International Studies

Core Faculty: David Chioni Moore (Chair; International Studies and English), Amanda Ciafone (International Studies), Nadya Nedelsky (International Studies), Ahmed Samatar (International Studies and Institute for Global Citizenship), James von Geldern (Russian and International Studies)

Program Advisors: Antonio Dorca (Hispanic and Latin American Studies), Martin Gunderson (Philosophy), Arjun Guneratne (Anthropology), David Itzkowitz (History), Gary Krueger (Economics), James Laine (Religious Studies), Erik Larson (Sociology), William Moseley (Geography), Lara Nielsen (Theatre and Dance), Andrew Latham (Political Science), Casey Jarrin (English), Linda Schulte-Sasse (German Studies), Roopali Phadke (Environmental Studies), Joëlle Vitiello (French and Francophone Studies)

In International Studies, we hold this:

1. All things are connected; no place, person, phenomenon, text or tale exists alone.

2. Borders (national, regional, continental, physical, legal and more) fix and separate, just as they are regularly crossed and redrawn.

3. Categories (racial, ethnic, sexual, cultural, religious and more) matter, are inevitably produced, often conflict, and regularly overlap.

4. History and ideologies flow forward, are retrospectively revised, and are eternally contested.

5. Humans and their institutions emerge from the earth, but now exercise troubled dominion over it.

6. Despite human power, too many people are poor and lack autonomy and rights, subject to powerful institutions and discourses only marginally under their control.

In this context, and in the context of Macalester’s internationalist commitments, we aim to educate cosmopolitan young people, across geographies and fields, strongly equipped and powerfully inclined to understand the world and seek positive change. Key concepts which animate our interdisciplinary venture include universalism, globalization, hybridity, diversity, and interconnection.

Introduction:

The international studies major provides an understanding of transnational and intercultural global relations through work in international studies and allied departments. We aim to provide students:

1. familiarity with geographical, cultural, political, economic, literary and historical approaches to global issues;

2. working knowledge of the methodologies central to the participating humanities and social science departments;

3. an international experience through an appropriate study abroad program;

4. competency in a second language, at least equivalent to six semesters of college-level work.

General Distribution Requirement:

International Studies 110, 113, 114, 225, 245, 253, 280, 285, 288, 323, 325, 345, 362, 368, 372, 477, 480 and 485 count toward the general distribution requirement in social science. International Studies 111, 112, 202, 265, 272, 288, 317, 364, 367, 384, and 488 count toward the general distribution requirement in humanities. Some topics courses (194, 294, 394, 494), as approved by the department, may also count toward the distribution requirements.

General Education Requirements

Courses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and multiculturalism will be posted on the Registrar’s web page in advance of registration for each semester.

Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog.

Major Requirements:

Students plan their fourteen-course major in consultation with their international studies advisor. All majors must complete the following:

A) Introduction. One of International Studies 110–114.

B) Language. Competency in a foreign language equivalent to: French 305 and 306, German 305 and 306, Japanese 306, Portuguese through Portuguese 331 (Luso-Brazilian Voices), Russian through 204 plus a semester immersion program abroad or its equivalent, or Hispanic Studies 305 and 307. Students may complete this competency requirement while abroad. Likewise, students may meet this requirement in a language not regularly offered at the College by demonstrating equivalent ability, as confirmed by the department chair with appropriate consultation. Students for whom English is a second language are considered to have met the language requirement.

Students choosing Classics as the disciplinary focus of their International Studies major may satisfy the international studies language requirement by passing five semesters of Greek or Latin, plus a sixth semester of advanced independent or equivalent language work. Students focusing on Hebrew or Arabic may combine work at Macalester with coursework and/or experience abroad or at neighbor institutions to achieve competence to the sixth-semester level.

C) Study abroad. One semester of study abroad on a program chosen at least in part to support the individual major plan. International students at Macalester meet this requirement by completing a semester at Macalester.

D) Capstone. A capstone experience of either a senior seminar in international studies or, in select cases, an advanced independent project developed under appropriate supervision and with the approval of the department chair.

In addition to these four requirements, at the center of the major plan the student must complete a twelve-course sequence with the following characteristics:

E) Disciplinary focus. To ensure rich knowledge of a specific mode of inquiry, five internationally focused courses drawn from a single disciplinary department in the humanities or social sciences, including anthropology, classics, economics, English, French, geography, German studies, history, Japanese, philosophy, Hispanic studies, political science, religious studies, Russian, or sociology. One of these courses may be a non-introductory culture-neutral methods course.

Since literary studies is a single discipline, students may develop their five-course disciplinary focus from a blend of literature courses in any language department. For the same reason, students may also develop five-course disciplinary focuses in film or media studies, drawing courses from several departments and abroad.

F) Intermediate courses. To ensure immersion in global and transnational issues, five international studies courses between introduction and senior seminar. Students may take a second senior seminar as one of these five courses. At times international studies courses are cross-listed with other departments. Thus there can be up to a two-course overlap between the courses for E and F.

G) The remaining courses (usually two, unless there is an overlap between E and F) may be chosen from internationalist offerings across the campus or abroad, including the unchosen departments in E as well as from interdisciplinary programs including African studies, American studies (for non-U.S. students), Asian studies, humanities and media and cultural studies, Latin American studies, and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies; and in art, biology, geology, linguistics, music, psychology, and theater and dance.

Additional Notes:

1. Declaration statement. Since the major is highly configurable, to ensure coherence majors should prepare, with their initial major plan, a brief written statement discussing their sequence of courses. This exercise is not a “test,” but rather an opportunity to reflect on one’s formation. See the department website for further information.

2. Courses abroad. Courses taken during study abroad may count, when appropriate, toward the major; indeed students should tailor study abroad to contribute to the major plan.

3. Language courses. Courses taken to satisfy the language requirement may not be included in the fourteen-course major plan, except when the focus department under “E” is French, German, Japanese, Russian, or Hispanic studies. In these cases one advanced language course may be counted among the five disciplinary courses.

4. International Studies and Environmental Studies. Students seeking to focus their international studies major plan on environmental studies, or double-majoring in environmental studies, and not completing any of the five-course focuses described under “E” above, must complete a standard disciplinary minor in biology, chemistry, or geology.

5. The major plan can include one internship.

Honors Program:

International studies participates in the honors program, and encourages high performing students to do so. Eligibility requirements, application procedures and specific guidelines are available on the department website.

Topics Courses

194, 294, 394, 494

Selected topics and new courses in globalization and world studies, not included among regular catalog offerings. To be announced at registration. (4 credits)

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