International Studies

Overview

The International Studies program at SIUE is designed to help students reflect on and engage in the complex social, political, economic and cultural interrelations that exist among nations and regions of our increasingly globalized world. The program offers a broad range of classes to allow students to explore, in regard to various peoples and across populations, aspects related to:

Geography
History
Religion
Government
Trade
Communication
Languages and literatures
Music and arts
Social justice
Environmental challenges.

Students learn critical and analytical problem-solving skills that they can apply to contemporary global issues.

The international studies major is an interdisciplinary 120-hour course of study including, in addition to general education and foreign language requirements, core courses, international travel study, and electives. Students declaring a major in international studies must select one of the three concentration areas and a minor.

Core Courses

INTS 200 Essentials of International Studies
GEOG 201 World Regions
POLS 370 Introduction to International Relations
INTS 499 International Studies Senior Assignment

International Travel Study

This major requires six credit hours of international travel study, either for the duration of a semester or during a summer session, and thus immersion in a foreign culture and first-hand exposure to international issues.

Elective Courses

Elective courses may be selected from an array of academic areas, including:

Anthropology
Applied communications studies
Art and design
Biological sciences
Criminal justice
Economics
English language and literature
Environmental sciences
Foreign languages and literature
Geography
History
Humanities
Mass communication
Music
Philosophy
Physics
Political science
Public administration and policy analysis
Social work
Sociology
Theater and dance
Interdisciplinary studies (IS)

What can I do with a degree in international studies?

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in international studies are qualified for many positions in diplomacy or with nonprofits, governmental organizations and businesses. Students can apply their knowledge of globalization, language and culture in workplace settings in the areas of foreign service, foreign aid or international intergovernmental organizations.

Government agencies seeking international studies graduates include:

U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of Defense
National Security Agency
Central Intelligence Agency

In recent years, there have been hundreds of thousands of export-related jobs and employment opportunities with foreign firms in Illinois and in the St. Louis metropolitan area, including:

Foreign service specialist
Human rights advocate
Lobbyist and administrative/legislative aid
Peace Corps officer
Teacher of English as a foreign language in international settings
Family and community support service provider for humanitarian agencies
Business consultant in international firms

Global Experience

A variety of coursework relating to global experiences is included in the international studies program. The program benefits from:

An outstanding set of cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary core and elective courses
A focus on combining theoretical learning about social, political, economic and cultural developments in different world regions with hands-on applications while completing a foreign language requirement
Study abroad
The senior assignment experience
Internships and independent projects
Various opportunities to tap into existing and emerging groups and networks on the SIUE campus, as well as regionally, nationally and internationally

Hands-on Learning

Each international studies major is required to take six credit hours of international travel study, either for the duration of a semester or during a summer session to experience immersion in a foreign culture and first hand exposure to international issues.

An internship with an international focus is not required, but highly encouraged as an elective course.

An independent project option is also available as an elective course and allows students to deepen their involvement with international issues.

Additionally, during their senior year, each international studies major is required to complete a capstone project that integrates a thematic focus and a regional focus. For example, a student might combine the theme of human rights and the region of Latin America in a project about the issue of street children in Brazil.