International Studies - BA, International Geographic Information Systems Track
The BA in International Studies (INTS) is an interdisciplinary degree that combines linguistic and regional expertise, with specialization in a sub-field specific to the track.
International Geographic Information Systems Track
The International GIS track immerses students in the workings of spatially distributed information that is used in the environmental, transportation, defense, and many other sectors of the economy. Students will develop skills in spatial analysis and advanced applications of GIS technologies.
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.
| 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 | |
| General elective | 1 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| 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 | |
| Language, philosophy and culture | 3 | |
| Social and behavioral sciences | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| INTS 205 | Current Issues in International Studies | 1 |
| American history | 3 | |
| Foreign language 1 | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of geography 3 | 3 | |
| Government/Political science | 3 | |
| Life and physical sciences | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| INTS 300 | International Experience 4 | 0 |
| Foreign language 1 | 3 | |
| Geographic area studies 5 | 3 | |
| Geographic area studies 5 | 3 | |
| Geographic area studies 5 | 3 | |
| Regional Geography 6 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOG 361 | Remote Sensing in Geosciences | 4 |
| Creative arts | 3 | |
| Foreign language 1 | 3 | |
| Life and physical sciences | 3 | |
| Literature directed elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GEOG 390 | Principles of Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Directed Studies | ||
| Special Topics in... | ||
| Independent Honors Study | ||
| Mathematics 2 | 3 | |
| Social and behavioral sciences | 3 | |
| Literature directed elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| GEOG 475 | Advanced Topics in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) | 4 |
| INTS 481 | Senior Seminar in International Studies | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Directed Studies | ||
| Special Topics in... | ||
| Independent Honors Study | ||
| General elective | 3 | |
| General elective | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| 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 from ATMO 201; GEOG 203, GEOG 205; GEOL 101; GEOS 210; OCNG 251 |
| 4 | The course will be used to track student's completion of the International Experience Requirement (see paragraph below). |
| 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. |
| 6 | Select from GEOG 320, GEOG 323, GEOG 324, GEOG 325,GEOG 327. |
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.