Can I combine an ICS major with another major or minor?
Yes. It is relatively easy to double major with ICS. The program places no limits on the number of courses that that can simultaneously be used for the ICS major and other majors and minors. By university policy only two courses can be counted for both a major and a certificate. Students should consult university policy with respect to double counting for certificates and with individual departments to determine if other limits exist.
Does ICS allow interdepartmental majoring?
The IDM program requires a student to complete at least 14 courses from two academic disciplines/departments and has a number of other requirements. ICS does not participate in the interdepartmental major option.
If a Focus course is not on the approved ICS course list, can it count toward the comparative or regional requirements in the major?
Focus courses are limited to first-year students. If you are taking a Focus course (or have taken one in the past) that you believe meets ICS comparative or region course criteria, please contact the with the course description or syllabus after you have reviewed ICS criteria.
Can I combine study abroad with an ICS major?
Yes. A maximum of four full credit courses taken during study abroad may count to fulfill ICS requirements in a given ICS curricular plan if such courses meet ICS criteria. The approval process for study-abroad courses is detailed here. ICS considers approved study-abroad courses as neither introductory nor advanced, but in the middle of the major for the purposes of an ICS major's curricular plan.
ICS 195, Comparative Approaches to Global Issues, is required of all majors and is regularly taught in fall and spring. Both comprehensive and global, the course introduces students to a broad range of research methods, theoretical perspectives, and comparative approaches in current use by Duke faculty. You should take this course by the end of the sophomore year, since it forms a foundation for more advanced work in the major. While first and second-year students have priority, in certain situations, juniors or rising juniors may make a case to the DUS for special permission to enroll in the gateway course. In such cases, a student should attend the course from the first class meeting of the semester. If the DUS approves enrollment and the student has attended early class meetings, permission to enroll will be granted if there is space in the course.
There are so many different kinds of courses that count toward ICS within my area: history, sociology, religion, economics, even biology. Any advice on how I should choose among them?
Yes. To encourage ICS majors to diversify their disciplinary studies, we require you to include courses in at least two modes of knowledge or disciplines under your Comparative and Region required courses.
Can I use AP credit to satisfy the foreign language co-requisite?
No. Because language provides unique access to a culture, the philosophy of the ICS major is that one can never become too proficient in a language. Therefore, students with advanced placement credits or other evidence of language proficiency are not exempted from this requirement. All ICS majors must complete four Duke-credit semester courses to fulfill the language co-requisite.
What if there's no language course that is advanced enough for me?
In certain situations, such as when a student is fluent in a non-English language widely used in the chosen Region concentration, one of the Foreign Language course co-requisites can be met with a research methods or research analysis course. One advanced language course may double count in the appropriate Region or Comparative category if its content meets the Region or Comparative criteria, whether it is offered on Duke's campus or is an approved study away course. As needed, further alternative approaches to satisfying one of the Foreign Language co-requisites can be developed in consultation with the student's ICS advisor and the DUS.
Can I count one course toward two requirements within the ICS major?
In general, you may not use a single course to fulfill more than one requirement within the ICS major. There is one exception to this rule: one advanced language course may double count in the appropriate Region or Comparative category if its content meets the Region or Comparative criteria. Contact the if you have further questions.
What kind of non-English language courses may I count or double count for the region or comparative requirement?
To count or double count in the region or comparative categories, the content of a language course must meet region or comparative criteria. The syllabus and course description must reflect a scholarly focus structured around questions and materials that extend well beyond training in speaking, reading, and writing in the foreign language. The course must also be linguistically advanced enough to facilitate this level of scholarly engagement.
How do I know whether an ICS-approved course I took that was numbered in the previous system is considered advanced for the Region or Comparative categories?
Check the ICS course archives for the past five semesters for old and new course numbers. Any ICS-approved course from a previous semester that is numbered in the 100s in the new system is considered introductory. Any course numbered 400 or above in the new system meets the ICS threshold for an advanced course.
How do I know who my ICS advisor is?
If you are a declared ICS major, your advisor's name shows up on your personal information page on ACES/STORM. You can also email .
What if I am a student who matriculated between August 2009 and August 2011 and I have a question about previous ICS requirements?
Please contact ICS Director of Undergraduate Studies with your questions.
This form will track your progress in the major, through the requirements detailed at left.
Each ICS major must complete a Curricular Plan, updated with and approved by an ICS advisor each semester, to assure they are on track toward fulfilling major requirements.
