International Studies, B.A.

Some courses required for the major may also fulfill University General Education and/or College of International Studies Requirements

The major requires 33 hours, 18 of which must be upper-division. 18 of the required 33 must be taken in the Department of International and Area Studies.

Major Requirements

¹

Will include additional hours from sections I-IV, an area studies, or custom specialization as approved. 

Note: Students may take other appropriate courses as approved by the IAS Academic Advisor.

Major Support Requirements

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and College of International Studies requirements must be from the approved General Education course list published in the Class Schedule or at: http://www.ou.edu/content/gened/courses.html. Courses graded P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

¹

College of International Studies Requirements: College requirements are not automatically fulfilled by a previous degree. 

²

One course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level. If this requirement is waived, a few hours of General Education electives may be needed to achieve the required 40 hour minimum (may also be satisfied by a major requirement or free elective).

³

Excluding HIST 1483 and HIST 1493. 

⁴

It is recommended students take either Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture at the 3000-/4000-level to fulfill the university requirement of one upper-division course from the approved University Wide General Education list. The course must be outside the major. This may also be satisfied in the upper-division or free elective categories.

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree including 48 upper-division hours.

Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements

Total Hours: A minimum of 120 semester hours acceptable toward graduation must be completed.
Upper-Division Hours: A minimum of 48 upper-division semester hours acceptable toward graduation must be completed. OU courses numbered 3000 or above are upper-division. Transfer work is counted as lower-division or upper-division credit depending on the level at which it was offered at the institution where it was earned. Two-year college work is accepted only as lower-division credit.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Hours: At least 80 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BA degree. At least 55 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BS degree.
Major Work: A minimum of 30 semester hours must be earned in the major, including a minimum of 15 credit hours at the upper-division level.
Pass/No Pass Enrollment: A maximum of 16 semester hours of free elective credit may be attempted under this option.
Individual Studies (e.g., courses titled “Independent Study”): A maximum of 12 total semester hours may be counted toward graduation, excluding Honors Reading and Honors Research.
Military, Military In-Service, Skills, Applied Technology, and P.E. Courses: A maximum of 16 semester credit hours of basic skills and/or applied technology courses. No physical education activity courses will be counted toward the 120 semester hours of acceptable credit for graduation.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:

• At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
• At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major work must be completed in residence at OU.
• OU correspondence courses are not considered resident credit.
• Credits earned via examination are neither resident nor nonresident credit.

Information regarding Grade Point Averages, Special Degrees, and Application for Graduation can be found in the catalog under David L. Boren College of International Studies: Undergraduate Study.

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan of study should not be used in lieu of academic advisement. Students who transfer from other institutions (particularly community colleges) must verify credit hour and course requirements with their academic counselor, (405) 325-1429, http://www.ou.edu/international. Please make an appointment for a degree check with your college academic counselor once you have earned 90 hours.

This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in four years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with College of International Studies academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy university, College of International Studies, and International Studies major requirements.

¹

University-Wide General Education course, refer to online listing. One course (Artistic Forms, World Culture, or Western Culture) must be 3000-4000-level.