The international studies interdisciplinary program provides knowledge of major international or global issues including regional and global political economies; comparative cultural and political systems; ethnicity, identity and belief systems; peace, conflict and wars; gender, culture and politics; and environment, health, and science issues.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
Students develop a working knowledge of a modern foreign language, become knowledgeable about at least one major region of the world, become knowledgeable about 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.
The major prepares students for graduate study or international careers as specialists or representatives in international relations, international publications, cross-cultural training in educational and business fields, public affairs, government foreign service, export sales and international research.
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Coursework 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) as well as the major's foreign language requirement.
All courses must be completed with minimum grades of C. A minimum of 15 credits of Category A and/or B courses must be completed at UF.
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Required Coursework
- INS 3004 International Studies Perspectives (3 credits)
- INS 4930 International Studies Senior Research Seminar (3 credits)
With prior approval, students may substitute: - Study abroad with a research paper; internship or work experience abroad with a research paper; international studies research poster presentation with research paper; international studies-related service learning project with a research paper; or independent study course with a research paper. 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.
- Category A: 15 credits of international studies-approved courses in social science, humanities or professional courses that focus on the region of the world selected by the student: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean or the Middle East.
- Twelve credits of Category A coursework must be at the 3000/4000 level.
- Category B: 15 credits of international studies-approved courses in 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.
- Nine credits of Category B coursework must be at the 3000/4000 level. (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.)
- Four semesters minimum (0-20 credits) 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 region (Category A).
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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.
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Critical Tracking
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 one international studies course from Category A at the 2000-level or higher with a 2.0 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete one international studies course from Category B at the 2000-level or higher with a 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete one foreign language course from the selected region and one additional international studies course from Category B at the 2000-level or higher with a 2.75 critical-tracking GPA
- Students should take INS 3004 as soon as they have completed three Category courses. For many students, this will be either semester 3 or 4
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete one additional foreign language course from the selected region with a 3.0 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete INS 3004 International Studies Perspectives and one additional international studies course from Category A at the 3000-level or higher with a 3.0 critical-tracking GPA
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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Model Semester Plan
Students are expected to complete the writing requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).
Depending upon the international studies courses chosen, students may meet some of their GE-H, GE-S and GE-N requirements through courses for the major. In that case, the student can substitute general elective credit.
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 1 |
Credits |
|---|
| Beginning Foreign language |
3-5 |
Biological or Physical Science
State Core GE-B or P |
3 |
Composition
State Core GE-C; WR |
3 |
International Studies
Category A, 2000-level or above; recommended:
Africa: AFS 2002 The African Experience: An Introduction to African Studies (GE-S and N) or
HUM 2424 African Cultures and Literatures (GE-H and N)
Asia: REL 2362 Introduction to Islam (GE-H and N)
Europe: EUS 2001 European Experience: A Humanities Perspective (GE-H and N) or
EUS 2003 European Experience: A Social Science Perspective (GE-S and N)
Latin America and the Caribbean: LAS 2001 Introduction to Latin American Studies (GE-H and N or S and N)
Middle East: REL 2362 Introduction to Islam (GE-H and N) |
3 |
Science laboratory
GE-P or B |
1 |
| Total |
13-15 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
GE-H |
3 |
| Beginning foreign language |
3-5 |
Biological or Physical Science
Area not taken in semester1, GE-B or GE-P |
3 |
Composition
GE-C; WR |
3 |
International Studies
Category B, 2000-level or higher |
3 |
| Total |
15-17 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
Biological Science
GE-B |
3 |
Humanities
State Core GE-H |
3 |
| Intermediate foreign language |
3-5 |
International Studies
Category B, 2000-level or higher |
3 |
Mathematics
State Core GE-M |
3 |
| Total |
15-17 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| INS 3004 International Studies Perspectives |
3 |
Humanities (if needed) or
Elective
|
3 |
| Intermediate foreign language |
3-5 |
Physical Science
GE-P |
3 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
State Core GE-S |
3 |
| Total |
15-17 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| Elective
|
3 |
Elective
or
Social and Behavioral Sciences (if needed) |
3 |
International Studies
Category A, 3000-level or above |
3 |
International Studies
Category B, 3000-level or above |
3 |
Mathematics
GE-M |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
Elective ♦
3000 level or above, not in major, if needed |
3 |
International Studies
Category A, 3000-level or above |
3 |
International Studies
Category B, 3000-level or above |
3 |
Study abroad or
Internship or
Electives
|
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| Elective
|
3 |
Electives ♦
3000 level or above, not in major, if needed |
6 |
International Studies
Category A, 3000-level or above |
3 |
International Studies
Category B, 3000-level or above |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| INS 4930 Senior Research Seminar/Capstone Experience |
3 |
Elective
or
Social and Behavioral Science (if needed) |
3 |
| Electives
|
8 |
International Studies
Category A, 3000-level or higher |
3 |
| Total |
17 |
♦ Majors are encouraged to use some of their electives to pursue a minor, combined degree, dual degree or double major.
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Related International Studies Programs
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