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.
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.
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 honorsand 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): 3.9–4.0 GPA
- magna cum laude (with high honors): 3.8–3.899 GPA
- cum laude (with honors): 3.667–3.799 GPA
(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.
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
“Escaping 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:Prof. Natana DeLong-Bas)
- Isabelle Jones:"Masking Up: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Spectrum of Health Security in Latin America"
(Advisor: Prof. Jennifer Erickson)
2022: Saraphina Birtolo
“To Ignite the Firewall or Activate the Conveyor Belt: Exploring the Role of Nonviolent Islamist Organizations In Individual Radicalization”
(Advisor:Prof. Peter Krause)
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:Zoë Fanning
"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 beconsidered for aMcCarthy Prize,given to thebest 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
2024 Graduates
- John Bottei
- Catherine Brewer
- Abigail Carr (elected as a junior)
- Karoline Navarro
- Vincent Sablich
- Rongwei Zhu (elected as a junior)
2023 Graduates
- Alexandra Baker
- Lillian Cyran
- Mia Ferguson (elected as a junior)
- Maya Floreani
- Sofia Frias
- Isabelle Jones
- Lilly Mathieu
- Anju Sadasivam
- Gabriel Wallen
2022 Graduates
- Natalie Almonacid
- Saraphina Birtolo
- Benjamin Chieng
- Catherine Day (IS minor)
- Zilai Liu
- PeytonOlszowka
- PeterPinto
- Riley Casadei
- Caroline Denning
- HannahJones
- Julia Swiatek (IS minor)
2021 Graduates
- Kayla Brandt (IS minior)
- Grace Cavanagh
- Jillian Farabaugh (IS minior)
- Leah Hickert
- Mahima Menghani
- Sophia Pandelidis (elected as a junior)
- Lucile Perrot
- Karla Sanchez Gonzalez
- Emma Saart(IS minior)
- Christopher Sundaram
- Lauren White
2020 Graduates
- Julia Bloechl
- Lilah Butler
- Jillian Cusick
- Zoe Fanning
- Madeline Hughes (IS minor)
- Cameron Kasanzew
- Chia Jung Kuo
- Patrick O'Connell
- Brenna Recny
- Carolina Tiru (IS minor)
2019 Graduates
- Margaret Andersen (IS minor)
- Madeline BabinJulia Barrett
- Hailey Burgess
- Matthew Eckstein
- Christina LaRitz
- Pei-Ling Lee
- Naseem Moussavian
- Elizabeth Warner-Rousseau
Scholar of the College
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.700 or higher are eligible to apply for the MCAS-wideScholar of the Collegedesignation, 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).
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 thethe 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 ‘24
- Isabelle Jones '23
- Wenwei (Mary) Su '22
- Zoë Fanning '20
- Julia Bloechl '20
- Narintohn Luangrath '14
- Caroline Ceriello '13
- Kevin Savage '13
- Chris Fitzpatrick '13
- Kevin Moran '11
- Sean Comber '10