International Studies Requirement
The CALS International Studies requirement deepens students’ knowledge and understanding of international issues related to the scientific and sociological themes in CALS; develops openness, awareness and respect with regard to other cultures; and prepares students to address global challenges as engaged employees and active citizens.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identify and explain, to diverse audiences, global issues pertaining to one or more CALS Priority Themes
- Demonstrate critical thinking and comparative perspectives with respect to experiences or cultural approaches to international challenges
APPROVED COURSES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES REQUIREMENT (Effective Fall 2019 unless otherwise noted)
The 3-credit requirement may be fulfilled as either a stand-alone 3-credit course or as a set of courses as listed below.
Courses marked with a “*” are only approved for enrollment Summer 2020 or later.
Courses marked with a “**” are only approved for enrollment Summer 2021 or later.
On campus and Online Courses
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| AAE/ENVIR ST 244 | Environment and the Global Economy |
| AAE 319 | The International Agricultural Economy |
| AAE/AGRONOMY/INTER-AG/NUTR SCI 350 | World Hunger and Malnutrition |
| AAE 352** | Global Health: Economics, Natural Systems, and Policy** |
| AAE/INTL ST 373 | Globalization, Development and Poverty |
| AAE/INTL ST 374 | The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy |
| AAE/ECON/INTL BUS 462 | Latin American Economic Development |
| AAE/ECON 473 | Economic Growth and Development in Southeast Asia |
| AAE/ECON 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas |
| AAE/ECON 477 | Agricultural and Economic Development of Africa |
| AGRONOMY 377 | Cropping Systems of the Tropics |
| AN SCI/DY SCI 370 | Livestock Production and Health in Agricultural Development |
| ASIAN/E A STDS/HISTORY/POLI SCI 255** | Introduction to East Asian Civilizations** |
| C&E SOC/SOC 341* | Labor in Global Food Systems* |
| C&E SOC/ENVIR ST/SOC 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment and Sustainability |
| CSCS 500* | Global Health and Communities: From Research to Praxis* |
| DY SCI/INTER-AG 471 | Food Production Systems and Sustainability |
| ENTOM/ENVIR ST 201 | Insects and Human Culture |
| ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 371 | Medical Entomology |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST 100* | Forests of the World* |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 | Extinction of Species |
| HORT 370 | World Vegetable Crops |
| LSC 251* | Science, Media, and Society* |
| NUTR SCI/AGRONOMY/ENTOM/ 203 | Introduction to Global Health |
| PL PATH/BOTANY 123 | Plants, Parasites, and People |
| PL PATH 311 | Global Food Security |
Study Abroad Courses1
| Course Number | Name of Program |
|---|---|
| BIOCHEM 699 | UW SCORE Cambridge International Research Program (England) |
| BIOCHEM 699 | UW SCORE Oxford International Research Program (England) |
| BIOCHEM 699 | UW SUPER-G International Research Program (Germany) |
| HORT 376 HORT 378 | Tropical Horticulture Systems (on campus) UW Tropical Horticultural Systems: International Field study in Costa Rica Paired courses. Both must be taken to satisfy 3 credit international studies requirement. |
| NUTR SCI/INTER-AG 421 | UW Mobile Clinics and Health Care in Uganda |
| NUTR SCI 375 NUTR SCI/INTER-AG 421 | Sri Lanka Pre-departure Seminar (on campus) Community Health and Asset-Based Community Development in Sri Lanka Paired courses. Both must be taken to satisfy 3 credit international studies requirement. |
| NUTR SCI/INTER-AG 421 | UW Ghanaian Health and Food Systems: Human, Agricultural & Environmental Health |
| NUTR SCI 375 NUTR SCI/INTER-AG 421 | Uganda Pre-departure Seminar (on campus) UW Agriculture, Health and Nutrition in Uganda Paired courses. Both must be taken to satisfy 3 credit international studies requirement. |
| NUTR SCI/INTER-AG 421 | UW Health, Education and Tanzanian Culture |
| MICROBIO 375 NUTR SCI/INTER-AG 421 | Microbiology of Northern Thailand(on campus) UW Microbiology and Public Health in Northern ThailandGlobal Health Field Course Paired courses. Both must be taken to satisfy 3 credit international studies requirement. |
| MICROBIO 399 | UW Microbiology International Internships (Thailand) |
| DY SCI/AN SCI/FOOD SCI/SOIL SCI 472 DY SCI/AN SCI/FOOD SCI/SOIL SCI 473 | Animal Agriculture and Sustainable Development (on campus) UW International Field Study In Animal Agriculture and Sustainable Development (Mexico) Paired courses. Both must be taken to satisfy 3 credit international studies requirement. |
Exceptions:
Students studying abroad on approved UW-Madison study abroad programs may be able to satisfy the International Studies requirement in one of two ways:
- Courses taken through approved UW-Madison study abroad programs post to the student’s record as specific UW-Madison course equivalencies. If the equivalent UW-Madison course is on the approved International Studies on campus and online course list, then the study abroad course can be used to fulfill this requirement and no further action is needed.
- If UW-Madison course equivalencies are not available or the study abroad course equates to a UW-Madison course that is not on the approved International Studies course list, students may request that a study abroad experience fulfill this requirement by appeal (see appeal process)
Although highly unusual, in extenuating circumstances students who take a UW-Madison course that is not on the approved International Studies course list may request approval by appeal.
During the transition from the “old” (prior to fall 2019) to the “new” (fall 2019 and forward) approved International Studies course lists, the following policies will be applied:
- Students who take a course on the new list prior to fall 2019 may request that the course be used to fulfill the International Studies requirement by submitting a syllabus from the course at the time they took it and a statement from the course instructor confirming that the course did not change significantly between when the course was taken and fall 2019 to academicaffairs@cals.wisc.edu.
- Students who take a course on the old list in fall 2019 or after WILL NOT be eligible for an exception.
Appeal Process:
Students may appeal to have a course satisfy the CALS International Studies Requirement by submitting an appeal request form with a description of how the course satisfies all criteria for the CALS International Studies Requirement. Students are especially encouraged to carefully review the International Studies course criteria and learning outcomes. In addition to the exception request form, students must submit a course syllabus with a weekly schedule, learning outcomes, readings, contact time, assignments, and grade expectations.
Students considering study abroad to fulfill this requirement may submit up to two courses for appeal, and are encouraged to do so as early as possible. In cases where syllabi are not available from the partner institution, students will need to create a syllabus using the form provided in their online study abroad portal.
Decisions will be made by a committee including the Chair of the CALS Curriculum Committee, the Director of CALS Study Abroad, and the Assistant Dean for Academic Programs and Policies. Courses approved through the appeal process will be on an individual basis, and DARS exceptions will be processed for completion of the International Studies requirement. Decisions of the committee are final.
Criteria for courses to satisfy the CALS International Studies requirement (all criteria are required):
- Be connected to one or more of the CALS Priority Themes
- Include substantial international comparative content
- Include substantial non-U.S. content (typically >50% of the content or assignments or grade in the course)
- Facilitate active student engagement consistent with the learning outcomes and university assessment criteria
- Fulfill 3 credits (either by a single course or a pair of courses)
QUESTIONS about the CALS International Studies requirement should be directed to academicaffairs@cals.wisc.edu