Interdisciplinary Major

Our world has become globalized, with organizations, corporations, and individuals from around the world interacting on a daily basis. International Studies majors learn the importance of understanding and experiencing diverse cultures and the skills to work together on solutions to global challenges. International Studies is an interdisciplinary major, coordinated by the departments of Anthropology, Business Management, Economics, History, Political Science, and World Languages and Cultures. The major requires coursework drawn from these departments and supplemented by other departments and courses taken abroad. All International Studies majors study abroad for at least one semester, at one of twenty-eight partner programs managed by our Global Education Office. Majors also must engage in “experiential learning” to link real-world experiences to classroom-based learning. Other opportunities to make such linkages exist on campus as well, through our vibrant Model United Nations program, the student-run International Studies Council, foreign language “coffee hours,” lectures from internationally known speakers sponsored by the Goldstein Program in Public Affairs and the Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture, and other on-campus programming. After graduation, our majors go on to apply their education and skills in a wide range of careers, including business, journalism, non-profit organizations, politics, teaching, and public service. Double majors also find International Studies a useful supplement to all of Washington College’s major fields of study. There is no minor in International Studies, though non-majors (and majors) are encouraged to pursue a related regional or functional minor listed on the Related Programs tab.

1. 13 four-credit courses, taken across at least five academic departments

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These courses are offered in a wide range of academic departments at Washington College and abroad, including Anthropology, Business Management, Economics, History, and Political Science as well as most foreign language courses above the 302 level and courses in departments such as Art, English, Philosophy, and others. A list of pre-approved courses is published in the on-line schedule of classes each semester. At least three of these courses are typically completed during the required study abroad component of the major.

2. Foreign language requirement

Option One: completion of a 202-level or higher foreigadn language course at Washington College or abroad.

Option Two: completion of at least four credits of study of an approved language not taught at Washington College while studying abroad. (This option may also require students to separately fulfill the College-wide foreign language requirement.) Note (1): students with a documented learning accommodation related to language acquisition may substitute two alternative courses towards this requirement. Note (2): majors may also count foreign language courses above the 302 level toward the five upperlevel elective courses for the major, as discussed under the 13-course requirement above.

Option Three: native speakers of a foreign language may be excused from the foreign language requirement upon request to the Director of International Studies.

3. Semester abroad requirement

Majors must study abroad for one semester at one of the programs offered through the Global Education Office before the fall of the student’s senior year.

Note (1): students must attain a GPA of at least 2.5 to be considered for study abroad. Failure to achieve this GPA by the fourth semester at Washington College may require students to pursue a different major or to extend their graduation beyond the typical eight semesters.

Note (2): a combination of short-term study abroad programs shall not be substituted for this requirement, though short-term study abroad does satisfy the experiential learning requirement discussed below.

Note (3): students may petition the Director of International Studies to pursue a semester-long equivalent at a non-Washington College program to satisfy this requirement, though ordinarily this would require withdrawal from the College during the time of this experience (apart from a semester-long summer experience).

Note (4): international students pursuing the major may be excused from this requirement, though they are encouraged to study abroad as well.

4. Experiential learning requirement

Majors must complete one activity from an approved list of options, including an internship or volunteer work related to international studies, study abroad beyond the one-semester requirement, or participation in an off-campus Model United Nations simulation. A worksheet that details how majors have completed this requirement must be submitted once this activity is completed. See the experiential learning page of the International Studies website for further information. Note: An internship or volunteer work should consist of at least 80 hours of work and may be pursued for academic credit.

5. Senior capstone experience (SCE) requirement (2-4 credits)

Andrew Oros, Director
Clayton Black
Anjali Chandra
Nicole Grewling
Aaron Lampman
Carrie Reiling
Tahir Shad
Maria M. Vich
Christine Wade