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Prospective Students
Thank you for your interest in the International Studies Program at UC San Diego. We welcome talented prospective students from across the nation and around the world. Our interdisciplinary program challenges students to explore the processes and consequences of interactions among institutions and individuals at the international, national, and local levels.
Undergraduate Admissions Process
Prospective freshmen or transfer students interested in pursuing a major in International Studies must first be admitted to the University of California, San Diego. To apply, please visit the UC San Diego Undergraduate Admissions website to review eligibility and admission requirements. All questions related to university admissions should be directed to UC San Diego Admissions. Be sure to review the college system to ensure you choose a college that aligns with your interests and goals. Each college has its own mission, focus and set of General Education (GE) requirements.
UC San Diego Admissions
Preparing Ahead
Freshmen
It's never too early to plan ahead. Current high school students can start by checking out UC San Diego's Planning Ahead year-by-year roadmap to help prepare academically and financially for the university.
International Students
Prospective international students have additional requirements for admission.
Transfer
IGETC Certification Completion of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) is strongly recommended for all students transferring from a California community college. This curriculum serves to clear most general education requirements for incoming transfer students, leaving one to eight (1-8) general education courses depending on the UCSD college into which the student is admitted.
Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Credits
Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credit may be applicable toward your major and College requirements. The following chart determines how AP or IB credit may be applicable to count as lower-division requirements relevant to International Studies (IS) majors. You will not receive additional credit if you take courses from which you are exempt. For the most accurate information refer to Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB).
Advanced Placement (AP)
| Math | Score | Units | Lower Division Equivalent | IS-Major |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus AB* | 3 | 4 | MATH 20A | IS-International Business IS-Economics |
| Calculus AB* | 4, 5 | 4 | MATH 20A or 10A | IS-International Business IS-Economics |
| Calculus BC* | 3 | 8 | MATH 20A and 10B | IS-International Business IS-Economics |
| Calculus BC* | 4, 5 | 8 | MATH 20A, 20B or 10A, 10B | IS-International Business IS-Economics |
| *8 unit max for both tests | ||||
| Economics | Score | Units | Lower Division Equivalent | IS-Major |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microeconomics | 5 | 4 | ECON 1 | IS-Economics |
| Macroeconomics | 5 | 4 | ECON 3 | IS-Economics |
International Baccalaureate (IB)
| Math | Score | Units | Lower Division Equivalent | IS-Major |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher IB level | 5, 6 or 7 | 8 | Math 20A credit and 4 units of elective credit. If Topic 9-Option: calculus completed, student should petition math department for both 20A and 20B credit. |
IS-International Business IS-Economics |
| Only Higher Level Exams are accepted for credit by the University of California; Standard Level Exams are not given credit to fulfill major requirements. | ||||
| Economics | Score | Units | Lower Division Equivalent | IS-Major |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher IB level | 7 | 8 | ECON 1, 3 | IS-Economics |
| Only Higher Level Exams are accepted for credit by the University of California; Standard Level Exams are not given credit to fulfill major requirements. | ||||
Community College Credits
For transfer students, completion of Lower Division coursework prior to transferring is strongly encouraged but not required. Completing as much required lower division coursework as possible for your desired major before transfer will help you stay on track for enrollment at UCSD. See lower division requirements listed below. Some high school students may take community college courses as a high school students as well. Please use ASSIST.org to find equivalent courses at your community college.
IS Language Requirement: All students majoring in International Studies are required to demonstrate 4th quarter proficiency in a foreign language. There are many ways in which to complete the requirement for the International Studies major and minor prior to matriculation to UC San Diego.
| IS-Major | Language Requirement | Lower Division Requirement | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IS-International Business | 4th Quarter Level Language | MATH 10/20 A-B-C - Calculus MGT/ECON 4 - Financial Accounting MGT 5 - Managerial Accounting |
||
| IS-International Economics | 4th Quarter Level Language | MATH 10/20 A-B-C - Calculus ECON 1 - Microeconomics ECON 2 - Market Imperfections and Policy (must be taken at UCSD) ECON 3 - Macroeconomics |
||
| IS-Philosophy | 4th Quarter Level Language | PHIL 10 - Introduction to Logic | ||
| IS-Anthropology | 4th Quarter Level Language | |||
| IS-History | 4th Quarter Level Language | |||
| IS-Linguistics | 4th Quarter Level Language | |||
| IS-Literature | 4th Quarter Level Language | |||
| IS-Political Science | 4th Quarter Level Language | |||
| IS-Sociology | 4th Quarter Level Language | |||
| Use ASSIST.org to find equivalent courses at your community college. | ||||
Resources
FAQ
Do I need to complete all lower-division requirements for my desired major before transfer?
No, completion of all lower-division requirements is not required for admission, however it is strongly recommended. This will better prepare students for upper-division coursework upon admission to UCSD. Any uncompleted lower-division coursework can be completed at UCSD after transfer.
How do I apply to the Joint Five Year degree BA/MIA Program?
Students interested in the Bachelor of Arts / Master of International Affairs program (BA/MIA) must first be admitted to UCSD in one of the three eligible International Studies majors: IS - International Business, IS - Economics, or IS - Political Science. At the earliest, transfer students apply to the BA/MIA program in the Spring quarter of their first year at UCSD. Meet with ISP Advising before your first quarter begins to ensure you are on track to complete the admissions requirements.
There is no articulation agreement on ASSIST.org for one or more of the lower-division requirements for my desired major. What should I do?
Some community colleges may not have an articulation agreement in place with UCSD for all courses. If there is a course at your college with a similar title and description, you may choose to take it and submit a petition for equivalency after transfer. The petition will be reviewed and a decision made by the department that offers the course at UCSD. You may also choose to wait and enroll in the course at UCSD after transferring.
Can I switch into an International Studies major after I transfer, or switch to a different International Studies discipline?
Yes, all International Studies majors are open (not capped) majors, and students can easily switch into the major or into another discipline online after they have enrolled in classes for their first quarter.
What is the difference between Political Science-International Relations at the Department of Political Science vs. International Studies-Political Science with the International Studies Program?
| International Studies Program | Department of Political Science |
|---|---|
|
International Studies-Political Science (B.A.) Major Lower Division Requirements
Upper Division Requirements
|
Political Science-International Relations (B.A.) Major Lower Division Requirements
Upper Division Requirements
|
| Language Requirement (4th Quarter level language equivalency) | No Language Requirement |
|
Five Year Joint Degree Program BA/MIA with International Studies Program |
Five Year Joint Degree Program BA/MIA with Political Science |
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