Science, Technology, and International Affairs (STIA) Major Requirements

Major requirements

Required courses

Majors must take a total of nine courses for a total of 31-36 credits, including: three science fundamentals, one gateway course, one methods course, four STIA electives, and one senior seminar.

3 Science Fundamentals (9-11 credits)

• Environmental Science and Sustainability (ERTH 1050/51; 1060/61; 3rd approved course) OR
• Computer Science (COSC 1020; COSC 1030; COSC 1110) 

1 STIA Gateway Course  (4 Credits)

• Science and Technology in the Global Arena (STIA 3005)

1 Methods Course (3-4 Credits)

• Introduction to Computer Science: Python (COSC 1010)
• Applied Data Science in Economics (ECON 3495)
• Data Visualization and Dashboards (INAF 2192)
• Quantitative Methods: International Affairs (INAF 3200)
• Foundations in Data Science (COSC 3430)

4 Electives (12 Credits)

1 Senior Seminar/Honors Thesis (3-6 Credits)

Sample courses

STIA majors take a variety of courses across the SFS curriculum to fulfill their elective requirements. Please visit your curricular Dean for a full list of courses that can apply to your STIA Major or view current courses with STIA attributes. Some courses that fulfill this requirement include:

• The Global Energy Transition (IPOL 3573)
• Energy Cultures in the Gulf (CULP 2378)
• Ethics of Climate Change (PHIL 2213)
• Literature of Climate Change (ENGL 2392)
• Environmental Economics (ECON 275)
• STEM and Power in Africa (HIST 4210)
• Media Entertainment &Technology in the Middle East (CULP 2375)
• Nuclear Weapons in World Politics (GOVT 2670)
• Interstellar Politics (GOVT 3679)
• Transboundary Environmental Regimes (STIA 4XXX)
• LLMs and the Social Sciences (STIA 4XXX)

Honors in the major

The honors program allows students to examine a significant scholarly issue in detail and to focus their time and attention on an important issue that deeply interests them. Honors theses are original works of thought and research, not merely summaries of the work and ideas of others.  By writing an honors thesis, the student gets a sense of how much he or she enjoys the kind of original research done in graduate school. The student also demonstrates that he or she can independently design and carry out a long-term research project – a skill that both employers and graduate and professional schools find very attractive.

In additional to presenting original research and analysis, STIA Honors Theses should demonstrate deep engagement with the 3 STIA core competencies: Data Literacy, Science Communication, and Critical Thinking

How to apply

• Cumulative GPA of 3.5* and Major GPA of 3.67, or strong evidence of the capacity to achieve.
• By March 1 of junior year, submit a thesis proposal to faculty advisor and STIA Director.

Honors requirements

• Complete both Honors seminars (Research and Thesis) in the senior year.
• Final written thesis must gain the approval of a faculty committee, which usually includes the seminar instructor, the curricular dean, and the STIA Director. The thesis should be in the range of 50-80 pages. The student should speak with his or her thesis advisor to determine a paper length. The student will give a formal presentation attended by all STIA faculty in residence plus one extra curricular faculty during the spring semester in which the thesis is completed.
• Earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 and a grade point average of 3.67 in the major by the date of graduation.

Note that students cannot pursue honors and a certificate simultaneously, due to the heavy workload. If a student wants to complete a certificate in addition to the honors program, then the certificate thesis must be completed during their junior year. The deadline for submitting the certificate thesis in its approved form would be the first day of classes in the student’s senior year.