International Studies
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem, Oregon 97301
503-370-6060 voice
Course of Study Worksheet
Students structure their International Studies major in consultation with their advisors. The major consists of at least 11 courses and is divided into 3 foci: core courses, language-prefix courses, and topical focus courses. Students must take 4 core courses, 3 language-prefix courses, and 4 topical focus courses (remember that some courses will have prerequisites).
The core course and language-prefix course requirements are rigid. (Substitute courses may be applied in exceptional circumstances -- from study abroad programs, for example). Please discuss the possibility of applying substitutes to your major with your advisor. The topical focus requirements are flexible, and students use the topical focus to individualize their International Studies major.
In their topical focus students pursue either a more geographical focus, which centers on events that tie one country to international issues ("Wal-Mart and the Chinese Textile Industry"; "Anna Politkovskaya as post-Soviet Russian Dissident"), or a broader topical focus, which joins two or more countries that might not be neighbors ("Remembering World War II: Memoirs of the War from Japan, the United States, and Austria"; "Wine and Pesticides: Organic Wine and the Chilean and French Wine Industries"). It is recommended that students, as they construct their topical focus, come up with a preliminary title or brief description for their individual major, because it will help them and their advisors to identify which courses are most appropriate for their major.
A Course of Study Worksheet is provided for you to use when planning your major. Part I is a guide to follow when planning your course of study and Part II is the form to use when declaring your major. Please read the directions on the Worksheet before submitting it to the Registrar's Office. In addition, Sample Course of Study Worksheets are provided here, just to give you an idea of how a major can look.