About this Program
- College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts
- Concentrations: Africa | Asia | Europe | Latin America and Caribbean | Middle East
- Credits for Degree: 120
- More Info
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Related Programs
- African Studies Minor
- Asian Studies Minor
- European Union Studies Certificate
- European Union Studies Minor
- Health Disparities in Society Minor
- International Development and Humanitarian Assistance Minor
- International Relations Certificate
- Latin American Studies Certificate
- Latin American Studies Minor
- Nonprofit Organizational Leadership Minor
- Russian and East-European Area Studies Certificate
- Sustainability Studies Minor
Students acquire proficiency in a modern foreign language, and knowledge of at least one major region of the world and significant global issues; are encouraged to experience living and studying abroad or working with an international organization focused on international issues; and conduct research on a global issue in conjunction with a senior research seminar, study abroad experience, or relevant internship or service-learning opportunity.
The major provides cross-cultural and interdisciplinary training that prepares students for graduate study or international careers as specialists in international relations, international development, communications and media, education, business, global health, sustainability, public affairs, government foreign service, export sales, and international research.
Requirments for the Major
Students are required to designate a region of the world on which to focus. This region then determines the courses appropriate for the major's primary requirements (Category A/Regional) as well as the major's foreign language requirement.
The major requires 36 credits of International Studies (INT) coursework and up to 20 credits of related coursework (intermediate language requirement). All courses must be completed with minimum grades of C. A minimum of 15 credits of Category A and/or B courses (outside Region/Global) must be completed at UF.
Required major Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| International Studies Core Courses | ||
| INS 2004 | International Studies Perspectives | 3 |
| INS 4930 | Senior Research Seminar in International Studies 1 | 3 |
| Category A (Regional) INT Major Electives | ||
| Approved 3000/4000-level INT social science, humanities or professional courses that focus on the region of the world selected by the student. | 12 | |
| Approved 1000 to 4000-level INT social science, humanities or professional courses that focus on the region of the world selected by the student | 3 | |
| Category B (Global/Outside Region) Major Electives | ||
| Approved 3000/4000-level INT social science, humanities, or professional courses that focus on regions of the world other than the student’s regional focus and/or focus on global issues. | ||
These 9 credits of 3000/4000-level Category B courses will be accepted toward the CLAS 3000-level elective requirement. INT majors still will need to take 9 additional credits of 3000-level electives from courses NOT approved for any INT category. | ||
| Approved 1000 to 4000-level INT social science, humanities, or professional courses that focus on regions of the world other than the student’s regional focus and/or focus on global issues. | 6 | |
| Total Major Credits | 36 | |
| Related Coursework | ||
| Four semesters minimum of a single modern foreign language or demonstrated proficiency equivalent to completion of the intermediate level. The language for which proficiency is demonstrated must be logically linked to the selected primary region of focus (Category A) | 0-20 | |
| Total Related Credits | 0-20 | |
| Total Credits | 36-56 | |
- 1
With prior approval, students may substitute:
Study abroad with a research project; internship or work experience abroad with a research project; international studies research poster with presentation; international studies-related service learning with a research project; or independent study course with a research project. Students pursuing any of these alternatives must still register for 3 credits of coursework to replace INS 4930. All research papers will be graded by a common grading rubric. S/U grades are acceptable for these alternatives to INS 4930 with prior approval and successful completion of the research project
Region Focus
The links below determine the region courses appropriate for Category A and Category B requirements as well as the region's foreign language requirement.
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete 1 international studies course from Category A or Category B at the 2000-level or higher or INS 2004 with a 2.0 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete 1 international studies course from Category A or Category B at the 2000-level or higher or INS 2004 with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
- Students must have at least 1 Category A or Category B course completed by the end of Semester 2
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 1 foreign language course from the selected region and 1 additional international studies tracking course, either INS 2004, a Category A course (at the 3000-level or higher if a 2000-level Category A has already been completed), or a Category B course at the 2000-level or higher with a 2.75 critical-tracking GPA. Students should take INS 2004 if not already completed.
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional foreign language course from the selected region and 1 additional Category A or Category B course at the 3000-level or higher with a 3.0 critical-tracking GPA. Students should take INS 2004 if not completed already.
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete 1 additional international studies course from Category A at the 3000-level or higher with a 3.0 critical-tracking GPA. Students should take INS 2004 if not completed already.
- By the end of Semester 5, students must complete two Category A classes, two Category B classes, one year of a relevant foreign language, and INS 2004.
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 6
- Take 2 major classes at the 3000-level or above (may be any mixture of Category A and/or Category B)
- Students should have completed at least 21 credits of the 36 total (excluding language) required for the major
Semester 7
- Complete 2 major classes at the 3000-level or above (may be any mixture of Category A, Category B, and/or INS 4930 or pre-approved alternative)
- Complete Foreign Language Intermediate 1
- Students should have completed at least 27 credits of the 36 total (excluding language) required for the major
Semester 8
- Complete 3 major courses at the 3000-level or above (may be any mixture of Category A, Category B, and/or INS 4930 or pre-approved alternative)
- Complete Foreign Language Intermediate 2
- By the end of semester 8, students must complete a minimum of 15 credits of Category A coursework, 15 credits of Category B coursework, INS 2004, INS 4930 or pre-approved alternative, and the intermediate level or equivalent of a foreign language relevant to the primary region of study.
Students are expected to complete the Writing, Civic Literacy, summer enrollment, and Quest requirements while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S) as part of the CLAS Basic Distribution requirements. One of the two general education mathematics courses must be a pure math course.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences allows students additional flexibility in its Distribution Requirements. Students may count a maximum of 6 credits TOTAL from the CLAS Distribution course lists towards Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, or Biological and Physical Sciences, with no more than 3 credits of Humanities, 3 credits of Social and Behavioral Sciences, or 6 credits of Biological or Physical Sciences.
The full list of major-specific requirements for this major can be found on the Overview tab. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree requirements can be found on the College’s degree requirements page.
Nine credits of 3000 level or above Category B courses count towards the 3000 level or above electives outside of the major.
Depending upon the international studies courses chosen, students may meet some of their Gen Ed Humanities, Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Gen Ed International requirements through courses for the major. In that case, the student can substitute general elective credit.
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning foreign language course (Critical Tracking; CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement) 1 | 4-5 | |
| International studies course (Critical Tracking; Category A, 2000 level or above); recommended: | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| Africa | ||
| The African Experience: An Introduction to African Studies | ||
| African Cultures and Literatures | ||
| Asia: | ||
| Introduction to Islam | ||
| Europe | ||
| European Experience: a Humanities Perspective | ||
| European Experience: a Social Science Perspective | ||
| Latin America and the Caribbean: | ||
| Introduction to Latin American Studies | ||
| Middle East | ||
| Introduction to Islam | ||
| Credits | 13-14 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| Beginning foreign language course (Critical Tracking; CLAS Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement) 1 | 4-5 | |
| INS 2004 | International Studies Perspectives (Critical Tracking) | 3 |
| Quest 1 | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences (area not taken in semester one) | 3 | |
| Natural Science Laboratory 2 | 1 | |
| Credits | 17-18 | |
| Semester Three | ||
| Intermediate foreign language course (Critical Tracking) | 3-5 | |
| International studies course (Critical Tracking; Category B, 2000 level or higher) | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Mathematics | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-17 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| Intermediate foreign language course (Critical Tracking) | 3-5 | |
| International studies course (Critical Tracking; Category A, 3000 level or higher) | 3 | |
| Quest 2 | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-17 | |
| Semester Five | ||
| International studies course (Critical Tracking; Category A, 3000 level or above) | 3 | |
| International studies course (Critical Tracking; Category B, 3000 level or above) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Mathematics | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| International studies course (Critical Tracking; Category A, 3000 level or above) | 3 | |
| International studies course (Critical Tracking; Category B, 3000 level or above) | 3 | |
| Select one: | 6 | |
Study abroad |
||
Internship |
||
Electives |
||
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Seven | ||
| International studies course (Critical Tracking; Category A, 3000 level or above) | 3 | |
| International studies course (Critical Tracking; Category B, 3000 level or above) | 3 | |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| INS 4930 | Senior Research Seminar in International Studies (Critical Tracking; Capstone Experience) | 3 |
| International studies course (Critical Tracking; Category B, 3000 level or higher) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
The International Studies major provides knowledge of major international issues. Students will be able to identify and conduct internationally relevant research. They will evaluate the significance, quality, and veracity of information gathered in the literature and to apply it effectively. Students will also be able articulate the results of research clearly and effectively.
Before Graduating Students Must
- Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.
Students in the Major Will Learn to
Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs
Content
- Describe, explain, and apply basic knowledge of the modern history, culture, politics, geography, economy, or sociology of one major region of the world (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, or the Middle East).
Critical Thinking
- Use analytical intellectual tools to examine global issues.
Communication
- Interpret and effectively communicate about global issues.
Curriculum Map
I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed
| Courses | SLO 1 | SLO 2 | SLO 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category A Courses1 | R | R | R |
| Category B Courses2 | R | R | R |
| Foreign Language3 | I, R | I, R | I, R |
| INS 3004 | I | I | I |
| INS 4930 | R, A | R, A | R, A |
- 1
Category A: Students focus on a region of the world, taking 15 credits of approved courses in social science, humanities or professional courses that deal with the region chosen.
- 2
Category B: Students take 15 credits of approved courses that deal with regions of the world other than the region chosen in Category A.
- 3
Foreign Language: Students take a minimum of four semesters of a single modern foreign language linked to their focus region, or demonstrate intermediate level-proficiency.
Assessment Types
- Direct assessment of research paper