American students face increasing pressure to become internationalized -- to attain an education that will enable them to respond intelligently to a world undergoing rapid globalization and to compete in a global economy.
What Is the International and Area Studies (IAS) Dual Major?
The University of Pittsburgh’s Frederick Honors College and University Center for International Studies (UCIS) have created the International and Area Studies (IAS) dual major -- a research-based undergraduate major that will help students meet the demands of today’s world.
The goal of the IAS dual major is to enable students to think critically and to gain “global competence,” which involves working effectively in different international settings, an awareness of the major currents of global change and the resulting issues raised, the capacity for effective communication across cultural and linguistic boundaries, and personal adaptability to diverse cultures.
Specific Requirements
Students seeking the IAS dual major must:
- have a minimum grade point average of 3.500; and
- complete eight UCIS-approved courses (24 credits); and
- complete one methods course specific to their second major (approved by UCIS) or to their BPhil thesis research topic (approved by UCIS); and
- complete one directed study course related to their BPhil thesis research topic (approved by UCIS); and
- complete three years of college-level language study or equivalent proficiency in a language relevant to their BPhil thesis research topic (approved by UCIS); and
- complete a study abroad/international learning experience (approved by UCIS); and
- write and publicly defend their research thesis (the BPhil thesis) before a faculty examining board that includes a faculty member from outside the University (approved by the Frederick Honors College); and
- complete a second major in another academic discipline -- IAS is a dual major; it must be combined with a second major (note that only two courses from this major can overlap with the approved courses for the IAS dual major); requirements for the second major are approved by your primary ("home school") of admission
Students interested in the IAS dual major may complete one of the following tracks in UCIS: Asian Studies, European Union Studies, Global Studies, Latin American Studies, or Russian and East European Studies.
For more information, contact:
African Studies Track
African Studies Program
Anna-Maria Karnes
4136 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Email: awk19@pitt.edu
Tel: 412-624-8143
Asian Studies Track
Asian Studies Center
Emily Rook-Koepsel
4108 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Email: rookkoepsel@pitt.edu
Tel: 412-648-7371
European Union Studies Track
European Studies Center
Steve Lund
4216 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Email: slund@pitt.edu
Tel: 412-648-7422
Global Studies Track
Global Studies Center
Elaine Linn
4102 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Email: eel58@pitt.edu
Tel: 412-648-2113
Latin American Studies Track
Center for Latin American Studies
Luis G. Van Fossen Bravo
4207 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Email: bravo@pitt.edu
Tel: 412-648-7396
Russian and East European Studies Track
Center for Russian and East European Studies
Trever Erlacher
4215 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Email: tfe3@pitt.edu
Tel: 412-648-7403
West European Studies Track
European Studies Center
Steve Lund
4216 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Email: slund@pitt.edu
Tel: 412-648-7422