Through a diverse combination of courses centered on a theme, the RCST major prepares students to investigate and comprehend a topic of importance in a region(s). RCST students gain intellectual independence as they are responsible for selecting their own theme and for designing a curriculum to achieve an in-depth exploration of a key issue. The Regional and Comparative major enables students to:

Understand on a theoretical and practical level different societies and their histories.
Develop analytical tools to understand and interpret a theme in a region or regions.
Analyze different aspects of societies outside of the United States.
Use the comparative method to assess the complexities of different regions of the world.
Identify, explore and evaluate an important theme through a comprehensive study across multiple disciplines.
Gain proficiency in a language(s) specific to a region(s).