1) Are there any pre-requisites for the International Studies (IS) major?
Yes. Students must complete INTLSTD 101 with a grade of C- or better.
Students must be enrolled in their fourth semester of language (or placed out).
Students planning on electing the Political Economy and Development sub-plan must first complete ECON 101 with a C or better so that they are eligible to enroll in one upper-level ECON course as part of their sub-plan requirement. Please note that a C or better in ECON 101 is an enforced pre-requisite to enroll in the 300-level ECON courses approved for the PED sub-plan.
2) May I count 100 level courses toward the major?
100-level courses may not be counted toward an International Studies major.
3) What are the requirements for the International Studies Honors Plan?
If you are considering an Honors plan, you must have an overall GPA of 3.4 with a grade of B+ or better in your INTLSTD 101 class. During your senior year, you will enroll in two additional three-credit classes: INTLSTD 498 in the fall, and INTLSTD 499 in the winter. You will also be required to write an Honors thesis, and you will be responsible for finding a faculty member to serve as your thesis advisor. Both your thesis topic and your thesis advisor must be approved by the PICS director before you start working on the thesis. For detailed information, please see the PICS Honors Plan page.
4) How many double-counted courses will apply toward my double major?
PICS does not have a limit on the number of courses double counted with a second major.
5) May I take a course towards my International Studies major or minor P/F?
All courses going toward your International Studies major or minor require a letter grade with exclusion of fifth-term or sixth-term language.
6) What is the minimum grade I can receive in a course going towards my International major?
C-.
7) Is it possible for me to apply alternative credits (e.g. an internship, transfer credits, independent study, or non-LSA courses) toward an International Studies major?
In some cases it is, but each request will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. PICS offers an independent study course, INTLSTD 491. The research needs to be approved by the PICS director before you can enroll in INTLSTD 491. You must provide a one-page written proposal of the academic goal and plan for the study and a written agreement between you and the faculty member who will sponsor your study. Please include a description of the study, clearly articulated expectations, interim deadlines, and a final deadline for completion of the study. The PICS course number for approved internships is INTLSTD 399. Requests for internship credit must be petitioned for credit toward the major. Please email [email protected] for more information.
Transfer credits must post to your official U-M transcript at 200 level or above and be directly related to your sub plan focus or region of study. Transfer courses must be pre-approved by a PICS advisor. In both of these cases, however, credit toward the sub-plan core is unlikely to be granted—but credit as an elective is possible. To seek approval for a course you've taken or are thinking of taking, please follow the standard course approval instructions (for either sub-plans or electives) detailed below.
8) What counts as a regional course?
A regional course should focus on a single world region as it connects to your language of study. Upper-level language courses beyond the sixth-term language requirement that have a focus on culture, history, arts, etc. and may work as a regional course as well as relevant study abroad courses. Regional courses must be approved by a PICS advisor.
Examples:
Language: Spanish Region: Latin America
ANTHRCUL 319 - Latin American Society and Culture; STDABRD 303 - CGIS: Environment and Sustainable Development in San Jose, Costa Rica
Language: French Region: Western Europe
Courses: FRENCH 369 Literature, History, and Culture of Modernity; WOMENSTD 317 Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe, 1500-1800
9) How does study abroad credit count toward my major?
First, you have to receive U-M credit. If your study abroad program is arranged through the Center for Global and Intercultural Study (CGIS) then this should not be an issue, but if your program is organized by another university you must arrange for that university to transfer the credits, and for U-M to accept them. We encourage you to make sure this is all arranged to your satisfaction before you commit to any given non U-M study abroad program.