Message from the Director
When I was in college my history professor used to say that “history is everything.” His message had an impact because history was always the most popular major on campus. Today it is no exaggeration to say, “international studies is everything.” The School of International and Area Studies (SIAS) student has the ability to explore virtually any topic or region of the world with our faculty and it is a major reason why IAS has become one of the most popular majors at OU.
Our seven majors (International Studies, International Security, Asian Studies, European Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle East Studies, Russian and East European Studies) give students the opportunity to take courses from a range of traditional disciplines and to acquire advanced levels in a foreign language. SIAS majors also benefit from our requirement that students take at least one semester of this coursework and language study abroad.
The SIAS major is also popular for the depth that it provides our graduates. All SIAS majors conclude their coursework with a capstone, and many go on to write a thesis supervised by a faculty member. Last year, SIAS majors conducted research and wrote theses on topics ranging from financial crises in Latin America to barefoot doctors in China.
The expertise and instructional talents of the SIAS faculty and our affiliate faculty make it possible for SIAS majors to gain this breadth and depth in their study of international affairs. This summer alone, SIAS faculty have engaged in research or instruction in Israel, Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and China.
It’s been my great privilege to start work as the Director of SIAS this summer, and I’m looking forward to deepening our commitment to innovative approaches to the study of global affairs and regions, both in the classroom and in our very active set of programs.
Students and faculty returning to campus this fall will find that all but the largest of our SIAS courses will now be offered in the new classrooms on the first floor of Hester Hall. This wing of Hester Hall is also the new home of International Programs. SIAS majors and minors can also find our award-winning advising team in a new Academic Services office in Hester 155.
China’s paramount leader Deng Xiaoping once said that administrators (or cadres as they’re called in China) come in two forms: those who are bureaucrats and those who actually do some work. With the support of a highly capable and devoted staff, I hope to “do some work” as we continue to build this exceptional institution for the study of international affairs.
Mark Frazier
Director, School of International and Area Studies
