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WHAT WE'RE ABOUT
Globalization is here to stay, but what course it takes is far from predetermined. That will depend on how it is shaped by actors competing in the global arena. The International Studies [I.S.] Program offers interdisciplinary degrees (both major and minor) intended to prepare students to work in that exciting new arena.
The degree is designed to equip I.S. graduates with critical skills, flexible thinking, creativity, and a cosmopolitan view of world issues. This will enable them to rise to the challenges of working comfortably across linguistic, cultural and disciplinary borders. To this end, the curriculum straddles traditional departmental divisions, combining insights drawn from different disciplines around a common regional or global concentration.
In particular, the program links four core disciplines (cultural anthropology, geography, history, and political science) in examining how the world works – as seen both from above and below and from local, national, regional, and planetary perspectives. Students are helped to undertake internships, encouraged to study abroad, and recommended to combine the I.S. major with a minor in a second field such as foreign languages, political science, social science, business, mass communication, or engineering. Many I.S. students opt for double majors.
International Studies Society [ISS]
If you want to join the dynamic ISS student club please contact Aaron Cafarel. They are currently making plans for the Fall 2011 semester. The ISS is also working on a website of its own which will be linked to this one.
Where we are
International Studies has a new suite of offices in 153 Howe Russell. We have a nice new seminar room, which will be used for all sorts of functions and will also be the permanent home for the ISS students' club. | |
CONGRATULATIONS
The International Studies Program is pleased to announce that Emily Halk and Aubrey Kenton Thibaut have received the 2011 International Studies Outstanding Student Award. The award goes annually to the most outstanding student in the program. Students are nominated by faculty members in International Studies and their materials are evaluated by a committee appointed by the Director of the program.
Emily Halk is an exceptional student. In addition to maintaining a 4.0 GPA, she wrote her undergraduate honors thesis with Dr. Mark Gasiorowski (Political Science/International Studies) on the impact of “regional security factors” on the Syrian economy. According to Dr. Gasiorowski, “her committee members were so impressed with her thesis that they recommended it for the Honors College's best thesis award.” Halk has also been awarded a grant from the Honors College for her thesis research as well as two language scholarships from the State Department Critical Language Program that have allowed her to travel to Tunisia and Oman to learn Arabic there. In a glowing felicitation, Dr. Gasiorowski adds that “she is certainly one of the best 3-4 students I have seen in my 27 years at LSU, and probably the very best.” Halk’s achievements are not limited to academics only. She has received a third degree black belt in Taekwondo, which she has also taught in the past.
For more information about the Critical Language scholarships see http://clscholarship.org/index.html.
Our second awardee, Audrey Thibaut, is no less exceptional. She has also maintained a 4.0 GPA in her time at LSU. Dr. Peter Sutherland (Anthropology/International Studies) describes the paper she wrote for his senior seminar in International Studies as “the best I've seen in all the years I've been teaching the senior seminar. ” Using China as a case study, Thibaut’s paper discussed the twinned issues of globalization and “alternative modernities. She skillfully analyzed the ways in which Chinese workers challenged their foreign employers and demonstrated how “alternative modernities” do not have to be Eurocentric in their conceptualization or their execution.
The International Studies Program is proud of these outstanding students. We wish them the very best in their future endeavors. The International Studies Program recognizes outstanding INTL majors each year for their contributions to international service and scholarship.
Congratulations as well to Associate Director Dr. Pallavi Rastogi, for receiving he 2011 the LSU Foundation Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award.
New Concentrations
LSU has recently welcomed a number of new faculty with interests covering African history and culture, Middle Eastern geography and culture, and Arabic. From Fall 2008, the I.S. major will offer a regional concentration in the Middle East, and another regional concentration in Africa. These two concentrations replace the old combined Africa-Middle East concentration. (See areas of concentration)
New Internships Program
A new Internships Course / INTL 3099 has been approved. It will enable students to earn credits for academic work completed during the course of an internship. Students must make arrangements with the I.S. internship director before beginning their internship. (See opportunities/internships) | |
STRATEGIC PLAN
ADVISING
Students needing advice about the International Studies Program should contact Pallavi Rastogi at intlstud@lsu.edu. Many advising matters can be handled by e-mail.
If you need to meet with her in person, her Office Hours are as follows:
Monday and Wednesday : 10:00 - 12:00 212 H Allen Hall and 3:00 - 4:00 153B Howe Russell Hall
There are also several planning resources and FAQ available under Students >News.
Emergency Policy on the International Studies Language Requirement
to address the elimination of Russian, Japanese, Swahili, and Portuguese
For students in their third or fourth semester of one of these languages:
The International Studies program will allow students who have three or four semesters of one of these languages to substitute elective credits for the remaining course(s) in their language sequence. For example, a student with three of the five semesters required in Russian will take six credit hours of elective coursework to replace the two remaining semesters of the language sequence.
For students in their first or second semester of one of these languages:
Students who have credit for fewer than three semesters of a language will be required to begin their language sequence again in another language appropriate to their regional area of concentration. (Students in the Russia and Central Asia concentration may select any of the remaining languages.) The language credits already taken can be applied to the student's language requirement in the new language effectively shortening the sequence that will have to be taken in the new language, or the credits may be applied to the student's regional area of concentration.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
International Studies Alum Ben Priddy (Russia & Central Asia concentration) will be a Participant Recruiter for FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange Program) in Eurasia. This State Dept.-sponsored exchange program for Russian high school students is run by American Councils for Intl. Education out of DC and Moscow. Ben will be responsible for Moscow/Southern Russia and the whole country of Turkmenistan. He will serve as the American Councils program representative in the region and is responsible for all aspects of participant recruitment including: publicizing competitions; interviewing candidates, conducting prerequisite testing; and associated record keeping. The position requires extensive travel throughout the country or region assigned. The Recruiter must also interact with local governmental and educational officials at all levels. Ben will be putting his language training at LSU to good use. The work will be conducted Russian, with some English only in the final student interview stage.
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