International Studies

Related Link:
- Course Catalog Description

Tahir Shad, Director
Goldstein Hall 229, ext. 7779

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, Business, and Sociology and Anthropology Departments. A special faculty committee formulates policy for the majors.

Majors must attain proficiency in one of the foreign languages taught at the College (through the 200 level), or pursue equivalent language study in another foreign language abroad.

Freshmen/Sophomore Courses

POL 101 and 104, ECN 111 and 112, and ANT 105. Each of these courses is required for the major.

Major Requirements: Among the nine upper-level courses required during the junior and senior years, all international studies majors must take:

In addition, majors in international studies will take a balanced program of two additional international-related, upper level courses from any one of the social science disciplines. The following are especially recommended:

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. 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.

Minor Requirements: There is no minor in international studies, though non-majors are encouraged to pursue a regional concentration offered in international studies (see following page). Speak to your faculty adviser about how a concentration might enrich your particular course of study.

Senior Capstone Experience: The Senior Capstone Experience in international studies is a thesis. By the beginning of the first semester of the senior year, each student must submit a research proposal to the Program Director for approval. A complete draft must be submitted by the end of that semester. Students should register for the SCE during the last semester of their senior year, at which time a final version of the thesis will be due. The senior thesis should be interdisciplinary in scope, methodology, and content. Theses will be assessed on the basis of Pass, Fail, and Honors. Students who wish to be considered for honors should request permission to attempt an honors thesis prior to submission of the final draft.

Study Abroad

Students wishing to major in international studies are required to pursue two off-campus experiences—including at least one semester abroad (two encouraged). Off-campus opportunities are available for qualified sophomores and juniors. Majors are not permitted to study off-campus in the fall semester of their senior year, and may study off-campus in the spring semester of their senior year only upon prior successful completion of their senior thesis. Washington College offers study abroad opportunities in the following locales:

Students are required to participate in one of the internship opportunities administered through the Department of Political Science or the International Studies program. Those of particular interest to international studies majors include:

Regional Concentrations

Regional concentrations are open to students of all majors and offer an interdisciplinary approach to the study of a particular region. They combine coursework at Washington College in history, economics, anthropology, political science, and culture and literature with at least one semester abroad in the region of focus. The regional concentration is designed to serve students who wish to develop a focus on a particular world region, for those who plan to enter business, government, or international agency service, and for those who are preparing for graduate study of a particular region.

Current regions of study include African Studies, Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, Near Eastern Studies, and West European Studies. For more information on regional concentrations see the College Catalog or the department's Web site, or consult with the faculty advisers listed below:

The Concentration In African Studies

Faculty Adviser: Tahir Shad
Director of International Studies

The Concentration In Asian Studies

Faculty Adviser: Andrew Oros
Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Studies

The Concentration In Latin American Studies

Faculty Adviser: Christine Wade
Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Studies

The Concentration In Near Eastern Studies

Faculty Adviser: Tahir Shad
Director of International Studies

The Concentration In West European Studies

Faculty Adviser: Andrew Oros
Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Studies