Majors and minors in the IS Program select one of the following four concentrations, or tracks, to help them focus their interests:

Cooperation and Conflict
这种集中考虑了有关国际事务中合作与冲突电子游戏正规平台的基本理论和实证问题, including the causes of wars, revolutions, and terrorism; the consequences of international and domestic actors’ attempts at reconciliation; the role of arms control, intelligence, international institutions, global governance, and grand strategy; and sources of state and individual security and insecurity. Every war is unique, every peace different, 学生将有充足的机会电子游戏正规平台世界各地的历史和当代案例. At the same time, students will approach war, peace, 和安全作为一般的社会现象，并检查跨案例和理论观点的共同特征和动态.

Ethics and Social Justice
这种集中考虑国际事务的宗教和世俗伦理框架, 以及揭示特定伦理问题的国际政治领域, including sovereignty, terrorism, peacemaking, human rights, economic justice, and the use of force in war or humanitarian interventions. 学生还将探索宗教的作用和社会正义的动机在国家和非国家行为者之间的互动.

Global Cultures
这种集中考虑了在全球连接的世界中文化制造和社区的两个维度. In the “Cultures at Work” cluster, students examine professional cultural production, 对文化进行批判性探究，既是一种复杂的意义创造活动，也是全球经济的核心商品. In the “Cultures and Social Movements” cluster, 学生电子游戏正规平台社区和运动如何通过培养和部署共享的社会, cultural, religious, political, and economic resources. 全球文化集中者可以选择完成一个1学分的选修实习，无论是在文化产品的创造或在基层动员和其他参与方法的全球重要性和文化代表性的问题.

Political Economy and Development Studies
这种集中考虑政治和经济之间的相互作用，决定国家之间的相互作用, markets, and societies, both in the developed and developing world. Students will gain an understanding of the economic, political, 以及国际公共政策问题中的道德风险，并培养分析政策选择的能力. 集中的一个中心焦点是人类福祉的改善, especially, though not exclusively, 在发展中国家，包括非洲国家的背景下, 亚洲, the Pacific and Latin America.

Yes! International Studies majors and minors are strongly encouraged to spend at least a semester abroad, but BC offers study abroad programs ranging from one week to an entire academic year. Nearly 90% of our majors study abroad for a summer or semester. 

Study Abroad Information for IS

In short, AP credits can be used to demonstrate language proficiency and can offer exemptions from a specific course that counts for our major, but AP credits will not reduce the number of courses needed to fulfill the core or elective requirments -- they simply allow students to take a higher-level course in its place.

For example:

To test out of our core Economics requirement (Principles of Economics, ECON1101), students must have earned an AP score of 4 or 5 on BOTH the Micro Principles AP exam and the Macro Principles AP exam. Students testing out of ECON 1101 in this manner are still required to complete the IS core Economic requirement by taking two Economics courses at the 2000-level or above.

Students with AP scores of 4 or 5 in only one of those two courses (Principles of Microeconomics or Principles of Macroeconomics) are required to complete ECON 1101 and a 2000-level Economics course, like all majors.
If you have any questions about AP credits and the IS major or minor, contact Prof. Hiroshi Nakazato, Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Contact Professor Hiroshi Nakazato

Enrollment in the major is by competitive application, submitted in early February of Freshman year. Transfer students who enter BC in their sophomore year may apply during the summer.

Major Admission

Enrollment in the IS minor is open to all students who file a course plan, which outlines how they will meet the minor's requirements, by the end of before the end of the Drop/Add period in October of their Junior year. We also welcome declarations of the IS minor in freshman or sophomore year. We encourage prospective IS minors to read about the minor requirements and visit with a Peer Advisor or faculty advisor to help the craft their course plan. When completed, the course plan should be submitted to Ms. Patricia Joyce in Gasson 104.

Minor Requirements

The IS major requires a total of 45 credits in 13 approved courses, plus certification of language proficiency. Nearly 90% of our students also study abroad. The curricular components of the IS major include:

The IS Major Core (24 credits earned in 6 courses)

An elective concentration (18 credits earned in 6 courses)

Language proficiency (Advanced proficiency in one modern language or intermediate proficiency in two modern languages. The language requirement is co-curriculuar: language classes do not count as courses in the IS major, though the proficiency they foster is a requirement.)

Study abroad (Students can transfer up to 2 classes or 8 credits from abroad in one semester, or 12 credits across a full year, usually toward their elective track.)

Senior seminar or senior thesis (3-credit senior seminar or 6-credit senior thesis -- in which 3 credits could apply to an elective concentration)

International Studies Major Components

The IS Minor requires six courses: two foundation courses, then four electives chosen from among four concentrations: Conflict and Cooperation; Ethics and Socail Justice; Global Cultures; or Political Economy and Development Studies. 

IS Minor Components

Increased investment from the University has allowed the IS Program to expand to its current maximum of 105 students per year. Over a six-year period, 被录取的学生人数从2016届的88人增加到2019届的95人, to 105 in the class of 2022. 目前，这相当于一个大约280名学生的主要队列(跨越三个学年)。.

Yes. Both IS majors and IS minors have a language proficiency requirement, but they differ:

所有 IS majors, regardless of their school (MCAS, CSOM, LSOE, CSON), must demonstrate advanced proficiency in one modern foreign language or intermediate proficiency in two modern foreign languages by the time of their graduation. Advanced proficiency will be met by taking at least two courses beyond the intermediate level of a modern foreign language. 

所有 IS minors, regardless of school (MCAS, CSOM, LSOE, CSON), must demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in one modern foreign language. 

Language Prerequisite Requirements

Locate forms for course substitutions, withdrawals, pre-approvals, internships, and more on the Student Services site. 

Student Services Site

In addition to the academic advising conducted by our faculty advisors, program staff, and Peer Advisors, we encourage students to take advantage of the many campus resources listed here related to academic support; mental health; physical health/disability; gender and sexuality; mindfulness and spiritual counseling/communities; and support groups. 

Campus Resources for Students

Review the list of approved Fall 2024 courses or a complete list of all approved courses offered in any semester.

Fall 2024 Courses

Complete List of Courses