School of Politics, Public Affairs, and International Studies
Department 3197 | A&S 208
1000 E. University Avenue
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307)-766-6484
Email: sppais@uwyo.edu
An internationally-focused minor can enrich any degree. If you want to work internationally, have a better understanding of global affairs, or just learn about a particular region of the world, consider one of these minors. The International Studies Program offers three minors: International Studies, European Studies, and Asian Studies.
International studies covers a broad spectrum of subjects and perspectives. In every college at the University of Wyoming, there are internationally-focused courses. A minor in international studies lets you sample courses that interest you and deepens your understanding of an area of the world or a particular topic of interest. To gain an interdisciplinary understanding of a global issue - whether it is human rights or food scarcity, sustainable business practices or negotiating international treaties - you need to study it from many perspectives.
The Asian Studies Minor offers students the opportunity to engage in an interdisciplinary program of study of an Asian region or a single country. The program emphasizes a social science approach to the study of Asian history, politics, society, and culture with options to include foreign language and study abroad components towards completion of the Minor. For the purposes of this minor, Asia is defined first and foremost as a geographic entity to include Western, Northern, Central, South and East Asian areas. Thus, for example, countries such as modern Turkey and areas such as the Middle East can rightly be included in Asia alongside areas more traditionally understood as part of Asia such as China and India.
The European Studies Minor offers students the opportunity to engage in an interdisciplinary program of study of a European region or a single country. The program emphasizes a social science approach to the study of modern European history, politics, society, and culture with options to include foreign language and study abroad components towards completion of the Minor. For the purposes of this minor, Europe is defined first and foremost as a geographic entity running from the Atlantic to the Urals and from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and the Caucasus Mountains. Courses that transcend these boundaries should include the study of Europe in a prominent way to count toward the minor.
Students are strongly encouraged to review the International Studies Newsletter each semester to see what International Studies courses are currently being offered.
Note: A minimum of 9 hours must be at the 3000-level or above.
All Asian Studies Minor students must complete one of two required Gateway courses, either INST 2230 - Introduction to Asian Studies (COM2) or POLS 3270 – Government and Politics of the Middle East, depending on their primary area of interest within Asia.
If your primary major is in the College of Arts and Sciences, at least twelve (12) credit hours must be exclusive to the minor and not counted towards fulfilling major requirements. To count towards the minor, all courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Asian Studies Minor students must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) additional credit hours from advisor-approved Asian Studies Area Courses. A minimum of nine (9) of these credit hours must be taken at the upper-division (3000+) level. In addition to the approved courses, topics courses, Honors courses, or other special course offerings may count towards fulfilling Asian Studies Area Course requirements based on the approval of the student's designated minor advisor. Students are strongly encouraged to review the International Studies Newsletter each semester to see what Asian Studies Area courses are currently being offered.
Asian Studies Minor students are strongly encouraged to participate in a study abroad program, either for a summer or during the academic year. If the student cannot participate in a study abroad program, this requirement may be fulfilled by completing an upper-division capstone course that is specifically Asian in content and subject to the approval of the student's designated minor advisor.
Asian Studies Minor students are also strongly encouraged to learn an Asian foreign language as part of their progression towards completion of the Minor. Accordingly, up to eight (8) lower-division (1000-2000) credit hours of an Asian foreign language may be counted towards fulfillment of the Asian Studies Area Course requirement. ‘Asian’ languages at UW include Japanese, Chinese and Arabic. However, Asian Studies Minor students need not necessarily be limited to the three languages currently taught at UW. On the approval of the student’s designated minor advisor these optional language credit hours may be fulfilled by other Asian language instruction at UW, other relevant in-country summer intensive programs, or language-focused study abroad programs.
All European Studies Minor students must complete one of two required Gateway courses, either INST 2280 - Introduction to European Studies (COM2) or INST/POLS 2200 – Politics of Europe (COM2).
If your primary major is in the College of Arts and Sciences, at least twelve (12) credit hours must be exclusive to the minor and not counted towards fulfilling major requirements. To count towards the minor, all courses must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
European Studies Minor students must complete a minimum of fifteen (15) additional credit hours from the following list of approved European Studies Area Courses. A minimum of nine (9) of these credit hours must be taken at the upper-division (3000+) level. In addition to the approved courses on this list, topics courses, Honors courses, or other special course offerings may count towards fulfilling Area Course requirements based on the approval of the student's designated minor advisor. Students are strongly encouraged to review the International Studies Newsletter each semester to see what European Studies Area courses are currently being offered.
Students who minor in European Studies are encouraged to take advantage of the growing number of opportunities to study abroad in Europe. The preferred means for students to satisfy the capstone requirement is through a minimum three-hour study abroad experience. If a student cannot participate in a study abroad program, this requirement may be fulfilled by completing an upper-division capstone course that is specifically European in content, complete the Honors senior thesis on a European topic, or complete a 3-credit hour independent study wherein the student produces a substantive research paper on a European topic. The capstone requirement is not intended to add hours to the minor; credit hours earned in completion of this capstone requirement may apply toward the curricular requirements of the minor.
European Studies Minor students are also strongly encouraged to learn an European foreign language (other than English) as part of their progression towards completion of the Minor. Accordingly, up to eight (8) lower-division (1000-2000) credit hours of an European foreign language may be counted towards fulfillment of the European Studies Area Course requirement. ‘European’ languages at UW include French, German, and Spanish. However, European Studies Minor students need not necessarily be limited to the three languages currently taught at UW. On the approval of the student’s designated minor advisor these optional language credit hours may be fulfilled by other European language instruction at UW, other relevant in-country summer intensive programs, or language-focused study abroad programs.
School of Politics, Public Affairs, and International Studies
Department 3197 | A&S 208
1000 E. University Avenue
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: (307)-766-6484
Email: sppais@uwyo.edu