Courses
The International Studies major gives students a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge as well as practical experience that prepares them for careers and advanced training in teaching, politics, business, journalism, international work, and public service. The curriculum is enhanced with opportunities for internships; study abroad and foreign exchanges; extracurricular activities such as the Model United Nations as well as on-campus programming through the International House and International Studies Council.
For a complete list of course descriptions, visit the Online Catalog.
A student majoring in International Studies is required to take at least nine upper-level semester courses, most of which will be in one of several major fields that include Economics, History, Foreign Language, Anthropology, and Political Science. To give additional focus to the program, majors may elect a concentration area in African Studies, Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, Near Eastern Studies, or West European Studies.
Majors must attain proficiency in one of the foreign languages taught at the college (through the 200 level), and are required to have at least one study abroad experience during their undergraduate career. Students also are encouraged to undertake at least one foreign or domestic internship. Internship opportunities are available to qualified majors through various private, government and international agencies
Students majoring in this field are under the guidance of the director of the International Studies program. The program is offered through the cooperative efforts of the Political Science, History, Economics, Foreign Languages, and Sociology and Anthropology departments. A special faculty committee formulates policy for the majors.
All those contemplating a major in International Studies are required to take the basic courses in Political Science 101, 104; Economics 111, 112; and Anthropology 105 in their freshman and sophomore years.
Prospective majors are strongly recommended to take History 103, 104 Modern World History unless their backgrounds are already adequate in these areas. Other preparatory electives recommended include Philosophy 111, 112 Comparative Religion, and Art 200 Introduction to the History of Western Art.
There is no minor in International Studies, though non-majors are encouraged to pursue a regional concentration offered in International Studies. Speak to your faculty adviser about how a concentration might enrich your particular course of study.
Among the nine major semester courses required during the junior and senior years, all International Studies majors must take:
- ECN 410. International Economics or ECN. 411 International Finance or BUS 410. International Business or POL. 365 International Political Economy
- POL 374. International Organization and Law or POL 361. International Politics
- INT 491. International Studies Seminar (taken in the first semester of the senior year)
In addition, majors in International Studies will take a balanced program of two additional international related courses, at the upper level, from any one of the social science disciplines. The following are especially recommended:
- ANT 236. Race and Ethnicity
- ECN 218. Economic Development
- POL 341. Politics of Development
- POL 365. International Political Economy
- POL 384. Revolution, Violence, and Terrorism
- POL 442. American Foreign Policy
- POL 490. Internship in Political Science
International Studies majors also will select two courses in any one of the social science and humanities disciplines that deal with the geographical area in which they have decided to concentrate, if such courses are available. Many of such courses available at Washington College and affiliated study abroad programs are printed under Lists A and B of the Regional Concentrations section.
International Studies majors may select their eighth and ninth courses in the major field from among social science and humanities courses related to world affairs, with the program director's approval. Students are encouraged to choose courses outside of their area of regional concentration to develop greater breadth in their understanding of the world.
The Senior Capstone Experience in International Studies is a research paper. By the end of the first semester of the senior year, each student must submit a research proposal to the director of the program for approval - normally as part of the International Studies Seminar. The final paper will be due at the end of the senior year. The senior research paper should be interdisciplinary in scope, methodology, and content. Students who wish to be considered for honors should request permission to attempt an honors thesis as a substitute for the regular senior paper.