International Studies | Student Profiles
Students in the International Studies BDP form a community with shared interests in understanding contemporary political, economic, human rights, and cultural issues in a global context. International Studies students have come from a wide range of majors at UT, including Asian Studies, Business, Computer Science, Economics, Geography, Government, History, Journalism, Middle Eastern Studies, Political Communication, Plan II, Religious Studies, and many others.
Name: Dhawal Doshi
BDP: International Studies
Major: Economics and Chinese
Why did you apply to the International Studies BDP?
On analyzing the prospects offered by the different BDPs, International Studies attracted me the most with the kind of research and study-abroad opportunities that it offered. The program filled the void in my degree plan and required me to get involved with exactly the kind of things that I would otherwise be interested in doing.
What have you done for your Connecting Experience?
For my connecting experience, I researched on China's development strategy in Africa with Dr. Catherine Boone and presented my findings at a conference in London. Using an online database, I searched and analyzed local Nigerian and South African newspapers for results relating to China and recorded the results in a record-sheet that we formed particularly for our research.
What has been the biggest benefit of the BDP for you?
It has not only helped me to define and narrow down my interests, but the structure of this program along with the attitude of the advisors has motivated me to make additional efforts to research the particular field. The motivation and the environment to conduct individual research has been the greatest contribution of BDP thus far.
What would you want other students to know about the BDPs?
- The earlier you apply, the better it is. The more time you have in your hands, the more opportunities you would have to experiment with different things.
- Enrolling in BDP does not necessarily have to mean an extension of graduation time. From my experience, BDP is more about managing the degree plan differently to suit particular interests, rather than simply being an add-on.
- Regardless of what level of education you are, it always helps to talk with an advisor. They have information sessions every week, and if that does not work out, it is easy to schedule an appointment in the BDP office in FAC 33.
See also past profiles of International Studies students.
To read about International Studies students who have participated in Connecting Experiences, see the International Studies Connecting Experiences page.
"The support of the BDP advisors has been the greatest benefit of the program for me as an undergraduate. The whole experience has gotten me excited about applying to graduate schools because I feel that I am prepared to do research on a graduate level, thanks to the experiences I've had through the BDPs."
- Michelle McCloskey, International Studies