Watson Institute for International StudiesBrown University

Study Abroad

The Junior Year

Students concentrating in International Relations are strongly urged to study abroad during their academic career. Study abroad programs often work best when undertaken for an entire year, since in many countries courses run on a year-long basis. Many students, however, choose to study abroad for one semester.

Study abroad is recommended during the junior year for several reasons. First, prior to the junior year, students are often unprepared for the course work, which generally begins at a higher level in foreign universities. Second, except for students who come to Brown with strong preparation in a foreign language, at least two years of university study of a language are required to cope in a university where the language of instruction is not English. Third, most students prefer to spend their senior year at Brown to finish concentration requirements, to take advantage of senior seminars, and to enjoy the social experience of spending their last year in college with their friends and graduating class.

While the IR Program strongly recommends study abroad, it is not formally required. Exceptions to the general desirability of study abroad may apply to international students for whom study in the United States is itself study abroad, or for American students who have lived or studied abroad extensively before coming to Brown. Even in such cases, study abroad may still be extremely useful, especially in parts of the world which are different from those in which the student has lived previously. Finally, students should be aware that studying abroad for an entire year puts them at some disadvantage in preparing for a senior thesis. Further information about study abroad may be obtained from the Office of International Programs.

Obtaining Concentration Credit

The section below details the steps necessary to obtain concentration credit. Students must declare their IR concentration before going abroad. This is to allow students to select courses at foreign institutions that build upon their IR program at Brown. IR concentration credit for courses taken abroad is contingent upon satisfactory course content and student performance. Students seeking concentration credit are required to bring all course materials (transcripts with grades, syllabi, notes, papers, exams) back to the IR concentration advisor for approval.

Students who spend one semester at another institution may apply to their concentration a maximum of two courses, and those who spend more than one semester at another institution may apply to their IR concentration a maximum of three courses. Typically, students fulfill the regional and elective requirements while abroad. Language study abroad may also be applied to the language requirement. Fulfillment of the IR language requirement is determined by the appropriate language department and must be approved by the concentration advisor.

Before you leave

Before you leave to study abroad, you must meet with the concentration advisor to obtain preliminary approval for courses taken abroad. To receive preliminary approval, bring the appropriate OIP form and a description of the courses you plan to take, indicating how you plan to use them toward your IR concentration, to the concentration advisor. While transfer of graduation credit is automatic when students study in Brown-sponsored programs, students must still obtain written approval from the concentration advisor in order to receive concentration credit. Students attending non-Brown programs must first obtain pre-approval of their course selection from the appropriate academic department (e.g., history, political science, sociology) before meeting with the IR concentration advisor. This means getting the signature of the undergraduate advisor in the relevant department.

When you return from abroad

Students must bring all course work back to Brown for final concentration approval. This is true for all students including those on Brown-run programs. To petition for concentration credit, you will need the following documents:

  1. a transcript from the foreign institution documenting course grades
  2. copies of course syllabi indicating the objectives of the course, required readings, course assignments, and course evaluation
  3. copies of your course assignments (e.g., papers and exams)
  4. the yellow Retroactive Transfer Credit form from Brown

To obtain IR concentration credit:

  1. Complete the yellow Retroactive Transfer Credit form available from the Registrar’s Office
  2. Take this form and the documents listed above to the appropriate department (e.g., Political Science, History, Hispanic Studies, etc.) at Brown for mandatory departmental approval. This gives you university credit but not concentration credit. Please note that the IR Program does not sign for departmental approval.
  3. Next, take these same materials to the IR concentration advisor for final concentration approval. The concentration advisor cannot sign the yellow form until the department has signed first.

 

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