International Studies Requirements

Courses and Requirements: All students who major in international studies share elements at the beginning and the end of their college careers, with a core course and a senior program. Students also have a wide variety of choices within the international studies curriculum. They must specialize in one of the seven programs that make up the major: African studies, East Asian studies, European studies, Latin American studies, Middle East studies, Russian and East European studies, and South Asian studies. In addition, students must specialize in one of the traditional liberal arts disciplines, achieve proficiency in one of the languages Middlebury teaches, and study abroad, preferably for a year but at least for one semester. Because of the complex and interdisciplinary nature of the international studies major, students pursuing it are strongly advised not to have an additional major. Any course counted for the IS major may not be counted for any other major or minor. Moreover, there is no double-counting within the IS major between a discipline, a language, and the region. In addition, IS majors may not minor in their disciplinary specialization or their primary language of focus. A minimum of 13 courses must be taken in the IS major in order to graduate. The minimum requirements for the major in international studies are as follows:
The International Studies Core: Students are required to take INTL 0101 as their sole core course requirement, and are expected to take this course before study abroad.
Language Study: Students must become proficient in one of the languages that Middlebury teaches. Individual language departments determine what level of study constitutes proficiency, and students are expected to do advanced work in the language that they study. All majors must take at least one advanced course in the language of study upon returning from abroad and are encouraged to take more than one advanced course.
Regional Specialization: This requirement consists of three courses with content exclusively or primarily on the region, in at least two different disciplines other than the language of study and the disciplinary specialization. For a list of courses that fulfill this requirement go to: http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/is/wizard. For students in East Asian studies who elect to learn the Japanese language: three courses on East Asia [two courses with content exclusively or primarily on Japan and one on China or East Asia], in at least two different disciplines. For those students who elect to learn the Chinese language: three courses on East Asia [two courses with content exclusively or primarily on China and one on Japan or East Asia], in at least two different disciplines. Students who have native or near-native proficiency in one language and achieve proficiency in the other may choose a regional specialization in either China or Japan.
Disciplinary Specialization: Students must take at least five courses within a single discipline among the following list: economics, film and media culture, geography, history, history of art and architecture, literature/civilization, philosophy, political science, religion, and sociology/anthropology (see "Disciplinary Specializations by Department" below). Within a student's disciplinary specialization, at least one of the courses must be an upper-level course, and at least two of the courses should have substantial content on the geographical area of specialization. Where possible, such regional courses should be taken on the Middlebury campus, and IS majors should take at least two of their disciplinary courses before going abroad.
Study Abroad: Students must study abroad for at least one semester (and preferably for a year) on a Middlebury-approved study abroad program in their region of focus. Study abroad must be in the language of study at Middlebury. Students must receive the approval of the relevant departments and/or, as appropriate, the program director to receive major credit for courses taken abroad.
Senior Program: The IS senior program consists of (1) A senior international studies seminar that is thematic, team-taught, interdisciplinary, or cross-regional* (see seminar courses under “International Studies Courses” below) (*For class of 2014, this senior seminar will become a tutorial capped at 8 students and will allow students to pursue an independent research project on their region with a cross-disciplinary perspective. This tutorial will serve as a capstone experience for students majoring in IS), and (2) an upper-level course, preferably two, in the language of emphasis that will be taken after returning from abroad. The language departments will determine which courses can be taken to fulfill this requirement, in consultation with the program director. Students may also elect to write an honors thesis (INTL 070X, two semesters) during their senior year. Students writing a thesis may choose to waive the IS seminar requirement. Students are eligible to write a senior honors thesis if they have a 3.5 GPA* or better in all courses that count for the major. The writing of a thesis is required to graduate with honors. Thesis guidelines and procedures are sent to seniors in the fall of their senior year and are available from the program director.
Honors: Honors are awarded to students with a GPA* of 3.5 and a thesis grade of B+, high honors to students with a GPA of 3.7 and a thesis grade of A- or A, and highest honors to students with a GPA of 3.8 and a thesis grade of A.
* The International Studies GPA is calculated on the basis of those courses that satisfy or could potentially satisfy the requirements for the major.  All courses that could count for the major will be used in the calculation of GPA for purposes of determining honors, and include all language courses, all disciplinary courses, all regional courses, and all courses with an INTL designation.
Note: Thesis grades do not count in the calculation of the GPA for honors.
Winter Term Course: A winter term course taken at Middlebury may count towards the regional and/or disciplinary requirements only with the approval of the track director. Students wishing to count a winter term course must provide the track director with a copy of the course syllabus. No more than one winter term course may count towards the program requirements.

Area Specializations

African Studies
The International Studies Committee considers proposals from individual students who have specific plans to complete all the requirements for the international studies major, incorporating courses on Africa as their area studies focus. Students may consider this alternative if they can commit themselves to study a language offered at Middlebury to the advanced level, and to study the appropriate indigenous African language to a level of reasonable competence. Students whose proposals are accepted will be monitored by Middlebury faculty associated with African studies, in consultation with the director of the international studies major. Students interested in African studies should contact the African studies director.

East Asian Studies
Language/Culture: Satisfactory completion of advanced work in either Chinese or Japanese. The Chinese and Japanese departments will specify which courses fulfill this requirement.
A student who already has native or near-native proficiency in Japanese must fulfill the language requirements for Chinese. A student who already has native or near-native proficiency in Chinese must fulfill the language requirements for Japanese.
Regional Specialization: see “Courses and Requirements” above
Disciplinary Specialization: see "Disciplinary Specializations by Department" below
Study Abroad: see “Courses and Requirements” above
Senior Program: see “Courses and Requirements” above

European Studies
Language and Culture: Language competency; satisfactory completion of at least one advanced course taught in the language of emphasis (French, German, Italian, or Spanish). Individual language departments will specify which courses fulfill this requirement.
Regional Specialization: see “Courses and Requirements” above
Disciplinary Specialization: see "Disciplinary Specializations by Department" below
Study Abroad: see “Courses and Requirements” above
Senior Program: see “Courses and Requirements” above

Latin American Studies
Language/Culture: Satisfactory completion of advanced work in either Portuguese or Spanish.  A student who already has native or near-native proficiency in Spanish must fulfill the language requirements for Portuguese. A student who already has native or near-native proficiency in Portuguese must fulfill the language requirements for Spanish.
Regional Specialization: see “Courses and Requirements” above
Disciplinary Specialization: see "Disciplinary Specializations by Department" below
Study Abroad: see “Courses and Requirements” above
Senior Program: see “Courses and Requirements” above

Middle East Studies
Language/Culture: Successful completion of three years of Arabic or Modern Hebrew (or the equivalent as determined by the Arabic or Hebrew program). Students who choose Modern Hebrew must be willing to pursue language study beyond Middlebury, if the College's Hebrew program is not able to offer a full range of advanced courses.
Regional Specialization: see “Courses and Requirements” above
Disciplinary Specialization: see "Disciplinary Specializations by Department" below
Study Abroad: see “Courses and Requirements” above
Senior Program: see “Courses and Requirements” above

Russian and East European Studies
Language/Culture: Language competency: satisfactory completion of at least second- and preferably third-level Russian or the Russian School equivalent.
Regional Specialization: see “Courses and Requirements” above
Disciplinary Specialization: see "Disciplinary Specializations by Department" below
Study Abroad: see “Courses and Requirements” above
Senior Program: see “Courses and Requirements” above

South Asian Studies
The International Studies Committee considers proposals from individual students who have specific plans to complete all the requirements for the international studies major, incorporating courses on South Asia as their area studies focus and developing a disciplinary specialization. Students may consider this alternative if they commit to the following language and study-abroad requirements: completing at least one semester or preferably one year of academic study through an approved study-abroad program; undertaking intensive language instruction while studying abroad; and incorporating language into their academic work upon their return to Middlebury, either through an independent study, a Senior thesis, or research in a seminar. It is recommended that students complete an intensive summer South Asian language course prior to studying abroad. Students whose proposals are accepted will be monitored by Middlebury faculty associated with South Asian studies, in consultation with the director of the international studies major. Students interested in South Asian studies should contact the South Asian studies director.

Disciplinary Specializations by Department

Disciplinary requirements are listed below. Students are required to take two courses within their disciplinary specialization that have substantial content in their region of focus. If these regional courses cannot be taken at Middlebury, students may take them while abroad. Area program directors will determine which courses fulfill this regional requirement in consultation with individual departments.
Economics: For students matriculating in the classes of 2011.5 through 2014.5, ECON 0150, ECON 0155, ECON 0210 or ECON 0250, ECON 0340, and two departmental electives with an international focus at the 0200-, 0300- or 0400-levels. One of them must be a 400-level course. For students matriculating with the class of 2015 and after, ECON 0150, ECON 0155, ECON 0210, ECON 0340, and two departmental electives with an international focus at the 0200-, 0300- or 0400 levels. One of them must be a 0400-level course.
Film and Media Culture: Three required courses - FMMC 0101, FMMC 0102, FMMC 0104 - plus three additional courses that are listed or cross-listed as FMMC. At least one of the three electives must be at the 0300 or 0400-level, and at least one must be international in focus (preferably should have substantial content on the geographical area of specialization). Students wishing to do a senior project will be required to follow the relevant guidelines and prerequisites listed on the FMMC website.
Geography: GEOG 0100; GEOG 0120; 3 courses from GEOG 0207, GEOG 0210, GEOG 0214, GEOG 0215, GEOG 0220, GEOG 0223, GEOG 0225; and one GEOG 0400-level seminar. Students writing a thesis must also take GEOG 0325 (formerly GEOG 0310) or GEOG 0339.
History: A 0100-level course and five other courses, including a 0400-level reading seminar normally taken in the senior year. The reading seminar and at least two other courses should be within the regional focus, and at least one course should be outside the regional focus. With the permission of the history department chair, up to two of these courses can be taken abroad.
History of Art and Architecture: HARC 0100 (Monuments and Ideas in Western Art); HARC 0102 (Monuments and Ideas in Asian Art) or another course in non-Western art history; and four additional courses in the history of art or architecture distributed among several historical periods or traditions. Students who elect to write an honors thesis must take HARC 0100 (Monuments and Ideas in Western Art); HARC 0102 (Monuments and Ideas in Asian Art) or another course in non-Western art history; three additional courses in the history of art or architecture distributed among several historical periods or traditions; and HARC 0700 in the fall of their senior year. In addition, they must write their two-semester thesis under the auspices of History of Art and Architecture: HARC 0710 (winter); and ISEA 0704, ISEU 0702, ISLA 0703, ISRU 0701, or ISSA 0705 (spring).

Literature and Culture:
Chinese: Any five of the following: CHNS 0219, CHNS 0220, CHNS/HARC 0206, CHNS/FMMC 0250, CHNS 0270, CHNS 0325, CHNS 0330, CHNS 0370, CHNS/LITS 0360, CHNS 0412, CHNS 0475 (one literature course taken during study abroad may be counted toward this requirement).
French: Two courses from FREN 0210, FREN 0221, and FREN 0230; three at the advanced level (taken at Middlebury or in Paris); plus one or more courses at the 0300 or 0400-level upon return from Paris. 
German: Any five courses at the 0300 level, up to four of which may be taken at Mainz, plus GRMN 0700 or a course at the 0400 level.
Italian: In addition to language proficiency, four 0300-level courses, including ITAL 0355 or its equivalent in Florence or Ferrara, plus one 0400-level seminar.
Japanese: In addition to language courses, five courses on literature, film, or culture offered by the Department of Japanese Studies.
Portuguese: In addition to PGSE 0202 or its equivalent, four upper level courses on literature or culture taken at Middlebury or in Brazil, and PGSE 0500 during the senior year.
Russian: RUSS 0151, RUSS 0152, three others (taken either at Middlebury or in Russia), and RUSS 0704.
Spanish: Six courses at the 0300 level or above, including SPAN 0300, at least one literature course in the area of interest, at least one culture course in the area of interest, and one 0400-level seminar during the senior year.

Philosophy: PHIL 0150 or 0151; PHIL 0180; one course in history of philosophy (PHIL 0201, PHIL/CLAS 0175, or PHIL 0250); one 0400-level seminar to be taken in the last three semesters; and one course from each of the following areas: (1) ethics and social and political philosophy (ESP); (2) epistemology, language, metaphysics, mind and science (ELMMS).
Political Science: PSCI 0103 or PSCI 0109; one course from PSCI 0101, PSCI 0102, PSCI 0104, PSCI 0107; four other courses from either the comparative politics or international relations and foreign policy categories, including one 0400-level seminar taken at Middlebury College in Vermont. INTL seminars co-taught by PSCI faculty cannot substitute for 0400-level PSCI seminars, but will count towards the six required courses in political science. In addition, it is highly recommended that INTL thesis candidates enroll in PSCI 0368 or PSCI 0347 before their senior year.
Religion: Six courses on religious traditions with a major presence in the region of study, at least two of which must be at the 0300-level. Two of the courses may treat the religious traditions of the region as practiced in other parts of the world. Senior projects do not count toward the six courses, unless the student enrolls in a senior IS seminar.
Sociology/Anthropology: SOAN 0103, SOAN 0105, SOAN 0301 or SOAN 0302, SOAN 0305 or SOAN 0306, plus two other Sociology/Anthropology electives.