Overview

Marc Papé, Program Director

Faculty Advisors: David Baronov (Sociology), Rubén Gómez (Modern Languages and Cultures), John Harman (Political Science), Selim Ilter (Management), Merouane Lakehal-Ayat (Management), John Roche (Economics), Thomas Tyson (Accounting), Stephen Valone (History)

The International Studies program is designed to prepare professionals and scholars working in the global arena to address contemporary world issues through interdisciplinary perspectives. The major relies upon a foundation of courses in international politics, history, and economics. In addition, students study a foreign language of their choice. They also choose an area of concentration in which they take a cluster of courses pertaining to a geographical area of the world and a traditional functional theme, such as International Organizations, Global Business, International Security, or Human Rights and Development. Each major gains experience in individual research through a capstone research project which is completed in the senior year. This project requires an application of the various disciplinary approaches which have been explored to an original thesis concerning a topic of international significance. The International Studies program prepares students to pursue careers in business, education, government, international communications, and law.

The Washington Experience: Fisher Semester in Washington

International Studies majors may avail themselves of The Washington Experience, a semester in Washington, D.C. See The Washington Experience section for details.

St. John Fisher students also have access to a Washington semester internship and academic study program through the Political Science department. All ISPR majors are encouraged to consider participation in these programs. (Further information is available from the Director.)

Fast Track to Master of Science in International Studies

Students are eligible for a Fast Track to a Master of Science in International Studies at St. John Fisher College. Fast Track approval requires acceptance into the graduate program and a meeting with the assigned graduate advisor. The advisor and student will discuss program options. If deemed appropriate by the advisor and approved by the Program Director, the student may register for up to two graduate courses during the senior year. These courses will carry graduate-level credit and will be taken in addition to those required to earn the baccalaureate degree.

Minor

Minor in International Studies

*The choice of language may necessitate additional competency prerequisites.

Note: No more than two courses which are satisfying a student’s major requirements may also be applied to a student’s ISPR minor. A grade point average of 2.00 is required for all courses taken in residence that may be applied to the minor.

Program Requirements

Requirements for the International Studies Major

*The choice of language may necessitate additional competency prerequisites.

Note: Qualified students may substitute ISPR 498H Honors in International Studies for ISPR 498.

For students majoring in International Studies, all courses required for the major program and all electives which may be applied to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.

Senior Thesis

ISPR seniors develop a two-semester senior project, which enables them to pursue individual research as well as to synthesize the various components selected for the concentrations. Seniors register for ISPR 497 Senior Thesis Preparation in the fall semester, during which they will identify a project advisor (typically a professor from the student’s area of concentration). After consultation with this faculty member, students compose a one- to three-page thesis proposal that is mutually satisfactory and approved by the director (who will also serve as a reader for the paper) and then complete the first draft of a substantial research paper. In the spring, students register for ISPR 498 Senior Thesis Presentation and revise the research paper.

At the conclusion of the semester, every senior will make an oral presentation and defense of the project before faculty readers and interested members of the College community. Seniors who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 may apply to become Honors majors. If accepted, ISPR 498H Honors in International Studies is taken in place of ISPR 498.

Study Abroad Requirement

ISPR majors who enter the College as freshmen and declare International Studies as a major before the first semester of the junior year are required to spend at least one semester during the junior year studying abroad as part of the Foreign Study Program. In exceptional cases, a student may request that this requirement be waived; to do so, a written petition outlining the justification for the waiver must be submitted to and then approved by the Director of the International Studies program prior to the start of the junior year. Transfer students or students for whom English is not the native language or students who declare International Studies as a major after their first-semester junior year may request a waiver from the program director.

Choosing a Minor

ISPR majors should discuss their choice of a minor with the program director. Students who might pursue careers in the corporate world are encouraged to consider combining their ISPR major with a Management minor. This major, which blends the strengths of an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree with the vocational and pre-professional skills of Management, creates a very appealing course of study both for students and potential employers.

Concentration Courses

International Studies majors are required to take two courses from each of the following categories: functional studies and area studies. Students may substitute courses successfully completed as part of the foreign study experience for part of the list below with the written permission of the director.

Functional Studies

*When topic is appropriate and approved by program director.

Area Studies

Recommended Progression

B.A. International Studies

Recommended progression of courses required for a B.A. International Studies major. Students should consult Core Requirements for a complete description of the College’s Core.

*Language study beyond the 103 level is strongly encouraged. Suggested for students participating in the Foreign Study Program.

**Students select four of these five courses.

***ISPR majors who use part or all of their junior year for a Foreign Study Program or a Washington Internship should plan their course schedules carefully with their advisors so that the junior-year courses are either taken in the sophomore and senior years or satisfied as part of the foreign study or internship course load.