International Studies - BA, Environmental Studies Track
Principle objectives
- To guide students through the complex cultural, social, political, and economic stakes of global interdependence.
- To assure a measurable proficiency in a foreign language.
- To assure regional cultural competency through a structured and integrated abroad experience.
- To provide a historical dimension to current conceptions of globalization.
Curriculum
The degree plan consists of a combination of INTS core courses (15 hours), with electives tailored for each track (18 hours); area studies courses in the region corresponding to the student's foreign language choice (9 hours); foreign language courses (20 hours); and at least one long semester or 10-week summer study abroad or other approved international program with an emphasis on cultural and linguistic immersion.
International Environmental Studies Track
Globalization and rapid industrialization have brought about a set of environmental concerns that defy national boundaries. Students will work through a fascinating array of coursework chosen among the Colleges of Geoscience, Science, AgriLife, and Liberal Arts. Ultimately students will have a firm grasp of the myriad environmental issues that arise from our global interconnectedness.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 104 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| INTS 205 | Current Issues in International Studies | 1 |
| Foreign language 1 | 4 | |
| Government/Political science | 3 | |
| Mathematics 2 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| INTS 201 | Introduction to International Studies | 3 |
| INTS 205 | Current Issues in International Studies | 1 |
| American history | 3 | |
| Foreign language 1 | 4 | |
| Life and physical sciences | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Communication for Technical Professions | ||
| Argumentation and Debate | ||
| Writing about Literature | ||
| Technical and Business Writing | ||
| Foreign language 1 | 3 | |
| International communication & media 3 | 3 | |
| Language, philosophy and culture | 3 | |
| Social and behavioral sciences | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| INTS 205 | Current Issues in International Studies | 1 |
| American history | 3 | |
| Foreign language 1 | 3 | |
| Government/Political science | 3 | |
| Life and physical sciences | 3 | |
| Literature directed elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| International experience 4 | ||
| Foreign language 1 | 3 | |
| Geographic area studies 5 | 3 | |
| Geographic area studies 5 | 3 | |
| Geographic area studies 5 | 3 | |
| International environmental studies 3 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Directed Studies | ||
| Special Topics in... | ||
| Independent Honors Study | ||
| Creative arts | 3 | |
| Foreign language 1 | 3 | |
| International environmental studies 3 | 3 | |
| Life and physical sciences | 3 | |
| General elective | 1 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Directed Studies | ||
| Special Topics in... | ||
| Independent Honors Study | ||
| International environmental studies 3 | 3 | |
| Mathematics 2 | 3 | |
| Social and behavioral sciences | 3 | |
| Literature directed elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| INTS 481 | Senior Seminar in International Studies | 3 |
| International environmental studies 3 | 3 | |
| International environmental studies 3 | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | Students completing a Bachelor of Arts in the College of Liberal Arts are required to complete 14 hours of a foreign language through the intermediate level. Students in International Studies are required to complete am additional 6 hours of a foreign language through the advanced level. If you choose to enroll in a language you have studied previously without receiving college credit, you must first take a placement test. See the Foreign Language paragraph. |
| 2 | At least 3 hours must be in MATH. Three hours may be PHIL 240. |
| 3 | Select six (6) courses from at least two departments. Not all courses will be offered every semester. See academic advisor. Select from AGEC 105, AGEC 350, AGEC 414, AGEC 452; AGLS 101; ATMO 201; BESC 201; BIOL 328, BIOL 357; GEOG 201, GEOG 202, GEOG 203, GEOG 304, GEOG 311, GEOG 324, GEOG 330, GEOG 401, GEOG 430; GEOL 101, GEOL 420; GEOS 210, GEOS 410; INTS 301, INTS 484; NFSC 201; OCNG 251; PHIL 314; POLS 347, POLS 456; RENR 205, RENR 375; RPTS 445; SOCI 206, SOCI 328. |
| 4 | See the International Experience Requirements paragraph. |
| 5 | Select courses from an approved list on the INTS website in consultation with an advisor. Courses numbered 485 or 489 that contain significant international content can be taken in any department to meet part of the track or area requirement. Students must obtain International Studies advisor approval before taking the 485 or 489 course. |
Graduation requirements include 3 hours of International and Cultural Diversity courses and 3 hours of Cultural Discourse courses. A course satisfying a core category, a college/department requirement, or a free elective can be used to satisfy this requirement. The required 6 hours may be met by courses satisfying other areas of a degree program. See your academic advisor for further information.
Foreign Language
Students entering International Studies take a placement exam to determine the level of and number of required foreign language courses. Exam results may fulfill a maximum of 14 semester credit hours.
- Students placed in 101 will take 101, 102, 201 and 202 and 6 semester credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
- Students placed in 102 will take 102, 201 and 202 and 6 semester credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
- Students placed in 201 will take 201 and 202 and 6 semester credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
- Students placed in 202 will take 202 and 6 semester credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
- Students placing out of 101, 102, 201 and 202 will take 6 semester credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
International Experience Requirements
The International Experience must generate at least 3 hours of Texas A&M University credit. Departmental approval is required before travel. Any international experience that does not meet these criteria will not count toward the degree.
- Must be at least one long semester or one 10-week summer approved experience.
- Must be taken after completion of 100- and 200-level language requirement and INTS 201.
- Must be completed before student is eligible to enroll in INTS 481, INTS 491 or INTS 497.
- Must be an immersion experience in the foreign culture and language, which can be satisfied by:
- An internship at a company, government agency or non-profit operation involving significant use of the foreign language. Three hours of INTS 484 elective credit can be given.
- Courses taken at a foreign university. Courses may count for Texas A&M University credit with approval of the advisor of the relevant department. These courses cannot apply to the International Studies core. One course must be taken in the foreign language at the 300- or 400-level.
- Selected Texas A&M University Study Abroad programs which involve intensive cultural and language immersion.
- A combination of the above to equal the requirement of a long semester or a 10-week summer-approved experience.
- Must be taken outside of the student’s country of origin.
- Must be taken in one foreign country that matches with the foreign language and the area study requirement unless approved by the department head before travel.
Other courses may qualify for the college, university requirements categories. Students should consult the approved list of courses available in the Undergraduate Student Services Office in the College of Liberal Arts or in the International Studies Degree Program Office. The list incorporates University Core Curriculum requirements. No course can be counted in more than one category, except as allowed in the International and Cultural Diversity and Cultural Discourse Graduation requirement.