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› ABOUT ICS › AFTER ICS › ICS ALUMNI
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“It is my firm belief that an area of the world cannot be studied only through International Relations or language or even globalization. It must be studied through experience, exposure to various attributes of culture, language, their functions within that area and an open mind to learn and relearn. International Comparative Studies for me incorporates these essential tools and further fosters a skill that is fundamental and applicable to all facets of life: effective and intelligent adaptability.” |
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International Comparative Studies (ICS) offers a BA degree to students interested in the interdisciplinary study of societies and cultures of a particular region of the world, complemented with the comparative study of international issues. Students currently study Africa, East Asia, Eurasia, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, Russia, South Asia, and Western Europe. Students interested in a different area designation should consult with one of the directors. Each ICS student chooses to concentrate on a single world region by taking courses from a variety of departments while also studying a language appropriate to that region. In addition, students complement and deepen their understanding of their chosen region by taking courses about specific global issues and/or courses about a second world region. All ICS students share a common core of knowledge and experience derived from their participation in the core courses, ICS 125, Comparative Approaches to Global Issues, and ICS 200S, Rethinking Areas. Especially in the latter course, a seminar, students have a chance to examine what they have learned in the company of students who have been studying different world regions, which provides a rich environment for understanding and exchange. ICS (formerly Comparative Area Studies or CAS) has been a major at Duke since the mid-1970s. ICS alumni have pursued varied careers ranging from diplomacy to public health and many more. |
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“After graduating, I worked for the cultural department of the British Embassy in Washington, DC, before moving permanently to the UK to run the Study Abroad Program at the University of Bristol. In the same way ICS encouraged me to truly immerse myself in another culture, I strive to persuade students to incorporate an international twist to their undergraduate experience.” — Tory Ribar 04 |
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ICS students embark on a wide range of careers after leaving Duke. Like other liberal arts programs ICS prepares students in a number of valuable skills, including analytical and interpretive thinking, and oral and written communication. As an interdisciplinary program it especially prepares students to think comparatively and flexibly. As an international program that emphasizes language study, it prepares students to work in cross-cultural settings, both in the United States and abroad. Though many of our students pursue international careers, some for a few years and others for a lifetime, others do not. Even those who choose to work in the U. S. speak to the value of knowing other languages and cultures. ICS is especially appropriate for those with career objectives in, government (especially the foreign service), international business or law, public health, environmental programs, the United Nations and other international agencies, academia and private international religious or service organizations. |
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