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International Studies Co-Major Requirements

International studies adds a global perspective to enhance all areas of study.

The degree in international studies is available only as a co-major in conjunction with a bachelor's degree major in another academic discipline. The co-major also can be combined with a bachelor's degree in a professional school such as business or journalism.

Co-major

First- and Second-year Preparation. Prospective co-majors should enroll in three of the following core courses (or their honors equivalents) in the first two years:

ECON 104: Introductory Economics
GEOG 102: Principles of Human Geography
POLS 170: Introduction to International Politics
POLS 150: Introduction to Comparative Politics

Enrollment in these courses counts toward College principal course distribution requirements in the social sciences. Students planning to pursue the co-major are encouraged meet with departmental advisors to officially declare the major. Faculty advisors for the comajor are listed below. Students are strongly urged to apply to the comajor by the beginning of their junior year.

Suggestions for completing the comajor in a timely manner can be found in the following Microsoft Excel (xls) files:

• B.A. with Comajor in International Studies with Language Requirement
• B.G.S. with Comajor in International Studies with Language Requirement
• B.G.S. with Comajor in International Studies without Language Requirement

Requirements for the Co-major. Students must complete three of the four core courses and 24 to 28 additional hours (at least 18 hours at the junior/senior level) in three categories: basic skill development (language or economics), regional expertise (course work or study abroad), and a substantive specialization. A list of courses that may be used to fulfill the latter two categories is listed below (Menu of International Studies Courses).

Basic Skill Development.

Option 1:
Students take at least 6 hours of language study beyond the CLAS general education requirements (or 6 hours beyond the requirements of a student's professional school). This additional language study can be in the same language used to fulfill the general education requirement or a new language appropriate to the student's area of regional expertise.
OR
Option 2:
Students take two of the following international economics courses: Microeconomics (ECON 520 or ECON 521), Macroeconomics (ECON 522 or ECON 523), International Trade (ECON 604) and International Finance (ECON 605). Students in this option may petition the director to substitute ECON 142 or ECON 144 for ECON 104 in the core requirements.

Regional Expertise.

Students must take 9 hours of course work focused on a particular region of the world. This can be fulfilled by participating in a KU or KU-affiliated study abroad program, by enrolling in three courses on campus (drawn from one of these regional groups: Africa and the Middle East, Asia, Europe, South and Central America and the Caribbean, Russia and Eastern Europe), or by combining these two activities. For instance, a student might study in Paris for the summer (6 hours) and enroll in POLS 652 Politics in Western Europe at KU. Language courses taken abroad may count in this section only if they are at a level beyond the basic skill development requirement. For list of courses, see menu of international studies courses link below.

Substantive Specialization.

Students must take 9 hours of course work from one of these four specializations:

• Comparative Political and Social Systems;
• Conflict and Cooperation;
• Culture, Ethnicity, and Belief Systems;
• Political Economy.

There is no limit to the number of courses that can count for both KU general education requirements and the co-major. No more than 12 junior/senior hours (300 level or above) from a student's primary major may count toward the co-major. Students taking the co-major as a third major may double-count one additional course. No courses may be double-counted within the co-major. Courses taken abroad may not be used to meet both the regional expertise section and the skill development or specialization sections. For list of courses, see menu of international studies courses link below.

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Requirements Checklist

International Studies Co-Major course allowance request form

Menu of International Studies Courses


Advising and Administration

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