International Studies aims to educate global citizens. The major promotes global understanding and lifelong learning through an international, intercultural, and interdisciplinary curriculum. It is designed to foster understanding of world societies and global issues from varied disciplinary perspectives, including cultural diversity and norms, economic interconnectedness, conflict and war, environmental degradation, human rights violations and solutions. Students learn the communication, research, and critical thinking skills necessary to assess cultural, economic, political, and social systems in a global context. Majors learn to understand and communicate with diverse communities at home and abroad, a foundation of work and life in the twenty-first century, by studying complex international issues, including the dynamic global economy and the expectations of global citizenship.

International Studies majors shape their own course of study from a curriculum that balances depth and breadth of international and regionally comparative courses in different academic specializations. Majors are encouraged to choose a relevant minor to focus their course of study. Majors are encouraged to study abroad or to pursue international or globally related internships and service learning opportunities. International Studies advances awareness of global issues on campus by promoting participation in student organizations that support international understanding and diversity education, especially the Model United Nations and United and Mutually Equal.

Career and Community Opportunities

International Studies prepares students to participate creatively in a global exchange of ideas and to be successful in a dynamic global economy. The major opens a wide variety of career paths, ranging from public service, diplomacy, management, and communications to the arts, community service, entrepreneurship, health care support, and teaching. It prepares interested students for a variety of graduate programs, including those in international affairs, law, business, and public policy. The major helps students meet the challenges of the global economy by requiring at least twelve credits of foreign language(s). The major also encourages studying, volunteering, and interning abroad to sharpen students’ critical thinking and communication skills, which most employers consider fundamental in the twenty-first century economy.

Program Objectives

1. To provide students with breadth of knowledge of cultural, economic, political, and social systems in a global context.

2. To provide students with analytical tools to explain complex global issues in different disciplines.

3. To expose students at an advanced level to different disciplinary perspectives on global issues and international context.

4. To acquire proficiency in a language or languages other than one’s own.

5. To gain awareness of the connection between global problems and global citizenship, particularly, but not necessarily, through international study, internships, or service learning, or through globally related internships, service learning, or domestic academic exchange.