IDS/International Studies students need to build academic strengths in one language and region of the world. Current and past students have taken Chinese, Turkish, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Gaelic, German, Russian and other languages. Some of the geographic linkages are obvious, while others have been innovative. For example, a few students have taken French with the intent of working in Africa. A number of IDS/IS majors have also gone beyond the single foreign language requirement, taking combinations of languages such as French and Korean.
The minimal graduation requirement for IDS/IS majors is sixth-semester proficiency in a second language. That proficiency can be evaluated in several ways, all of which are outlined in the General Catalog under General Education requirements. Just remember that while standard IDS majors have a fourth-semester requirement, IDS/International Studies majors have the six-semester obligation. For the Language and Regional Studies Discipline you will be required to complete 21 units, 12 must be upper division units.
Language skills are critical to your success in international studies, and they are only really achieved once one goes into the "lab" - in our case, that means the rest of the world! Foreign study is probably the best investment of time, energy and finances you can make as a college student. For this reason, the IDS/IS program requires an "international immersion experience." For that vast majority of students, that means a study abroad program. For a few people it might mean an international internship - conceivably even one here in the United States - but our clear emphasis is on living and learning abroad. There is no substitute for the cultural knowledge and self-confidence one can acquire as a student living amidst another society.
The University’s office of Study Abroad and Student Exchanges can help you make decisions about study abroad and exchange programs, and both Dr. Decker and Dr. Walter will assist you as well. A number of IDS/IS majors have received competitive grants from the National Security Education Program to help finance their education abroad. The NSEP program can be very helpful if you plan on studying in non-Western areas including Africa, Russia, China, Japan, India or other parts of the world on NSEP’s list of appropriate study areas.
The longer you stay abroad doing serious language and cultural study, the greater the benefit. Financial and other constraints make it impossible for everyone to study or intern overseas for a full year, and many people do a single semester or an extensive summer program. We simply encourage you to do as much foreign study as possible; the gains are academically impressive and very helpful after graduation.
If you have any additional questions please email:
Dr. Wayne Decker - wdecker@email.arizona.edu
or
Dr. Karna Walter. - karna@email.arizona.edu
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