 201: Introduction to Environmental Science and Geography
- EARTH 219 / ENVIRON 229: Intro Environmental Science
- EARTH 222 / ENVIRON 232: Intro Oceanography
- EARTH / ENVIRON 262: Plants and People
- EARTH 277: Water in the 21st C
- EARTH 314: Applied Geophysics
- EARTH 331: Climate & Climate Change
- EARTH / ENVIRON 333: The Inexhaustible Seas? Marine Resources and Environmental Issues
- EARTH / ENVIRON 380: Mineral Resources, Economics & the Environment
- EAS / ENVIRON 475 / EHS 588: Environmental Law
- EAS 571 / ECON 471: Environmental Economics
- ECON 370 / ENVIRON 375: Environ & Resource Economics
- ECON 412: Topics in Macroeconomics, section titled "Health Economics & the Economy of Health"
- ECON 471 / EAS 571: Environmental Economics
- ECON 490: Topics in Microeconomics, section titled "European Energy Security"
- EEB / ENVIRON 315: The Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases
- EEB / RCIDIV / ENVIRON 318: Food, Land, and Society
- EHS 588 / EAS / ENVIRON 475: Environmental Law
- ENGLISH 317: Literature & Culture, section titled "Green Indignities"
- ENGLISH 320: Literature & the Environment, section titled "The Environmental Imagination in N America"
- ENVIRON 207: Sustainability and Society
- ENVIRON 209 / EARTH / GEOG 201: Introduction to Environmental Science and Geography
- ENVIRON / RCSSCI 211: SS & Environmental Problems
- ENVIRON 221 / HISTORY 347: Global Environmental History
- ENVIRON 222: Introduction to Environmental Justice
- ENVIRON 229 / EARTH 219: Intro Environmental Science
- ENVIRON 232 / EARTH 222: Intro Oceanography
- ENVIRON 235: Environmental Economics & Policy
- ENVIRON / CMPLXSYS / PUBPOL 250: Energy & Climate Change
- ENVIRON 256 / ANTHRCUL 256: Culture, Adaptation and Environment
- ENVIRON / EARTH 262: Plants and People
- ENVIRON 270: Our Common Future: Ecology, Economics & Ethics of Sustainable Development
- ENVIRON 302: Topics in Environmental Social Science, section titled "Energy Politics"
- ENVIRON 304: Topics in Culture & Environment, section titled "Ecocriticism"
- ENVIRON 306: Global Water
- ENVIRON 307 / POLSCI 309: Theoretical Perspectives on Env Change
- ENVIRON 313 / POLSCI 394: Environment & Development
- ENVIRON / EEB 315: The Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases
- ENVIRON / EEB / RCIDIV 318: Food, Land, and Society
- ENVIRON 320: Environmental Journalism
- ENVIRON 321: Climate Change & Adaptation
- ENVIRON 335 / AAS 322: Intro to Environmental Politics
- ENVIRON 345 / POLSCI 331 / SOC 380: Environmental Public Opinion Analysis
- ENVIRON 356: Environmental History & the Tropical World
- ENVIRON 367: Global Enterprise & Sustainable Development
- ENVIRON 365: International Environmental Policy
- ENVIRON 375 / ECON 370: Environ & Resource Economics
- ENVIRON / EARTH 380: Mineral Resources, Economics & the Environment
- ENVIRON 453: Tropical Conservation & Ecology
- ENVIRON 462: Topics in Environmental SS, section titled "Foundations of Sustainable Food Systems"
- ENVIRON / EAS 475 / EHS 588: Environmental Law
- ENVIRON 490: War and Environment: A Lethal Reciprocity
- GEOG / EARTH 201 / ENVIRON 209: Introduction to Environmental Science and Geography
- HISTORY 242 / MIDEAST 201: Madness, Medicine, and Magic in the Middle East
- HISTORY 285 / RCSSCI 275: Science, Tech, Medicine, & Society
- HISTORY 347 / ENVIRON 221: Global Environmental History
- HISTORY / AMCULT 284: Sickness & Health in Society: 1492 to the Present
- HISTORY 329: SS Topics in History, section titled "Pollution, Contagion & Disease in Med & EM Europe"
- HISTORY / CLCIV 339 / ASIAN 365: Doctors in the Ancient World
- HISTORY / ANTHRCUL / AAS 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- HISTORY 376: Epidemics
- HISTORY 497: History Colloquium, section titled "Climate Change in History"
- HONORS 230: Honors Core SS, section titled "Violent Environments: Oil, Development, and the Discourse of Power"
- HS 225 / WGS 212: Global Perspectives on the HIV and AIDS Epidemic
- INTLSTD 387: Topics in Global Environment and Health, all topics
- INTMED 387: Implementation Solution for Global Health Equity
- NRE 501: Grad Experimental, section titled, "Foundations of Sustainable Food Systems"
- HS 225 / WOMENSTD 212: The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
- NURS 420: Intro to Global Health
- NURS 421: Perspecitves in Global Health
- POLSCI 309 / ENVIRON 307: Theoretical Perspectives on Env Change
- POLSCI 331 / ENVIRON 345 / SOC 380: Environmental Public Opinion Analysis
- POLSCI 394 / ENVIRON 313: Environment & Development
- PSYCH 477: Current Topics in Clinical Psychology, section titled, "Mental Health and Culture: National and International Perspectives"
- PUBHLTH 350: Global Public Health
- PUBHLTH 450: Critical Reflections on Global Public Health
- PUBPOL / ENVIRON / CMPLXSYS 250: Energy & Climate Change
- RCIDIV 305: Literature in Environmental and Social Justice
- RCIDIV / ENVIRON / EEB 318: Food, Land, and Society
- RCSSCI / ENVIRON 211: SS & Environmental Problems
- RCSSCI 275 / HISTORY 285: Science, Tech, Medicine, & Society
- RCSSCI / ANTHRCUL 327 / WGS 307 (WOMENSTD 307): Critical Theory in Medicine & Healing
- RCSSCI / ASIAN 371: Natural Disasters in East Asia
- SEAS 215: Contemporary Social Issues in SE Asia
- SOC 380 / POLSCI 331 / ENVIRON 345: Environmental Public Opinion Analysis
- SOC 430: World Population Dynamics
- SOC 475: Introduction to Medical Sociology
- UC 254: Sophomore Seminar, sections titled
"Global Health Equity"
"Cult & Soc Aspects of Global Health" - URP / ARCH 357: Architecture, Sustainability and the City
- WOMENSTD 212 / HS 225: The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
- WGS 307 (WOMENSTD 307) / RCSSCI / ANTHRCUL 327: Critical Theory in Medicine & Healing
- WGS 324 (WOMENSTD 324) / ANTHRCUL 325: Childbirth & Culture
- WGS 331: Theory of Gender & Health
- WGS 365 (WOMENSTD 365) / AAS 365: Global Perspectives on Gender, Health & Reproduction
- WGS 412 (WOMENSTD 412): Reproductive Health Policy in a Global Context
- WGS 432 (WOMENSTD 432): Adv Topics in Gender & Health, section titled "Intro to Global Health: Issues & Challenges"
- WGS 443 (WOMENSTD) / AAS 443: Pedagogy of Empowerment: Activism in Race, Gender, and Health
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.
Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2016 - Summer 2020)
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2016
Requirements
Additional Pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth term proficiency.
- Core Courses (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Methods of CCI (3 credits): At least one course chosen from the following list:
- ANTHRCUL 222: The Comparative Study of Cultures
- COMPLIT 322: Translating World Literatures
- SOC 210: Elementary Statistics (until FA20)
- SOC 310: Sociological Research Methods (FA20 or later)
Note: Completion of the Methods requirement is recommended prior to enrolling in INTLSTD 301.
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study.
- CCI Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list (see below), to gain knowledge in sub-plan area.
- Globalization and Culture: One course chosen from the following list:
- COMPLIT 240: Literature Across Borders
- GTBOOKS / COMPLIT 212: Great Books in World Literatures (FA20 or later)
- INTLSTD 205 / HISTORY 101: What is History?
- ROMLANG 253: The Mediterranean: History and Culture
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan course lists may be found on the PICS courses website.
- Globalization and Culture: One course chosen from the following list:
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plans. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no preapproved list of electives. Because there is no preapproved list, students must seek and obtain the approval of elective courses - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
CCI courses include, but are not limited to:
- AAS 200: Introduction to African Studies
- AAS 202: Introduction to Afro-Caribbean Studies (only if elected FA19 or later)
- AAS 206: Issues African St, section titled, "Symbolic Language and Communications in West African Visual and Performing Arts"
- AAS 211: Dynamics of the Black Diaspora, section titled "Religion and Revolution" (only if elected WN20 or later)
- AAS / HISTART 224: African Visual Cultures: Akan/Kongo/Yurba
- AAS 236 / AMCULT / HISTORY / LATINOAM / LACS 226: The Latin Tinge: Latin Music in Social Context
- AAS / HISTORY 246: Africa to 1850
- AAS 247 / HISTORY 247: Modern Africa
- AAS / WGS 304 (WOMENSTD 304): Gender & Immigration: Identity, Race, and Place
- AAS / HISTORY / LACS 305: Histories of the Modern Caribbean
- AAS 317 / ENGLISH 307 / WGS 347: Clothing,Race,Envirn
- AAS 342: Hip Hop Africa
- AAS 346 / ENGLISH 389 / HISTORY 362: Lit in African History
- AAS 355 / ANTHRCUL 355 / HISTORY 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- AAS / HISTART 362: Expressive Cultures, Black Atlantic: Vision & Time
- AAS / WGS 365 (WOMENSTD 365): Global Perspectives on Gender, Health, and Reproduction (only if elected WN20 or later)
- AAS / ENGLISH 384 / AMCULT 376: Caribbean Literature
- AAS / ENGLISH 385: African Literature
- AAS 395 / GERMAN / HISTORY 396: Black Germany
- AAS 407 / HISTART 406: African Things (only if elected WN20 or later)
- AAS 422 / ANTHRCUL 411: African Cultures
- AAS 407 / HISTART 406: Looking at African Things
- AAS 409 / ANTHRCUL 408: Maternal/Child Health & Environ Pollution in Africa
- AAS 420 / ANTHRCUL 347: Race & Ethnicity
- AAS / HISTORY / LACS / RELIGION 421: Religions of the African Diaspora
- AAS / FTVM 440: African Cinema
- AAS 444 / ANTHRCUL 414: Intro to Caribbean Societies and Cultures, I
- AAS 458: Issues in Black World Studies, sections titled
“Human Rights & LGBTI in Sub-Saharan Africa”
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
“Fighting with Human Rights – Africa” - ALA 210: Defining Critical Global Issues
- ALA 211: Addr Crit Gbl Issues
- ALA 470: Applied Liberal Arts Topics, section titled, "Organizing for Global Justice"
- AMAS 311: Arab Amer Stud/HU, section titled, "Art and Music of the Islamic World"
- AMCULT / HISTORY / LATINOAM / LACS 226 / AAS 236: The Latin Tinge: Latin Music in Social Context
- AMCULT / LATINOAM 313 / ANTHRCUL 314: Cuba and its Diaspora
- AMCULT / NATIVEAM 333: Green Indigeneity (only if elected FA19 or later)
- AMCULT 376 / AAS / ENGLISH 384: Caribbean Literature
- AMCULT / FTVM / LATINOAM 380: Studies in Transnational Media
- AMCULT / SPANISH / LATINOAM 420: Latin Am & Latino/a Film Studies, section titled "Caribbean Cinema"
- AMCULT 496: SS Approaches to AmCult, section titled, "Indegenous Peoples"
- ANTHRARC 296: Archaeology Topics, section titled, " Making Things: Three Million Years of Materials and Culture"
- ANTHRCUL 222: Comparative Study of Cultures
- ANTHRCUL / ISLAM / RELIGION 246: Anth of Relig
- ANTHRCUL / ENVIRON 256: Culture, Adaptation and Environment
- ANTHRCUL / LING 272: Lang in Soc
- ANTHRCUL 300: Doing Ethnography in Havana and Cuba
- ANTHRCUL 304: Peoples & Cultures of the Himalaya
- ANTHRCUL 309: Anthropology of Europe
- ANTHRCUL 314 / AMCULT / LATINOAM 313: Cuba and its Diaspora
- ANTHRCUL 317 / REEES 397 / HISTORY 228 / POLSCI 334 / SLAVIC 397 / SOC 317: Communism & Capitalism in E Europe
- ANTHRCUL 319: Latin American Society and Culture
- ANTHRCUL 325 / WOMENSTD 324: Childbirth & Culture
- ANTHRCUL 328: Globalizing Consumer Cultures
- ANTHRCUL 330: Culture, Thought, and Meaning
- ANTHRCUL 331: Kinship, Social Org, & Society
- ANTHRCUL 333: Non-Western Legal Systems, I
- ANTHRCUL / STS 344: Medical Anthropol
- ANTHRCUL 346 / HISTORY 347: Latin America: The Colonial Period
- ANTHRCUL 347 / AAS 420: Race & Ethnicity
- ANTHRCUL 349: Indigenous Political Movements
- ANTHRCUL 355 / HISTORY 355 / AAS 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- ANTHRCUL / LING 370: Lang&Discrim
- ANTHRCUL / LING 374: Language and Culture
- ANTHRCUL 408 / AAS 409: Maternal/Child Health & Environ Pollution in Africa
- ANTHRCUL 409: Peoples & Cultures of the N East & N Africa
- ANTHRCUL 411 / AAS 422: African Cultures
- ANTHRCUL 414 / AAS 444: Intro to Caribbean Societies and Cultures, I
- ANTHRCUL 416 / HBEHED 516: Global Health: Anthropological Perpectives
- ANTHRCUL / WGS (WOMENSTD) / RCSSCI 428: Sex Panics in the US & UK since 1890
- ANTHRCUL / HISTORY 430 / MIDEAST 480: Hist Memory Silence
- ANTHRCUL 440: Environmental Anthropology
- ANTHRCUL 447: Culture, Racism, & Human Nature
- ANTHRCUL 464: Language, Culture, & Society in S Asia
- ANTHRCUL 474: Language, Ethnicity, & Nationalism
- ARABAM 311: Arab American Studies and the Humanities, section titled, "Cont Film of Islamic World"
- ASIAN / HISTORY 204: East Asia: Early Transformations
- ASIAN 205: Modern East Asia
- ASIAN / HISTORY 206: Indian Civilization
- ASIAN / HISTORY 207: SE Asian Civilization
- ASIAN 220 / RELIGION 202: Phil & Religion of Asia
- ASIAN / RELIGION 223: Krishna Speaks: Bhagavad-Gita
- ASIAN / PHIL / RELIGION 230: Intro to Buddhism
- ASIAN 235: Intro to Asian Studies
- ASIAN / HISTART 243: Intro to S Asian Art: Art of India
- ASIAN 259 / HISTORY 255: Modern India & S Asia
- ASIAN 260 / HISTORY 252: Intro to Chinese Civilization
- ASIAN 261: Intro to Modern Chinese Culture
- ASIAN / MIDEAST / HISTORY / MENAS / REEES 340: From Ghengis Kahn to the Taliban: Modern C Asia
- ASIAN 343: SE Asian Politics through the Arts
- ASIAN 307 / HISTORY 308 / RELIGION 307: Eat, Pray, Love: Devotional Traditions in South Asia
- ASIAN 324 / ISLAM / MEMS / RELIGION / HISTORY 325 / MIDEAST 375: The History of Islam in S Asia
- ASIAN 325 / RELIGION 323: Zen: History Culture & Critique
- ASIAN 343: SE Asian Politics through the Arts
- ASIAN 348: Hum Topics: SE Asia, section titled, "Violence and Cultural Change in Southeast Asia"
- ASIAN / RELIGION 464 / HISTORY 370: From Mystic Saints to Holy Warriors: Islam in SE Asia
- ASIAN / RCHUMS 373: The Performing Arts in S & SE Asia
- BA 310: Cross-Cultural Business
- BL / BUSABRD 411: CrossCult Neg&Resol
- CLCIV 253: The Mediterranean: Classical Studies, sections titled "The Mediterranean: Classics" or "The Mediterranean"
- COMM 306: Media Topics in HU, section titled, "African Digital Cultures"
- COMM 432: Foreign News Coverage
- COMM 440: Global Iconic Events
- COMM 447: Women and Islam: The Politics of Representation
- COMM 455: Global Visual Cultures
- COMPLIT 212 / GTBOOKS 212: Great Books in World Literature
- COMPLIT 240: Literature Across Borders, section titled “Matters of Life and Death”
- COMPLIT 260: Europe and its Others
- COMPLIT 280: America and its Others
- COMPLIT 300: Global Humanities
- COMPLIT 322: Translating World Literatures
- COMPLIT 490: Comparative Cultural Studies, section titled “Narratives of Immigration”
- DANCE 241 / RCHUMS 260: The Art of Dance
- EDUC / MENAS 462: Lrn Character Play
- ENGLISH 317: Literature&Culture, section titled "Armenian Relationality: Diasporas Old, New, and in the Making"
- ENGLISH 375: World Literatures in English
- ENGLISH / AAS 384 / AMCULT 376: Caribbean Literature
- ENGLISH / AAS 385: African Literature
- ENGLISH 389 / AAS 346 / HISTORY 362: Lit in African History
- ENGLISH 407: Topics in Lang & Lit, section titled "Lit & Human Rights"
- ENVIRON 256 / ANTHRCUL 256: Culture, Adaptation and Environment
- FRENCH 235: Advanced French, section titled "Sociopolitical and Multicultural Issues"
- FTVM / GERMAN 333: Fascist Cinemas
- GERMAN 391/ HISTORY / JUDAIC 386: The Holocaust, section titled, "Issues in Race & Ethnicity"
- FTVM 366: Film,TV&Pop Cult, section titled, "Who Gets to Be an Auteur?: Ideology, Gendered Politics, and Filmmakers from the Global South"
- FTVM / AMCULT / LATINOAM 380: Studies in Transnational Media
- FTVM / AAS 440: African Cinema
- FTVM 441: National Screens
- FTVM 455: Topics in Film, section titled, "Transnational Women's Cinema"
- FTVM 485: The Global Screen
- GERMAN 303: Ger Cult & Arts, section titled, "Czech, German Jewish"
- GERMAN / MEMS / SCAND 375: Celtic & Nordic Mythology
- GERMAN 386: Fairy Tales
- GERMAN 401 / HISTORY 416: 19th C German & European Intellectual History
- GERMAN 402 / HISTORY 417: 20th C German & European Thought
- GERMAN 449: Special Topics in English Translation, section titled "The German & European Left"
- GERMAN / SOC 379 / POLSCI 386: Sports, Politics, & Society
- GTBOOKS 201: Great Books of the Ancient World
- GTBOOKS 212 / COMPLIT 212: Great Books in World Literature
- GTBOOKS / ROMLANG 251: Great Books of Modern Literature
- HBEHED 516 / ANTHRCUL 416: Global Health: Anthropological Perpectives
- HISTART / AAS 224: African Visual Cultures: Akan/Kongo/Yurba
- HISTART / ASIAN 243: Intro to S Asian Art: Art of India
- HISTART / MIDEAST / ISLAM 285: Visual Culture in Islam
- HISTART 294: Special Topics, section titled, "Mapping Race + (Dis)placement"
- HISTART / AAS 362: Expressive Cultures, Black Atlantic: Vision & Time
- HISTART 393: Topics in U.S. History, section titled, "Art & Resistance"
- HISTART 394: Special Topics HU, section titled, "Living in a Material World: Europe and the Globe, 1492-c. 1800"
- HISTART 406 / AAS 407: Looking at African Things
- HISTART 497: Upper-Level Seminar, section titled, "Nomad Civilizations"
- HISTORY 101 / INTLSTD 205: What is History?
- HISTORY / ASIAN 206: Indian Civilization
- HISTORY / ASIAN 207: SE Asian Civilization
- HISTORY 228 / REEES 397 / ANTHRCUL 317 / POLSCI 334 / SLAVIC 397 / SOC 317: Communism & Capitalism in E Europe
- HISTORY / AMCULT / LATINOAM / LACS 226 / AAS 236: The Latin Tinge: Latin Music in Social Context
- HISTORY 230: Topics in History/HU, section titled, "Imagining Home in Socialist and Capitalist Societies"
- HISTORY 239: The World Before 1492
- HISTORY 241: America and Middle Eastern Wars
- HISTORY / MENAS / JUDAIC 244 / MIDEAST 284: History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- HISTORY / AAS 246: Africa to 1850
- HISTORY 247 / AAS 247: Modern Africa
- HISTORY 252 / ASIAN 260: Intro to Chinese Civilization
- HISTORY 255 / ASIAN 259: Modern India & S Asia
- HISTORY / JUDAIC 290 / MIDEAST 387: Jews and Muslims
- HISTORY / AAS / LACS 305: Histories of the Modern Caribbean
- HISTORY 308 / ASIAN / RELIGION 307: Eat, Pray, Love: Devotional Traditions in South Asia
- HISTORY / RELIGION / MEMS / ISLAM 325 / ASIAN 324 / MIDEAST 375: The History of Islam in S Asia
- HISTORY 328: Humanities Topics in History, section titled "A Global History of the Jews of Spain" or "Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land" or "Jerusalem: One City, Three Faith"
- HISTORY / MIDEAST / ASIAN / MENAS / REEES 340: From Ghengis Kahn to the Taliban: Modern C Asia
- HISTORY 341 / POLSCI 397: Nations & Nationalism (only if elected WN20 or later)
- HISTORY 347 / ANTHRCUL 346: Latin America: The Colonial Period
- HISTORY 355 / ANTHRCUL 355 / AAS 355: Health and Illness in African Worlds
- HISTORY 358: ReligionMagicMystery
- HISTORY 362 / ENGLISH 389 / AAS 346: Lit in African History
- HISTORY 370 / ASIAN / RELIGION 464: From Mystic Saints to Holy Warriors: Islam in SE Asia
- HISTORY / WOMENSTD 372: Women & Gender in European History
- HISTORY 399: Topics in History, section titled, "Islam and the West"
- HISTORY 407: Advanced Study in Comparative and Transnational History, sections titled
“Japan, Asia and WWII: Culture, History, Memory”
“Christ. & Pol. In Afr. Hist” - HISTORY 416 / GERMAN 401: 19th C German & European Intellectual History
- HISTORY 417 / GERMAN 402: 20th C German & European Thought
- HISTORY / AAS / LACS / RELIGION 421: Religions of the African Diaspora
- HISTORY 429 / MIDEAST 432 / RELIGION 496 / WOMENSTD 471: Gender and Sexuality in Pre-Modern Islam
- HISTORY / RUSSIAN / JUDAIC 435: Cultural History of Russian Jews through Lit & the Arts
- HISTORY / ISLAM 443 / MIDEAST 487: Modern ME History
- HISTORY 478: Topics in Latin Am History, section titled "Latin America, Colonial Period"
- HISTORY 490: The Left in Europe
- HISTORY 496: Hist Colloquium, sections titled, "Monks & Mystics: Spiritual Striving in Medieval Europe and Byzantium Monks & Mystics: Spiritual Striving in Medieval Europe and Byzantium" or "The World of the Ship"
- HISTORY 537 / MIDEAST 419: Near East in the Period of the Crusades, 045-1258
- INTLSTD 205 / HISTORY 101: What is History?
- INTLSTD 389: Topics in Comparative Culture and Identity
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar, sections titled
“Human Rights & LGBTI in Sub-Saharan Africa”
“Women and Islam: The Politics of Representation”
“Fighting with Human Rights – Africa”
“Christ. & Pol. In Afr. Hist”
“Humanitarian Dilemmas”
“Migration, Human Smugglings and Trafficking”
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries” - INTLSTD 489: Topics in Comparative Culture and Identity
- IOE 430: Global Cultural Systems Engineering
- ISLAM / MIDEAST 216 / RELIGION 204: Intro to Islam
- ISLAM / MIDEAST 315: Intro to Arab Culture
- ISLAM / MEMS / RELIGION / HISTORY 325 / ASIAN 324 / MIDEAST 375: The History of Islam in S Asia
- ISLAM 392:HU Topics in Islam, section titled, "Art and Music of the Islamic World"
- ISLAM / MIDEAST / REEES / RUSSIAN 418: Islam and Russia (only if elected WN20 or later)
- ISLAM / HISTORY 443 / MIDEAST 487: Modern ME History
- JUDAIC 218: HU Topics in Judaism, section titled "Arts and Cultures of Central Europe: Czech, German Jewish"
- JUDAIC / MENAS / HISTORY 244 / MIDEAST 284: History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- JUDAIC 253: The Mediterranean: Jewish Studies
- JUDAIC / HISTORY 290 / MIDEAST 287: Jews and Muslims
- JUDAIC / RELIGION 296 / MIDEAST 255: Perspectives on the Holocaust
- JUDAIC 318: HU Topics in Judaism, section titled: "Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land" or " Jerusalem: One City Three Faiths"
- JUDAIC 360 / MIDEAST 386: A Global History of Jews in Spain
- JUDAIC / HISTORY / RUSSIAN 435: Cultural History of Russian Jews through Lit & the Arts
- LACS / LATINOAM / AMCULT / HISTORY / AAS 236: The Latin Tinge: Latin Music in Social Context
- LACS / AAS / HISTORY 305: Histories of the Modern Caribbean
- LACS / HISTORY / AAS / RELIGION 421: Religions of the African Diaspora
- LATINOAM / AMCULT / HISTORY / LACS 226 / AAS 236: The Latin Tinge: Latin Music in Social Context
- LATINOAM / AMCULT 313 / ANTHRCUL 314: Cuba and its Diaspora
- LATINOAM / AMCULT / FTVM 380: Studies in Transnational Media
- LATINOAM / AMCULT / SPANISH 420: Latin Am & Latino/a Film Studies, section titled "Caribbean Cinema"
- LING / ANTHRCUL 374: Language and Culture
- LING 497: Capstone Seminar, section titled, "Biology and Evolution of Language"
- MEMS / RELIGION / HISTORY / ISLAM 325 / ASIAN 324 / MIDEAST 375: The History of Islam in S Asia
- MEMS / GERMAN / SCAND 375: Celtic & Nordic Mythology
- MENAS / HISTORY / JUDAIC 244 / MIDEAST 284: History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- MENAS / ASIAN / MIDEAST / HISTORY / REEES 340: From Ghengis Kahn to the Taliban: Modern C Asia
- MENAS 493 / MIDEAST 483: Comparative Perspec of the Middle East, N. Africa
- MIDEAST 200: Introduction to World Religions: Near Eastern
- MIDEAST 202 / RELIGION 201: Intro to Judaism, Christianity, Islam
- MIDEAST 207 / RELIGION 277: The Land of Israel/Palestine through the Ages
- MIDEAST / ISLAM 216 / RELIGION 204: Intro to Islam
- MIDEAST 255 / JUDAIC / RELIGION 296: Perspectives on the Holocaust
- MIDEAST 284 / JUDAIC / MENAS / HISTORY 244: History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- MIDEAST / HISTART 285: Visual Culture in Islam
- MIDEAST 287 / HISTORY / JUDAIC 290: Jews and Muslims
- MIDEAST 291: HU Topics in MES, section titled: Sports and Games in the Middle East"
- MIDEAST / ISLAM 315: Intro to Arab Culture
- MIDEAST 326: The Arab-Israeli Conflict in ME Lit & Film
- MIDEAST / HISTORY / ASIAN / MENAS / REEES 340: From Ghengis Kahn to the Taliban: Modern C Asia
- MIDEAST 375 / ASIAN 324 / ISLAM / MEMS / RELIGION / HISTORY 325: The History of Islam in S Asia
- MIDEAST 386 / JUDAIC 360: A Global History of Jews in Spain
- MIDEAST 391: HU Topics: MES, section titled, "Jews and Arabs in the Holy Land"
- MIDEAST / ISLAM / REEES / RUSSIAN 418: Islam and Russia (only if elected WN20 or later)
- MIDEAST 419 / HISTORY 537: Near East in the Period of the Cursades, 045-1258
- MIDEAST 483 / MENAS 493: Comparative Perspec of the Middle East, N. Africa
- MIDEAST 487 / ISLAM / HISTORY 443: Modern ME History
- NEAREAST 416: The Sultan & His Subjects
- MIDEAST 432 / HISTORY 429 / RELIGION 496 / WGS 471 (WOMENSTD 471): Gender and Sexuality in Pre-Modern Islam
- PHIL / ASIAN / RELIGION 230: Intro to Buddhism
- POLSCI 334 / HISTORY 228 / REEES 397 / ANTHRCUL 317 / SLAVIC 397 / SOC 317: Communism & Capitalism in E Europe
- POLSCI 353: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- POLSCI 346: Comparative Studies in Religion & Politics
- POLSCI 386 / GERMAN / SOC 379: Sports, Politics, & Society
- POLSCI 397 / HISTORY 341: Nations & Nationalism (only if elected WN20 or later)
- POLSCI 489: Advanced Topics in Contemporary Political Science, section titled “Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
- PSYCH 477: Current Topics in Clinical Psychology, section titled "Mental Health and Culture: National and International Perspectives"
- RCHUMS 235: Topics in World Dance
- RCHUMS 260 / DANCE 241: The Art of Dance
- RCHUMS 305: Cultural Confrontation in the Arts
- RCHUMS / SLAVIC 312: Central European Cinema
- RCHUMS 334: Special Topics in the Humanities, sections titled "Latina/o Theatre for Social Change" or "Art and Music of the Islamic World"
- RCHUMS / ASIAN 373: The Performing Arts in S & SE Asia
- RCIDIV 305: Literature in Environmental and Social Justice
- RCIDIV 351: Special Topics, section titled, "Refugee Narratives"
- RCLANG 324: Readings in Spanish, sections titled, "Travel and Movement: Exploring Cultural Landscapes and the Self" or " Indigenous Activism in the Age of Globalization"
- RCSSCI / ANTHRCUL / WOMENSTD 428: Sex Panics in the US & UK since 1890
- REEES 230: REES Topics in HU, section titled, "Imagining Home in Socialist & Capitalist Societies"
- REEES / MENAS / ASIAN / MIDEAST / HISTORY 340: From Ghengis Kahn to the Taliban: Modern C Asia
- REEES 397 / ANTHRCUL 317 / HISTORY 228 / POLSCI 334 / SLAVIC 397 / SOC 317: Communism & Capitalism in E Europe
- REEES / MIDEAST / ISLAM / RUSSIAN 418: Islam and Russia (only if elected WN20 or later)
- REEES / SOC 490 / WOMENSTD 492: Women & Islam
- RELIGION 201 / MIDEAST 202: Intro to Judaism, Christianity, Islam
- RELIGION 202 / ASIAN 220: Phil & Religion of Asia
- RELIGION 204 / MIDEAST / ISLAM 216: Intro to Islam
- RELIGION / ASIAN 223: Krishna Speaks: Bhagavad-Gita
- RELIGION / PHIL / ASIAN 230: Intro to Buddhism
- RELIGION 277 / MIDEAST 207: The Land of Israel/Palestine through the Ages
- RELIGION / JUDAIC 296 / MIDEAST 255: Perspectives on the Holocaust
- RELIGION / AAS 307 / HISTORY 308: Eat, Pray, Love: Devotional Traditions in South Asia
- RELIGION 323 / ASIAN 325: Zen: History Culture & Critique
- RELIGION / HISTORY / MEMS / ISLAM 325 / ASIAN 324 / MIDEAST 375: The History of Islam in S Asia
- RELIGION / AAS / HISTORY / LACS 421: Religions of the African Diaspora
- RELIGION / ASIAN 464 / HISTORY 370: From Mystic Saints to Holy Warriors: Islam in SE Asia
- RELIGION 496 / HISTORY 429 / MIDEAST 432 / WGS 471 (WOMENSTD 471): Gender and Sexuality in Pre-Modern Islam
- ROMLANG / GTBOOKS 251: Great Books of Modern Literature
- ROMLANG 253: The Mediterranean: History and Culture
- RUSSIAN 358: Central Asia through Russian Eyes: Cultural Appropriation of an Exotic Land
- RUSSIAN / REEES / MIDEAST / ISLAM 418: Islam and Russia (only if elected WN20 or later)
- RUSSIAN / HISTORY / JUDAIC 435: Cultural History of Russian Jews through Lit & the Arts
- SLAVIC / RCHUMS 312: Central European Cinema
- SCAND / MEMS / GERMAN 375: Celtic & Nordic Mythology
- SLAVIC 225: Art & Culture of Central Europe: section titled "Czech, German Jewish"
- SLAVIC 290: Studies E Euro Cult, sections titled, "Imagining Home in Socialist & Capitalist Societies"
- SLAVIC 397 / POLSCI 334 / HISTORY 228 / REEES 397 / ANTHRCUL / SOC 317: Communism & Capitalism in E Europe
- SOC 204: International Migration and the Politics of Membership in a Globalizing World (only if elected FA19 or later)
- SOC 240: Sociology of Culture
- SOC 317 / SLAVIC 397 / POLSCI 334 / HISTORY 228 / REEES 397 / ANTHRCUL 317: Communism & Capitalism in E Europe
- SOC 350: Human Rights in the United Nations
- SOC / GERMAN 379 / POLSCI 386: Sports, Politics, & Society
- SOC 430: World Population Dynamics (only if elected FA19 or later)
- SOC / REEES 490 / WGS 492 (WOMENSTD 492): Women & Islam
- SOC 495: Topics in Sociology, sections titled “Global and Local Connections: Understanding our World at Home and Abroad” or "Sex, Love, and Marriage in Comparative Perspective" or " Gender and Family in East Asia"
- SOC 503: The Sociology of Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
- SPANISH 232: Second Year Spanish, sections titled "The Hispanic World Through Food", "LGBTQA in the Hispanic World: Artistic and Cultural Manifestations", or "Artefactos y patrimonio cultural"
- SPANISH 280: Conv Sp/LAm Film, section titled "Borders and Boundaries"
- SPANISH 295: Introduction to Literature, Culture, and the Arts in the Hispanic World
- SPANISH 342: Contemporary Latin American Culture
- SPANISH 373: Topics in Hispanic Subjects, sections titled "Bilingualism in the Spanish-Speaking World", "iGol!: The Culture of Soccer in Latin America", or "World-Making: Art in Times of Global War"
- SPANISH 385: Race and Ethnicity in the Hispanic World, section titled, "The Language of Reggaeton"
- SPANISH / AMCULT / LATINOAM 420: Latin Am & Latino/a Film Studies, section titled "Caribbean Cinema"
- SPANISH 421: Cinema from Spain
- SPANISH 430: Advanced Studies of Hispanic Culture, section titled "Comparative Topics in Spanish and Portuguese: Stories and Histories of Race in Brazil and Argentina"
- SPANISH 438: Political, Economic Thought in Latin America/Spain
- SPANISH 439: Social Movements in Latin America/Spain
- SPANISH 467: Literary & Artistic Movements in Latin America/Spain, section titled "Literary & Art Move LA"
- SPANISH 473: Colonial/Postcolonial Studies in Latin-American Cultures, section titled "Colonial Discourse and Postcolonial Theory"
- THTREMUS 222: Introduction to Global Theatre and Ethnic Studies (only if elected FA19 or later)
- UC 254: Sophomore ID Seminar, sections titled
"Lang, Privelege & the Law"
"Cult & Soc Aspects of Global Health"
"Ideology Lat. America" - WGS 213: Top Gender Hums, section titled, "War, Gender, Masculinity, Violence"
- WGS 250 (WOMENSTD 250): Race, Gender and Nation
- WGS 304 (WOMENSTD) / AAS 304: Gender & Immigration: Identity, Race, and Place
- WGS 324 (WOMENSTD 324) / ANTHRCUL 325: Childbirth & Culture
- WGS 331: Theory of Gender and Health
- WGS 335 (WOMENSTD 335): Gender & Globalization
- WGS 345: Gender in Premodern Japan and East Asia
- WGS 357 (WOMENSTD 357): Feminist Prractices in a Global Context
- WGS 372 (WOMENSTD) / HISTORY 372: Women & Gender in European History
- WGS 428 (WOMENSTD) / RCSSCI / ANTHRCUL 428: Sex Panics in the US & UK since 1890
- WGS 435 (WOMENSTD 435): Adv Topics in Gender in a Global Context
- WGS 365 (WOMENSTD 365) / AAS: Global Perspectives on Gender, Health, and Reproduction (only if elected WN20 or later)
- WGS 471 (WOMENSTD 471) / RELIGION 496 / HISTORY 429 / MIDEAST 432: Gender and Sexuality in Pre-Modern Islam
- WGS / HISTORY 375: History Witchcraft
- WGS 400: Reproductive Health
- WGS 435: Adv Gender Global, section titled, " Transnational Women's Cinema"
- WGS 492 (WOMENSTD 492) / REEES / SOC 490: Women & Islam
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.
International Studies (Major) (Fall 2016 - Summer 2020)
Effective Fall 2016
Advising
The International Studies Advisor will assist students in developing a program of study. Advising for the Honors plan is provided by the PICS Director and the PICS Honors Thesis advisor. For more information, see: www.ii.umich.edu/pics/undergraduates/advising
Grade Policies
Students must earn C- or better in all required PICS courses. Language requirement courses are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- INTLSTD 101 (Grade of C- or better)
- Students declaring Political Economy & Development sub-plan must complete ECON 101 with a grade of C- or better.
- Students must have started or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major.
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
We believe that language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and that students who major in international studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will not only be of benefit to the students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world but will also be an important signal to employers or graduate admissions committees about how our students are well-rounded and focused on the world and not just the United States.
Please see PICS website for details of and further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
See Sub-Plans for course requirements:
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.Honors
Students interested in an Honors major elect the Honors section of INTLSTD 101, and must complete INTLSTD 101 with a grade of B+ or better. Students who have declared a major in International Studies must have an overall GPA of 3.4, must complete all International Studies requirements for the major with a 3.4 or higher average in those courses, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
Students must earn C- or better in all required PICS courses.
During their senior year, students writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 489 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term. The thesis will have a minimum length of 50 pages. Students are responsible for locating their own thesis advisor. Advisor and topic must be approved by PICS director.
An instructor will oversee the Honors plan. This will include a class meeting with all Honors thesis students as a collective, at least twice per semester of their senior year, and once at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Each student will have an oral defense of the thesis in a meeting with the advisor and the PICS instructor, plus one outside reader from the faculty.
Student grades on the thesis will be determined by the PICS instructor in consultation with the thesis advisor.
Advising for the Honors plan is provided by the Honors thesis advisor and the PICS Honors Plan advisor.
International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2016 - Summer 2020)
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2016
Requirements
Additional Pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth term proficiency.
- Core Courses (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Research Methods Course (3 credits): One research methods course chosen from the following list:
- CMPLXSYS 391 / POLSCI 391. Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- ECON 309: Experimental Economics
- ECON 401: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 451 (or 405 prior to Fall 2014): Intermediate Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics
- POLSCI 300 (or 499 prior to Winter 2016): Quantitative Empirical Methods of Political Science
- POLSCI 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- POLSCI 490: Game Theory & Formal Models
- SOC 210: Elementary Statistics (FA20 or later)
- SOC 310: Introduction to Research Methods (only until FA20)
- STATS 206: Introduction to Data Science (FA20 or later)
- STATS 250: Introduction to Statistics & Data Analysis
- STATS 280: Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis (FA20 or later)
Note: Completion of the Methods requirement is recommended prior to enrolling in INTLSTD 301.
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study.
- ISNC Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list (see below), to gain knowledge in sub-plan area.
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan course lists may be found on the PICS courses website.
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plans. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no preapproved list of electives. Because there is no preapproved list, students must seek and obtain the approval of elective courses - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
ISNC courses include, but are not limited to:
- AAS 356 / POLSCI 355: Democracy and Development in Africa
- AAS / WGS 304 (WOMENSTD 304): Gender & Immigration
- AAS 324: Justice in Africa
- AAS / ASIAN 345 / RCSSCI 346: Genocide/ Trauma in SE Asia, Africa, & Europe
- AAS 432: Violent Environments
- AAS 453: Southern Africa, section titled "Culture, Class and Conflict in Southern Africa"
- AAS 458: Issues in Black World Studies, section titled “Fighting with Human Rights – Africa”
- ALA 228 / PSYCH 312 / SOC 374: Intergroup Conflict & Coexistence
- AMCULT 204: Themes in American Culture, section titled "Beyond Sea to Shining Sea: The United States and the Pacific World"
- AMCULT 206: Themes in American Culture, section titled "Gender Violence in a Global Context"
- AMCULT / NATIVEAM 333: Green Indigeneity (only if elected FA19 or later)
- AMCULT / WOMENSTD 368 / MIDEAST 378 / ARABAM 363: Women and War in the Middle East
- ANTHRCUL 252: Law and Culture
- ANTHRCUL 333: Non-Western Legal Systems, I
- ANTHRCUL 343 / POLSCI 342: E Europe: Revolution, Reaction & Reform
- ANTHRCUL 346 / HISTORY 347: Latin America: The Colonial Period
- ANTHRCUL 349: INdegenous Political Movements
- ANTHRCUL 447: Culture, Racism, & Human Nature
- ANTHRCUL 458: Topics in Sociolcultural & Ling Anthropology, section titled "Anthropology of Undocumented Migration"
- ARABAM 363 / AMCULT / WOMENSTD 368 / MIDEAST 378: Women and War in the Middle East
- ASIAN 259 / HISTORY 255: Modern India and S. Asia
- ASIAN / RELIGION 305: Religion and Violence in the Secular World
- ASIAN 329: Buddhism & Violence (only if elected FA19 or later)
- ASIAN / MIDEAST / HISTORY / MENAS / REEES 340: Genghis Khan to the Taliban
- ASIAN / AAS 345 / RCSSCI 346: Genocide/ Trauma in SE Asia, Africa, & Europe
- CLCIV / JUDAIC / HISTORY 257: Ancient Law
- CLCIV 375: War in Greek & Roman Civilizations
- COMM 439: Seminar in Journalistic Performance, sections titled "War, Revolution, and the New Media" or "Journalism in Hostile Environments"
- COMM 447: Women and Islam: The Politics of Representation
- COMPLIT 490: Comparative Cultural Studies, section titled "Translating Human Rights"
- EDUC / MENAS 463: Arab-Israeli Conflict
- ENGLISH 407: Topics in Lang & Lit, section titled "Lit & Human Rights"
- ENVIRON 201 / RCNSCI 202: Ecological Issues (only if elected FA19 or later)
- ENVIRON / HISTORY / PUBPOL 224: Global Nuclear Proliferation
- ENVIRON 308: Sustainability and Health (only if elected FA19 or later)
- ENVIRON 365: International Environmental Policy
- ENVIRON 490: War and Environment: A Lethal Reciprocity
- FTVM / GERMAN 333: Fascist Cinemas
- GERMAN 391 / HISTORY / JUDAIC 386: The Holocaust, section titled, "Issues in Race & Ethnicity"
- HISTART 393: Undergraduate Seminar, section titled, "Art & Resistance"
- HISTORY / PUBPOL / ENVIRON 224: Global Nuclear Proliferation
- HISTORY 230: HU Topics in History, section titled "Tracking Human Rights" or "War, Gender, Masculinity, Violence"
- HISTORY 287: Early Modern Spain & Portugal
- HISTORY 239: The World Before 1492
- HISTORY 240: The World Since 1492
- HISTORY 241: America and Middle Eastern Wars
- HISTORY / MENAS / JUDAIC 244 / MIDEAST 284: History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- HISTORY 254: Europe, 1648-Present: Legacies of War, Empire, and Revolution
- HISTORY / CLCIV / JUDAIC 257: Ancient Law
- HISTORY 306 / ISLAM / MIDEAST 319: History of the Ottoman Empire: The "Classical Age", (ca. 1300-1600)
- HISTORY 307 / ISLAM / MIDEAST 320: Ottoman History II
- HISTORY / RCSSCI 310: Globalization History: Making Modern World
- HISTORY 312 / POLSCI 362: History of European Integration
- HISTORY 318: Europe in the Era of Total War, 1870-1945, section titled "Europe in the Age of War"
- HISTORY 319: Europe since 1945
- HISTORY 328: HU Topics in History, section titled "Imperialism, Violence, & Human Rights"
- HISTORY 332 / SLAVIC / POLSCI / REEES 395 / SOC 392: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- HISTORY / MIDEAST / ASIAN /MENAS / REEES 340: Genghis Khan to the Taliban
- HISTORY 341 / POLSCI 397: Nations & Natonalism (only if elected WN20 or later)
- HISTORY 347 / ANTHRCUL 346: Latin America: The Colonial Period
- HISTORY / INTLSTD 348: Latin America: The National Period
- HISTORY / LACS 349: Revolutionary Movements in Modern Latin America
- HISTORY 363: The US and the World Since 1945
- HISTORY 384 / JUDAIC 388: Antisemitism
- HISTORY 407: Advanced Study in Comparative and Transnational History, sections titled
“Japan, Asia and WWII: Culture, History, Memory”
“Gender, Sexuality, & International Human Rights”
“Christianity and Politics in African History” - HISTORY 472: Topics in Asian History, section titled, "US-China Relations in 20th C"
- HISTORY / ISLAM 443 / MIDEAST 487: Modern ME History
- HISTORY 449: Topics in ME History, section titled "Caucasus Between Empires, 19th & early 20th Centuries"
- HISTORY 477: Law, History & the Dynamics of Social Change, section titled "Gender, Sexuality, and International Human Rights"
- HISTORY 478: Topics in Latin American History, section titled "The Colonial Period"
- HISTORY 480: Conflict & Diplomacy in the Caucusus
- HISTORY 496: History Colloquium, section titled "Arab-Israeli Relations" or "The End of Empires: Decolonization After World War II"
- HISTORY 537 / MIDEAST 419: The NE in Crusades, 945-1259
- HONORS 230: Honors Core SS, section titled "Violent Environments: Oil, Development, and the Discourse of Power"
- INTLSTD / HISTORY 348: Latin America: The National Period
- INTLSTD 385: International Topics in Social Sciences, section titled "Political Terror: State Repression of Human Rights"
- INTLSTD 386: Topics in International Security, Norms and Cooperation
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar, sections titled
“Women and Islam: The Politics of Representation”
“Fighting with Human Rights – Africa”
“Migration, Human Smugglings and Trafficking”
“History and Memory of Genocide”
“Gender, Sexuality, & International Human Rights”
“Christianity and Politics in African History”
“Norm Diffusion: International, Regional & Public Policy”
“The Politics of Debt” - INTLSTD 486: Topics in International Security, Norms and Cooperation
- ISLAM / MIDEAST 320 / HISTORY 307: Ottoman History II
- ISLAM / MIDEAST 321: Jihad in History
- ISLAM / MIDEAST / REEES / RUSSIAN 418: Islam and Russia (only if elected WN20 or later)
- ISLAM / HISTORY 443 / MIDEAST 487: Modern ME History
- JUDAIC / MENAS / HISTORY 244 / MIDEAST 284: History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- JUDAIC / HISTORY / CLCIV 257: Ancient Law
- JUDAIC 360 / MIDEAST 386: A Global History of the Jews of Spain
- MENAS / HISTORY / JUDAIC 244 / MIDEAST 284: History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- MENAS / ASIAN / MIDEAST / HISTORY / REEES 340: Genghis Khan to the Taliban
- MENAS / EDUC 463: Arab-Israeli Conflict
- MIDEAST 207 / RELIGION 277: The Land of Israel/Palestine through the Ages
- MIDEAST 326: The Arab-Israeli Conflict in Middle Eastern Literature and Film
- MIDEAST 284 / JUDAIC / MENAS / HISTORY 244: History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
- MIDEAST / ISLAM 320 / HISTORY 307: Ottoman History II
- MIDEAST / ISLAM 321: Jihad in History
- MIDEAST / HISTORY / ASIAN /MENAS / REEES 340: Genghis Khan to the Taliban
- MIDEAST / ISLAM / REEES / RUSSIAN 418: Islam and Russia (only if elected WN20 or later)
- MIDEAST 419 / HISTORY 537: The NE in Crusades, 945-1259
- MIDEAST 487 / ISLAM / HISTORY 443: Modern ME History
- NAVSCI / UC 410: Evolution of Warfare
- NEAREAST 378 / ARABAM 363 / AMCULT / WOMENSTD 368: Women and War in the Middle East
- POLSCI 342 / ANTHRCUL 343: E Europe: Revolution, Reaction & Reform
- POLSCI 353: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- POLSCI 360: Problems in World Politics
- POLSCI 362 / HISTORY 312: History of European Integration
- POLSIC 363: Intl Org & Integration
- POLSCI 364: Public International Law
- POLSCI 368: Modern Warfare
- POLSCI 369: Politics of International Economic Relations
- POLSCI 370: Comparative Foreign Policy
- POLSCI 372: Intl Security Affairs
- POLSCI 389: Topics in Contemporary Political Science, sections titled
"Democracy and Development in Africa"
"Law, Courts and Politics in Transition Countries"
"Comparative Constitutional Law" - POLSCI / REEES / SLAVIC 395 / HISTORY 332 / SOC 392: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- POLSCI 397 / HISTORY 341: Nations & Natonalism (only if elected WN20 or later)
- POLSCI 462: Strategic Interaction in World Politics
- POLSCI 498: Undergraduate Seminar in International Politics, all topics
- PUBPOL / ENVIRON / HISTORY 224: Global Nuclear Proliferation
- PSYCH 312 / ALA 228 / SOC 374: Intergroup Conflict & Coexistence
- RCLANG 324: Readings in Spanish, section titled "Media, Terrorists and Freedom Fighters" (only if elected WN20 or later)
- RCSSCI 226: Globalization: Social Theory & Practice
- RCSSCI / HISTORY 310: Globalization History: Making Modern World
- RCSSCI 346 / AAS / ASIAN 345: Genocide/ Trauma in SE Asia, Africa, & Europe
- RCSSCI 461: Senior Seminar, section titled “Gender, Sexuality, & International Human Rights”
- REEES / MENAS / ASIAN / MIDEAST / HISTORY 340: Genghis Khan to the Taliban
- REEES / POLSCI / SLAVIC 395 / HISTORY 332 / SOC 392: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- REEES / MIDEAST / ISLAM / RUSSIAN 418: Islam and Russia (only if elected WN20 or later)
- REEES / SOC 457: Nations: Identities, Movements, & Conflicts
- RELIGION 277 / MIDEAST 207: The Land of Israel/Palestine through the Ages
- RELIGION / ASIAN 305: Religion and Violence in the Secular World
- RUSSIAN / REEES / MIDEAST / ISLAM 418 : Islam and Russia (only if elected WN20 or later)
- SLAVIC / POLSCI / REEES 395 / HISTORY 332 / SOC 392: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- SOC 204: International Migration and the Politics of Membership in a Globalizing World (only if elected FA19 or later)
- SOC 250: Politics, Power, and Society
- SOC 350: Human Rights in the United Nations
- SOC 374 / PSYCH 312 / ALA 228: Intergroup Conflict & Coexistence
- SOC / REEES 457: Nations: Identities, Movements, & Conflicts
- SOC 495: Topics in Sociology, sections titled
“Global and Local Connections: Understanding our World at Home and Abroad”
"Citizenship & Human Rights"
"Human Rights & Socioeconomic Citizenship" - SOC 392 / HISTORY 332 / SLAVIC / POLSCI / REEES 395: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- SPANISH 439: Social Movements in Latin America/ Spain, section titled "The 'Environmentalization' of Social Struggles in Latin America
- UC 254: Sophomore ID Seminar, sections titled
"Legal Norms Intl Law"
"Human Rights Latin America / Roots of Protest Brazil" - UC 270: UC Special Topics, sections titled "Addressing Critical Global Issues", and "GSP: Defining Critical Global Issues"
- UC / NAVSCI 410: Evolution of Warfare
- WGS 304 (WOMENSTD 304) / AAS 304: Gender & Immigration
- WGS 345 (WOMENSTD 345): Special Topics in Gender in a Global Context, sections titled "Women's Policies and Society in India" or "Sexual Violence & the State"
- WOMENSTD / AMCULT 368 / MIDEAST 378 / ARABAM 363: Women and War in the Middle East
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.
Political Economy & Development (PED) (Sub-Major) (Fall 2016 - Summer 2020)
International Studies (Major)
Effective Fall 2025 Exclusions:International Studies majors must declare a sub-plan. The sub-plan will be notated on the student's official transcript. Students majoring in International Studies may only declare one sub-plan.
Advising
International Studies advisors will assist students in developing a program of study.
Students are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with an International Studies advisor to discuss International Studies prerequisite courses, requirements, declaring, academic planning, course selection, registration, senior releases, and other matters of concern. Advising for the PICS Honors plan is provided by the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education for the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS). For more information, visit the PICS Advising page.
Grade Policies
Students must earn a C- or better in all courses used to meet the requirements of the major, which are included in the minimum 34 credits and the GPA. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement are not included in the minimum 34 credits required for the major nor in the major GPA.
Prerequisites
The following requirements must be met before declaration:
- Completion of INTLSTD 101: Introduction to International Studies with a minimum grade of C-.
- Students declaring the Political Economy & Development (PED) sub-plan must complete ECON 101: Principles of Economics I with a minimum grade of C.
- Students must have enrolled in or completed 4th-term language proficiency.
Requirements
PICS Language Requirement for the Major:
Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be obtained prior to graduation; therefore, students should begin the language sequence early.
Language study is a vital part of any liberal arts education and students who major in International Studies should be well prepared to work in environments overseas, or in companies or organizations that interact regularly with people from other countries. The PICS language requirement will benefit students in broadening their skills and their vision of the world. Language fluency signals a deep level of expertise and commitment to international affairs to potential employers and graduate admissions committees.
Please see PICS website for further information about the sixth-term language requirement.
Sub-plans and Major Course Requirements:
- International Security, Norms & Cooperation (ISNC)
- Political Economy & Development (PED)
- Comparative Culture & Identity (CCI)
- Global Environment & Health (GEH)
Constraints
Courses used to meet the Core, Research Design, Regional, Sub-plan, and Elective requirements may not be used toward more than one requirement within the major; however, they may be shared with other majors and minors in accordance with LSA policies. Courses used to meet the PICS Language Requirement may not be used toward the requirements within the major.
Honors
Students who have declared a major in International Studies and are admitted to the additional Honors sub-plan must have an overall GPA of 3.5, a major GPA of 3.5 or higher, and complete a senior Honors thesis.
During their junior year, students interested in writing a thesis will enroll in INTLSTD 390 to prepare for senior year. Typically, INTLSTD 390 will be offered in both the Fall and Winter terms. INTLSTD 390 should be completed with an A minimum grade to ensure the skills and ideas needed for a successful thesis are developed. Enrollment in and/or completion of INTLSTD 390 is required for admittance to the Honors sub-plan. Students apply for the Honors sub-plan in the Winter term of their junior year. Admission decisions will be announced shortly after the end of the Winter term. Students taking INTLSTD 390 before their junior year may be admitted provisionally, with final admission contingent on maintaining the required GPA through the end of junior year. The PICS Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education will meet once with students at the end of their junior year, to review requirements, answer questions, and discuss research practices and principles.
Applications to the Honors sub-plan will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Overall and major GPA, 3.5
- Overall performance in INTLSTD 390
- Quality of the research proposal
- Success at obtaining a faculty advisor
During their senior year, students will enroll in INTLSTD 498 during Fall term and INTLSTD 499 during Winter term, both led by PICS’s Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education. The instructor will regularly meet with students as a collective and individually during their senior year. Each student will have an oral thesis defense in a meeting with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor and the Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education.
The thesis will be a minimum of 50 pages long. Students are responsible for obtaining a faculty expert to serve as a thesis advisor. The advisor and topic must be approved by the honors committee. The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, and Honors Education will determine student grades on the thesis and the level of honors earned in consultation with the faculty member serving as the thesis advisor.
The Coordinator of Experiential, Independent, & Honors Education provides advising for the Honors plan.
Political Economy & Development (PED) (Sub-Major)
Effective Fall 2016
Prerequisites
ECON 101 (Grade of C- or better).
Requirements
Additional Pre-requisites and/or requirements are listed on the International Studies Major page.
- Language Requirement: Sixth term proficiency.
- Core Courses (7 credits):
- INTLSTD 301: Topics in International Studies
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar
- Research Methods Course (3 credits): One research methods course chosen from the following list:
- CMPLXSYS 391 / POLSCI 391. Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- ECON 309: Experimental Economics
- ECON 401: Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- ECON 451 (or 405 prior to Fall 2014): Intermediate Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics I
- POLSCI 300 (or 499 prior to Winter 2016): Quantitative Empirical Methods of Political Science
- POLSCI 391 / CMPLXSYS 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- POLSCI 490: Game Theory & Formal Models
- SOC 210: Elementary Statistics (FA20 or later)
- SOC 310: Introduction to Research Methods (only until FA20)
- STATS 250: Introduction to Statistics & Data Analysis
- STATS 280: Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis (FA20 or later)
Note: Completion of the Methods requirement is recommended prior to enrolling in INTLSTD 301.
- Regional Course (3 credits): One geographic emphasis course devoted to a single world region or country that is related to foreign language of study.
- PED Courses (12 credits): Four courses, chosen from an approved list (see below), to gain knowledge in sub-plan area.
- At least one course must be an ECON course on approved sub-plan list. (Note: these courses may have additional prerequisites.)
- At least one course must be at the 400 level.
- Must include at least two academic subjects.
Note: Complete term specific sub-plan course lists may be found on the PICS courses website.
- Three electives (9 credits): The electives are designed to allow students to further personalize their major. Students will elect three advanced courses which will be expected to build upon the theme of their sub-plans. The selected courses should thus contribute to the coherence of the student's overall concentration. Students may select additional sub-plan, regional, or relevant study abroad courses, however there is no preapproved list of electives. Because there is no preapproved list, students must seek and obtain the approval of elective courses - on a course-by-course basis - from a PICS advisor. It is strongly advised that this approval be obtained before taking the class.
PED courses include, but are not limited to:
- AAS / HISTORY 247: Modern Africa
- AAS 260: The Political Economy of African Development
- AAS 408: African Economies: Social and Political Settings
- AAS 426: Urban Redevelopment, section titled "Cities in Contemp Africa"
- AAS 432: Violent Environments
- AAS 458: Issues in Black World Studies, sections titled
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
"Health & African Development"
"When China Comes to Town" - AAS 460: Africa & Post-war Development Theory & Policy
- AAS 497 / POLSCI 458: Party Politics & Democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa
- ANTHRCUL 298: Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology, section titled "Goods and Goodness"
- ANTHRCUL 328: Globalizing Consumer Cultures
- ANTHRCUL 334: Anthropology & Development
- ANTHRCUL 343 / POLSCI 342: Eastern Europe
- ANTHRCUL 439: Economic Anthropology & Development
- ASIAN / HISTORY 205: Modern East Asia
- BA 310: Cross-Cultural Business
- BA / STRATEGY 445: Base of the Pyramid
- EARTH / ENVIRON 380: Natural Resources, Economics & the Environment
- EAS 571 / ECON 471: Environmental Economics
- ECON 340: International Economics
- ECON 350: Comparative Economic Systems
- ECON 441: International Trade Theory
- ECON 442: International Finance
- ECON 444: The European Economy
- ECON 445: The Economy of the People's Republic of China
- ECON 461: The Economics of Development I
- ECON 462: The Economics of Development II
- ECON 466: Economy of Population (only if elected FA19 or later)
- ECON 471 / EAS 571: Environmental Economics
- ECON 490: Topics in Microeconomics, section titled "Trade and Financial Globalization" (only if elected FA19 or later)
- ECON 492: Capitalisms
- ECON / HISTORY 494: Topics in Economic History, section titled "History of the Atlantic Economy"
- ENVIRON 235: Environmental Economy and Policy
- ENVIRON 270: Our Common Future: Ecology, Economics & Ethics of Sustainable Development
- ENVIRON 302: Topics in Environmental SS, section titled "Energy Politics"
- ENVIRON 313 / POLSCI 394: Environment & Development
- ENVIRON 367: Global Enterprise & Sustainable Development
- ENVIRON 375 / ECON 370: Environmental & Resource Economics
- ENVIRON / EARTH 380: Natural Resources, Economics & the Environment
- FIN 412: International Finance Management I (only if elected FA19 or later)
- HISTORY / ASIAN 205: Modern East Asia
- HISTORY 239: The World Before 1492
- HISTORY 312 / POLSCI 362: History of European Integration
- HISTORY / SOC 332 / POLSCI / REEES / SLAVIC 395: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- HISTORY / ECON 494: Topics in Economic History, section titled "History of the Atlantic Economy"
- HISTORY 496: History Colloquium, section titled "The End of Empires: Decolonization After World War II"
- HONORS 230: Honors Core SS, section titled "Violent Environments: Oil, Development, and the Discourse of Power"
- INTLSTD 348: Latin America: The National Period
- INTLSTD 385: International Topics in SS, section titled "Indigenous Communities vs Globalization in South America"
- INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Seminar, sections titled
“Humanitarian Dilemmas”
“Migration, Human Smugglings and Trafficking”
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
“Origins of Economic Growth”
“Norm Diffusion: International, Regional & Public Policy”
“The Politics of Debt” - ORGSTUDY 440: Organizations in the Developing World
- POLSCI 336: Comparative Politics
- POLSCI 342 / ANTHRCUL 343: Eastern Europe
- POLSCI 343: Political Economy of Developed Democracies
- POLSCI 348: Political Economy of Development
- POLSCI 353: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- POLSCI 355: Democracy and Development in Africa
- POLSCI 362 / HISTORY 312: History of European Integration
- POLSCI 369: Politics of International Economic Relations
- POLSCI 387: Comparative Analysis of Government Institutions
- POLSCI 389: Topics in Contemporary Political Science, section titled "State & Market in Contemporary China"
- POLSCI 394 / ENVIRON 313: Environment & Development
- POLSCI / REEES / SLAVIC 395 / HISTORY / SOC 332: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- POLSCI 396 / SLAVIC 396 / REEES 396 / SOC 393: East Central Europe: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy
- POLSCI 458 / AAS 497: Party Politics & Democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa
- POLSCI 489: Advanced Topics in Contemporary Political Science, sections titled
“Business & Politics in Developing Countries”
“African Economies: Social and Political Settings”
"German Politics in Europe Since 1945" - POLSCI 497: Undergraduate Seminar in Comparative and Foreign Government, section titled “Development & the Quality of Governance”
- POLSCI 498: Undergraduate Seminar in International Politics, sections titled
“Politics of International Finance”
“Norm Diffusion: International, Regional & Public Policy”
“The Politics of Debt” - RCSSCI 226: Globalization: Social Theory & Practice
- RCSSCI 315: International Grassroots Development
- REEES / POLSCI / SLAVIC 395 / HISTORY / SOC 332: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- REEES 396 / SLAVIC 396 / POLSCI 396 / SOC 393: East Central Europe: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy
- SLAVIC / POLSCI / REEES 395 / HISTORY / SOC 332: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- SLAVIC 396 / POLSCI 396 / REEES 396 / SOC 393: East Central Europe: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy
- SOC 204: International Migration and the Politics of Membership in a Globalizing World (only if elected FA19 or later)
- SOC / HISTORY 332 / POLSCI / REEES / SLAVIC 395: Russia and the Soviet Union: Reform, Revolution, and the Socialist Experiment
- SOC 393 / SLAVIC 396 / POLSCI 396 / REEES 396: East Central Europe: Nationalism, Socialism, Democracy
- SOC 430: World Population Dynamics
- SPANISH 438: Political & Economic Thought in Latin America/Spain
- STRATEGY 310: The World Economy
- STRATEGY 361: International Management
- STRATEGY / BA 445: Base of the Pyramid
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the INTLSTD subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.