David L. Boren College of International Studies

Farzaneh Hall, Room 107
729 Elm Ave.
Norman, OK 73019-5144
Phone: (405) 325-1396
FAX: (405) 325-7454
cis@ou.edu
www.ou.edu/cis

Administrative Officers

• Jonathan Stalling, Ph.D., Interim Dean, College of International and
    Area Studies; Harold J. and Ruth Newman Chair in US-China Issues
    and Professor of International Studies; Co-Director, Institute for US-
    China Issues
• ​Rebecca Cruise, Ph.D., Interim Associate Provost for Global
    Engagement, Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President;
    Associate Professor of Security Studies and Comparative Politics,
    Department of International and Area Studies; Director of FYE Global
    Perspectives.
• Melody Astani, Director of Finance and Administration
• Jalal Daneshfar, Director of International Student Services
• Charlotte Duclaux, Director of Student Affairs, OU in Arezzo, Italy 
• Kirk Duclaux, Director of Italian Programs in Arezzo, Italy
• Armando Garcia, Director of OU Programs in Mexico and Co-
    Coordinator of Latin American Partnerships
• Tracy Holloway, Director of Academic Advising 
• Marlene Landini, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Global Engagement
• Mary Martin, Director of the Center for English as a Second Language 
• Shanna Vincent, Director of Education Abroad

General Information

The David L. Boren College of International Studies (CIS) was officially created in January 2011 as a reflection of former President David Boren’s vision of advancing international educational opportunities for all OU students. Today CIS houses the Dean’s Staff, the academic Department of International and Area Studies, the Office of Education Abroad, the Office of International Student Services, the Center for English as a Second Language, the OU in Arezzo Study Center and a number of other international institutes and centers. Together, these various offices, departments and centers work to provide a range of opportunities for students to learn about the global community in which they live.

The David L. Boren College of International Studies aspires to be a national center of excellence and innovation in international education. Our goals are to broaden international exchange and research partnerships and to enhance the global fluency of our students so they can become compassionate, open-minded global citizens and leaders. 

Programs Offered

Programs & Facilities

Centers and Programs

The David L. Boren College of International Studies offers many learning opportunities for students, faculty, and the community with events and guest speakers through our centers and institutes focused on various areas of study. 

• African Studies Institute, 
  Executive Board: Natalie Letsa, Wick Cary Assistant Professor of Political Economy; Rita Keresztesi, Associate Professor, Department of English; Thomas Fenn, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology 

• Center for the Americas,
  Director: Charles Kenney, ConocoPhillips Chair in Latin American Studies and Associate Professor, Department of Political Science   

• Center for Brazil Studies,
  Co-Directors: Fabio de Sa e Silva, Assistant Professor of International Studies and Wick Cary Professor of Brazilian Studies; Michelle Morais de Sa e Silva, Assistant Professor of International Studies 

• Center for Middle East Studies,
  Director: Joshua Landis, Sandra Mackey Chair in Middle East Studies and Professor of Middle Eastern History

• Center for Peace and Development,
  Co-Directors: Sara Ann (Sally) Beach, Professor of Literacy Education and Grant Family Presidential Professor, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education; John Harris, Assistant Professor and Director of Regional and City Planning, Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture

• Center for the Study of Nationalism,
  Director: Carsten Schapkow, L.R. Brammer, Jr. Presidential Associate Professor in History and Center for Judaic and Israel Studies

• Cyber Governance and Policy Center,
  Executive Board: Mark Raymond, Director, Wick Cary Associate Professor of International Security; John Emery, Associate Director, Assistant Professor of International Security 

• Diplomacy Lab

• European Union Center,
  Director: Mitchell Smith, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of International Studies and Professor of International Political Economy and Europe, Department of International and Area Studies

• Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies,
  Director: Joshua Landis, Sandra Mackey Chair in Middle East Studies and Professor of Middle Eastern History

• Fellowship for Global Engagement

• Friends to International Students

• Fulbright US Student Program

• Institute for US-China Issues,
  Co-Directors: Bo Kong, ConocoPhillips Associate Professor of Chinese and Asian Studies; Jonathan Stalling, Harold J. and Ruth Newman Chair in US-China Issues and Professor of International Studies 

• LEAdership Fellows (LEAF) Program

• Peace Corps Prep

• Phi Beta Delta

Education Abroad

Shanna Vincent, Director
Farzaneh Hall, Room 144
Norman, OK 73019-3061
Phone: (405) 325-1693
FAX: (405) 325-7387
ea@ou.edu
www.ou.edu/cis/education_abroad

The mission of Education Abroad is to further intercultural competency through safe, academically focused, professionally relevant, and personally transformative global opportunities for all OU students. Education Abroad develops programs aimed at increasing cross-cultural awareness and emphasizing international education. The office maintains linkages with professional organizations at the state, national and international levels. This unit works in close liaison with colleges across campus to develop innovative and meaningful study abroad programs.

International Study Centers

• OU in Arezzo

  OU in Arezzo is the University of Oklahoma’s Italian Study Center. You will take classes taught by OU professors in the middle of Tuscany. 

• OU in Puebla

  OU in Puebla is the University of Oklahoma's Mexican Study Center. It offers a unique blend of courses taught by OU professors and the immersive experience of being at a Mexican University. 

Faculty Led Programs

Faculty-led programs are designed so that you can take OU courses with OU professors while traveling around the world with other OU students. These programs have OU tuition and fees, so you can apply tuition waiver scholarships and any applicable financial aid. We offer a variety of long-term and short-term program options. 

Exchange Programs

Exchange programs allow you to take classes at a university abroad, but continue paying OU tuition and fees at your normal rate. These programs are highly independent and ideal for students who would like to be immersed in a new cultural and academic setting. Choose from long-term and short-term options. 

Affiliate Programs

Affiliate programs are facilitated by approved affiliate providers with which the University of Oklahoma has an active agreement. Affiliate programs offer a variety of academic courses and internship opportunities, which will show up as transfer credit on your transcript. Tuition and fees are paid directly to your affiliate provider, not to the University of Oklahoma. Some financial aid may still apply. 

Selection Criteria

Students are selected for study abroad programs based on the following criteria: grade point average, personal essay, academic standing, and letters of recommendation. For certain study abroad destinations with limited availability, the selection process is quite competitive. All students who qualify for study abroad are offered a location for study, but because of the competitive process, some may not be admitted to the school or destination that they most prefer. Contact the Education Abroad Office for application information. 

International Student Services (ISS)

Jalal Daneshfar, Director
Farzaneh Hall, Room 144
729 Elm Avenue
Norman, OK 73019
Phone: (405) 325-3337
FAX: (405) 325-0197
iss@ou.edu
www.ou.edu/cis/iss

International Student Services (ISS) assists around 1800 international students and their dependents from over 100 countries. We provide immigration advising services to students on F-1 and J-1 visas, and fulfill the University’s federal reporting requirement of international student information to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). We also provide international student programming services that include the New International Student Orientation experience, various workshops for international students on acclimating to life in the US, and social and cultural events for students to engage with their international student community and to facilitate cross cultural exchange on campus. International students also have the opportunity to engage with the community beyond campus through excursions to sites across Oklahoma and through cultural exchange programs designed to introduce international students and their cultures to the greater Oklahoma community and to connect international students with local families.

F-1 and J-1 visas are issued by US consulates to qualifying students studying in the United States. F-1 visas are issued to students whose primary source of funding for college comes from personal or family funds. Most often these are long-term, degree-seeking students. J-1 visas may be issued to students whose primary funding for school comes from a third party, such as a university, corporation, non-profit or the government. Most of OU’s J-1 students are short-term exchange students, although we do have some degree seeking J-1 students. International students must maintain their lawful visa status in order to pursue and complete their academic programs in the US. While it is the student’s responsibility to maintain lawful visa status, we are here to offer guidance on immigration regulations and benefits. 

F-1 and J-1 students studying on the Norman campus or on the Tulsa campus in Norman-based programs can get assistance from the ISS office in Norman, while F-1 and J-1 students studying at the OU Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) or on the Tulsa campus in OUHSC based programs are serviced by the HSC Admissions and Records Office.  

International Advisory Committee (IAC)

The International Advisory Committee (IAC) serves as the umbrella organization for the international student organizations at OU. IAC organizes and facilitates various intercultural, social, political, and intramural events among member international student organizations. 

Center for English as a Second Language 

Mary Martin, Director
Farzaneh Hall, Room 114
729 Elm Avenue
Norman, OK 73019
Phone: ​(405) 325-2351
FAX: (405) 325-7387
esl@ou.edu.
https://www.ou.edu/cis/cesl 

The mission of the Center for English as a Second Language at the University of Oklahoma is to provide exemplary English language instruction, as well as cultural education to empower students to communicate successfully in social, academic, and professional settings. Established in 1988, the Center for English as a Second Language offers intensive English language courses on the Norman campus of the University of Oklahoma. CESL prepares students for the University by focusing on English for academic purposes, teaching American culture classes, and practicing American classroom culture. Students who go to CESL are better prepared for all aspects of attending universities in the United States. 

Undergraduate Study

Admission

Students must be admitted to the University of Oklahoma before being admitted to the College of International Studies. First-year students are admitted to University College. The freshman year at the University of Oklahoma is spent in University College, which provides an advisory system for freshmen and assists students in choosing a major. Transfer to the Department of International and Area Studies from University College is automatic upon completion of the IAS admission requirements below.

Admission to the College of International Studies

The minimum requirements for admission are:

• A declared International and Area Studies major;
• At least a 2.00 combined retention grade point average on all college-level work attempted; and,
• At least 24 semester credit hours of earned college-level credit.

International and Area studies majors also have a minimum major grade point average requirement for graduation, as discussed in the graduation requirements section. 

Student Responsibilities

It is the student’s responsibility to make decisions during undergraduate study that ensure academic success and timely graduation. To make such important decisions, it is crucial that students know and understand the following:

• All requirements for admission to and completion of the degree program.
• The rules and regulations that govern enrollment and graduation.
• University deadlines.
• University policies and procedures.
• Availability of required courses to complete the degree.
• Where and when to go for help.

Student Advisement

The College of International Studies (CIS) requires all undergraduate majors to be advised prior to each enrollment. Current students will meet with the professional academic advisors in the Department of International and Area Studies. Advisors assist students in choosing courses appropriate for the IAS major, guide students in career and major-specific information, and assist in the evaluation of study abroad work for major credit. Their telephone number is (405) 325-4547. After advisement, students enroll in classes through the online enrollment system.

The College of International Studies Academic Services Office certifies students for graduation and organizes the convocation ceremonies. The academic counselors in this office answer questions regarding academic standing, transcript evaluation, degree requirements, or other University regulations. Students who have earned 80 hours or more must meet with this office for an official degree check. Appointments with the Academic Services Office can be scheduled by calling (405) 325-1429. 

Transfer Students

Students who wish to transfer from other colleges or universities should be aware of the following:

• Transfer students who have completed at least 24 semester credit hours will be admitted directly into the Department of International and Area Studies if they meet the University’s admission requirements.
• Transfer students who have earned fewer than 24 semester credit hours will be admitted to University College.
• The Office of Admissions will determine acceptance of credits from the transferring institutions.
• The Department of International and Area Studies will determine how these credits apply toward the requirements for an IAS degree.
• All newly admitted transfer students must meet with an academic counselor in the Academic Services Office prior to their first enrollment at the University of Oklahoma.

Transfer students should be familiar with the requirements for their chosen International and Area Studies major. 

Scholastic Requirements

A student must maintain at least a 2.00 grade point average in order to be in good standing in the Department of International and Area Studies. Any student whose combined or OU retention grade point average falls below 2.00 is placed on academic contract status, and must meet specific conditions established by the Department of International and Area Studies. Failure to meet these conditions will result in denial of enrollment privileges as an International and Area Studies major. Additional grade point average requirements in the major are necessary for a student to be eligible for graduation, as detailed in the Graduation Requirements section of this chapter. 

Academic Course Load

Students may enroll in a maximum of 19 credit hours of work in one semester. The minimum requirement for full-time status is 12 hours. To enroll in more than 19 hours, permission must be obtained from the Director of Academic Advising. Students must have minimum OU and combined GPAs of 3.0 in order to receive overload permission. 

Change of Enrollment

Deadlines for enrollment, adding a course, and dropping a course are published in the Academic Calendar. It is the student’s responsibility to meet deadlines set by the University for changing an enrollment. 

Graduation Requirements

The responsibility for meeting graduation requirements lies with the student.

The requirements for graduation from the Department of International and Area Studies programs normally have four components:

• University-Wide General Education requirements,
• Department of International and Area Studies requirements,
• Major requirements, and
• Free electives.

The specific requirements for majors and minors are listed on Degree Requirements Checksheets. 

Grade Point Average Requirements

The Department of International and Area Studies requires certain minimum grade point averages in each of the following areas:

• Students must earn a minimum of a 2.00 combined retention grade point average (University of Oklahoma and transfer work combined).
• Students must earn a minimum of a 2.00 retention grade point average on all University of Oklahoma coursework.
• Students must earn a minimum of a 2.50 retention grade point average in all major credit courses (University of Oklahoma and transfer work combined), and a 2.50 retention grade point average in major credit courses taken at the University of Oklahoma.

Ten-Year Limitation Rules

A student in the Department of International and Area Studies may elect to follow the degree requirements from any valid program year (beginning with those that were in place at the time of the student's first enrollment in the Oklahoma State System for Higher Education--excluding high school concurrent enrollment), in consultation with the academic counselor. Students must complete their requirements within a maximum of 10 calendar years from the date of their program year. If the work for a degree covers a period longer than 10 years, the student must update to more current degree program requirements. 

Credit in a student's major that is more than 10 years old may not be applied toward a bachelor's degree unless it is validated by the Department of International and Area Studies and the respective course departments.

Application for Graduation

Students must consult with their academic counselor prior to the beginning of their final semester or term to ensure that their final enrollment will complete all remaining graduation requirements. In order to graduate seniors must also complete a graduation application form and submit it during their final term of enrollment prior to published deadlines. Graduation applications are submitted online through one.ou.edu. Failure to file the graduation application will result in the student not being eligible for graduation during that semester or term. Those students who plan to graduate in the fall are strongly encouraged to apply for graduation before May 1; those finishing in the spring before December 1; and those finishing in the summer before March 1. In addition to completing all academic requirements for the undergraduate degree, students must also pay all tuition and fees before the degree can be conferred. Students who complete all academic requirements but fail to pay tuition and fees before the beginning of the following semester or session will have the original graduation date printed on their diploma, but only after all tuition and fees are paid. 

Dean's Honor Roll

The Department of International and Area Studies Honor Roll is compiled at the close of each fall and spring semester. It includes students who have completed at least 12 grade point hours and have earned an average of 3.50 or higher for the semester.
Students enrolled part-time for both the fall and spring semesters of an academic year will be included on the spring semester honor roll, provided that a 3.50 or better is earned for each semester on a minimum of six semester grade point hours with no withdrawals for either semester. There is no honor roll during the summer session or during intersession, and grades earned during these sessions are not included in determining eligibility for inclusion on regular semester honor rolls.

Double Majors

Students may earn two majors between the Department of International and Area Studies and another college at the University as part of a single degree, if they adhere to the following:

• Both majors may not be in the Department of International and Area Studies.
• One major must be in the Department of International and Area Studies, and the other major must be in a different college on OU Norman Campus.
• Both majors must be completed concurrently prior to graduation and must be awarded concurrently in the the same semester.
• The degree will be awarded when requirements for both majors are completed.
• Only one degree will be awarded, but the transcript will indicate both majors.
• Courses used to fulfill one of the majors or a minor may not be used toward either major.
• All general education, college, major, and major support requirements of both majors must be completed.
• The student will be awarded the degree (diploma) for the degree of their choice listed as their “primary” major. 

Concurrent Dual Degrees

Students may earn two degrees between the Department of International and Area Studies and another college on campus, if they adhere to the following:

• Both degrees may not be in the Department of International and Area Studies.
• One degree must be in the Department of International and Area Studies, and the other degree must be in a different college on OU Norman Campus.
• At least 30 additional credit hours, 15 of which must be upper-division level, must be completed, in addition to the minimum hours required for one degree. Example: most dual degrees will require a minimum of 150 hours with 63 upper-division hours.
• Both degrees must be completed concurrently prior to graduation and must be awarded concurrently in the same semester.
• The degrees will be awarded when requirements for both majors are completed.
• Two degrees will be awarded, and the transcript will indicate both majors.
• Courses used to fulfill one of the majors or a minor may not be used toward either major.
• All general education, college, major, and major support requirements of both degrees must be completed.
• The student will be awarded the diploma for each degree.

For more information, please contact the Advising offices of the Department of International and Area Studies.

Additional Bachelor's Degrees

Additional bachelor’s degrees may be earned from the Department of International and Area Studies by satisfying specific requirements beyond those required for a first degree from the department. Students may earn two degrees concurrently, or students holding a bachelor’s degree from another college within the University or from another institution may qualify for an additional (consecutive) degree. To earn an additional bachelor’s degree from the Department of International and Area Studies, a student must:

• Choose a major different from that of the prior degree(s). A student may not earn two degrees within the Department of International and Area Studies or a similar degree program. 
• Be accepted to pursue an additional bachelor's degree by the College of International Studies through a petition process.  
• Satisfy all current requirements of the additional degree program.
• Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in International and Area Studies courses not applied toward a previous degree, 15 of which must be upper-division.
• Earn a minimum 2.00 average on all work attempted for the additional degree, along with any specific grade point average requirements for the chosen major (including a 2.5 major grade point average for the International and Area Studies degree).
• Meet the required residency regulations for the second degree.

Graduate Study

Refer to the Graduate tab on the Department of International and Area Studies of this catalog for information concerning graduate programs.

Opportunities

Scholarships and Financial Aid

In addition to general scholarships offered through the University of Oklahoma, the David L. Boren College of International Studies offers several scholarships sponsored by alumni and friends. IAS scholarships include:

• Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr. Award
• International Scholars Award
• Ambassador Edward J. Perkins Scholarship
• Student Support Grants
• St. Elijah’s and Anthony Shadid Award
• Board of Visitors Scholarship
• Thomas W. Adams Best Paper Award
• Latin American Studies Best Paper Contest 
• Boren Scholars and Fellows Program (NSEP)
• Additional undergraduate and graduate level scholarships and awards

The Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr. Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding graduating senior in the Department of International and Area Studies. The Award recognizes an IAS student that has demonstrated high academic achievement, a commitment to public service and a desire to pursue a career in global affairs. The recipient receives a cash award and recognition at the IAS convocation.

Visit the International and Area Studies website for more information on the scholarships above and for application details.

International Student Scholarships

OU offers limited international student scholarships through the College of International Studies: 

• Cleo Cross Scholarship
• Greenberg Scholarship
• CIS International Student Emergency Relief Scholarship 
• Paul and Rose Sharp Scholarship
• Sue Williams Service Award and Scholarship

International students can find more information about scholarships on the ISS website here. Students can also contact the Student Financial Center, 1000 Asp Avenue, Buchanan Hall Room 105, Norman, OK 73019, 405-325-9000, for scholarship and financial aid information.   

Courses