International Studies Program
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International Studies
International Studies prepares graduates to cross into other cultures and navigate global networks to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century’s fast-changing, globalized world.
International Studies at Ship
The International Studies Program offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Studies, minors in International Studies and International Development, and 4 different Areas Studies Certificates that promote knowledge of the countries and cultures of the world as well as the forces of globalization knitting them together. The program co-sponsors one of only five Peace Corps Prep programs in Pennsylvania. Shippensburg University produces graduates who can interact with people of different cultures and navigate global networks connecting the world’s economies, governments, and societies. Shippensburg has been the top producer in PASSHE of student and scholar Fulbrights since the IS major was established in 2013.
BA in International Studies
BA in International Studies (39 credits) 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 many departments.
Study abroad or an internship and foreign language learning are required to prepare graduates to understand foreign cultures, function effectively in other countries, and find international jobs.
Sarah Kistner, IS Major, Apurimac Canyon, Peru. ---
Minors and Certificates
International Studies Minor (21 credits), International Development Minor (21 Credits) and Areas Studies Certificates (12 credits each) allow students pursuing other majors, including those in business, communications, education, and science, to deepen their international knowledge. Students choose from an interdisciplinary array of courses.
Peace Corps Prep
The Shippensburg University Peace Corps Prep program prepares students for international development careers and Peace Corps service. Peace Corps Prep is open to all undergraduate students on campus. Participation in Peace Corps Prep does not guarantee Peace Corps service, but applicants with Prep certification are twice as likely to be hired.
More information regarding the International Studies Department of Shippensburg University, along with the students and professors, can be found in the department's newsletter that is published in the Spring Semester of every year!
Careers in International Studies
International studies prepare graduates for a variety of careers in the United States and abroad. 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 US 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 competency needed to interact with foreign governments and peoples. The Peace Corps Prep program prepares students for careers in International Development. 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.
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