The International Studies Program combines social sciences and humanities to examine international problems and change. Using a diverse, multidisciplinary approach, the Program encourages students to look at our increasingly interdependent world in order to learn how to study it and understand its politics, societies, economies, and cultures.
- Sara Curran, Chair
The major consists of approximately 70 credit hours plus language study within a general four-year B.A. course of study:
Qualifying Paper Agreement Form - (pdf)
Majors are required to maintain a grade point average of at least 2.5, both overall and in the program, and earn a minimum 2.0 grade in all required SIS-prefix courses.
Overlapping credits: A maximum of 15 credits that are used to fulfill minimum requirements of any other UW major can be counted in this major.
Approved tracks: Canada; China; Japan; East Asia; South Asia; Southeast Asia; Latin America; Middle East; Western Europe; Russia, Eastern Europe, & Central Asia; Development; Environmental Studies; Ethnicity and Nationalities; Jewish Studies; International Communication; International Human Rights, Law, State and Society; International Political Economy; Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Peace and Security
List of approved CORE courses
Lists of approved track courses
Download the SIS Major Handbook (PDF Format)
Admission to the major in International Studies is by application. Applications may be submitted by the third Friday of Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters. Before applying, students must complete (1) ECON 200, ECON 201, or SIS/GEOG 123, and (2) either SIS 200 or 201 to qualify for serious consideration.
Students may apply for admission to the major as early as spring of the freshman year, if they have completed the appropriate course work. Students most often apply during their sophomore or junior year. Transfer students should have completed at least one quarter at the University of Washington before applying.
A number of criteria will be used to select students, among which are GPA, foreign language ability, international experience, a one-page statement of goals and educational background, and performance in SIS 200 and/or 201 and, if taken, SIS/GEOG 123, and ECON 200 and/or ECON 201. Students will be notified of admission or denial by the end of the third week following the application period.
GUIDELINES FOR APPLICATION PDF
To see a list of Frequently Asked Questions, click HERE .
In order to apply to the major,
students must submit:
1) Unofficial UW transcript (printer-friendly version from MYUW or from
Mary Gates Hall).
2) Unofficial or official transfer transcripts for college-level studies
completed to date.
3) A one-page statement, typed and double-spaced,
responding to the following questions: What are your personal/education
goals, and how do you expect those to be met through an International
Studies major? What background do you bring to the program? Describe any
special experience that would contribute to your studies in the field.
4) A writing sample: graded copy of a response paper from either SIS 200,
201, or 202.
Be sure to write your mailing and email addresses, and telephone number on your UW unofficial transcript and your statement. Transcripts and statement should be sent or brought to the Office of Student Services, Thomson Hall 111 no later than the third Friday of the quarter in which you apply. Please note that in order to be considered for admission to the major, students must be presently enrolled at the University of Washington.
For more details follow these links below.
It is also possible to complete a minor in International Studies. For the minor, students must complete 30 credits, to include: (1) 10 credits chosen from SIS 200, 201, 202; (2) 15 credits in SIS-prefix courses numbered 200 or above (courses with other JSIS prefixes--SISEA, etc.--are not eligible). These 15 credits must include 5 credits at 400 level (SIS 401 is recommended; prerequisites are SIS 201, ECON 200, 201); and (3) 5 additional credits chosen from SIS-prefix courses or from undergraduate courses having any of the following prefixes: SISA, SISAF, SISCA, SISEA, SISJE, SISLA, SISME, SISRE, SISSA, SISSE, EURO, RELIG. Minimum grade of 2.0 is required in each course applied toward the minor.
Revised 9/18/2008