BA in International Studies

The International Studies program is interdisciplinary, with a curriculum that focuses on historical and contemporary dimensions of complex global issues. You will develop skills in research and analysis; cultivate a critical awareness of the relationships of power and inequality, understanding social and cultural complexity, and how to question conventional wisdom. Develop your critical reading, writing, research and problem-solving skills and become able to identify problems and develop solutions to local, regional and international challenges. The BA program is unique for its interdisciplinary approach to international studies and commitment to placing the themes of power and inequality at the heart of academic inquiry. Unlike conventional programs that focus on international security and economy, our program addresses the economic in conjunction with the political and social. Moreover, undergraduates are encouraged to develop second-language proficiency through two years of intensive language study, and we encourage study abroad in a country where the second language is spoken. Students learn to think in more international and interdisciplinary contexts, to value social and cultural complexity, and to question conventional wisdom. As a result, our students often engage in activism and social justice work in Chicago, nationally, and internationally. Learning Outcomes - Students will be able to: Produce written and/or oral work that exhibits mastery of the content areas found in the core courses of the major: nationalism, international relations, social movements, cultural analysis, international political economy, and critical geography. Make arguments, whether in a written or oral context, that are logically valid and based on reliable evidence, critique arguments that are logically invalid or lack adequate evidence, and use these to propose well-considered real- world courses of action. Conduct research or communicate in professional contexts using at least one language other than English. Analyze the mathematical basis of moderately technical arguments in the field of international political economy. Analyze how historical pathways inflect present meanings and both constrain and enable what can be done in the present and the future. Career Options: Public policy, International business, Immigration work, Education, Foreign Service, Humanitarian relief, Journalism, Social services, Law, Human rights, Lobbying.