Senior Seminar
Senior seminars are offered on different topics every semester and provide an opportunity for students to integrate and build upon their interdisciplinary coursework in international relations by focusing in-depth on a specific topic. Limited to 20 students, the seminar fulfills the required capstone experience in the concentration. Seminars emphasize student discussion, have advanced readings and require students to complete a major research project that demonstrates their skills in a second language.
Independent Study (DISP, GISP)
Independent study projects allow students, either individually (DISP) or in small groups (GISP), to take a course that is not otherwise offered at Brown. An IAPA independent study project is done under the direction of a Watson faculty member, who agrees to teach the equivalent of an additional course to a student or group of students. As independent studies are time consuming for faculty, they can be challenging to arrange.
Students are responsible for designing the course syllabus for an independent study. The syllabus should be equivalent in content to an IAPA junior or senior seminar, including extensive reading (100-150 pages per week) and assignments leading up to a 20-25 page research paper. They may include a significant project such as a film.
Independent Study students register for IAPA 1818A, under the section of the Watson faculty member they are working with. IAPA 1818A must be taken for a grade.
Steps to initiate an independent study for IAPA concentration credit:
1 - Complete the Independent Study Project Approval Form.
2 - Review proposal with and obtain signature from your Faculty Sponsor.
3 - Submit the completed Approval Form to the IAPA Faculty Director (Anya_Bassett@brown.edu) with a cc: to the Undergraduate Concentrations Manager (Anita_Nester@brown.edu).
4 - Receive approval. The Undergraduate Concentrations Manager will request that the faculty sponsor be added to a section of IAPA 1818A.
5 - Register for the section of IAPA 1818A assigned to the faculty sponsor.
Global Independent Study Project (GLISP)
A GLISP combines independent research with the study abroad experience. Students design a project to be undertaken outside the United States under the sponsorship of a Brown faculty member. GLISP projects last one semester and typically incorporate archival work in their host university or other local institutions, as well as interviews.
Independent Study Project Approval Form (ISP, GISP, GLISP, CPT)
Visit the Office of International Programs to learn more about the GLISP.
IAPA Honors Program
An honors degree in International and Public Affairs requires successful completion of a thesis of original research on a pressing global problem. The thesis is undertaken in both semesters of senior year and fulfills the IAPA capstone requirement.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for IAPA Professional Track
Summer Internships for International Students on F-1 Visas
Students on an IAPA Professional Track pursue full-time professional experiences totaling 2-6 months doing work related to their IAPA concentration.
Each internship must be at least one month in duration in cases where students choose to do more than one internship experience.
Internships must take place during the summer.
Students are required to satisfy all of the course requirements for the IAPA concentration.
CPT Approval
- Students select a “Professional Track” as part of the ASK declaration process.
- After declaring and being approved for the IAPA “Professional Track”, students seek approval for the summer internship to count toward the track requirement:
- Students submit a request in the OISSS Gateway portal, providing the name and email address of the advisor assigned in ASK. The advisor will receive a link allowing them to review and approve/deny the request.
- If approved, OISSS will review and issue the I-20 for CPT work authorization.
- Refer to CPT Application Instructions for details.
- Following the internship, upload the reflective essay to the OISSS Gateway portal. As with the CPT request, enter your advisor's name and email, so that they can review and approve the essay.
For additional information, see the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISSS)