International Studies Major Requirements
(Also see Requirements for a Bachelor's Degree.)
Students considering a major in International Studies should begin introductory courses required of the major early in their college careers. Choices may include AS.180.101 Elements of Macroeconomics, AS.180.102 Elements of Microeconomics, the appropriate level of a foreign language, and one of the designated Gateway courses.
The International Studies major is comprised of three main components:
- Foreign language study
- Courses in history, political science, and economics
- A focus area of the student's choosing
In addition, students must earn a grade of C- or better in all courses applied towards major requirements and courses may not be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Students must also complete at least 5 courses at the 300 level or higher within the history, political science, and/or economics components of the major. This excludes courses used to fulfill the language requirement and focus area.
Writing and Communication in the Major
Students must complete at least 6 credits of Writing and Communication foundational ability coursework in one major. For this major, students would be able to fulfill this requirement by selecting 6 credits of elective courses in the major that are designated as Writing and Communications courses.
Foreign Language
International Studies majors must demonstrate a level of proficiency in at least one modern foreign language. To achieve proficiency in Chinese (not including Heritage Chinese), Japanese, Korean or Arabic, foreign language instruction through the second semester of the intermediate/second-year level is required. To achieve proficiency in any other modern language offered at Homewood (including Heritage Chinese), foreign language instruction through the second semester of the advanced/third-year level is required. Note: American Sign Language is not accepted for the major.
Students who enter JHU with proficiency beyond the advanced/third-year level in any language (or above the intermediate/second-year level in the four languages listed above), as determined by exam or other methods, must complete two additional language courses (in the same language) at any level of instruction (which can include literature courses taught in a language other than English).
Core Courses
Courses fulfilling the specific requirements below are listed on the International Studies website.
- One Gateway course: AS.190.108 Contemporary International Politics, AS.190.111 Introduction to Global Studies , or AS.192.150 States, Regimes & Contentious Politics.
- One course in international relations (POS-Tag INST-IR)
- One course in American politics (POS-Tag INST-AP)
- Two courses in comparative politics (POS-Tag INST-CP)
- One course in political theory (POS-Tag INST-PT)
- Five courses in global history (POS-Tag INST-GLOBAL).
- Four courses in economics. Two courses must be AS.180.101 Elements of Macroeconomics and AS.180.102 Elements of Microeconomics. One course must be identified by the POS-Tag INST-ECON in the schedule of classes. The final course may be of the student's choosing from courses offered in the Economics Department at Johns Hopkins University. Both the Elements courses should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
Focus Area Specialization
Every major in International Studies selects a specialization area, which consists of four courses within a coherent field of interest. Specialization fields may be organized in terms of area (e.g., Latin America, East Asia), theme (e.g., security studies, international economics), or language (e.g., Chinese, Spanish). These courses cannot be used to satisfy other requirements of the major.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language Study 1 | ||
| To achieve proficiency in Chinese (not including Heritage Chinese), Japanese, Korean or Arabic, foreign language instruction through the second semester of the intermediate/second-year level is required. To achieve proficiency in any other modern foreign language offered at Homewood (including Heritage Chinese), foreign language instruction through the second semester of the advanced/third-year level is required. | 6-8 | |
| Gateway Course | ||
| AS.190.108 | Contemporary International Politics | 3 |
| or AS.190.111 | Introduction to Global Studies | |
| or AS.192.150 | States, Regimes & Contentious Politics | |
| Political Science Courses | ||
| One international relations course | 3 | |
| One American politics course | 3 | |
| Two comparative politics courses | 6 | |
| One political theory course | 3 | |
| Economics Courses | ||
| AS.180.101 | Elements of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| AS.180.102 | Elements of Microeconomics | 3 |
| One AS.180.xxx course | 3 | |
| One approved economics course 2 | 3 | |
| History Courses | ||
| Five global history courses 3 | 15 | |
| Focus Area | ||
| Four courses within a coherent field of interest | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 63-65 | |
- 1
See description of language requirement above for further details. Languages that currently apply automatically are: Arabic, Chinese, Heritage Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Students proficient in another language should speak to the program about whether that language will be allowed. American Sign Language is not accepted for the major.
- 2
Approved economics courses are listed each semester on the International Studies website and can be identified by the POS-Tag INST-ECON in the schedule of classes.
- 3
Approved global history courses are listed each semester on the International Studies website and can be identified by the POS-Tag INST-GLOBAL in the schedule of classes.
Sample Plan of Study
Note: The plan below assumes the student begins language study at the Elements/First-Year level and takes language through the Advanced/Third-Year level. Not displayed on the plan below is the requirement that at least 5 courses be taken at the 300 level or higher within the history, political science, and/or economics components of the major. This upper-level course requirement excludes courses used to fulfill the language requirement and focus area.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| AS.180.101 | 3 | AS.180.102 | 3 |
| AS.190.108 (or other Gateway course) | 3 | Foreign language | 4 |
| History course (INST-GLOBAL) | 3 | Comparative politics (INST-CP) course | 3 |
| Foreign language | 4 | ||
| 13 | 10 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| Foreign language | 3 | Foreign language | 3 |
| International relations (INST-IR) course | 3 | Political theory (INST-PT) course | 3 |
| AS.180.xxx Economics course | 3 | Focus area course | 3 |
| History course (INST-GLOBAL) | 3 | ||
| 12 | 9 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| Foreign language | 3 | Foreign language | 3 |
| American politics (INST-AP) course | 3 | Comparative politics (INST-CP) course | 3 |
| History course (INST-GLOBAL) | 3 | Economics course (INST-ECON) | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Credits | Second Semester | Credits |
| Focus area course | 3 | Focus area course | 3 |
| Focus area course | 3 | History course (INST-GLOBAL) | 3 |
| History course (INST-GLOBAL) | 3 | ||
| 9 | 6 | ||
| Total Credits 77 | |||
Double-Major and Major-Minor Programs
Students may pursue one of International Studies’ unique double-major or major-minor programs. These are offered in conjunction with affiliated departments and allow students to concentrate their course of study within a specific department or program while simultaneously benefiting from the interdisciplinary training offered by the International Studies major.
Students pursuing a double-major program will receive a major in International Studies as well as a major in the affiliated department or program. For example, students pursuing the Global Social Change and Development track will receive a double major in International Studies and Sociology. The student will have a faculty advisor from the affiliated department or program as well as an advisor in International Studies.
Students pursuing a major-minor program will receive a major in International Studies and a minor in the affiliated department or program (e.g., students pursuing the Global Italy track will receive a minor in Italian Studies) and benefit from a faculty advisor in the affiliated department or program.
Successful completion of an approved double-major or major-minor program will satisfy the International Studies major's focus area requirement.
Senior Thesis
International Studies majors also have the opportunity to write a senior thesis. A senior thesis is an extended original research project written under the supervision of a faculty advisor during the student’s senior year. Thesis projects are best suited for students who have an interest in exploring a specific question and/or a field of knowledge beyond their previous course work. Students may complete a senior thesis regardless of GPA. Theses nominated by the student's thesis advisor will be considered for the Robert Tucker Prize for Best Thesis in International Studies.
Honors in the Major
Departmental honors will be awarded to students who have a major GPA in the top 20% of the International Studies graduating class OR have a major GPA above a 3.7 and have written a senior thesis.
Study Abroad
Studying abroad is especially valuable for International Studies majors. JHU encourages all IS majors to spend one or both semesters of their junior year abroad. International Studies sponsors a number of study abroad programs designed for IS majors and administers them in collaboration with the Global Education Office.
The Junior Year or Semester Abroad at SAIS Europe, offered through the Bologna, Italy campus of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), allows motivated International Studies majors to spend all or part of their junior year taking graduate level classes. Students who spend their junior year or a semester in Bologna, and subsequently apply for graduate studies at SAIS, will receive advanced credit at SAIS for part of their work.
A similar exchange program with the French political science institute Sciences Po allows students to spend a semester or a year studying at one of Sciences Po’s seven regional campuses: Paris, Menton, Reims, Poitiers, Le Havre, Nancy, or Dijon. One of Europe’s most prestigious universities, Sciences Po has a strong international focus and allows students to develop a cross-cultural and transatlantic perspective, while simultaneously offering unique access to the field of international affairs. Courses are offered in English as well as French and thus are open to students regardless of their knowledge of French.
Additionally, the Global Education Office offers a wide range of study abroad opportunities across the globe tailored to students' specific interests.
BA/MA Programs for International Studies Majors
The International Studies Program offers two BA/MA options for its undergraduates, one with the Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC and the other at the renowned French political science institute Sciences Po in Paris. Admission to both programs is based on strong academic performance, a high level of maturity, and a demonstrated interest in international affairs. See the program page for more information.