Offered by: Cal Poly Pomona, University Interdisciplinary Programs
The interdisciplinary International Studies minor was created for Cal Poly Pomona students in any major who want to complement their major degree studies with a self-structured course of study that will enhance their understanding of the world in which they will be living. The minor requires that students participate in at least one program of study outside the United States and that they either demonstrate or gain proficiency in a language other than English equivalent to at least one year of university-level study. Coursework selected for the minor, along with the overseas experience and language acquisition, should help the student gain an appreciation for the history, culture, and social systems in another part of the world.
The minor works closely with the Cal Poly Pomona International Center which offers a wide range of international study programs ranging from intensive courses over a few weeks during a school break to quarter- , semester- and year-long programs at overseas locations. The coursework required includes an introductory course designed in part to help prepare students for the overseas experience and a capstone seminar designed to help students evaluate the overseas experience when they return to campus. The additional coursework is drawn from the many offerings that various departments across campus already provide to their students. Each student will develop an agreement with an International Study Minor adviser about which courses will best serve the student’s interests and needs.
Depending on whether the student is required to learn a completely new language for the minor, the number of units required by the major ranges from 29 (the student is already competent in a second language) to 41 (the student needs to take three quarters of a foreign language at Cal Poly Pomona).
For more information, students may contact the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences Dean’s Office at (909) 869-3500.