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Research
The IR concentration offers numerous opportunities for students to develop their research and writing skills while working closely with faculty. Students are challenged to critically apply their knowledge and to think creatively about international issues through their research projects.
Senior Seminar
Senior seminars are offered on different topics every semester and provide an opportunity for students to integrate and build upon their interdisciplinary coursework in international relations by focusing in depth on a specific topic. Limited to 20 students, the seminar fulfills the required capstone experience in the Program. Seminars emphasize student discussion, have advanced readings, and require students to complete a major research project that demonstrates their skills in a second language.
Independent Study (ISP, GISP)
Independent study projects allow students, either individually (ISP) or in small groups (GISP), to initiate coursework that in content, emphasis, or procedure, is not duplicated in the established curriculum and involves working closely with a faculty member for one semester. Students are responsible for designing the course syllabus which involves extensive reading followed by a major piece of scholarly writing (e.g. 25-30 page research paper). Independent study may also be an academic follow-up to an internship. Students with advanced language capabilities are encouraged to use these skills in their research.
The Global Independent Study Project (GLISP)
A GLISP combines independent research with the study abroad experience. Students design a project to be undertaken outside the United States under the sponsorship of a Brown faculty member. GLISP projects last one-semester and typically incorporate archival work in their host university or other local institutions as well as interviews.
The IR Honors Program
An honors degree in International Relations requires successful completion of a thesis of original research on a pressing global problem. Written under the guidance of a two-member faculty committee and a dedicated thesis preparation seminar, the thesis is undertaken both semesters of senior year. The thesis fulfills the IR capstone requirement and must demonstrate research in a second language. Honors students may apply for university grants to conduct thesis-related research off campus and, in some cases, abroad. Honors students may be nominated for several research and publication awards. Click here for more information on the IR Honors Program and recent thesis titles and abstracts.
The Brown International Scholars Program (BISP)
The Brown International Scholars Program (BISP) provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to make international studies an integral part of their Brown curriculum through independently-designed research projects. Each year, a group of up to twenty International Scholars receive awards to pursue scholarly interests over the summer months. Upon returning to Brown, Fellows meet regularly to reflect upon their experiences and the public value of their work.