Major

This interdisciplinary academic program will provide you with deep insights into the political, social, economic, and historical forces that have shaped the world in which we live.

As an international studies major, you will:

• Study global forces in religion, politics, history, and economics that shape relations among countries, with particular attention to one area of concentration
• Focus your studies on one area of concentration:  
  • Global and Regional Systems of Governance and Societies
  • Global Economy, International Business, and Development
  • Global Peace, Justice, and Ethics
  • Global Health and Environment
• Improve your knowledge of the historical, political, economic, socio-cultural, philosophical, ideological, technological and strategic factors that shape the world today.
• Enhance your research abilities by finding, evaluating and interpreting relevant primary and secondary sources, and by conducting, analyzing and interpreting original research.
• Learn how to apply your knowledge by presenting a convincing case for a course of action that addresses a significant international issue or challenge.

Hands-On Learning

You’ll broaden your global perspectives by studying a foreign language and taking part in experiential learning opportunities, such as an internship, study abroad program, or a semester in Washington, DC.

Career Options

Upon successful completion of the international studies program, you’ll be well equipped to further your education at graduate school, as well as pursue a career in international business, government, law, media, education or nonprofit organizations. You might pursue a career as a director of international programs, foreign correspondent, government policy adviser, journalist, management consultant, or political scientist.

This program pairs well with any other major or minor, and offers lots of opportunity for synergy among courses. If you choose to minor in a related field, like economics or political science, you’ll stand out in the job market. Our graduates have gone on to have careers in the government, private sector, and non-profit organizations.

If you choose to further your education in graduate school, know that our students have been admitted to the top graduate programs in the world. Some of the graduate schools our students have been admitted to include:

• Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
• Graduate Institute of International Studies (IHEID), Geneva, Switzerland
• Tufts University
• George Washington University
• American University
• Boston University
• University of Maryland
• Queen Mary University of London
• Kings College, London
• European University Institute

What You’ll Take

This bachelor’s degree program requires a minimum of 124 credits. As part of the overall 124 credit minimum, you’ll take a combination of required and elective courses to satisfy the 38-credit and 10-course-minimum requirement in the international studies major. 

Course Requirements

Core Introductory Courses (complete all three courses)

INT 1000	Introduction to International Studies
RTS 1010	World Religions
POL 1900	International Politics

Advanced Core Courses (complete four courses) 

ECO 1204 OR POL 3540	Principles of Macroeconomics  OR International Political Economy
POL 2000	Political Science Methods
HIS 3330	World History Since 1945
INT 4800	Senior Seminar in International Studies

 

Concentrations

(complete three courses in any concentration)

Global and Regional Systems of Governance and Societies

COM 4450	Global Media
COM 4531	Intercultural Communication
HIS 3366	History of the Modern Middle East
HIS 3378	History of Modern Britain
HIS 3401	Europe’s Revolutionary Nineteenth Century
HIS 3410	Twentieth Century Europe
HIS 3412	Hitler Mussolini, and the Fascist Challenge in Europe, 1900-1950
HIS 3440	Survey of Latin American History: From Pre-Contact to the Present
HIS 3470	History of Imperial Russia
HIS 3471	From Lenin to Putin: Russia in the Twentieth Century
INT 3600	Special Topics: International Studies* when course pertains to a Global and Regional Systems of Governance and Societies topic as determined by the Director of International Studies
PHL 3010	Human Rights: Theory and Practice
PHL 3030	Global Justice
POL 1500	Comparative Politics
POL 2200	Global Issues
POL 3520	Modern China
POL 3525	Politics of the Middle East
POL 3530	Democracy, Development and Violence
POL 3540	International Political Economy
POL 3541	Cyber Security: The Intersection of Technology and Policy
POL 4599W	Issues and Cases in US Foreign Policy
PSY 3250	Cultural Psychology
SPA 3100	Studies in Popular Culture of Latin America and Spain
SPA 3400	Language(s)/Culture(s) of Resistance
SOC 3650	Sociology of Immigration

Global Economy, International Business, and Development

COM 4450	Global Media
COM 4531	Intercultural Communication
ECO 3303	Sustainable Development
ECO 3306	International Economics
ECO 3312	The History of Economic Thought
HIS 3331	Slaves and Spices: A History of the Indian Ocean
INT 3600	Special Topics: International Studies* when course pertains to a Global Economy, International Business, and Development topic as determined by the Director of International Studies
MGT 3357	International Management
MGT 3370	International Entrepreneurship
MGT 3375	Doing Business in Emerging Markets
MKT 3320	Global Marketing
POL 2200	Global Issues
POL 3540	International Political Economy
PSY 3250	Cultural Psychology

Global Peace, Justice, and Ethics

COM 4450	Global Media
COM 4531	Intercultural Communications
HIS 3390	Modern European Social History
HIS 3391	Women in Modern European History
HIS 3412	Hitler, Mussolini, and the Fascist Challenge in Europe, 1900-1950
INT 3600	Special Topics: International Studies* when course pertains to a Global Peace, Justice, and Ethics topic as determined by the Director of International Studies
PHL 2420	Wisdoms of Asia
PHL 3010	Human Rights: Theory and Practice
PHL 3030	Global Justice
POL 3530	Democracy, Development, and Violence
PSY 3250	Cultural Psychology
RTS 3760	Theology & History of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations
SPA 3400	Literature(s)/Culture(s) of Resistance
SOC 3650	Sociology of Immigration
WGS 3110	Global Gender Issues and Social Justice

Global Health and Environment

ECO 3305	Ecological Economics
HIS 3380	Science, Technology, and Society
HIS 3550	Global Empire, Race, and Nature: 1750-1945
HIS 3335	World Environmental History
HSC 3103	Global Public Health
INT 3600	Special Topics: International Studies* when course pertains to a Global Health and Environment topic as determined by the Director of International Studies
WGS 3830	Gender and Global Health

 

Some courses may require prerequisites. If you wish to use one of these courses to fulfill a requirement in International Studies, you are responsible for either taking the prerequisite(s) or obtaining a waiver from the professor teaching the course. 

 

Foreign Language Requirement

You are required to have modern foreign language proficiency through the second semester of intermediate level.

Experiential Learning Requirement

You are required to participate in a study abroad semester, a Washington semester, or a relevant internship experience for credit.

 

Related Majors and Minors 

We strongly encourage you to double major or minor in a related discipline, such as business, economics, sociology, art history, political science, communication, or foreign languages. These disciplines will give you additional knowledge and help you in your individual career goals. Coursework in related fields will help you better understand how individuals and societies relate across national boundaries and how global forces influence human behavior.