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International Studies Minor

Effective Winter 2021

Exclusions:

Not open to student with a major in International Studies.

Advising

The International Studies Advisor will assist students in developing a program of study. Students may visit the PICS website to learn more about advising: http://www.ii.umich.edu/pics/undergraduates/advising.html

Grade Policies

Students must earn a C- or better in all required minor courses. Language requirement courses are not included in the minimum 18 credits required for the minor nor in the minor GPA.

Prerequisites

Students must have started or completed 4th-term language proficiency. 

Requirements

Minimum Credits: 18

Students are required to complete a minimum of 18 credits of course work, exclusive of language study. These courses must include the following:

  1. A "geographic" emphasis composed of three courses devoted to a single world region (e.g., Africa, South Asia) or country (e.g., China, India). At least two of the three geographic courses must be 300-level or above.
  2. A "thematic" emphasis composed of three courses devoted to a given theme or topic (e.g., international conflict and security, human rights, music and ethnomusicology). At least two of the three thematic courses must be 300-level or above. 

    Geographic and thematic course selections must be approved by the International Studies Advisor. Each three-course set must possess intellectual coherence, and there must also be a clear and logical connection between the focus of the selected geographic and thematic courses. The International Studies advisor will consult the Director of PICS and members of the PICS Advisory Committee for guidance in assessing a proposed program of study.

  3.  INTLSTD 401: International Studies Advanced Topics Seminar will be offered for students in the minor. This course should be taken after junior year and considered a capstone course for the minor. 

  4. The International Studies Advanced Topics Seminar is a variable content course designed to bring an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of a topic of international significance. Some seminars will be team-taught and some will be taught by faculty with International Institute Sponsored Appointments. Seminars may occasionally be taught by visiting international scholars.

PICS Language Requirement for the Minor. 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.

Education Abroad. An education abroad experience is strongly encouraged. The International Studies advisor, in cooperation with the Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS), will assist students in identifying education abroad opportunities consistent with their needs and interests.

Limited funding will be made available to students in the International Studies Minor to encourage and facilitate participation in education abroad programs. Applications for these funds should demonstrate a connection between the overseas program and the student's area(s) of emphasis.

Although strongly encouraged, an education abroad experience is not required for the International Studies Academic Minor since some students may be unable to meet this requirement because of financial, family, or other considerations.

Constraints

One course can be "double-counted" and thus count for both the geographic and the thematic minor requirement. It is expected that most students will choose to double-count one course; those not choosing to do so will be required to complete 21 credits of coursework for the International Studies Minor.

The five or six geographic and thematic courses taken by a student must be from at least two academic disciplines. No more than one of the courses in the minor may be shared with requirements of a student's major program. 

International Studies (Minor) (Fall 2009 - Fall 2020)

Effective Fall 2009

Exclusions:

Not open to student with a major in International Studies.

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: http://www.ii.umich.edu/pics/undergraduates/advising.html

Prerequisites

Sixth-term proficiency in a language other than English must be satisfied through the study of a language used in the country or world area that is the focus of geographic coursework. The Director of the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS) will consider requests involving a different language, but it is expected that students will in all cases complete at least one year of coursework in a language used in the region of geographic emphasis. Any exceptions to the PICS language requirement must be approved by written consent of the PICS Director.

Requirements

Minimum Credits: 18

Students are required to complete a minimum of 18 credits of course work, exclusive of language study. These courses must include the following:

  1. A "geographic" emphasis composed of three courses devoted to a single world region (e.g., Africa, South Asia) or country (e.g., China, India). At least two of the three geographic courses must be 300-level or above.
  2. A "thematic" emphasis composed of three courses devoted to a given theme or topic (e.g., international conflict and security, human rights, music and ethnomusicology). At least two of the three thematic courses must be 300-level or above. At least two of the three thematic courses must give primary attention to countries or world regions beyond the United States. A third course devoted to the same theme can give significant attention to the United States if there is a clear intellectual reason for doing so.

    Geographic and thematic course selections must be approved by the International Studies Advisor. Each three-course set must possess intellectual coherence, and there must also be a clear and logical connection between the focus of the selected geographic and thematic courses. The International Studies advisor will consult the Director of PICS and members of the PICS Advisory Committee for guidance in assessing a proposed program of study.

  3.  An interdisciplinary International Studies Advanced Topics Seminar will be offered for students in the minor. This course cannot be taken prior to the second term of the junior year. Students enrolled in the minor may take the course more than once, but it can only be counted once toward 18 credits required for the minor.

  4. The International Studies Advanced Topics Interdisciplinary Seminar is a variable content course designed to bring an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of a topic of international significance. Some seminars will be team-taught and some will be taught by faculty with International Institute Sponsored Appointments. Seminars may occasionally be taught by visiting international scholars. At least one International Studies Seminar will be offered every year.

Education Abroad. An education abroad experience is strongly encouraged. The International Studies advisor, in cooperation with the Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS), will assist students in identifying education abroad opportunities consistent with their needs and interests. At least 10 credits toward the minor must be taken in residence (which can include courses in U-M study abroad programs).

Limited funding will be made available to students in the International Studies Minor to encourage and facilitate participation in education abroad programs. Applications for these funds should demonstrate a connection between the overseas program and the student's area(s) of emphasis.

Although strongly encouraged, an education abroad experience is not required for the International Studies Academic Minor since some students may be unable to meet this requirement because of financial, family, or other considerations.

Constraints

One course can be "double-counted" and thus count for both the geographic and the thematic major requirement. It is expected that most students will choose to double-count one course; those not choosing to do so will be required to complete 21 credits of coursework for the International Studies Minor.

The five or six geographic and thematic courses taken by a student must be from at least two academic disciplines. No more than one of these courses may be offered by the department of the student's disciplinary major (major). If the courses are taught by faculty members in a single department (e.g., Women's Studies, German, ALC, NES), the faculty members must be from at least two different disciplines.