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International Studies Major

General Distribution Requirement:

The following courses count toward the general distribution requirement in social science:Ìý , , , ,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý, ,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý, ,Ìý, ,Ìý, , , ,Ìý, , Ìý²¹²Ô»å . The following courses count toward the general distribution requirement in humanities: , , ,Ìý,Ìý, , ,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý,Ìý, , , , , Ìý²¹²Ô»å . The following courses count for fine arts general distribution:ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»å . Some topics courses (, , , ), as approved by the department, may also count toward the distribution requirements.

General Education Requirements

Courses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and US identities and differencesÌýwill be posted on the Registrar's web page in advance of registration for each semester.

Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirementsÌýsection of this catalog.

Honors Program:

International studies participates in the honors program, and encourages high performing students to do so. Eligibility requirements, application procedures and specific project expectations for the department are available from either the department office or the Academic Programs and Advising Office.

Topics Courses

, , , Ìý

Selected topics and new courses in globalization and world studies, not included among regular catalog offerings. To be announced at registration. (4 credits)

Independent Study

The department offers independent study options in the form of tutorials, independent projects, internships, preceptorships and Honors independent projects. For more information contact the department and review the CurriculumÌýsection of the catalog.

International Studies Major

Major Requirements

Students plan their fourteen-course major in consultation with their international studies advisor. All majors must complete the following:

1. Introduction. One of , , , ,
   
2. Language. Competency in a foreign language equivalent to six semesters of college work: examples are and ; and ; ; Portuguese through ; Russian through plus a semester immersion program abroad or its equivalent; or or . Students may complete this competency requirement while abroad. Likewise, students may meet this requirement in a language not regularly offered at the College by demonstrating equivalent ability, as confirmed by the department chair with appropriate consultation. Students for whom English is a second language have met the language requirement.
   
   Students choosing Classics as the disciplinary focus of their International Studies major may satisfy the I.S. language requirement by passing five semesters of Greek or Latin, plus a sixth semester of advanced independent or equivalent language work. Students focusing on Hebrew or Arabic may combine work at Macalester with coursework and/or experience abroad or at neighbor institutions.
   
3. Study abroad. One semester of study abroad on a program chosen at least in part to support the individual major plan. International students at Macalester meet this requirement by completing a semester at Macalester.
   
4. Capstone. A capstone experience of either a senior seminar in international studies or, in select cases, an advanced independent project developed under appropriate supervision and with the approval of the department chair.
   
   In addition to these four requirements, at the center of the major plan the student must complete a twelve-course sequence with the following characteristics:
   

5. Focus. To develop a coherent body of knowledge with a skill set, five trans/internationally focused courses drawn from a single disciplinary department including anthropology, biology, classics, economics, English, French, geography, geology, German studies, history, Japanese, philosophy, Spanish & Portuguese studies, political science, religious studies, Russian, or sociology. Please see List 1 below. One of these courses may be a non-introductory culture-neutral methods course in the chosen disciplinary department. Please see List 2 below. This would be in addition to the methods and skills elective (H).

   Alternatively, students may have an interdisciplinary focus (options are American, Asian, Environmental, Latin American, Media and Cultural, and Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies). Of the five trans/internationally focused courses, one must be a survey/introductory course in the interdisciplinary department, two courses must be cross-listed with a single disciplinary department, and one must be a non-introductory methods or skills course within or directly relevant to the interdisciplinary field of study (this would be in addition to the methods and skills elective (H)). All courses must be chosen in consultation with the International Studies Department Chair.

6. Intermediate courses. To ensure immersion in global and transnational issues, five international studies courses beyond the introduction. Students may take a second senior seminar as one of these five. At times international studies courses are cross-listed with other departments. Thus there can be up to a two-course overlap between the courses for E and F.
   
7. Complementary elective. Allows exploration of one or more interests on the major plan from another angle. The course is chosen from List 1 below. The course must be international, outside the disciplinary focus department (E), and cannot include International Studies courses (F) without chair approval.
   
8. Methods and skills elective. One course chosen from List 2 below (courses with fewer than 4 credits may be combined to meet this requirement).

Additional Notes:

1. Courses abroad. Courses taken during study abroad may count, when appropriate, toward the major; indeed students should tailor study abroad to contribute to the major plan.
2. Language courses. Courses taken to satisfy the language requirement may not be included in the fourteen-course major plan, except when the focus department under "E" is French, German, Japanese, Russian, or Hispanic studies. In these cases one advanced language course may be counted among the five disciplinary courses.
3. The major plan can include one internship.

List 1: Internationalist Courses

American Studies (some courses, focusing on the U.S., acceptable for non-U.S. students)

Anthropology

(if international focus)

(if international focus-possibly international public health focus)

Art (courses which focus on traditions outside the U.S.; studio courses do not count)

Asian Studies

Biology (chosen in consultation with relevant Biology faculty)

Chemistry

None

Chinese (most courses, other than language courses)

Classics

Computer Science

None

Economics

(if international focus)


(if international focus)

Educational Studies

English (all courses in British and/or world literature, but not U.S.-focused or creative writing courses.
English courses on "neutral" or thematic subjects (such as love or justice) are evaluated case by case.

(if international focus)



(if international focus)

(if international focus)





(if international focus)
(if international focus)

Environmental Studies (courses focused on international and/or transnational issues)

(if international focus)
(if international focus)




(if international focus)

French

Geography

(if international focus)

Geology

German Studies (most courses, other than language courses)

History

(if international focus)

Interdisciplinary Studies

International Studies

All courses

Japanese

Latin American Studies

Linguistics

Mathematics

None

Media and Cultural Studies (and other non U.S.-focused courses as they emerge)

(if international focus)
(if international focus)

(if international focus)
(if internationally focused enough)


(if international focus)
(if internationally focused enough)
(if internationally focused enough
(if international focus)

Music

Neuroscience

None

Philosophy

(if internationally focused enough)

Physics

None

Political Science

(if international focus)
(if internationally focused enough)









(if international focus)
(if international focus)

Psychology

None

Religious Studies

Russian Studies

Sociology

(if international focus)



(if international focus)

Spanish and Portuguese (most courses, not language)

Theatre and Dance

Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

(if international focus)

These departments offer some courses, focusing on the United States, acceptable for use on the International Studies major plan of non-U.S. students: American Studies, Psychology, and Urban Studies.

These departments typically do not offer courses that count toward the major: Chemistry, Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Science, Neuroscience, Physical Education, and Physics/Astronomy.

List 2: Methods and Skills Courses

Anthropology

Biology

Computer Science

Economics

Geography

Geology

Linguistics

Mathematics

Media and Cultural Studies

Philosophy

Political Science

Psychology

Religious Studies

Sociology

Statistics