Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Foundational Courses
Specializations and Electives
Counting non-Brandeis Courses for IGS
International Experience Requirement
Internships
Language Requirement
Declaring a Major / Advising
Other
Foundational Courses
1. Must I take IGS 10a in the First or Second Year?
IGS 10a, Introduction to International and Global Studies is designed to introduce students to the major. It provides a foundation for the rest of the major as well as an overview of the six specializations, thereby helping you understand our approach to globalization and to choose the specialization that is best for you. Yet there is no requirement that you take it as a first- or second-year student. If you become an IGS major later on, or have difficulty scheduling the course in your first two years, simply take the course in your junior or, if need be, senior year.
2. Can I transfer a course credit that would count for the IGS 10a?
No, IGS 10a is specific to our program. So while a course taught elsewhere might be a good introduction to global issues, it would not provide the equivalent foundation for the major designed at Brandeis.
3. Should I take IGS 8a to meet the economics component of the IGS core courses?
IGS 8a, Economic Principles and Globalization, is designed for students who expect to have significant difficulty with the mathematics involved in ECON 2a (Introduction to Economics) and ECON 8b (Global Economy). We strongly encourage students who have already taken ECON 2a, or who anticipate few problems in doing so, to take the ECON 2a/ECON 8b sequence, which provides deeper and broader insight into how economists study the global economy.
4. Must the foundational courses (ANTH 1a, ECON 8b/IGS 8a, POL 15a) be taken before other courses in the IGS Program?
Whenever possible you should take these courses early in your studies as they lay the foundation for more specialized courses. It's understood that scheduling conflicts with other key courses, like one mandatory for a second major, sometime dictate otherwise.
5. Can I transfer a course credit that would count toward a Foundational Course Credit?
Although we ordinarily prefer that students take the foundational courses offered at Brandeis, IGS will consider transfers that are comparable to our offerings. To secure approval send a request to the IGS chair, submit a petition specifying the proposed substitute and providing as much information as possible. Click here for more information on using courses to meet IGS major requirements.
Specializations and Electives
6. Is there a mandatory sequence for the courses within a specialization?
No, but it makes sense that any course that is required or strongly recommended for a particular specialization should be taken before others. When scheduling conflicts interfere, take the course in question at the first reasonable opportunity.
7. Do I have to do one of the six specializations listed?
No; students have the option of proposing an Independent Specialization. To do so, specify a theme different from the ones listed, identify four courses that fit within that theme. Since the Faculty Committee must approve all Independent Specializations, you will need to submit a detailed explanation of the specialization and constituent courses; please consult with the Program Chair before submitting your proposal.
8. Must both electives be in the same or different specializations?
Either is possible. If you have a particularly strong interest in another specialization and it perhaps complements a second major or a minor, you have the option of taking your two electives in the same specialization. It is recommended that you choose from two different specializations and broaden your knowledge of the field. In either case, be certain that the courses are not cross-listed with your specialization.
9. How do I know what IGS courses will be offered in the future?
As an interdepartmental program, IGS offers very few of its own courses - so far, only IGS 8a, IGS 10a (see Foundational Courses), and IGS 89b (see Internships). The vast majority of IGS courses are cross-listed - that is, they are offered by departments other than IGS. As a result, IGS staff and faculty do not have a list of future offerings in all the departments. The Registrar's Office posts tentative course schedules well in advance of pre-registration. We will post whatever information we have about future course offerings on our web site. For information about the next scheduled offering of a specific course, you might contact the administrator of the relevant department or the individual instructor.
Counting non-Brandeis Courses for IGS
10. What do I do to count a non-Brandeis course towards my IGS major/minor?
Few IGS students complete the entire major solely with courses at Brandeis; we expect most students to count at least one course taken away from campus (primarily study-abroad or transfer students) for IGS credit. (Please note that this section was updated in April 2007 to reflect new procedures.)
Students must petition for each non-Brandeis course they would like apply towards the IGS major. To petition, please send the Program Chair information about the course, usually a syllabus or detailed list of readings and writing assignments. In addition, students should indicate the following:
* their own IGS specialization;
* the IGS specialization where they believe where the course would belong; and,
* a brief (2-4 sentence) statement of why the course should count for the IGS major.
Please provide as much information about the course as possible, including course descriptions, reading lists (in any language), and especially a syllabus. Refer to the curriculum statement for additional guidance in formulating your petition. Please contact the Program Chair within any questions.
Please note that IGS can only count courses for the major if they are accepted for Brandeis credit and appear on your Brandeis transcript. For more information, follow the links for transfer students; those returning from study abroad; students who have taken summer courses.
Students may choose to seek approval for the course before completing it; simply email the Program Chair with the information request above. In any case, students must complete the Registrar’s form for transfer credit TC03 upon returning to campus. If the course has already been approved, simply take the form (with the first page completed; don’t worry about the second) to the Program Administrator for signature. If the course has not yet been approved, please bring it to the Program Chair, along with the information listed above, for evaluation.
11. What criteria are used to evaluate course petitions?
Non-Brandeis courses are subject to much the same criteria as Brandeis courses. We look for courses that have an international, comparative, and/or transnational subject matter, or provide a theoretical framework for the analysis of global issues. Courses must also devote significant attention (at least 1/3 of the course) to international/global issues. Courses should comply with the general criteria listed in the IGS curriculum statement.
Approved courses may be similar to IGS courses at Brandeis or may be complementary. In seeking approval for a course, be sure to provide both catalogue description and details about the course as well as a rationale of how it either replicates or complements the courses offered in a particular specialization.
12. Can AP credits be counted toward the major?
No. The University may accept these as credits toward graduation, or for placement out of introductory courses, but few majors regard them as equivalent to university-level courses.
13. Is it possible to transfer credits for similar courses taken at other American universities (from prior studies or summer programs) to satisfy these courses?
Yes; but there is a limit of two transfer courses that can be applied to either the foundational (ANTH 1a, ECON 8b/IGS 8a, and POL 15a) or the specialization courses. To obtain credit, you must petition the IGS Program Chair, attaching a course description and syllabus. (See FAQ # 10, above.)
International Experience Requirement
14. How do I satisfy the international experience requirement?
IGS seeks to afford students an opportunity either for substantial immersion in a foreign culture (through study abroad) or practical experience (through an internship). Please note that this section was revised in April 2007.
Most IGS majors meet the international experience requirement by studying abroad on a semester-long program approved by Brandeis’s Study Abroad Office. Please note that summer programs, unless they entail an internship meeting the international experience criteria, do not meet the IGS international experience requirement.
Students may opt to complete an international internship. Such an internship must be include at least 100 hours of work over at least six weeks, and must be completed outside the
Students presenting an internship to meet the IGS international experience requirement must contact the IGS Internship Coordinator prior to starting the internship, and enroll in IGS 89b (usually offered in the fall semester) either during or immediately after their internship experience.
15. Do you recommend any specific study-abroad programs?
More than any specific program, we strongly recommend studying abroad if at all possible; it offers you experiences unobtainable any other way. IGS students may enroll in any program approved by Brandeis's Study-Abroad Program. In general, we recommend studying in a location that will allow you to improve your language skills (taking some or even all of your classes in a foreign language) and meet your broader academic and career goals. There are a number of excellent programs for students seeking experiential components in their foreign studies, including both internships and intensive research projects.
Please contact the Study-Abroad Office for more advice about programs especially well-suited to your interests.
16. I'm an IGS student planning on studying abroad. What do I need to do?
All students planning on studying abroad whether IGS majors or not need to receive the approval of the Study-Abroad Office; their deadlines are usually mid-February for students studying abroad in the fall semester (or for a full academic year) and late September for students studying abroad in the spring. (More information is available from the Study Abroad Office.)
IGS majors and minors need the signature of the Program Chair before submitting their application to the Study-Abroad Office. Please sign up for an appointment with the Program Chair well in advance of the deadline; for office hours, please click here. When coming to your appointment, please bring with you information about the programs you're applying to, as well as IGS's Major Requirement Checklist, completed as much as possible.
Reminder: Sophomores planning on studying abroad in the fall of the junior year (or for the whole junior year) must declare a major before applying to study abroad. For more information on declaring an IGS major, please click here.
17. Is it possible to satisfy the study abroad requirement by a summer program?
No, chiefly because that will not afford sufficient time for the kind of cultural immersion envisioned by the program. Students may, however, use a summer program that contains a significant internship program. For general information on summer programs, please click here; be aware that only those programs that organize suitable internships can be used to meet the international experience requirement. When petitioning for prior approval from the IGS Program Chair for such a program, be sure to provide a full description of your course work and internship.
18. I am a foreign student. How can I meet the international experience requirement?
International students coming to Brandeis are already studying abroad and thus fulfill the IGS requirement for international experience automatically.
19. How many courses from study abroad may be applied toward my IGS major?
If you study abroad for one semester, then you may apply up to two courses towards your IGS major. If your study abroad is two semesters, then you may apply up to four courses. In either case be certain to obtain approval from the IGS Program Chair (in advance when possible) by following the protocol used in other credit transfer situations.
20. How do I petition for a course to count for IGS while I'm studying abroad?
The procedure for petitioning to have a course count for the IGS major is the same whether you're on campus or overseas. See above (FAQ #10) for more details.
Internships
21. What kinds of internships are acceptable?
The internship normally must entail a minimum of 100 hours over a minimum of six weeks. Foreign internships might be with a local institution or a branch of a foreign or international organization (international, governmental, nongovernmental, or business). Internships in the
22. How do I find out more about internships?
The first step is to look at the webpage maintained by the Academic Internships Coordinator. You should also feel free to seek additional guidance from your advisor, instructors in a specific field of interest, and the IGS Internship Coordinator.
23. How do I apply for an internship approval?
Once you have identified a suitable internship and contacted the organization for further details, please contact the IGS Internship Coordinator for approval. To ensure acceptance you may be interested in applying to several internships. Feel free to file multiple requests for approval with the IGS Internship Coordinator in advance to be sure that those internships will satisfy the program's requirements.
Please note that students meeting the IGS international experience requirement by completing an internship should enroll in IGS 89b during or as soon as possible after the internship.
Language Requirement
24. Didn't I already meet the language requirement as part of my general University requirements?
No. IGS requires a level of language proficiency typically attained through four semesters of college-level study, while the University requires only proficiency attained through three semesters. For most students, then, the IGS requirement amounts to one additional semester of college-level language study.
25. To satisfy the language requirement, must the additional course be taken in the same language used to satisfy the graduation requirement?
Yes. The purpose is to develop a higher level of language proficiency, not merely to take an additional semester of a foreign language. If you feel that you have special circumstances that might qualify for an exception to this rule, though, it is possible to petition the IGS Program Chair.
26. Can language courses taken during the study abroad count toward satisfying the language requirement?
Of course; but again it is necessary to obtain approval, ideally in advance. See FAQ #10 for more details.
27. Must native speakers who have placed out of the language requirement take an additional course?
No. Please meet with the Program Chair to confirm that your language proficiency is properly counted.
28. Though I'm not a native speaker, I satisfied the University language requirement through Advanced Placement or SAT II exams. Do I have to do anything else for the IGS requirement?
Yes. The thresholds for meeting the language requirement through these exams are set at the level for three semesters. If you would like to test out of the IGS language requirement, please contact the relevant language coordinator.
Declaring a Major / Advising
29. How do I declare a major or minor in IGS?
It's easy! Pick up a Major Declaration Form from Academic Services. Be sure to fill out the courses you've already completed, as well as those for which you are already registered. (See FAQ #9 about future offerings.) While the IGS Major Requirement Checklist repeats some of the same information, it allows you and the program staff to get a quick graphic sense of your progress towards the major.
If you have a major advisor in mind, please contact her/him first to get the signature on your Major Declaration. (See FAQ #30 about finding an advisor.)
After completing both forms - and getting your major advisor's signature, if appropriate - please sign up for an appointment with the IGS Program Chair; bring both the Major Declaration Form and the completed IGS Major Requirement Checklist to your appointment.
30. How do I choose an IGS advisor?
You may choose as advisor anyone who teaches in the IGS program. If you are still in the early stages of the major, you can choose an advisor on the basis of interest or intended specialization, or you may opt to have the IGS Program Chair serve as your advisor. You may be especially interested in having as an IGS advisor someone who has come to know your work.
As you advance to later phases of your study, it would make sense to choose an advisor who is in your specialization or one whom you have come to know through your course work. Changing advisors is a simple matter and you should feel free to do so. To change advisors, please pick up a Major Declaration Form from Academic Services and obtain the signatures of both your old and new advisors.
Other
35. Should I pursue a second major in addition to IGS?
Not necessarily, but we expect that many IGS majors will have another major too. While IGS provides global perspective and valuable interdisciplinary training, a second major in a traditional major or another interdisciplinary program will enhance your knowledge of a specific area or discipline. When chosen wisely, the two majors (or a major and minor) can be complementary and interactive, giving more coherence to your course selection and strengthening your qualifications for graduate school or a non-academic career.
36. How many courses can be counted for both an IGS and a second major?
IGS allows a maximum of five courses from any single department, the goal being to keep your IGS major as interdisciplinary as possible.
37. What is the lowest grade in a course that will count toward the major?
As in most departments, grades must be C or higher to qualify for the major. No courses for the major may be taken pass/fail.
38. Should I do a senior honors thesis in IGS?
As in most majors, we expect only a few students to write senior honors theses; only those with a major GPA of 3.3 or above are eligible to write a thesis. The rules for an IGS thesis are similar to those for any other majors; the thesis becomes the basis for departmental honors. Ideally, the thesis builds on research interests developed in one or more IGS courses. Students will enroll in IGS 99d for both semesters of their senior year. Any faculty member who teaches an IGS course can advise an IGS thesis; the thesis advisor might or might not be your major advisor.
IGS students completing an honors thesis must enroll for IGS 99d, but so long as this is done will permit students to count the thesis for other majors. An IGS thesis must relate to one or another aspect of international and global studies; in addition, the thesis examining committee must include at least two IGS faculty members. Please contact the IGS Honors Coordinator early in the process to discuss eligibility, possible topics and advisors, and the thesis-writing process. For more information, please click here.