International sudies paradigm adjusted, concentrated

As of this semester, changes have been made to the international studies major and minor paradigms.

New classes have been added to the course requirements, as well as new objectives to meet.

Students already declared as international studies majors or minors are grandfathered into the prior requirements and may choose to follow either the old or new paradigm.

One of the most significant changes is the creation of three tracks the major can follow.

The first is the global studies track, which requires 46 hours and is most similar to the pre-existing international studies major.

The main difference in this track is the inclusion of an international organizations and law course and international relations theory and practice.

The global studies track still requires a study-abroad period and a four total semesters of a foreign language.

There are two area studies tracks which can be chosen instead of the more classical global studies track.  The two areas are Asian studies and Hispanic studies. The Asian studies concentration focuses on politics, history and languages of Asia.

This concentration requires six hours of an Asian language at a 200 level. This requirement can be satisfied by taking Japanese at Maryville College or by taking intensive Asian language courses during the required study abroad in Asia.

Also during the Asian study abroad, six hours of classes that relate to Asian art, literature, culture, religion, history or advanced language study are required.

The Hispanic studies concentration focuses in on Latin American, Hispanic and/or Iberian politics, history and language.

This concentration requires six hours of Spanish at the 200 level at Maryville College or in a Spanish-speaking country. Portuguese can also be taken instead of Spanish while abroad.

Also while abroad in a Latin American country, Spain or Portugal, three hours of Latin American, Hispanic or Iberian art, literature, culture, religion, history or advanced language studies are required.

There are two significant changes to the international studies minor, as well.

First, in order to receive the minor, students must take a second year of a foreign language at the 200 level.

Second, students must fulfill the study abroad requirement of at least six total weeks.

These requirements will help make the completion of the minor stand out in comparison to other schools’ international studies minors.

These changes to the program still keep the interdisciplinary aspect of the international studies major while also establishing more focus.

This allows students to continue to draw from many different areas of academia and experience while honing in on a more centralized idea of international studies, international relations, or a specific geographical region.

The new focus allows students within the major to have more classes together and feel more united in their studies.

The changes in the international studies program will help further the progression of Maryville College academics to create well-versed students and graduates in the field.