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Graduating with Honors in International Studies

Students may graduate with honors in International Studies by meeting the criteria described below.

  1. CLAS Requirements: Students must fulfill all College of Liberal Arts & Sciences requirements.
  2. GPA: Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of at least 3.33 in all coursework applied to the major and all coursework that may be applied to the International Studies major.  The student must also maintain a 3.33 UI GPA.
  3. Required Hours:
    Students entering The University of Iowa before fall 2008 are required to complete a minimum of 39 s.h. of graded coursework. Students must choose 9 s.h. in a second emphasis area in place of the 6 s.h. of electives required for the B.A. in International Studies

    Students entering The University of Iowa fall 2008 or after are required to complete a minimum of 42 s.h. of graded coursework, including 187:010 Orientation to ISBA (1 s.h.) and 187:095 Research and Final Project Preparation (2 s.h.)
  4. Upper-level coursework: In addition to 187:198 Honors Thesis in International Studies, at least 15 s.h. must be completed in upper-level coursework chosen from emphasis areas and/or foreign language. At least 6 s.h. of upper-level coursework must be completed in the first emphasis area and at least 6 s.h. of upper-level coursework must be completed in the second emphasis area. The remaining 3 s.h. of upper-level coursework may be completed in the emphasis areas or through the student's foreign language requirement.
  5. Honors Courses: Students must complete 6 s.h. in honors courses within the major.  Honors courses may be offered in individual departments as special honors sections or students may, with instructor approval, designate a course approved for International Studies as an honors course by adding additional writing assignments.  Honors Designation Forms may be filled out on ISIS > Student Records > Reports and Documentation > Honors Designation for Course Work. See the Honors Program site for relevant deadlines each semester.
  6. Interdisciplinary focus: In order to preserve the interdisciplinary intent of the major, at least four departments must be represented in the student’s coursework.
  7. Transfer hours: Transfer course work can be accepted toward the major, but at least 15 s.h. of coursework for the major must be earned in University of Iowa coursework.
  8. Other Majors/Minors/Certificates: The student may apply only 12 s.h. of coursework from each second major, minor or certificate program (with a limit of 12 s.h. from any single department),  to the International Studies major.  Please note, students completing a certificate in Latin American Studies, Global Health Studies, International Business, or a minor in Global Health Studies or Latin American Studies may not choose the corresponding area of emphasis for the International Studies major.
  9. Graduation Application: The semester of graduation, students must fill out the Honors Program application for graduation with honors.  The form must be signed by the student's International Studies Honors Thesis Faculty Mentor and by the Associate Dean of International Programs (Honors Advisor), Kristine Fitch, at the International Studies office before being submitted to the Honors Program at 420 BHC. Students should contact Natasha Wilson Boland at natasha-boland@uiowa.edu or 319-335-0374 to arrange for the Associate Dean's signature in advance of the application deadline. Please note that new students entering the University of Iowa fall 2008 or after are held to additional requirements by the Honors Program; review their site carefully for more information.
  10. If you were admitted to The University of Iowa prior to fall 2007 and plan to graduate with honors in International Studies, you may choose to complete either 187:199 International Studies Senior Project or 187:198 Honors Thesis in International Studies. Please consult both packets to decide which you will complete. Those choosing to complete 187:199 International Studies Senior Project will use their Senior Project as their Honors Thesis and must meet additional deadlines as outlined in the Senior Project packet.
  11. If you were admitted to The University of Iowa fall 2007 or after and plan to graduate with honors in International Studies, you must complete 187:198 Honors Thesis in International Studies in place of 187:199 International Studies Senior Project. Please consult the Honors Thesis packet for details and requirements.

The requirements for a B.A. with honors for students entering The University of Iowa before fall 2008 can therefore be summarized as follows:

Course Type Number of Hours
Foundation Course 3 s.h.
Core Courses 6 s.h.
Emphasis Area 12 s.h.
Second Emphasis Area 9 s.h.
Language Requirement* 4-6 s.h.
Senior Project/Honors Thesis 3 s.h.
Total 39 s.h. minimum

* Student completing the foreign language requirement with less than 6 s.h. must still complete major hours totaling at least 39 s.h., with any remaining hours added to the IS electives.

The requirements for a B.A. with honors for students entering The University of Iowa fall 2008 or after can therefore be summarized as follows*:

Course Type Number of Hours
187:010 Orientation to ISBA 1 s.h.
Foundation Course 3 s.h.
Core Courses 6 s.h.
Emphasis Area 12 s.h.
Second Emphasis Area 9 s.h.
Language Requirement** 4-6 s.h.
187:095 Research and Final Project Prep 2 s.h.
187:198 Honors Thesis 3 s.h.
Total 42 s.h. minimum

*Students should consult with the Honors Program for more information on required Honors Commendations.
** Students completing the foreign language requirement with less than 6 s.h. must still complete major hours totaling at least 42 s.h., with any remaining hours added to the IS electives.