Program Requirements

Incoming WISc Participants

During your first year, WISc students are expected to register for the following classes and participate in the events listed below as part of the WISc Program. Students are expected to attend all scheduled meetings and events.

This year, the ILC Dinners and most WISc events will be held on Tuesday evenings. For this reason, we ask you to keep Tuesday evenings (5pm on) free for WISc events. Please keep this in mind when making other commitments including class schedules, extracurricular activities, and jobs. If you believe that this day/time will pose a problem for you next year, please let us know immediately so that we can discuss what the options may be.

1. ILS 198, Directed Study (WISc section), Fall semester
This class will meet once a week for an hour. It will be an ungraded, one-credit class designed specifically for WISc participants. (When registering for this course, please refer to course #22143.) This class is taught by the WISc Faculty Chair and members of the Faculty Steering Committee. This class seeks to foster student leadership and participation as we discuss international events and topics that may not be covered in the first year student’s other classes.

2. ILS 209, Introduction to Global Cultures, Fall semester
This class is a 3 credit course offering a comparative study of world cultures from an interdisciplinary perspective. (When registering for this course, please refer to the Timetable, as the course number depends on which discussion section you choose.) This class includes lectures twice a week (50 min. each) plus a weekly small-group discussion session (50 min. also). A full description of this course is in the Undergraduate Catalog.

3. Foreign Language
As a WISc participant, you are expected to pursue language study for at least two years at the UW-Madison, ideally in a language other than one you studied in high school. The WISc program encourages you to consider taking “Less Commonly Taught Languages.” You may wish to refer to the UW Language Institute web site for more information (http://www.languageinstitute.wisc.edu/index.html and http://www.intl-institute.wisc.edu/MemberPrograms/).

4. International Learning Community (ILC) dinners
We will be joining the ILC for internationally themed dinners at 6:30 pm Tuesdays once a month. These dinners will take place at Upper Carson Gulley, near Tripp-Adams Hall. The WISc program pays for these dinners.

5. One-on-one faculty advising meetings
You are expected to meet with a WISc faculty member at least once a semester. This is an opportunity for students to take advantage of the close interaction with faculty offered through this program. Faculty can assist and support you in course selection, study abroad plans, or introduce you to other individuals or resources on campus that match your interests. In addition, you are welcome to meet with us as often as you would like or need to—the opportunity for extensive contact with faculty members who support the development of your international interests is one of the advantages of being a WISc scholar.

6. Area Studies Lectures, Talks, Workshops, and Conferences
You are encouraged to attend Area Studies events on a regular basis throughout the year. A calendar of events and information regarding the eleven internationally focused Area Studies Centers can be found at http://www.intlstudies.wisc.edu/news/default.asp.
While we encourage you to select events that are of particular interest to you, we will from time to time make an official “WISc recommendation” and plan to attend as a group.

7. Additional events, meetings and outings
In the past these events have included dinners with UW alumni, conferences on campus, plays, and attending the Wisconsin Film Festival. This year, we will have a WISc retreat as well.

Continuing WISc Participants

In your second year, WISc students are expected to participate in the events below as part of the WISc Program:

1. Regular meetings
You should count on having two events per month on average; the ILC dinner and one additional meeting.

2. Additional events, meetings and outings
As in the past, these events may include dinners with UW alumni, conferences on campus, plays, and attending the Wisconsin Film Festival. This year, we will have a WISc retreat as well.

3. International Learning Community (ILC) Dinners
We will be joining the ILC for internationally themed dinners at 6:30 pm Tuesdays once a month. These dinners will take place at Upper Carson Gulley, near Tripp-Adams Hall. The WISc program pays for these dinners.

4. One-on-one faculty advising meetings
You are expected to meet with a WISc faculty member at least once per semester, or more often if you wish. This is an opportunity for students to take advantage of the close interaction with faculty offered through this program. Faculty can assist and support you in course selection, study abroad plans, or introduce you to other individuals or resources on campus that match your own interests. In addition, you are welcome to meet with us as often as you would like or need to—the opportunity for extensive contact with faculty members who support the development of your international interests is one of the advantages of being a WISc scholar.

5. Area Studies Lectures, Talks, Workshops, and Conferences
You are encouraged to attend Area Studies events on a regular basis throughout the year. A calendar of events and more information regarding the eleven internationally focused Area Studies Centers can be found at http://www.intlstudies.wisc.edu/news/default.asp.
While we encourage you to select events that are of particular interest to you, we will from time to time make an official “WISc recommendation” and plan to attend as a group. This year, we will also have a retreat for WISc students and faculty.

Third and Fourth Year WISc Students

We hope that you will be able to study abroad for some part of your third and fourth year at the UW. While abroad, please keep in touch with your fellow WISc Scholars! We would love to receive email, photographs and postcards to share with the group.
When on campus, please continue to participate in all WISc activities.

You will be planning your next steps: considering programs, applying for grants to use after you complete your UW degree, possibly applying to graduate school. Your WISc committee is happy to talk with you and to advise you on your options.

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