The International Studies Department is dynamic. An interdisciplinary undergraduate program that combines social + cultural analysis. We train students to critically analyze the problems facing their communities and the world and develop solutions informed by an ethic of social justice.
We emphasise research and writing at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum. Students learn efficient research techniques that enable them to investigate a problem. International Studies (INT) courses enable students to locate, read and understand source material in different disciplines, as well as government documents and electronic databases. By graduation, INT students command the basic analytical vocabularies
of geography, political science, micro and macroeconomics, history and cultural
anthropology.
We encourage our majors to incorporate internships, community service, study abroad programs, conference presentations, and student organization involvement in order to round out the undergraduate curriculum.
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
Individualized Concentration
The purpose of the concentration is to provide students with a depth of knowledge in an area that is meaningful to them. Some of the more common themes that students have focused on in the past include area studies of various regions (European studies, Latin American studies, etc.), topical studies (international political economy, war and peace, etc.), and integrated studies (emerging societies, trade blocs, global environmental issues).
Students choose their concentration courses in consultation with the advisor assigned to them once they have decided upon a concentration topic. Students consult with their advisors in order to tailor their concentration courses to their specific area of study. After consultation, the faculty advisor will forward a list of a minimum of concentration courses to the advising office in the LAS College. Courses not certified by the advisor as concentration courses will not count toward the major. Instead, they will appear on transcripts as elective courses. It is therefore vital that you meet with your advisor early to choose a concentration, and regularly to discuss and gain approval for any changes in that concentration.
Foreign Language Requirement
The minimum requirement is course work through the 106 (intermediate) course in a language of the students choice. With the approval of the director, proficiency in a foreign language can also be demonstrated by examination. However, international studies students are expected to gain fluency in a single foreign language and to continue studying it beyond the intermediate level. Students are strongly encouraged to continue their work in a language through a study abroad program. The Office of the University Registrar administers all assessment and proficiency tests.
Study Abroad Programs
All international studies majors are encouraged, but not required, to participate in study abroad programs. There is no other internship experience that can better prepare one for international work than study abroad. DePaul University's Study Abroad Program works closely with the International Studies Department in formulating opportunities for students that are intellectually rigorous and linguistically appropriate. Currently ten- to fifteen-week programs are offered annually in Belgium, China, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland and Spain. The programs in Europe and Japan can often be extended to a full year. For more information, contact the Study Abroad Program office at (773) 325-7450 or visit their website.
European Community Research Internship
Seniors who show a strong commitment to European studies can apply to participate in the programs research internship in the European Commissions offices in Brussels. This four-month, intensive research internship is organized through DePaul's Study Abroad Program and the Irish Institute of European Affairs at the Catholic University of Leuven.