- How do I declare an ICS major or change my major?
- When should I take ICS 195?
- How do I know who my ICS faculty advisor is?
- Can I combine an ICS major with another major or minor?
- Does ICS offer interdepartmental majors?
- Can a FOCUS course count toward the ICS major?
- Does ICS count Independent Studies courses toward the major?
- I notice a number of courses focused on pre-1500 classical, medieval or Renaissance studies. Can these count toward ICS?
- I see that some courses are approved for both Region and Global requirements. Can I use a single course that is approved for both categories to fulfill a Region and a Global requirement?
- What kind of non-English language courses may I count or double count for the region or global requirement?
- Can I use AP credit to satisfy the ICS language requirement?
- What if there's no language course that is advanced enough for me?
- What if I am a student who matriculated between August 2009 and August 2011 and I have a question about previous ICS requirements?
- Does ICS approve petitions for transfer credit for my study away courses?
How do I declare an ICS major or change my major?
You may declare your major anytime after your first year, though most students declare in spring of sophomore year. The deadline to declare is the Friday before spring break (or the semester break of your fourth semester of enrollment).
Declaring your major is a multi-step process that takes place through the Academic Advising Center. Please follow the directions available here. If you are applying to do a transregional concentration, please reach out to the DUS before you start the declaration process.
After you declare and we receive notice of your major declaration, you will receive an email from ICS with details about the major and your major advisor. If you have any questions about ICS, please reach out the ICS Director of Undergraduate Studies.
When should I take ICS 195?
ICS 195, Critical Approaches to Global Issues, is required of all majors, is taught in fall and spring terms, and should be taken in the first or second year of study. Students who plan to be ICS majors are expected to complete the course before a study-away semester.
In certain situations, juniors or rising juniors may make a case to the ICS DUS for special permission to enroll in the course. If the DUS approves enrollment and the student has attended early class meetings, permission to enroll will be granted if there is space.
How do I know who my ICS faculty advisor is?
If you are a declared ICS major, your advisor's name shows up on your personal information page on DukeHub. If you can not find the information, e-mail either the ICS Director of Undergraduate Studies or the DUS-Assistant, Denecia Miller.
ICS requires every major (including those with a double major) to schedule a meeting with their ICS faculty advisor during the book-bagging period every semester before registering for courses. Students not in Durham should schedule phone or zoom calls with their faculty advisers.
Can I combine an ICS major with another major or minor?
The program places no limits on the number of courses that can simultaneously be used for the ICS major and other majors and minors. Students should consult university policy with respect to double counting for certificates and with individual departments to determine if other limits exist.
Does ICS offer interdepartmental majors?
ICS does not support student-proposed IDMs.
Can a FOCUS course count toward the ICS major?
If you are taking or have taken a FOCUS course that you believe meets ICS global or region criteria, and this course is not already on the ICS approved list, please contact the ICS DUS and send a copy the syllabus.
Does ICS count Independent Studies courses toward the major?
No. Independent Studies courses do not satisfy the requirements for ICS. Independent Studies courses can however be helpful to students pursuing honors projects because they can provide time to develop and hone ideas and writing.
I notice a number of courses focused on pre-1500 classical, medieval or Renaissance studies. Can these count toward ICS?
ICS is designed to study relevant issues from 1500 onward. While classes that count for ICS can have content that begins in prior time periods, the focus must be on a time period after 1500 though it can begin earlier.
I see that some courses are approved for both Region and Global requirements. Can I use a single course that is approved for both categories to fulfill a Region and a Global requirement?
The short answer is no. The ICS major is designed to give students both expertise in a region and ways to understand and think critically about global issues. We want students to choose courses that challenge them in both areas, so we require four courses in your Region and four courses in the Global category.
We do, however, allow students to double-count a content course conducted in their chosen non-English language for a language credit. For example, a class on Modern French Cinema conducted in French can count for both a Region course (Europe) and a ICS language course.
What kind of non-English language courses may I count or double count for the region or global requirement?
To count or double count in the region or global categories, the content of a language course must meet region or global 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 language.
The course must also be linguistically advanced enough to facilitate this level of scholarly engagement.
Please see ICS major requirements for further details and notes.
Can I use AP credit to satisfy the ICS language requirement?
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. Please see ICS major requirements for further details and notes.
What if there's no language course that is advanced enough for me?
Please see ICS major requirements for details on this language question.
How do I know whether an ICS-approved course I took numbered in the previous system is considered advanced for the Region or Global categories?
Check the ICS course archives for old and new course numbers. Check major requirements for details on the ICS depth requirement.
Does ICS approve petitions for transfer credit for my study away courses?
No. ICS does not approve petitions for transfer credit. As an interdisciplinary program ICS does not teach courses equivalent to what you can take at other universities. Identify the departments at Duke that teach similar classes-their DUS can tell you if they can transfer under their course code. You may never substitute any of our core classes. However we do approve these courses for Global or Regional courses.