Requirements

Students in any undergraduate school of the University may elect the Adjunct Major in International Studies.

The following components are needed to satisfy this Adjunct Major:

Disciplinary Major

Students must complete a disciplinary major offered in any department of Northwestern's schools. Students may declare the International Studies adjunct major before declaring a primary major, but the adjunct major does not by itself meet requirements for an undergraduate degree.

Foreign Language Proficiency

Students must satisfy the language proficiency requirement set by the College of Arts and Sciences, which is two years of study or equivalent proficiency. Adjunct majors are strongly encouraged to continue language learning beyond this minimum requirement, and to establish genuine competency in the speaking, reading, and writing of at least one foreign language. Students may not exercise the P/N option in foreign language courses taken to meet the Weinberg College foreign language requirement.

International Studies Core Curriculum

Revisions to International Studies have introduced the “Thematic Cluster” program through which students will now be able to organize their major around one of four themes. Below is general information pertinent to both the former “Core Elective” program and the new “Thematic Cluster” program. The side links will go into more detail about the specific requirements of each program, the courses offered in the fall for each program, and course descriptions of some of the International Studies courses that fulfill requirements to one or both of the plans.Once you have had a chance to look over the requirements of both programs, you will need to make a choice as to which one you want to pursue. Therefore you will want to schedule an advising appointment where we will be able to answer your questions, review your transcript and get you on your way to completing the major.NOTE: Weinberg College rules permit students to graduate under any set of requirements in effect during their years at Northwestern. The next Undergraduate Catalog will be published in 2007. Students who entered Northwestern prior to Fall 2007 may choose to graduate under the previous requirements or under the new requirements presented here. Therefore all students enrolled at NU AY 2006-2007 or before this upcoming academic year, have the opportunity to choose either the Thematic Cluster (new) Requirements or the Core Elective (old) Requirements.Other exciting additions to International Studies include the minor in International Studies and the honors program.

Grade Requirements

The International Studies Program expects the best out of its students. Students must earn grades of C- or better in all international studies courses. No course may be taken P/N. No more than two may be counted toward the primary major under the Old Program and no more than four under the New Program. The courses must be chosen according to the Program Requirements. NOTE: For study abroad courses, students take all courses abroad for a grade, but the grades transfer back as transfer credit. Students receive credits for the course work, but no grade appears in the transcripts. Grades for courses transferred from any institution, domestic or abroad, are not recorded on the Northwestern University Official Transcript nor are they computed in the cumulative grade point average. However, students are required to take all courses abroad for a grade to have Northwestern University credit applied to their record. Credit will be considered only for a course in which a C grade or better was earned. Anything below a C (including a C-) will not be accepted and will be awarded "0" credit. Failed courses also will be awarded "0" credit, with an accompanying statement explaining that the student failed the course.Non-transferable courses will not appear on the Northwestern University Official Transcript.

Double Counting

Two courses can be double counted for those students following the Core Elective (old) program requirements while four courses can be double counted for those students following the Thematic Cluster (new) program. International studies courses can not be double counted with a minor. See your minor department for their double counting rules.