In today’s globally connected community, people are now more than ever joined together in a world of possibilities and challenges. In every facet of our individual and collective lives we shape this world just as we are deeply influenced by what transpires in its furthest corners. International Studies (IS) is an interdisciplinary program at NC State University that prepares graduates to embrace a world where global linkages exist alongside boundaries and separations. To do this, students choose from one of the major’s concentrations, including Africa, Europe, Latin America, East and Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East, International Economy and Environment, International Relations, and International Cultural Studies. Within each concentration, students choose from a list of classes that span an array of academic departments. All International Studies majors participate in three of the major’s core courses, learn to speak a foreign language, and carry out a study abroad. In this way, International Studies students learn to navigate cultural diversity, the economic dynamics of global trade, and the ever-shifting geo-political lines that shape our globalizes world.
To obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies students are required to complete at least 33 semester hours of coursework. These include three core courses (IS-International Studies), a 300-level foreign language class, five courses in a student’s concentration, and six credit hours of advised electives. In addition, students must earn at least six credit hours in an approved Study Abroad Program. Students who choose to double-major may count toward their International Studies degree three internationally-themed courses from their other major. Students may also count one course from their minor toward a major in International Studies.
Students who choose to double-major may count toward their International Studies degree three internationally-themed courses from their other major. Students may also count one course from their minor toward a major in International Studies.
Students are strongly encouraged to accompany their International Studies major with activities that build their work experience and establish a network of contacts for their future career. International Studies faculty and advisors will work with students to identify which activities might best suit them, how students might build on these activities to craft a trajectory of success, and how students might reinforce their experiences in the classroom. (See information about the Career Center under Experiences & Resources to Consider).
The International Studies advisors maintain a list of research and enrichment experiences that build student resumes. We also support student participation in ENG 350 Professional Internships, NPS 490 Internship in Non-Profit Studies, and other class-based internship programs. All these opportunities require some planning, so we encourage students to begin considering their options as early as possible in their college career.