International Studies
International Studies prepares graduates to cross into other cultures and navigate global networks of an ever-changing and interdependent world.
What is the International Studies Program?
The International Studies Program prepares students for the challenges of the twenty-first century’s fast-changing, globalized world. The program offers an International Studies Major, International Studies Minor, and four different Areas Studies Letters of Completion that promote knowledge of the countries and cultures of the world as well as the forces of globalization knitting them together. Students choose from an interdisciplinary array of courses to tailor their studies to personal academic interests and career aspirations. The International Studies Program also sponsors educational and cultural events to promote international understanding in the campus community. The program produces graduates who can interact with people of different cultures and navigate global networks connecting the world’s economies, governments, and societies.
What is the International Studies Major?
The International Studies Major (39 credit hours) promotes understanding of global issues and the various countries and cultures of the world. Students who major in International Studies gain awareness of intercultural differences and important trends in international affairs. Majors also learn how global linkages in the world’s economy, politics, media, culture, and natural environment can bring benefits, but also increase international tensions. The major is interdisciplinary. Over 120 courses that fulfill program requirements are offered in the departments of Economics, English, Geography, History/Philosophy, Management/Marketing, Modern Languages, Political Science, Sociology/Anthropology and others. Study abroad and foreign language learning are required to prepare graduates to understand foreign cultures, function effectively in other countries, and find international jobs.
What are the International Studies Minor and Area Studies Letters of Completion?
The International Studies Minor (21 credit hours) and Areas Studies Letters of Completion (12 credit hours each) allow students pursuing other majors to deepen their international knowledge. The International Studies minor can be paired with many different majors including those in business, education and science. Minors choose from an interdisciplinary array of courses. Letters of completion are offered in the fields of African & Middle Eastern Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, and Latin American & Caribbean Studies. A letter of completion allows a student to demonstrate specialized knowledge of a world region. Like the major and minor, the letters of completion include an interdisciplinary array of courses offered by many departments.
What kinds of career choices can I expect?
International Studies helps prepares graduates for a variety of careers in the U.S. and abroad. International Studies graduates typically find employment in business, the federal government, international agencies, and social service, educational and media organizations. Businesses need employees who can operate in a multinational environment because exports, imports and tourism contribute substantially to the U.S. and Pennsylvania economies. Federal agencies, such as the FBI and State Department, and non-profit organizations, such as the Red Cross and UNICEF, require employees with the intercultural and linguistic skills needed to interact with foreign governments and peoples. Since the world’s economic, political, and cultural spheres are increasingly interconnected, the demand for graduates with international and intercultural training is expected to grow in the future.
What is the curriculum of the major?
Students must complete 6 credit hours by taking the following two required courses:
INT200 Introduction to International Studies
INT300 International Studies Seminar
Majors must elect concentrations in 1) Global Perspectives and 2) Area Studies as well as an associated foreign language. Majors also are required to study abroad or engage in an off-campus internship that develops intercultural competency and/or international understanding.
Global Perspectives courses (12 crs.) explore globalization’s impact on the world. Students must elect one Global Perspectives concentration: a) Comparative & Global Cultures, b) Global Political Relations OR c) Global Business & Economics.
Area Studies (12 crs.) and Foreign Language (9 crs.) requirements promote intercultural and linguistic competency. Students must elect one Area Studies concentration and related foreign language in a) African & Middle Eastern Studies, b) Asian Studies, c) European Studies OR d) Latin American & Caribbean Studies.
What is the curriculum of the minor?
Students must complete 6 credit hours by taking the following two required courses:
INT200 Introduction to International Studies
INT300 International Studies Seminar
Students must complete 6 credit hours by taking two of the following four core courses:
GEO101 World Geography (General Education Category D)
PLS141 Introduction to International Politics (General Education Category D)
ANT220 Anthropology for International Studies
MGT370 International Business
Students select 9 credit hours of electives from a list of approved International Studies courses.
What is the curriculum of the Area Studies Letters of Completion?
Students must complete the following required introductory course:
INT200 Introduction to International Studies
Students select 9 credit hours of electives from a list of approved courses in African & Middle Eastern Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, or Latin American Studies.
Why do majors study abroad or pursue internships?
International Studies majors are required to study abroad or engage in an off-campus internship to assure that they develop the intercultural personal skills and foreign language expertise needed to succeed in an international environment. Courses taken while studying abroad should be chosen to satisfy academic requirements. In the past, our students have studied in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. More than 5,000 study abroad programs are available in most countries around the globe. The world is open to students who want to broaden their horizons.
International Studies majors also have the option of completing an internship in the U.S. or overseas. The university’s proximity to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City provides many opportunities for internships with the U.S. government, multinational businesses, and international agencies. Students earn 3 to 6 credits of college credit while gaining real-world experience. Although students pursuing the minor and letters of completion are not required to study abroad or pursue internships, they are encouraged to do so because employers value college graduates with international learning experiences.
Why do majors study a foreign language?
Foreign Language learning is a key to interacting successfully in multilingual and multicultural settings. Language students gain concrete linguistic skills and deeper insight into the ways of thinking of other cultures. As a result, they have a greater capacity to interact effectively in diverse cultural settings. Foreign language speakers are more successful in intercultural negotiations and forming cross-cultural personal and professional relationships. Consequently, all International Studies students are encouraged to exceed the program’s foreign language requirement by pursuing a foreign language letter of completion (12 credit hours), minor (18 credit hours) or second major (36 credit hours).
What educational and cultural events does the International Studies Program sponsor?
Each fall semester the International Studies Program co-sponsors International Education Week with speakers, films, and activities promoting international understanding and providing information on study abroad opportunities. Every spring semester the program sponsors a series of campus-wide events, featuring speakers and an annual film festival, related to a particular global theme. Past themes include globalization, global environment, and human rights. Each year’s theme also serves as the topic of the International Studies Seminar (INT 300). As part of their regular course work, seminar students attend and discuss the talks and films. Previous fall and spring-semester speakers have come from other universities, the U.S. and foreign governments, international organizations, and the news media.
Where can I get more information?
For more information on International Studies at Shippensburg University, call or write:
Director of International Studies
Global Education Center
Ceddia Union Building 221B
Shippensburg University
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299
717-477-1907
E-mail: ism@ship.edu
Website: http://www.ship.edu/ism/