International Studies

Program Description

College of Liberal Arts

The International Studies major offers students the opportunity to study international politics, culture, and society. The major combines intensive study of a foreign language with an interdisciplinary curriculum of study chosen by a student in consultation with a faculty advisor.

The Bachelor of Arts degree program in International Studies consists of three parts: three years of study of one foreign language; the major core courses, which include introductory work in art history, economics, geography, political science, women's studies, and religion; and work in a specialized track.

The specialized tracks in the International Studies major provide six options: international diplomacy; area studies; comparative cultures; international economics; global gender studies and research intelligence analysis. The international diplomacy and peace studies track includes courses in political science, communication, and history. The area studies track allows students to focus on a global region (e.g., Africa or Latin America) and includes classes in anthropology, history, humanities, and political science. The comparative cultures track includes courses from anthropology, classics, English, history, humanities, philosophy, political science, and religion. The international economics track focuses on global economic concerns, with supporting course work in history, political science, and sociology.  The global gender studies incorporates a gender analysis approach to diplomacy, area studies, comparative cultures, and international economics.  The research/intelligence track combines course work in research methods, ethics, and a variety of disciplines to assist those interested in international affairs to work in data analysis.

Study abroad opportunities in Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and elsewhere are available through the University Studies Abroad Consortium, of which Wright State is a member.  Wright State professors also lead a variety of shorter cultural exchange programs in the summer and in December. Study abroad and cultural exchange can be arranged through the International Student Exchange Program.

Although this is not a requirement for an international studies degree, students will find that studying abroad in a foreign language will greatly enrich their educational experience, as will exposure to a foreign culture and peoples. In order to have adequate language preparation, students interested in studying abroad should design their course of study well in advance of their trip.

To find out more about studying abroad, visit:  www.wright.edu/ucie/stud_abr.html

Students interested in careers in government, international business, teaching, or journalism should contact the director of the international studies major. The major program also provides sound preparation for students interested in graduate work in law, the humanities, or the social sciences.

International Studies home page     
 Modern Languages | CoLA Departments and Programs | Wright State University

Email the Web Manager
World Map courtesy of Library of Congress

01-12-04