International Studies (BA)

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

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. 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.

College of Arts and Sciences