Mar 28, 2024  
2013-2014 General/Graduate Catalog - Expires August 2019 
    
2013-2014 General/Graduate Catalog - Expires August 2019 [Archived Catalog]

International Studies Minor


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Affiliation: Interdisciplinary Studies
Degrees Offered: None
Minor Offered: International Studies 

A student who chooses to pursue the International Studies Minor must seek advice and approval from a faculty member on the International Studies Minor Committee (listed on ois.truman.edu/international_studies_minor.asp) and from his or her major advisor. As part of this process, the student needs to fill out an International Studies Minor Plan of Study Worksheet, as well as an approximately one-page statement explaining 1) the student’s goals in pursing the minor and 2) how the courses selected help in achieving the goals. These two documents must be submitted to a member of the International Studies Minor Committee for approval; the worksheet must also be signed by the student’s major advisor before being submitted to the Registrar. This process should occur proactively. i.e., at a time when the student has completed no more than three of the courses in the plan of study. Students may refer to templates for models of appropriate plans.

In addition to the course requirements, international studies students are encouraged (though not required) to attend events on campus that relate to international issues, such as “Global Issues” talks, other speakers talking about international affairs, or events sponsored by international student groups.

 

Program Requirements:


The International Studies Minor requires the successful completion of 15 credits of course work in International Studies, as well as demonstration of intermediate proficiency in a modern language.

Elective Component:

  • Completion of a minimum of 3 credits in each of two fields of the International Studies Minor: 1. Global Issues and 2. Area Studies
  • Select additional courses to specialize in either Global Issues or Area Studies
  • Students selecting the Area Studies emphasis may focus on a continent region, or a sub-continental region, such as East Asia, Central Europe, or Sub-Saharan Africa, or on a grouping that crosses continental boundaries. For example, it is possible to focus on Latin America and Spain because of the Spanish heritage in most of Latin America, or on the colonial and or post colonial relationships between Europe and Africa. The student’s rationale for defining a region needs to be included in the statement of goals.
  • Students may substitute appropriate courses taken while studying abroad, provided such courses have been accepted for transfer credit by the University.
  • Some courses, such as topics courses within a particular discipline, vary in focus each time they are taught, or depending on who teaches them. On a case-by-case basis, such courses may be included in a student’s program of study.
  • JINS courses may also be used as appropriate to count toward this minor, upon consultation with a member of the International Studies Minor Committee.
  • In order to ensure that the minor is truly interdisciplinary, no more than two courses taken for the minor may double-count with a student’s major; no more than three courses may double-count with the student’s majors if the student has a double major; and the five courses taken for the minor should be selected from at least three different disciplines.

 

Modern Language


Intermediate proficiency in a modern language. For students whose native language is not English, proficiency in English counts as satisfying this requirement.

Students electing to specialize in Area Students must complete a modern language appropriate to the geographic area specialization (subject to course offerings available at Truman).

Global Issues


Select a minimum of 3 credits from the following:

Area Studies


Select a minimum of 3 credits from the following:

Global Issues or Area Studies


The following courses usually count for an International Studies Minor, but they may vary in their regional or global focus. Thus, they may be included as either a Global Issues or an Areas Studies course upon consultation with a member of the International Studies Minor Committee.

Notes:


The above list of courses is not exhaustive, since it does not include ‘topics,” study abroad courses, or JINS courses. Any student interested in the minor who has taken a course that would logically fit into either the “Global Issues” or the “Area Studies” category, but is not listed here, is encouraged to consult with a member of the International Studies Minor committee as to whether it may be included in the course of study.

Some Templates for International Studies Minors


Each of these sample plans meets the criterion that the five courses come from three different disciplines. Prerequisites may apply, and is some cases enrollment in particular courses is limited to majors or minors in the disciplines.

Focus on Language and Communication with concentration in one of the following languages: French, German, Russian, or Spanish:


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