Academics

The International Studies Program offers a rigorous and flexible interdisciplinary undergraduate major and minor in the Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences that helps students develop keen analytical skills and ethical reasoning amidst complex global dynamics. We invite you to investigate all this robust program has to offer, and to imagine where it can take you in your academic, professional, and personal journey.

IS Major

Students must apply and be accepted into the IS Program in order to become an IS major. There are five components to the major: taking core courses, selecting a concentration, learning a language, studying abroad, and completing a senior seminar or thesis.

Major Details

IS Minor

All undergraduate students are invited to declare an International Studies minor. There is no application to be an IS minor; you need only submit a course plan that includes two foundation courses and four electives.

Minor Details

Awards

International Studies majors and minors are consistently recognized for academic excellence, community service, and leadership while at Boston College. We are proud to acknowlege their recognition in these and other categories.

IS Program Honors

All IS majors who complete a thesis will graduate with IS Program honors听and earn a "BA in International Studies with Honors." This is distinct from Boston College academic honors such as Latin honors.

Latin Honors

Boston College awards Latin honors upon graduation to students based on cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). Starting with the class of 2021, the cumulative average for degrees with honors will be as follows:

  • summa cum laude (with the highest honors): 3.9鈥�4.0 GPA
  • magna cum laude (with high honors): 3.8鈥�3.899 GPA
  • cum laude (with honors): 3.667鈥�3.799 GPA
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(Prior to the class of 2021, summa cum laude was awarded to the top 4.5 percent of the graduating class; magna cum laude to the next 9.5 percent; and cum laude to the next 15 percent).

Please contact Student Services with questions concerning graduation honors.听

Matteo Ricci, S.J. Thesis Prize

The Matteo Ricci, SJ International Studies Honors Thesis Award is named in honor of the 16th century Italian Jesuit known for his work in China as a scholar, scientist, and missionary.

Recent winners include:

2024: Rongwei Zhu
鈥淓scaping the Quagmire: How Credibility Shaped War Termination Policies for the United States in Vietnam." (Advisor: Prof. Jennifer Erickson; second reader: Prof. Timothy Crawford)

2023: Lilly Mathieu and Isabelle Jones

  • Lilly Mathieu: "Forging New Fields of Feminine Identification in Morocco: Assessments of Agency Mobilized through Motherhood and Islam"
    (Advisor:听Prof. Natana DeLong-Bas)

  • Isabelle Jones:听"Masking Up: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Spectrum of Health Security in Latin America"
    (Advisor: Prof. Jennifer Erickson)
    听

2022: Saraphina Birtolo
鈥淭o Ignite the Firewall or Activate the Conveyor Belt: Exploring the Role of Nonviolent Islamist Organizations In Individual Radicalization鈥�
(Advisor:听Prof. Peter Krause)听

2021: Mariana Ferreira
"Why Do States Accept Refugees? A Case Study Analysis of the Latin American Policy Response to the Venezuelan Exodus" (Advisor: Prof. Jennie Purnell)

2020:听Zo毛 Fanning听
"Civilian Healthcare under Fire: International Healthcare Intervention in Post-Cold War Armed Conflicts"
(Advisor: Prof. Jennifer Erickson)

McCarthy Prize

Scholars of the College who submit a completed and approved thesis by April 15 may be听considered for a听McCarthy Prize,听given to the听best Morrissey College thesis project in each of the Natural Sciences, the Social Sciences, and the Humanities. McCarthy Prizes are awarded at the Scholars Banquet and recognized at the University's Commencement Awards Ceremony.

Recent IS majors who won the McCarthy Prize: Isabelle Jones '23.

Phi Beta Kappa

A prestigious academic honor society founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa celebrates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and champions freedom of thought. The 亚色影库 Chapter (Omicron)听was chartered in 1970, and continues to invite "the very best undergraduate scholars in the College of Arts and Sciences" to join Phi Beta Kappa as members for life.听
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The criteria for election are "superior scholarship and good character," with an emphasis on those students who seek out deep intellectual engagement. Thus,听nearly all of the IS majors who are elected to Phi Beta Kappa are thesis writers.听
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Each year this includes a strong cohort of International Studies students, including:
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Scholar of the College

Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.700 or higher are eligible to apply for the MCAS-wide听Scholar of the College听designation, which allows students to claim 9 or 12 credits for their thesis project, in exchange for increased expectations for depth and quality of work. Scholars of the College theses are eligible for the McCarthy Prizes (see below).听

If you are interested in pursuing a Scholar of the College thesis, speak with your faculty advisor, thesis advisor, and the IS Program thesis coordinator (Prof. Nakazato) in the Spring or Summer before senior year.

Applications for a 12-credit SOC thesis are due to the MCAS Dean's Office the听the first week of the fall semester; applications for the 9-credit SOC thesis are due in mid-December.

Recent IS majors who completed a Scholar of the College theses:

  • Rongwei Zhu 鈥�24
  • Isabelle Jones '23
  • Wenwei (Mary) Su '22
  • Zo毛 Fanning '20
  • Julia Bloechl '20
  • Narintohn Luangrath '14
  • Caroline Ceriello '13
  • Kevin Savage '13
  • Chris Fitzpatrick '13
  • Kevin Moran '11
  • Sean Comber '10

Frequently Asked Questions

question match your criteria

Can I focus on a specific theme as an IS major?
<p>Majors and minors in the IS Program select one of the following four concentrations, or tracks, to help them focus their interests:</p> <p>Cooperation and Conflict<br> This concentration considers fundamental theoretical and empirical questions about the study of cooperation and conflict in international affairs, including the causes of wars, revolutions, and terrorism;