Appendix A
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO PLAN A NEW BACCALAUREATE,
MASTERS OR C.A.S. PROGRAM
THE PURPOSE OF ACADEMIC PROGRAM PLANNING: Planning a new academic degree program
provides an opportunity for an institution to make the case for need and demand and for its
ability to offer a quality program. This notification, and the planning activity to follow, do not
guarantee that authorization to establish will be granted.
Constituent Institution: UNCW
CIP Discipline Specialty Title:
International/Global Studies
CIP Discipline Specialty Number: 30.2001
Exact Title of the Proposed Program: International Studies
Exact Degree Abbreviation: B.A.
Does the proposed program constitute a substantive change as defined by SACS?
Yes
No X
a.) Is it a more advanced level than those previously authorized?
Yes
No X
b.) Is the proposed program in a new discipline division? Yes Y No
Approximate date for submitting the Request to Establish proposal (must be within
one year of the date of submission of notification of intent to plan): August, 2008
Proposed date to establish degree: month: August year: 2009
(Date can be no sooner than six months after the date of notification of intent to plan
and must allow at least three months for review of the request to establish, once
submitted.)
1. Describe the proposed new degree program. The description should include:
a. a brief description of the program and a state of educational objectives
The College of Arts and Sciences will offer an interdisciplinary program leading
to a B.A. in International Studies. The program will be integrative and
interdisciplinary but will also allow students to focus on a particular international
theme or geographic area of concentration. The proposed major requires a
gateway introductory course that also would satisfy Basic Study credit, a methods
course, three required “core” or foundational courses in global studies, at least
three earned hours through a study abroad experience, foreign language
proficiency through at least intermediate level (preferably in the language used for
the study abroad placement if such placement is in a non-English speaking
country), and a capstone research seminar. In addition, each major will complete
15 credit hours in a “concentration area.” Students may select either (a) one of
three thematic concentration options (Arts and Literature, Globalization, and the
Environment) or (2) one of four area studies concentration options (Asia, Europe,
Latin America and the Middle East). Courses that could satisfy requirements
within the identified concentration areas are already in place. Over 200 courses
with international content or relevance are already in the UNCW catalogue which
could both serve to fulfill credit within the identified concentrations and give
numerous options within each concentration. Also, the four area studies
concentrations correspond to minors already available at UNCW. These existing
minors provide a sufficient range of courses and regularity of offerings to sustain
concentrations within the international major. Assuming no duplicative credit for
meeting requirements, the major requires a total of 48 credit hours (which may be
less with advanced placement or if students are able to use study abroad credit to
fulfill other substantive requirements within the major.) The educational
objective of the program is to provide the option of a distinctive international
credential and learning experience for UNCW students. Occupations and
professions in a variety of settings increasingly emphasize global knowledge,
skills, and experience. The goal of the program is for students to acquire basic
liberal arts skills combined with substantive knowledge and skills focusing on
global awareness and application. In addition to providing students with
international skills and knowledge that have application in a wide variety of
occupational settings, the program would prepare students for graduate study in a
number of related fields as well as in the increasing number of specific
international studies graduate programs at both the masters and doctoral level.
b. the relationship of the proposed program to the institutional mission and
how the program fits into the institution’s strategic plan
Specifically, the proposed program directly relates to the university’s mission of
“creating an educational environment that prepares our students to be global
citizens.” In 2004, Chancellor DePaolo appointed an internationalization task
force to review the university’s international efforts. Among other initiatives, the
task force recommended that UNCW consider establishing an interdisciplinary
international studies major. The proposed international studies major is part of
this long range plan and the need to internationalize the UNCW curriculum. The
proposed major is also consistent with the UNC Tomorrow Commission goal of
global readiness and competitiveness. The proposed international studies major is
also consistent with the university’s goal to increase the number of students
studying abroad since a credit bearing study abroad experience is required in the
proposed major. In general, the program is also consistent with the university’s
strategic goal of creating the most powerful learning experience for our students.
The option of an international studies major combines classic liberal arts
education with a distinctive international focus. The program will also be
expressly interdisciplinary where often the most powerful integrative learning
experiences occur. Students will acquire concrete language and research skills.
Finally, the program will have an applied learning component both through the
required study abroad experience as well as the senior capstone seminar in which
students will complete a research project related to their area of concentration.
c. the relationship of the proposed new program to other existing programs at
the institution
The proposed program is an interdisciplinary one so it necessary involves existing
programs. The program will draw upon most of the existing 25 departments and
programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. The program would also likely
increase attention to and popularity of our existing international content courses.
Each of the professional schools at UNCW has international initiatives including
international curricula and opportunities for student internships. The proposed
College of Arts and Sciences interdisciplinary and liberal arts program would
complement already existing international curricula options in the professional
schools.
d.
special features or conditions that make the institution a desirable, unique,
or appropriate place to initiate such a degree program.
The historical and ongoing importance of Wilmington’s international marine port
and its proximity to major military bases makes UNCW an especially appropriate
location for such a program.
2. List all other public and private institutions of higher education in North Carolina
currently operating similar programs to the proposed new degree program
Among the 16 UNCW constituent system campuses, three have interdisciplinary
bachelors’ degrees in international studies (UNC- Chapel Hill, UNC-Charlotte,
and UNC-Greensboro). In addition, thirteen North Carolina private colleges and
universities offer bachelors’ degrees in international or global studies including
Duke University, Elon University, Guilford College, High Point University,
Lees-McRae College, Lenoir-Rhyne College, Mars Hill College, Meredith
College, Methodist University, Queens University, St. Augustine College,
Salem College, and Warren Wilson College. Finally, among UNCW’s fourteen
designated peer institutions, ten offer an international major of some sort. Seven
of UNCW peer institutions offer undergraduate degree programs in international
studies, international affairs, or global studies (Sonoma State University, Rowan
University, Humboldt State University, Towson State University, Murray State
University, College of New Jersey, and James Madison University.) Three others
offer area study majors, College of Charleston (Latin America and Caribbean
Studies), the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Latin America) and the
University of Northern Iowa (Asian Studies, European Studies, Inter-American
Studies).
3. Estimate the number of students that would be enrolled in the program during the
first year of operation: Full-Time 20
Part-Time 0
4. If there are plans to offer the program away from campus during the first year of
operation: NA
a. briefly describe these plans, including potential sites and possible
methods(s) of delivering instruction.
b. Indicate any similar programs offered off-campus in North Carolina by
other institutions (public or private)
c. Estimate the number of students that would be enrolled in the program
during the first year of operation: Full-Time
Part-Time
5. List he names, titles, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers of the person(s)
responsible for planning the proposed program.
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Dr. Stephen J. McNamee, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
and Professor of Sociology (chair of planning committee):
mcnamee@uncw.edu
Dr. Mark Boren, Assistant Professor, Department of English:
borenm@uncw.edu
Dr. Andrew Clark, Professor, Department of History: clarka@uncw.edu
Dr. Denise DiPuccio, Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor of International
Programs and Professor of Spanish: dipucciod@uncw.edu
Dr. Gary Faulkner, Professor of Sociology: faulknerg@uncw.edu
Dr. Joann Halls, Associate Professor of Geography: hallsj@uncw.edu
Dr. James Herstine, Assistant Professor of Health and Applied Human
Sciences: herstinej@uncw.edu
Dr. Jeff Hill, Professor of Environmental Studies: hillj@uncw.edu
Dr. Dan Johnson, Assistant Professor of Music: johnsond@uncw.edu
Dr. Marina Johnson, Assistant Professor of Film Studies:
johnsonm@uncw.edu
Dr. Daniel Masters, Assistant Professor of Public and International
Affairs: mastersd@uncw.edu
Dr. Anthony Puente, Professor of Psychology: puente@uncw.edu
Dr. Scott Simmons, Assistant Professor of Anthropology:
simmonss@uncw.edu
Dr. Ron Sizemore, Associate Director of the Center for Marine Science
and Professor of Biology and Marine Biology: sizemorer@uncw.edu