The Undergraduate Program

International and Area Studies (IAS) offers an interdisciplinary major that allows you to develop a broad understanding of the world, while exploring the diversity and richness of other cultures.

One of the hallmarks of our contemporary era is the complex relationship between globalization and local differences. New information technologies and worldwide markets connect us to people, ideas and products throughout the globe. Yet even in this context of globalization, we continue to have strong attachments to local languages, cultures, and societies. In some ways, the borders marking differences among people -- whether of government, economy, religion, or ethnicity – are becoming more pronounced.

How can we understand these tensions between the global and the local? Two required IAS courses explore this question. Taught by social scientists and humanists, these courses will introduce you to the study of borders. These borders, both physical and imagined, lie at the intersection of different cultures and social systems and are sites of extraordinary cultural vitality and creativity in today’s world. With these courses as a foundation, the IAS major offers you several tracks for in-depth exploration of key international issues and world areas.

Careers Building on International and Area Studies

Given the growing global economy and society, there are ever-expanding career possibilities for students with a strong background in International, East Asian, Latin American or European Studies. Majoring in IAS can prepare you for many careers in the public and private sector, including business, education, academia, diplomacy, and law.

A number of our graduates have gone on to expand their international experiences in the year or two following graduation by participating in the Fulbright Student program (www.iie.org/fulbright), teaching English abroad, or participating in the work of agencies such as the Peace Corps. Some of these students have then gone on to apply to professional master’s programs in International Studies, Affairs or Management for which IAS is an excellent preparation. Others have gravitated toward the non-profit sector or government service in this country, and have developed these opportunities through summer internships in Washington, D.C. and New York. Many go into the private sector, finding that their familiarity with foreign cultures and languages is an added advantage. Other majors choose graduate programs in business, law, medicine, or particular disciplinary fields. This is a very exciting and evolving general field of study that can open up many different academic and career options.