International Studies

P.H. Hanses, Director
 Associated Faculty: W.A.B. Addison (HU), U. Brisson (HU), F. Carrera (IGSD), D.B. Dollenmayer (HU), A. Gerstenfeld (MG), D. Goulding (IGSD), P.H. Hansen (HU), R. Hersh (IGSD), S. Jiusto (IGSD), R. Krueger (IGSD), I. Matos-Nin (HU), C. Peet (IGSD), M.J. Radzicki (SSPS), K.J. Rissmiller (SSPS), A. Rivera (HI), T. Robertson (HU), J. Rudolph (HU), K. Saeed (SSPS), S. Tuler (IGSD), R. Vaz (IGSD; ECE), S. Vernon-Gerstenfeld (IGSD)

International Studies prepares men and women for future leadership roles in business and industry, government and public affairs. International Studies integrates WPI's international courses in the humanities and social sciences with its global projects and exchange programs. International Studies courses on-campus prepare students to go abroad. After an experience overseas, students integrate their experiences and explore their career options in a capstone seminar. International Studies at WPI offers a range of options including a minor, major, or double major in International Studies.

Minor in International Studies

The goals of WPI's minor in International Studies are to extend students' global horizons, enhance their disciplinary majors, and expand their career opportunities in the international arena. The program develops a familiarity with global or international issues, an appreciation of cultural differences, and the ability to complete tasks abroad. The minor achieves a basic level of competence in International Studies through a variety of courses, projects, and overseas experiences.

The minor requires a minimum of three units of work related to International Studies as described below. After course work at WPI, students complete their minor through either an international IQP or an international exchange program approved by the Program Review Committee. All students are required to have an international experience off-campus. The program's capstone experience is a Senior Seminar in International Studies. Both options receive the same designation of Minor in International Studies. A student in any major at WPI is eligible to pursue a Minor in International Studies.

Program Requirements for the International Studies Minor

International Studies IQP OptionMinimum Units
International Core (Note 1)1
International Electives (Note 2)1
International IQP (Note 3)1
International Experience (Note 4)0
Total3
International Studies Exchange Program OptionMinimum Units
International Core (Note 1)1
International Electives (Note 2)2
International Experience (Note 4)0
Total3

Notes:

  1. International Core. Both options require the same one unit core of international courses. One course must be selected from each of these categories:
    1. An introductory course in international history, such as HI 1341, HI 1321, HI 1322, HI 1323, or HI 1313.
    2. A course in understanding cross-cultural differences, such as one of the following: HU 3411 Pro-Seminar in Global Perspectives, PSY 2406, Cross-Cultural Psychology; STS 1207 Intoduction to Psycho-sociology of Science; PY 2716 Philosophy of Difference.
    3. HU 4411 Senior Seminar in International Studies.
    Courses in the core may not double-count towards other degree requirements such as the Humanities and Arts Sufficiency requirement or the two course requirement in the Social Sciences. If a student has already counted a course from a) or b) for another requirement, they will be required to take additional courses in International Studies so that at least one unit of their minor does not double-count. The capstone seminar should be the final element of a student’s minor.
  2. International Electives may be selected from among international courses in the Humanities and Social Sciences. They may include any course in European or global history; any course at the intermediate level or above in German or Spanish; any international course in the social sciences; and international courses approved by the Program Review Committee in art history, literature, philosophy and religion. If approved by the Program Review Committee, PQPs for overseas projects may count towards the total. Students may count courses taken to fulfill other degree requirements towards these electives. These electives may not include the MQP or the final 1/3 unit Type 5 IS/P of the Sufficiency Program.
  3. International IQP: Students who choose the IQP Option must complete an International IQP. All IQPs completed outside of the United States meet this requirement. If approved by the Program Review Committee, IQPs completed on-campus or at Project Centers in the United States may meet this requirement if the IQP is devoted to an international subject and the student also completes a study abroad experience as described in note 4.
  4. International Experience: All International Studies minors are required to have a study abroad experience. Students who choose the Exchange Option must complete an international project, exchange, or internship approved by the Program Review Committee. The study abroad experience should be educational in nature and equivalent in length to at least one WPI term.

Major in International Studies

The International Studies Major is an interdisciplinary program that combines rigorous preparation in international studies with competence in an area of science, technology, or management. Under the broad umbrella of the International Studies distribution requirements, students will be able to create their own flexible programs to accommodate their interests and career goals. MQPs may be completed on campus or at one of WPI’s global project centers. In consultation with the Program Review Committee, students plan a course of study that may focus on a region of the world, or a thematic issue, or an analytical approach to international studies. International Studies majors are well prepared for careers in business, government, and public affairs.

Distribution Requirements for the International Studies Major

REQUIREMENTSMinimum Units
International Core (Note 1)1
International Fields (Note 2)4
International Experience (Note 3)0
Science, Technology, Mathematics (Note 4)2

Electives (Note 5)

2
MQP1
Total10

Notes:

  1. International Core: One course must be selected from each of these categories:
    1. An introductory course in international history, such as HI 1341 or HI 1313, HI 1321, HI 1322, HI 1323.
    2. A course in understanding cross-cultural differences, such as one of the following: HU 3411 Pro-Seminar in Global Perspectives, or PSY 2406 Cross-Cultural Psychology; or PY 2716 Philosophy of Difference.
    3. HU 4411 Senior Seminar in International Studies.
  2. International Fields: Majors complete at least one unit of work in each of the following areas. They must also complete at least one additional unit of work in one of these areas, which will be considered their primary field.
    1. Historical Analysis. These include any courses in European history, world history, or American foreign policy.
    2. Language, Literature, and Culture. These include any course in foreign languages, civilization, and literature offered at WPI or in the Consortium with the prior approval of the Program Review Committee; also courses approved by the Program Review Committee in Art History (e.g. AR 1111, AR 2111), English Literature (e.g. EN 2243, EN 3222), Music History (e.g. MU 2615), or Philosophy and Religion (e.g. RE 2721, RE 2724). Majors who designate Language, Literature, and Culture (LLC) as their primary field may not take courses in a second foreign language unless they have achieved 3000-level proficiency in the first. LLC designees should take most of their courses in a single discipline or in a coherent program approved by the Program Review Committee.
    3. Social Sciences. These include international courses in the social sciences (e.g. GOV 1320, ECON 2125, GOV 2312, PSY 2406). Students may count courses taken for the twocourse requirement in Social Sciences.
  3. International Studies majors are required to have a studyabroad experience. (In very unusual cases exceptions may be made to this requirement but only with prior approval of the Director and Program Review Committee). This abroad experience may take the form of a project, exchange, or internship approved by the Program Review Committee. The study-abroad experience should be educational in nature and equivalent in length to at least one WPI term.
  4. Must include a minimum of 1/3 unit in science, 1/3 unit in mathematics, 1/3 unit in computer science or engineering science. The remaining 1 unit may be from science, mathematics, computer science or engineering. Double-majors may count courses taken for their other major.
  5. Electives may be from any area except Air Force Aerospace Studies, Military Science or Physical Education. Double-majors may count courses taken for their other major.

Double Major in International Studies

Students may pursue a double major in International Studies and any area of study at WPI except a major in Humanities and Arts. To pursue the double major, a student must satisfy all of the degree requirements for both disciplines, including an MQP and Distribution Requirements. In addition, the double major in International Studies requires the same distribution of courses in the International Core and International Fields as the major in International Studies and a second MQP in International Studies. Double majors are also required to have an International Experience. Students pursuing the double major in International Studies are not required, however, to complete a Humanities and Arts Sufficiency program.

International Experiences

An International Experience may take the form of an international IQP or exchange program. Students often plan their international experience in their Sophomore year. All students are advised to consult the list of projects offered at WPI’s Global Project Centers. Each fall, the projects and exchange programs for the following year are widely advertised on campus.

Award-winning projects at WPI are frequently on international topics. Recent examples include studies of a workshop for the blind in London, chemical accidents in Bangkok, the social impact of the building code in New Zealand, and the use of biogas in Botswana. International Studies offers the opportunity not only to complete some of the highest quality projects at WPI, but also to offer solutions to some of the most challenging problems in the world.

Students interested in International Studies may ask any member of the Associated Faculty for more information, or they may consult our web page.

Recommendations for Students

Students planning an International Studies minor, major, or double major should take their International Core courses in international history and cross-cultural differences before they go abroad. Since many students go offcampus during their Junior year, students should plan to take these Core courses in their Freshman and Sophomore years. Students are also encouraged to take their International Electives before going abroad and on topics that relate to their international experience. The capstone course, HU 4411, Senior Seminar in International Studies, should be the final element of the minor. Therefore, students may enroll in HU 4411 after they have completed all of the other requirements for the International Studies minor. Students planning an International Studies minor may also wish to consider the possibility of completing a double major in International Studies.

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Last modified: June 19, 2008 12:01:19