International Studies is an interdisciplinary minor that prepares students for careers in an increasingly interdependent world. Students are introduced to a wide range of economic, political, and environmental issues and they develop expertise in the culture, history, and languages of other parts of the globe.
International Studies minors are required to complete 2 courses from a bank of core courses, 3 additional courses from the core, or any of the area studies (African, Asian, Eastern European and Russian, Latin American and Iberian, Middle Eastern and Western European) banks, and the second semester of any foreign language, for a total of 18 credit hours. There may be other courses, not listed here, that are applicable with the approval of the Coordinator.
International Studies may be pursued in conjunction with major and minor programs, or as General Education, Multicultural/Global, Literature, Writing Intensive, or Rowan Seminar requirements. Study of a foreign language beyond the first year is recommended. Students can also pursue Study Abroad in partial fulfillment of the International Studies Minor.
Requirements
Core Courses: 6 hours from the core bank below.
Area Studies or core courses: 9 hours. Credits earned to fulfill this requirement must come from at least two departments. Six hours of credits for the minor must be at the 300 level or higher. These may be selected from either core or area banks.
2nd Semester Foreign Language (or CLEP equivalent). Neither the first nor the second semester of this language may count as an Area Studies course. Any additional foreign language credit in this language (at a higher level) or another language (at any level) may fill Area Studies requirements.
Additional Notes
Students who complete an approved study abroad semester will have their 300/400 level Area Studies requirement reduced by three hours. Students will also receive credits for specific courses related to international studies that they take abroad. As long as the study abroad semesters are approved by the home department and the university, there is no upper limit on the number of credits a student may apply to International Studies.
Students wishing to obtain credit for courses not listed in the Area Studies or Core Banks may submit course syllabi to the program coordinator. In general, any course that deals exclusively with the language, culture, or history of any of the listed geographic regions will count, but such decisions are at the discretion of the International Studies coordinator and should be obtained as soon as the student has access to the syllabus.
Internships in international trade, government, communications, business management and marketing can also provide students with valuable skills and work experience. For information about companies involved in such areas in southern New Jersey and Philadelphia, contact the CHSS Match Program. For information about international internship opportunities, visit the International Studies scholarships and internships page: https://chss.rowan.edu/centers/inter_majors/interdisciplinary_programs/internationalstudies/scholarships/Undergraduates.html. You may also contact your professors or the International Center.
Students with a strong academic background should consider applying for some of the scholarship programs that send graduating seniors abroad such as the Fulbright Program. For more information about these scholarships, visit “International Opportunities” section of the International Studies website.
Both the Core Course bank and the Area Studies bank are located below. Please contact Dr. Carla Lewandowski, (lewandowskic@rowan.edu) with any questions.
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