Bachelor in International Studies
Susquehanna University
Key Information
Campus location
Selinsgrove, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 54,440 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
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* tuition 2022-23
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Get ready for the world stage
The world needs people who understand vital global issues and appreciate cultural differences — people like you.
You’ll get an individualized educational experience tailored to you and your career goals. Focus on a topic that interests you — comparative cultural studies, diplomacy, or trade and development. Then handpick courses from related majors like art, economics, English, history, political science, religious studies, and sociology and anthropology.
The world is your classroom. You’ll study in another culture for at least two weeks through our award-winning Global Opportunities program. Land an internship in the U.S. or abroad. Apply for a Fulbright to continue your studies abroad — we have a proven track record of international studies students landing Fulbright awards.
Gallery
Curriculum
Requirements for Major
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
International Studies
International studies is an interdisciplinary major that combines several fields of study to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to approach complex global challenges and devise responses. While there are several distinct focus areas, the common link in international studies education is the global perspective used to address social, cultural, economic, political, and scientific issues and the interdisciplinary approach to tackling large-scale subjects that cross national boundaries.
Off-Campus Study Opportunities
Students majoring in international studies are required to participate in a semester-length off-campus international experience, and those who minor in the program are strongly encouraged to do so. Whether domestic or abroad, programs appropriate for international studies students include but are not limited to those that expose participants to conflict resolution, international organizations, sustainable development, public health, and diplomatic work. In recent years, international studies students have traveled to countries such as the United Kingdom, Senegal, India, Jordan, France, Australia, Germany, Turkey, Austria, Japan, South Korea, and China.
Internships
Because it is critical to gaining professional opportunities and placement post-graduation, students are strongly encouraged to pursue internships in the wide field of international studies. International studies majors have interned while abroad in Belgium, France, Austria, Senegal, India, Britain, and other locations. Others have interned domestically in the field. The program adviser works with students to identify internship opportunities.
Regional focus
Students in the major are also encouraged to develop a specialization in the study of a particular world region (e.g., Africa, Asia, Latin America, or Europe) as part of their coursework and study abroad experience.
Requirements for the International Studies Major
International studies majors must complete a minimum of 46-48 semester hours of approved coursework in the major, all with grades of C- or better and an overall average of at least 2.00 in courses for the major. No more than 16 semester hours in the major may be taken at the 100 level, and at least 14 semester hours must be taken at or above the 300 level. All majors must take INTD-201 International Studies Theory and Practice.
All international studies majors must complete the 202 level of a relevant modern language. All majors must take a capstone course in a relevant department. Some departments, such as anthropology/sociology, history, and political science, require research methods preparation courses the year before the capstone. The preparation courses may also have prerequisites that should be taken in advance of the methods course. Students should begin planning their capstone path well prior to their senior year.
Students in the major must engage in an off-campus, internationally focused educational experience, preferably consisting of a semester or year abroad. Shorter-term experiences, such as focus programs offered by Susquehanna University or an internship with an international-based organization, also qualify when approved by the adviser.
All majors maintain a cumulative portfolio of their academic work in international studies. Materials in the portfolio include research papers, essays, or other assignments representative of the student’s work; a resume; and other relevant materials evidencing the student’s academic performance and growth. The portfolio is to be updated each semester in accordance with program requirements.
Double-counting restriction
No more than 12 semester hours may be double-counted between the international studies major and any other major or minor. The capstone requirement is fulfilled for majors who have already successfully completed an approved capstone requirement from another degree program.
Honors
To graduate with honors, international studies majors must do the following:
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.50 in the program and 3.25 overall,
- Request admission to the program at the beginning of the senior seminar/capstone course, and
- Complete and publicly present an honors-quality project in the spring of their senior year.
Focus Areas
Students choose one of three focus areas for the international studies major: diplomacy, comparative cultures, and trade and development. Course requirements vary depending on the focus area.
46-56 Diplomacy
- 4 INTD-201 International Studies Theory and Practice
- 4 POLI-131 International Relations
- 4 POLI-121 Comparative Government and Politics
- 4 POLI-205 Research Methods
- 8 Non-U.S. history (two courses)
- 8 Upper-level (non-U.S.-based) political science (2 courses)
- 4 Non-U.S. literature or Religious Studies course
- 4 ECON-201 Principles of Macroeconomics
- or ECON-338 International Political Economy
- or ECON-335 Economic Development
- 4 Relevant electives (one course)
- 4 Senior seminar/capstone
- Completion of the equivalent of 8 semester hours at the 200-level of a world language
46-56 Comparative Cultures
- 4 INTD-201 International Studies Theory and Practice
- 4 Introductory Anthropology
- 4 ENGL-250 World Literature
- or ENGL/JWST-255 Jewish Literature
- or ENGL-240 Literary Themes (when a specific topic has been approved)
- 4 Non-U.S. upper-level anthropology
- 4 Non-U.S. literature or art history (one course)
- 4 RELI-105 World Religions
- 4 Additional religious studies or world philosophy
- 4 Non-U.S. history
- 4 POLI-205 Research Methods
- 8 Relevant electives (two courses)
- 4 Senior seminar/Capstone
- Completion of the equivalent of 8 semester hours at the 200-level of a world language
48-56 Trade and Development
- 4 INTD-201 International Studies Theory and Practice
- 4 POLI-131 International Relations
- 4 ECON-201 Principles of Macroeconomics
- 4 ECON-202 Principles of Microeconomics
- 4 ECON-338 International Political Economy
- or ECON-335 Economic Development
- or POLI-333 Development, Globalization, and Society
- 4 History of any non-U.S. region
- 8 Upper-level internationally-focused courses in economics, management, marketing, or luxury brand marketing and management, ecology, earth, and environmental science, or environmental studies
- 4 One upper-level, non-U.S.-based course in political science, sociology, or anthropology
- 4 POLI-205 Research Methods
- 4 Relevant electives (one course)
- 2-4 Senior seminar/capstone
- Completion of the equivalent of 8 semester hours at the 200-level of a world language
Requirements for Minor
When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
Minor in International Studies
International studies is a superb complement to a number of other majors. Students may choose to minor in international studies by completing 24 semester hours in a focus area. Only courses completed with a grade of C- or above may be counted toward the minor. No more than eight semester hours may be taken at the 100 level. It is strongly recommended that all students minoring in international studies take INTD- 201 International Studies Theory and Practice.
Double-counting restriction for interdisciplinary minors
Only 8 semester hours of this minor may be double-counted toward the student’s major.
24 Diplomacy
- 4 Non-U.S. history
- 4 Non-U.S. literature or religion
- 8 Political science: Two courses, non-U.S.-based, POLI-131 International Relations encouraged
- 4 Economics: ECON-202 Principles of Microeconomics, ECON-338 International Political Economy, or ECON-335 Economic Development encouraged
- 4 Relevant elective
24 Comparative Cultures
- 4 Introductory anthropology
- 4 Non-U.S. upper-level anthropology
- 4 Non-U.S. literature or art history
- 4 Religious studies or philosophy
- 4 Non-U.S. history
- 4 Relevant elective
24 Trade and Development
- 4 ECON-201 Principles of Macroeconomics
- 4 ECON-338 International Political Economy
- or ECON-335 Economic Development
- or POLI-333 Development, Globalization, and Society
- 4 History of any non-U.S. region
- 8 Two upper-level internationally-focused courses in economics, management, marketing, luxury brand marketing and management, ecology, earth, and environmental sciences, or environmental studies
- 4 INTD-201 International Studies Theory and Practice
Courses Options
- INTD 133 British Theatre, Credits: 4
- INTD 134 British History/Culture London, Credits: 4
- INTD 201 International Studies Theory & Practice, Credits: 4
- INTD 250 Japan Seminar, Credits: 2
- INTD 320 The Sciences, Credits: 4
- INTD 340 Inquiry-Based Science, Credits: 4
- INTD 500 Internship, Credits: 0–0
- INTD 501 Senior Seminar, Credits: 4
- INTD 503 Internship, Credits: 1–4
- INTD 505 Independent Study, Credits: 1–4
Program Outcome
Learning goals
- Students will possess factual knowledge and an in-depth understanding of their chosen focus area.
- Students will be able to compare theoretical and methodological frameworks for understanding and critically reading scholarly work.
- Students will develop strong research skills - including the ability to frame research questions for analysis and apply theoretical knowledge to study real-world events.
- Students will understand the global diversity of populations and societies, as well as the political, social, and economic effects of different categories of diversity.
- Based on their international experiences, students will understand the breadth of human interactions and that problems often elicit complex, conflicting, and ambiguous responses.
Career Opportunities
Prepare for any career anywhere
Work for Doctors Without Borders or the Department of State. Join the Peace Corps. Preserve heritage in a French museum. Write about global issues for a major magazine. Or teach abroad. Our goal is to prepare you for whatever career you seek — in whatever country you want.
Our graduates attend prestigious graduate schools and have careers in international education, service, international organizations, government jobs and businesses around the world.
Our graduates have gone on to jobs and graduate school programs at:
- ADP—sales executive
- Avis Budget Group—pricing analyst
- Barcelona SAE—university relations coordinator
- Belmont Abbey College—assistant director of admissions
- BluShark Digital—community development coordinator
- CBI—senior program manager
- Chungdahm Learning—ESL teacher
- Derris—account coordinator
- Kelly Yang Project—teacher
- Leman Manhattan Preparatory School—residential counselor
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools—teacher
- Penn State University—PhD candidate in French and Francophone studies
- PlayPower—international customer service
- Population Council—research assistant
- Princeton University—public policy and international affairs fellow
- REIS—research analyst
- Rockefeller University—development assistant
- Sunteck—logistics coordinator
- University of Edinburgh—master’s in international relations
Fulbright Scholars and the Wide Open World
International studies students make great candidates for post-graduate fellowship opportunities. They’re curious, in tune with current events, and globally minded.
We’ve successfully placed nine students in seven years into the prestigious Fulbright program, the flagship international educational exchange program.
What makes our students so successful? The combination of benefits of a liberal arts and science program with an emphasis on language, international experiences, and focus on global issues. Once you embrace that, the whole world really does open for you.
English Language Requirements
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