College of Letters and Science Faculty Document No. 709
October 13, 2005

International Studies Major
Annual Report
2004-2005

The International Studies major is an interdisciplinary major of the UWM College of Letters and Science. More than 140 faculty members in over twenty UWM departments and programs teach courses in International Studies. The program's record of University service goes back more than forty years.

In the past academic year, the IS major sponsored two undergraduate senior seminars, one each semester, for students in the major. These seminars were taught by Professors Michael Day (Geography) and Avik Chakrabarti (Economics). Seminars have been organized for the 2005-2006 academic year and will be taught by Professors Robert Beck (CIE) and Donald Pienkos (Political Science).

In the 2004-2005 academic year, more than eighty students were majoring or minoring in International Studies. They received advising about their programs of study from Professor Pienkos, faculty coordinator of the major, Ms. Anne Banda, Director of Academic and Outreach Programs for the Center for International Education, and, following Anne's departure to another position in the University, Ms. Andrea Herbert. Advising for the International Studies program is in Garland Hall. Again in 2005, Dr. Pienkos reviewed the International Studies program with the student advising staff of the College.

During the past year, International Studies students, alumni, and faculty members received two issues of the International Studies newsletter. These were issued in August 2004 and January 2005.

Information on the International Studies program was provided at the UWM Open House in October, 2004 and on numerous other occasions. Brochures publicizing the major and the certificate programs with which it is associated (Russian and East European Studies, Middle Eastern and North African Studies, Asian Studies, and Peace Studies) were distributed during the year.

Professor Pienkos actively cooperated whenever possible with the Center for International Education, its Director, Dr. Patrice Petro, and other CIE representatives. Everyone connected with the International Studies major is committed to working with all UWM programs having an international focus. These include the faculty-directed foreign area studies certificate programs on our campus, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, the UWM Institute for World Affairs, and the Global Studies degree.

The International Studies major, in the past academic year, supported a variety of educational programs, in and outside classes, of benefit to students interested in international affairs. It supported the activities of the International Relations Society. In the past year, the IS major developed and implemented an assessment instrument for evaluating the program and has since reported its findings through the International Studies newsletter.

Respectfully submitted,

Donald Pienkos
Faculty Coordinator
Department of Political Science