But he said such changes might be far off, and for now the major's strength lies in its broad acade mic reach and exclusive seminars. History professor Gaddis Smith, who was the first DUS of international studies, said one of the great weaknesses of the major is its lack of departmental status. Without an official designation as an academic department, international studies cannot easily muster the necessary financial and human resources to build, he said. The original funding for the major came from start-up grants from foundations and individuals, Smith said. Smith said that because of the ambiguous focus of the international studies program, it would not become a stand-alone major in a distinct department in the near future, as it is complemented by many existing departmental majors.
Students benefit from the wide range of subjects they can pursue in the major.
But he said that more major-specific classes and faculty would improve the major. One Web site. Student Advantage, Inc. Inc. All Rights Reserved.