International Studies Major Requirements
The international studies major at Spelman is rigorous and focused. The structural integrity is maintained by an oversight committee composed of the major adviser, the study abroad adviser, chairs of the departments with core courses in the major, and the chair of world languages and literature. The charge of the committee is to ensure that major courses meet stated goals and objectives.
Students are required to select courses in a specific issue area or country area, designated as a “track.” Track selection ensures that students acquire a specialized core of knowledge. The first two courses in the major are interdisciplinary.
Major Requirements
Students should begin the major in the sophomore year. Courses The major consists of 40 credit hours - 20 hours of core courses designed to introduce the concepts and organizing frameworks and 20 hours of elective courses designed to provide competence in a specific geographic or issue area.
The elective courses must all be at the 300 level or above. Courses must be selected from two departments at minimum.
Core courses:
IS 211, Introduction to International Studies
IS 212, World Politics
History 303, Foundations of the Modern World
Economics 324, Economic Development of Emerging Nations or
Economics 424, Globalization and Development
IS 411, Senior Thesis.
Elective courses:
These courses must be chosen from the following issue or geographic area: International Development, Cultural Studies, Latin America, Africa, or Asia.
Additional Requirements:
Economics 241 and Economics 242, Principles of Macroeconomics and Principles of Microeconomics must be taken as a pre-requisite to Economics 324.
Students who take Economics 241 only should take Economics 424. Economics 241 is therefore a cognate course for the major. The course may be used to satisfy the Social Science requirement for the College core.
Students interested in admission to upper tier graduate or professional schools in International Studies should take both Economics 241 and Economics 242.
The International Studies major should successfully complete at least two courses in a foreign language at or above the 300 level.
One semester of Study Abroad is required. It is suggested that International Studies majors go abroad during the first semester of the junior year. Students will receive major credit for two electives taken during Study Abroad. International students may be exempt from the Study Abroad requirement.
A grade of C or better is required for the successful completion of major courses.