International Studies
Curriculum
The major in International Studies requires 33 hours of study in specific courses in addition to prerequisites for certain courses; this includes 15 hours of study from the basic curriculum. At least 18 hours from the Basic and Area Studies Curricula must be in courses at the 3000 level or above. A co-curricular requirement for the B.A. degree in International Studies is two years of college-level study of a foreign language or equivalent. The language requirement may be met through examination, the transfer of language study credit from another university, or by taking courses on campus.
The minor in International Studies requires 15 hours of study from the Basic Curriculum, nine hours of which must be in courses at the 3000 level or above. A co-curricular requirement for the minor is one year of college-level study of a foreign language or equivalent.
The minor as well as the basic curriculum part of the major must include one course from the category Introduction to World Cultures, one course from International Politics, one course from International Economics (with ECO 1311 and ECO 1312 as prerequisites), and two courses from Global Perspectives.
Basic Curriculum (for majors and minors)
Area Studies Curriculum (majors only)
Basic Curriculum
Introduction to World Cultures
ANTH 2301 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
HIST 1302 World Cultures and Civilization
SOCI 2377 Markets and Culture
International Politics
PLSC 1340 Introduction to Comparative Politics
PLSC 1380 Introduction to International Relations
International Economics
ECO 3321 International Economics Policy (prerequisites: ECO 1311 & 1312)
ECO 4357 International Trade (prerequisite: ECO 3301)
ECO 4358 International Macro Theory and Price (prerequisite: ECO 3302)
PLSC 3389 International Political Economy (prerequisites: ECO 1311 & 1312)
The Global Perspective
ADV 3354 International Advertising (SMU in London)
ANTH 3301/SOCI3301 Health, Healing and Ethics
ANTH 3310/SOCI3310 Gender and Sex Roles: A Global Perspective
ANTH 3327 Culture Change and Globalization: Social Science Perspectives
ANTH 3333 The Immigrant Experience
ANTH 3336 Gender and Globalization: Cultural and Ethical Issues
ANTH 3344 Cultural Aspects of Business
ANTH 3348 Health as a Human Right
ANTH 3365 The Rise and Fall of Superpowers
ANTH 3366/RELI 3366 Magic, Myth and Religion Across Cultures
ANTH 3368/SOCI 3368 Urban Life: A Cross-Cultural Perspective
ANTH 3384 Paradise Lost? The Archaeology/Ethics of Human Environmental Impacts
ANTH 3388 Warfare and Violence
ANTH 4303 Political Economy of Health
ANTH 4304 Migration and Ethnicity
ANTH 4307 Seminar in International Health
ANTH 4309 Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples, and National States
ANTH 4384 Global Issues and Development: An Overview (Seniors Only)
ARHS 1307 World Art Traditions: A Survey
BA 3300 Topics in International Management (Study Abroad Programs)
COMM 3321 International Public Relations (SMU in London)
CTV 3351 International Film History
CTV 4399 Global Media Systems
ECO 5359 Economic Development: Microeconomic Perspectives
ECO 5360 Economic Development: Macroeconomic Perspectives (prerequisite: EC 3301 and 3302)
ECO 5361 Natural Resources and Energy Economics
ECO 5362 Economic Growth
ENGL 3354 Non Western Culture and Literature (20th Century, Third World Texts)
FINA 4329* International Finance (Prerequisite: FINA 3320)
HIST 2380 Ethnic Regions of the Western World
HIST 3301 Human Rights: America's Dilemma
HIST 3306 Colony to Empire: U.S. Diplomacy 1789-1941
HIST 3307 The United States and the Cold War
HIST 3337 Ethical Dilemmas in a Global Age
HIST 3368 Warfare in the Modern World
HIST 3397 Modernity and Crises of Identity
HIST 3399 US Foreign Policy from the Spanish American War to Vietnam
MKTG 3300 Marketing Management Field Project (Study Abroad Programs)
MKTG 3348* Issues in International Marketing (no other topic) (prerequisite: MKTG 3340)
PLSC 3342 Making Democracy Work
PLSC 3365 Communism and Post-Communism
PLSC 3381 Current Issues in International Politics
PLSC 3382 International Organizations: Global and Regional
PLSC 3383 The American Foreign Policy Process
PLSC 3387 Political Geography
PLSC 3389 International Political Economy (also SMU in Oxford)
PLSC 3390 Negotiating International Trade
PLSC 4342 Why Nations Revolt
PLSC 4354 The Third World and North-South Relations
PLSC 4380 Special Studies in International Relations
PLSC 4381 National Security Policy
PLSC 4382 The Politics of Military Force
PLSC 4391 NAFTA and Free Trade in the Americas
PLSC 4398 Nuclear Weapons and World Politics
RELI 1304 Introduction to Western Religions
RELI 3366/ANTH 3366 Magic, Myth and Religion Across Cultures
SOCI 3340 Global Society
SOCI 4321 Immigration and Population Issues
Area Studies Curriculum
The Area Studies Curriculum requires International Studies majors to specialize in a particular geographical region, defined by a common historical and cultural experience. Students may choose to specialize in Asian, Latin American, European, or African and Middle Eastern Studies. A total of 15 hours must be taken in one of the Area Studies programs listed further. Three courses (9 hours) must be taken from Group I (Social Sciences) and two courses (6 hours) must be taken from Group II (Humanities and Arts) in the same geographical area.
The final three-hour requirement for the B.A. in International Studies is the Senior Seminar. The seminar, which must be taken on campus by all students, is designed as a capstone course where the students can integrate and apply what they have learned. The topic of the seminar will vary, depending upon the instructor. Past topics have included Immigration, the Formation of the European Union and International Law and Organizations.
ASIAN STUDIES
The minor in Asian Studies provides students with an opportunity to design an interdisciplinary program of study that will give them an in-depth knowledge of the history, politics, society, and culture of traditional and contemporary Asia. The program embraces all of the sub-regions of Asia, including East Asia (China, Japan, and Korea), South Asia (India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh), and the many countries of Southeast Asia. With such a diverse region it is especially important to take account of specific national cultures and traditions. To maximize the educational experience, students are strongly encouraged to spend at least one semester or summer studying in Asia. Most of the courses taught in University study-abroad programs in Asia may be applied to the Asian Studies minor.
The minor in Asian Studies requires 15 hours of study in specific courses. The first 6 hours (two courses) must be chosen from the four categories of the International Studies Basic Curriculum (see above). Each of the two courses must be from a separate category: either World Cultures, International Politics, International Economics, or Global Perspective. The next 9 hours (three courses) must be chosen from the Asian Studies curriculum (below), with at least one course from each of the two groups: Group I (Social Sciences) or Group II (Humanities and Arts). At least nine hours must be at the 3000 level or above. If a student is an International Studies major, only one course from the Area Studies curriculum may be double counted. A co-curricular requirement for the minor in Asian Studies is one year of college-level study of an Asian language. This requirement may be met through examination, the transfer of language study credit from another university, or by taking courses on campus.
Asian Studies Courses
Social Sciences (Group I)
ANTH 3316 Cultures of the Pacific Islands
ANTH 3317 Peoples of Southeast Asia
ANTH 3323 East Asian Cultural Traditions
ANTH 4390 Asian Society: Study Tour and Seminar (SMU in Australia)
BA 3300 Japanese Business (SMU in Japan)
ECO 4357 Japanese Economy (SMU in Japan)
HIST 2390 Civilization of India
HIST 2393 Japan before 1850
HIST 2394 China Before 1850
HIST 2395 Modern East Asia
HIST 3387 Asia and the West
HIST 3393 China in Revolution
HIST 3394/5 Problems in Asian History
HIST 3398 Women in Chinese History
HIST 4394 Modern History of China
PLSC 3346Japanese Politics and Society
PLSC 3352 Chinese Politics
PLSC 4340 Special Studies in Comparative Governments and Politics
PLSC 4353 Government/Politics of East Asia
PLSC 4386 International Relations of East Asia
SOCI 3300 Japanese Society (SMU in Japan)
WL 3350/SOCI 3341 Perspectives on the East Asian Woman
WL 3395 A Cultural Journey to China
Humanities and Arts (Group II)
ARHS 1305 Introduction to Far Eastern Art
ARHS 3394 Arts and Architecture of Japan
ARHS 3395 Arts and Architecture of India
ARHS 3396 Art and Architecture of China (Also SMU in Taipei)
CHIN 4381 Readings in Chinese Literature and Culture
CHIN 4382 Chinese Culture and Society in Film
RELI 1303 Introduction to Eastern Religions
RELI 3306 Introduction to the Hindu Tradition
RELI 3307 Introduction to Buddhism
RELI 3365 Understanding the Self: East and West
RELI 3367 The Religious Life of China and Japan
RELI 3376 Constructions of Gender: Sexuality and the Family in South Asian Religions
RELI 3377 The Cultural History of Tibet
RELI 3378 Religions of China
RELI 3382 Mysticism, East and West
RELI 3384 Hinduism and Colonial Encounters
RELI 3385 Philosophies of India
WL 3310 Transnational Chinese Cinema
WL 3312 Women in Modern China
WL 3322 Japanese Literature in Translation
WL 3325 Perspectives on Modern China
WL 3395 A Cultural Journey into China
EUROPEAN STUDIES
The minor in European Studies provides students with an opportunity to design an interdisciplinary program of study that will give them an in-depth knowledge of European history, culture, politics, and society. The program embraces all of Europe, from the Atlantic (including Great Britain and Ireland) to the Urals (including Russia) from the 1700 to the present. In the last half of the twentieth century, but especially since the end of the Cold War, Europe has been integrating economically, culturally, and politically. At the same time, the program is designed to take account of specific national cultures and traditions. To maximize the educational experience, students are strongly encouraged to spend at least one semester or summer studying in Europe. Most of the courses taught in University study-abroad programs in Europe may be applied to the European Studies minor. This minor requires 15 hours of study in specific courses. The first 6 hours (two courses) must be chosen from the four categories of the International Studies Basic Curriculum (see above). Each of the two courses must be from a separate category: either World Cultures, International Politics, International Economics, or Global Perspective. The next 9 hours (three courses) must be chosen from the European Studies curriculum (below), with at least one course from each of the two groups: Group I (Social Sciences) or Group II (Humanities and Arts). At least nine hours must be at the 3000 level or above. If a student is an International Studies major, only one course from the Area Studies curriculum may be double counted. A co-curricular requirement for the minor in European Studies is two years of college-level study of a European language, other than English. This requirement may be met through examination, the transfer of language study credit from another university, or by taking courses on campus.
European Studies Courses
Social Sciences (Group I)
ANTH 3355 Society and Culture in Contemporary Europe
ANTH 3355/PLSC 4343 Nationalism in Europe (SMU in Copenhagen)
BA 3300 European Business Environment: The EU (SMU in Copenhagen)
BA 4315 EU Seminar (SMU in Copenhagen)
HIST 2366 Europe in the Modern World: 1760 to Present
HIST 3303 Modern England, 1867-present
HIST 3328 Economic History of Europe
HIST 3330 Women in Modern European History
HIST 3334 France since 1789
HIST 3340 The Revolutionary Experience in Russia
HIST 3341 Soviet/Post Soviet Society and Politics, 1917 to Present
HIST 3343 20th Century European History (SMU in Copenhagen)
HIST 3346 Modern England, 1714 to the Present (also SMU in Oxford)
HIST 3363 The Holocaust
HIST 3365/66 Problems in European History
HIST 3365 The Making of Modern Europe (SMU in Spain)
HIST 3366 France, America and the Atlantic World (SMU in Paris)
HIST 3367 Revolutions in European History
HIST 3374 Diplomacy in Europe: Napoleon to European Union (also SMU in Oxford)
HIST 3376 Social and Intellectual History of Europe
HIST 3381/PLSC 4340 Political History of Contemporary Spain (SMU in Spain)
HIST 3383 Habsburg Monarchy: Making of East Central Europe
HIST 3385 The Balkan Peninsula in its European Context
HIST 4314 The Jews in Europe (SMU in Copenhagen)
HIST 4363 Inside Nazi Germany
HIST 4369 History of Modern Germany
HIST 4381 History of Spain, 1469 to the Present
HIST 4388 Georgian and Victorian England, 1714-1867 (also SMU in Oxford)
HIST 5367 Russia from the Kievan Era to 1881
HIST 5371 The French Revolution and Napoleon, 1789-1815
HIST 5373 Europe from Bismarck to WWI
HIST 5374 Recent European History, 1918 to the Present
HIST 5376 Europe in the Age of Enlightenment, 1715-1789
HIST 5390 Seminar in Russian History
HIST 5392 Seminar in European History
PLSC 3340 Western European Politics
PLSC 3351 Russia: Politics and Society (SMU in Copenhagen)
PLSC 3358 Government and Politics of Russia
PLSC 3359 From Communism to Democracy
PLSC 4340 Special Studies in Comparative Government and Politics (European topics)
PLSC 4340 Danish Politics and Society (SMU in Copenhagen)
PLSC 4358 Soviet Politics: Revolution to Revolution
PLSC 4380 Special Studies in International Relations (European topics)
PLSC 4384 American-Russian Relationship
PLSC 5341 Western European Politics: The European Union
PLSC 5383 European Conflict and Security Issues (SMU in Copenhagen)
SOCI 5363 Criminal Justice in Scandinavia (SMU in Copenhagen)
Humanities and Arts (Group II)
ARHS 1331 Nineteenth Century European Art
ARHS 1332 Twentieth Century Art: Sources and Style of Modern Art
ARHS 2352 From Impressionism to Abstract: European Art 1870 to 1920 (Copenhagen)
ARHS 3329 Paris Art and Architecture I (SMU in Paris)
ARHS 3332 Masters of European Art (SMU in Copenhagen)
ARHS 3333 Art and Architecture in Italy (SMU in Italy)
ARHS 3339 Spanish Art II: El Greco to Goya
ARHS 3344 Paintings in the Prado (SMU in Spain)
ARHS 3346 Paris Art and Architecture II (SMU in Paris)
ARHS 3347 XVIIIth Century European Art and Theatre: Staging Revolution
ARHS 3352 Impressionism, Symbolism and the Deviant Body: Making a Difference (SMU in Paris)
ARHS 3353 Impressionism in Context (SMU in Paris)
ARHS 4344/HIST 3349 Images of Power: Kings, Nobles and Elites (SMU in Paris)
CTV 2352 History of European Film (SMU in Copenhagen)
CTV 3310 Themes in European Film (Smu in Copenhagen)
CTV 3310 Screen Artists (SMU in Italy)
CTV 4305 Motion Pictures of Paris (SMU in Paris)
ENGL 3341 British Literary History II
ENGL 3344 Victorian Gender
ENGL 3360 Writers in Paris: The Invention of Modernism (SMU in Paris)
FREN 4373 French Civilization: The Age of Enlightenment (also at SMU in Paris)
FREN 4374 French Civilization: The XIXth Century (also at SMU in Paris)
FREN 4375 Introduction to French History and Culture
FREN 4376 Introduction to Francophone Cultures
PHIL 3333 European Thought: From Modernism to Post Modernism (SMU in Copenhagen)
PHIL 3352 History of Western Philosophy-Modern
PHIL 3370 Nineteenth Century Philosophy
PHIL 3370 Kierkegaard: Philosophy and the Meaning of Life (SMU in Copenhagen)
PHIL 3382 XXth Century European Philosophy
WL 2343 After Communism
WL 3303/SPAN 3373 Spanish Civilization (SMU in Spain)
WL 3307 The Belle Epoque and the Birth of Modernity (SMU in Paris)
WL 3323/HIST 2323 Russian Culture
WL 3331 Survey of Russian Literature in Translation
WL 3361 French Literature in Translation
WL 3369 Perspectives on Modern Germany
WL 3390 Italian Cinema
WL 3391/92 Italian Literature in Translation
AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES
The minor in African and Middle Eastern provides students with an opportunity to design an interdisciplinary program of study that will give them an in-depth knowledge of African and Middle Eastern history, culture, politics, and society. TThis minor requires 15 hours of study in specific courses. The first 6 hours (two courses) must be chosen from the four categories of the International Studies Basic Curriculum (see above). Each of the two courses must be from a separate category: either World Cultures, International Politics, International Economics, or Global Perspective. The next 9 hours (three courses) must be chosen from the European Studies curriculum (below), with at least one course from each of the two groups: Group I (Social Sciences) or Group II (Humanities and Arts). At least nine hours must be at the 3000 level or above. If a student is an International Studies major, only one course from the Area Studies curriculum may be double counted. A co-curricular requirement for the minor in African and Middle Eastern Studies is two years of college-level study of a Middle Eastern or African language. This requirement may be met through examination, the transfer of language study credit from another university, or by taking courses on campus.
African and Middle Eastern Studies Courses
Social Sciences (Group I)
ANTH 3314 Peoples of Africa
ANTH 3369 Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East
HIST 2355 History of The Ancient Near East and Egypt
HIST 2379 History of Islamic Empires
HIST 2391 Africa to the 19th Century
HIST 2392 Modern Africa
HIST 3326 The Venture of Islam
HIST 3378/79 Problems in African History
HIST 3386 History of the Caribbean
HIST 3389 Problems of Middle Eastern History
HIST 3390 The Modern Middle East: From the Ottoman Empire to OPEC
HIST 4364 History of South Africa: Background to Conflict
HIST 5395 A History of Iran
PLSC 3345 Government and Politics in the Middle East
PLSC 3347 Government and Politics of Africa
Humanities and Arts (Group II)
ARHS 3306 Mummies, Myths, and Monuments of Ancient Egypt
ARHS 3328 Byzantine Art
ARHS 3354 Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World
ARHS 3390 Traditional Arts of Africa
ARHS 3392 Islamic Art and Architecture: The Creation of a New Art
RELI 3329 Introduction to Islam
RELI 3362 Islam and the West
RELI 3372 Biblical Interpretation and the State of Israel
WL3349/HIST3392 The African Diaspora: Literature and History of Black Liberation
LATIN AMERICAN AND IBERIAN STUDIES
The minor in Latin American and Iberian Studies requires 15 hours of study in specific courses. The first 6 hours (two courses) must be chosen from the four categories of the International Studies Basic Curriculum (see above). Each of the two courses must be from a separate category: either World Cultures, International Politics, International Economics, or Global Perspective. The next 9 hours (three courses) must be chosen from the Latin American and Iberian Studies curriculum (below), with at least one course from each of the two groups: Group I (Social Sciences) or Group II (Humanities and Arts). At least nine hours must be at the 3000 level or above. If a student is also an International Studies major, only one course from the Area Studies curriculum may be double counted. A co-curricular requirement for the minor in Latin American and Iberian Studies is two years of college-level study of Spanish or Portuguese.
Social Sciences (Group I)
ANTH 3311 Mexico: from Conquest to Cancun
ANTH 3313 South American Indians of the Past and Present
ANTH 3354 Latin America: Peoples, Places, and Power
ANTH 3376 Caribbean Transformations
HIST 2384 Latin America: The Colonial Period
HIST 2385 Latin America in the Modern Era
HIST 3308 Film History of U.S. Hispanics
HIST 3317 Women in Latin American Societies
HIST 3320 The Spanish Frontier in North America
HIST 3321 The American Southwest
HIST 3324 Mexican Americans 1848 to Present
HIST 3380 History of Latin America (SMU in Spain)
HIST 3380 Problems in Ibero-American History
HIST 3381/PLSC 4340 Political History of Contemporary Spain (SMU in Spain)
HIST 3382 History of Mexico
HIST 4380 History of Spain to 1492
PLSC 3348 Government and Politics iof Latin America
PLSC 3349 Politics of Major Latin American Countries
PLSC 4340/HIST 3381 Special Studies in Comparative Government and Politics (SMU in Spain)
PLSC 4356 Latin American Political Economy
PLSC 4385 Inter-American Relations
PLSC 4391 NAFTA and Free Trade in the Americas
SOCI 3370 Minority-Dominant Relations
SOCI 3372 Chicanos in the Southwest
Humanities and Arts (Group II)
ANTH 3312 Meso-American Archaeology
ARHS 1308 Epic of Latin America
ARHS 3324 Arts and Cultures of Medieval Spain
ARHS 3338 Baroque Art in Italy, Spain and the New World
ARHS 3339 El Greco to Goya: Painting of the Golden Age
ARHS 3343 Goya and his Time
ARHS 3344 Paintings at the Prado (SMU in Spain)
ARHS 3360 Modern Painters in Spain (SMU in Spain)
ARHS 3376 Latin American Art
ARHS 3377 Art and Architecture of Hispanic New Mexico
ARHS 3382 Arts of the Ancient Andean Tradition: Chavin to Inca
ARHS 3383 The Ancient Maya: Art and History
ARHS 3385 The Aztecs before and after the Conquest: Mesoamerica 1400-1600
ENGL 3363Chicano/Chicana Literature
RELI 3353 Borderlands: Latino/Latina Religions in the United States
SPAN 3374 Spanish American Civilization (SMU in Xalapa)
WL 3303/SPAN 3373 Spanish Civilization (SMU-in Spain)
WL 3305 Latin American Literature in Translation
WL 3306 The Heart of Aztlan: Chicano Literature of the Southwest
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Special Undergraduate Offerings
Opportunities for independent study and research are available to majors in International Studies . Students must have the program director’s approval in order to register for these courses. Prerequisites are stated for each independent study course below. No more than two such courses may be counted toward overall major or minor requirements. The Director will indicate where these courses fit in the different section of the major or the minor.
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Directed Readings: Independent Study and Research
INTL 4102,4202,4302
These courses offer students, normally major or minors in International Studies, the opportunity to develop particular interests in the area of the discipline not covered by Departmental or other University course offerings. Basic requirements include both sophomore standing and appropriate introductory and advanced course preparations. Permission to enroll in these courses requires first the approval of a faculty sponsor who agrees to direct the course and approval of the director of the program.
Each student is primarily responsible for: 1) Finding a faculty sponsor; 2) Developing and submitting to the sponsor a plan of study to encompass the review and/or analysis of a significant segment of International Studies (or Latin American Studies) literature (at least equivalent to the assignments in a regular advanced course): 3) Preparing and submitting a statement of intent reflecting the foregoing and any other requirements agreed upon with the faculty sponsor.
How to register for the course
The student should initiate and complete all arrangements and submit a plan prior to the day of formal registration.
No student may remain in the course beyond the last date for withdrawing (WP) if she/he is not fulfilling the work requirements as established by the faculty sponsor.
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Internship in International Studies INTL 4306
This course offers students (normally majors or minors in International Studies or Latin American Studies) the opportunity to capitalize on practical experiences in International Studies/Latin American Studies fields and to gain formal credit for academic work related to those experiences. Students must have at least sophomore standing and appropriate introductory and advance course preparation. Basic requirements include both 1) a period of work (full or part-time) in a related organization, and 2) formal written work and, where appropriate, oral reports demonstrating the student’s ability to relate the practical experience to a significant segment of relevant scholarly literature.
Students will need to:
- Enroll in the Dedman College Internship Program (www.smu.edu/internship), which designs and sustains credit-bearing internship experiences that demonstrate and reinforce the skills acquired by students. For information on the program and internship tailored for International and Area Studies majors, contact Pamela Chiu (108 Clements Hall), at pchiu@smu.edu or call 214-768-4819.
- Attend the required Dedman College internship orientation and take advantage of the workshop on resume writing and interview skills.
- Secure interviews and internship placement
- Find a faculty member in the International and Area Studies program, who will act as the student’s advisor for the internship and file a “learning contact” with the faculty member and with the Internship program.
Each student intern has the responsibility to arrange the internship work experience, persuade a faculty member to act as sponsor, to develop and submit an internship plan, and fulfill the basic requirements of the course
Internship Plan
The plan developed in consultation with a faculty sponsor must include: 1) A description of the practical work to be (or already) undertaken. This should be accompanied by a letter from the internship organization outlining the student’s work responsibilities and the duration of the internship. 2) A description of the academic work to be undertaken, including at least a preliminary bibliography. 3) A completed statement of intent form “Internship in International Studies 4306”
How to register for the course
The student should submit the internship plan and have completed all arrangements prior to the day of registration. Should the student have completed the practical work of an internship prior to registration (as in some cases for summer internships), the student must have a letter from the organization where she/he interned describing the student’s functions and responsibilities during the internship. If the faculty sponsor determines this to be satisfactory, the student will be allowed to register for INTL or LAAM 4306 in a succeeding semester.
The student’s academic work in the course should result in a substantial term paper, at least 12 pages/300 words in length. Most importantly, the paper should demonstrate the student’s critical ability to relate the practical experience of the internship to the scholarly work in the bibliography.
This course may not be used for Departmental distribution requirements unless specifically approved by the director of the program.
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International Studies Program Departmental Distinction- INTL 4307
The program offer selected undergraduate majors an opportunity to undertake a special program of study and research, as a candidate for award of the B.A. degree with Departmental distinction. Criteria for Departmental distinction are:
- A minimum 3.0 over-all grade point average
- A minimum 3.5. average in the major
- Preparation for a department distinction thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor. The grade received must be A- or higher. This world will be accomplished by taking INTL 4307, and will be in addition to all other requirements for the major
- A minimum 3.5. average in a least two advanced courses related to the topic of the thesis; one of these may be a course taken outside the requirements for the major.
- Passing “with distinction” an oral examination of at least one hour, conducted by a faculty committee.
A student wishing to undertake work toward Departmental Distinction has to: 1) apply for admission to candidacy no later than December 1 (for May or August graduates) or May 1 (for December Graduation); 2) arrange for a distinction thesis advisor; 3) register for INTL 4307 during their last semester of Senior year; and met all criteria for distinction (see above). Potential candidates are strongly encouraged to begin developing a thesis several months ahead of registration for INTL 4307.
A faculty member volunteering to serve as distinction thesis advisor is primarily responsible for 1) recommending the student’s request for admission to candidacy and accept the candidate into INTL 4307; 2) advising the student on developing a topic, research methods and writing the thesis; 3) making sure that the student is making regular progress toward completion of the thesis; 4) scheduling the oral examination; 5) arranging for appointment of a distinction examination committee, no later than two weeks prior to the examination; 6) making sure that sufficient copies are submitted to members of the committee, no alter than one week prior to the examination; 7) chair the oral examination and submit a report signed by each member of the committee; and 8) assigning a grade.
The defense or oral examination will last at least one hour. Each member of the committee will have an opportunity to examine the candidate on topics relevant to the thesis and related courses taken by the students. All oral examinations must be completed before the first day of the semester’s final examination period.
Evaluation and Grading
The distinction thesis advisor will assign a regular letter grade for INTL 4307, reflecting the advisor’s judgment of the quality of work and research performed by the candidate. If the advisor anticipates that the grade may fall below A-minus before the date of the oral examination, the committee should be so informed; the committee may then, by unanimous vote only, decide to conduct the examination.
The distinction committee, by unanimous agreement of its members, will report in writing whether the student has (or has not) passed the examination “with distinction.”
If the
examination committee recommends against distinction, it shall report the
reasons in writing to the program director of designated representative. No
decision to deny distinction will be reported in the student’s permanent file or
transcript; but a grade must be reported to the Registrar.
Updated July 2011
