Our undergraduate program equips students with interdisciplinary knowledge, critical analytical skills and international perspectives on real world challenges. Students study a range of critical social theory, international political economy and cultural analysis. The undergraduate core consists of seven classes that examine culture, migration, conflict, governance, popular movements, and identities. Through these courses, students acquire critical reading, writing, research, and problem-solving skills. In addition to the core, students take a set of five courses that forms their concentration. The five courses can be from international studies and from other disciplines.
The BA program is unique for its interdisciplinary approach to international studies. It focuses on how power and inequality lie at the heart of academic inquiry. Unlike conventional programs that focus on international security and economics, our program addresses the economic in conjunction with the political and social. Our undergraduates develop strong writing skills, and second-language proficiency through two years of intensive language study, and we encourage study abroad in a country where the second language is spoken. Many of our students have studied abroad with Boren, Fulbright, and other fellowships. Our majors present at national conferences like the MWSA, and ISA. We have an exchange fellowship with Sciences-Po in Menton, France, for students who want to study about the Middle East and North Africa. Our majors graduate with a range of international and interdisciplinary skills, an ability to negotiate social and cultural complexity, and to question conventional wisdom. Additionally, our students are often engaged in activism, writing and social justice work locally and internationally.
Internships
Students in the INT Department pursue internship opportunities to gain job experience, investigate career possibilities, earn academic credit, and round out their concentrations. We work with the University Internship Program and the Steans Center to help students find or create an internship that suits their particular interests. Our students have worked at non-profit organizations, consulates, government offices, international businesses, and cultural institutions, including RefugeeOne, the Council for American-Islamic Relations, the Puerto Rican Cultural Institute, and the European Community Commission’s Office in Brussels, which offers a unique research internship.
Study Abroad Programs
All International Studies majors are encouraged, but not required, to participate in study abroad programs. Study abroad challenges students to develop cultural competency, expand their education through diverse intellectual perspectives, and engage with local and global challenges. DePaul University sponsors study abroad opportunities with a range of course offerings, including intensive language-learning classes, cultural and historical studies, public service, and business. Some INT students pursue study abroad programs outside of DePaul that match their particular interests.
Employers of Graduates
The combination of language training with rigorous preparation in interdisciplinary social sciences and political economy opens doors to careers in nonprofits and community organizations, international non-governmental organizations, international diplomatic entities, international law, international commerce and cross cultural communications.
Combined Bachelor's + MA Option
The Department of International Studies offers a combined degree program that allows academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete their current bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in International Studies in only one additional year. This also allows majors to take advantage of the Double Demon Scholarship worth a 25% discount on tuition. This program is open to all INT majors. Students must apply in the spring of their junior year. Students interested in the bachelor's + MA program in International Studies should contact the INT academic advisor.
Graduate School
Students who complete the major in International Studies are prepared with the writing and critical thinking skills necessary to go on to graduate school and many choose to pursue advanced degrees in the political, economic, anthropological, sociological, geographical, historical, linguistic, or literary fields. We have placed students in prestigious graduate programs with membership in the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs, including those at Johns Hopkins University, Tufts University, University of Maryland, Georgetown University, University of California at San Diego, and University of Colorado at Boulder. Additionally, our students have entered University of California at Berkeley, University of Chicago, Emery University, University of Illinois, Indiana University, University of Michigan, Northwestern University, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Yale University in languages or the social sciences.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 84 |
| Major Requirements | 52 |
| Open Electives | 56 |
| Total hours required | 192 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Identify and critically analyze environmental, social, geopolitical, cultural, and/or economic factors that produce global inequality, and how these present and/or are experienced at various scales.
- Identify and differentiate relevant primary and/or secondary sources for research projects and create appropriately formatted bibliographies and citations using accepted scholarly styles.
- Communicate effectively in writing, speaking or through other media.
- Identify and use relevant sources in languages other than English in research projects and papers.
- Undertake rigorous collaborative research projects and convey the findings in written work, presentations, or other media.
College Core Requirements
Study in the Major Field
The student’s course of study in the College consists of three parts: Liberal Studies, the major field, and electives. Together these three parts contribute to the liberal education of the student which is the common purpose of all study in the College. By “liberal education” the College understands not only a deep and thorough knowledge of a particular area of study but a knowledge of the diverse areas of study represented by criticism, history, the arts, the behavioral and social sciences, philosophy, religious studies, the natural science, and mathematics.
The major field program generally is built upon a set of core courses and a specialized “concentration.” The number of courses required for a major varies by department. Most students go beyond the minimum requirements, electing additional courses which both broaden and deepen their understanding of their chosen discipline.
Because no academic major program is built in isolation, students are required to pursue a number of electives of the student’s choice. The inherent flexibility of this curriculum demands that the student consult an academic advisor at each stage in the total program and at least once prior to each registration.
Students will be prompted to visit the College Office for their official graduation check early in their senior year.
Declaration of Major, Minor and Concentration
All students in the College are required to declare a major field prior to beginning their junior year. The student will then be assigned a faculty advisor in the major field department or program and should make an appointment to see that advisor at his or her earliest convenience.
Students must declare or change majors, minors, and concentrations, via Campus Connection. However, for the purpose of exploring the possibility of changing a major field, the student should consult an academic advisor in the Office for Academic Advising Support.
The Modern Language Requirement (MLR)
All students will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language (i.e., a language other than English) equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. This Modern Language Requirement (MLR) may be demonstrated by:
- placing into 104 or above on the DePaul language placement exam
- completing the last course or earning AP/IB credit for the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language (e.g. 103 for DePaul language classes)
- completing a college course or earning AP/IB credit for a college course beyond the first-year level in any language (e.g. 104 or above for DePaul language classes)
- completing the final course of a four-year sequence of the same modern language in high school*
- completing a proctored exam by BYU and passing the exam (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
- completing a proctored Written Proficiency Test (WPT) by Language Testing International (LTI) and achieving a score of Beginner High or above (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
*Students are strongly encouraged to take the DePaul language placement exam even if they have met the MLR via study of a language in high school. This will ensure continuation of language study at the proper level.
Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.
Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College will abide by the MLR in place on the effective date of the ICT, regardless of when they first matriculated at DePaul.
Students who have met the MLR and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” (see below).
The Modern Language Option (MLO)
The Modern Language Option is available to all BA students who wish to study a modern language beyond the level required by their College, and to all other undergraduate students without a modern language requirement who wish to study a language at any level.
Students selecting the MLO may substitute a sequence of three courses in the same language for three domain courses.
The three MLO substitutions must be made in three different domains, and any substitutions must be consistent with the principle that students complete at least one course in each learning domain.
MLO substitutions may not be used to replace requirements in the Math & Computing, and Scientific Inquiry, domains.
Students majoring in one modern language may use the Modern Language Option for study of a second language at the Intermediate level or above.
Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Option.
NOTE: Please contact your college/school regarding additional information and restrictions about the Modern Language Option.
External Credit and Residency
A student who has been admitted to the College begins residency within the college as of the first day of classes of the term in which the student is registered. Students in residence, whether attending on a full-time or part-time basis, may not take courses away from DePaul University without the written permission of the college. Permission must be obtained in advance of registration to avoid loss of credit or residency in the college; see the LAS website for more information.
Liberal Studies Requirements
Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.
| First Year Program | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Quarter | ||
| LSP 110 or LSP 111 | DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO | 4 |
| Focal Point | ||
| LSP 112 | FOCAL POINT SEMINAR | 4 |
| Writing | ||
| WRD 103 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 | 4 |
| WRD 104 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| MAT 120 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 | 4 |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Race, Power, and Resistance | ||
| LSP 200 | SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE | 4 |
| Junior Year | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Required | 4 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Capstone | ||
| INT 301 | SENIOR SEMINAR 1,3 | 4 |
- 1
Students must earn a C- or better in this course.
- 2
Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by credit already earned for advanced math coursework or by passing a dedicated proficiency exam. Students who complete MAT 120 and both a Computational Reasoning course and a Statistical Reasoning course in the Math and Computing Domain take one less Learning Domain course. Students may not apply the course reduction to any Domain where only one course is required, and cannot be applied to the SI Domain.
- 3
A student majoring in International Studies (INT) is required to complete the Capstone offered by the INT Department. This is the case even if a student is double majoring (or pursuing a dual degree) and the secondary major (or degree) requires its own Capstone. An INT major in the University Honors Program shall take the University Honors Capstone and the INT Capstone.
Learning Domains
Arts and Literature (AL)
- 3 Courses Required
Historical Inquiry (HI)
- 1 Course Required
Math and Computing (MC)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 CR Course and 1 SR Course]
Philosophical Inquiry (PI)
- 2 Courses Required
Religious Dimensions (RD)
- 2 Courses Required
Scientific Inquiry (SI)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 Lab Course and 1 SWK Course]
Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)
- 2 Courses Required
[ GEO 201 recommended]
Notes
See an advisor to utilize the modern language option.
Specified required courses within Liberal Studies may have grade minimums (e.g. C- or better). Please consult your advisor or your college and major requirements.
Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or as the Experiential Learning requirement.
In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| INT 100 | INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (*INT 100 is waived and open electives increased by 4 credits for students with 30+ transfer credits (excluding test credits) | |
| INT 200 | INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL ECONOMY (prerequisite to INT 205) | 4 |
| INT 201 | NATION STATES, NATIONALISM, EMPIRE | 4 |
| INT 202 | THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | 4 |
| INT 203 | INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENTS AND SOCIAL CHANGE | 4 |
| INT 204 | CULTURAL ANALYSIS | 4 |
| INT 205 | INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | 4 |
| INT 206 | IDENTITIES AND BOUNDARIES | 4 |
| INT 301 | SENIOR SEMINAR (counts for the LSP Capstone) | 4 |
| Select five courses in an individualized concentration | 20 | |
| Second language proficiency | ||
Individualized Concentration (5 Courses)
All international studies majors are required to complete a twenty-credit individualized concentration designed in consultation with their faculty advisors. This concentration provides students with a depth of knowledge on a particular theme, approach, region, and/or question of some international importance. The concentration is restricted to 300-level INT courses (including cross-listed courses), with the following exceptions:
- Study Abroad: Up to eight credits (two courses) from Study Abroad may be counted toward the concentration, if approved in advance by the student's faculty advisor.
- Double Majors/Minors: Up to eight credits (two courses) in a double major or minor can be applied to the concentration, if approved in advance by the student's faculty advisor.
Second Language Proficiency
Proficiency in a language other than English is required and can be demonstrated through passing grades in college coursework through the intermediate (second-year) level, up to and including 106. Students with second language proficiency in a language taught at DePaul (go.depaul.edu/languages) may complete the language placement test through D2L. To request access, go to Campus Connect > New Student Homepage (select center title bar where is says Student Homepage) > Next Steps > Modern Language Placement Test. You’ll be directed to a new web browser tab and prompted to log into D2L. For languages not taught at DePaul, students may pay a fee to an external language test provider to demonstrate language proficiency in another language. Please visit go.depaul.edu/proficiency for additional instructions.
Open Electives
Open elective credit is also required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours. International Studies majors have 56 open elective credit hours. Courses taken to meet the second language proficiency requirement may count as electives, Honors Program language requirement or learning domain classes in the Liberal Studies Program per the Modern Language Option.