What can you do with a degree in International Studies?

A bachelor's degree in international studies can lead to employment in business, government, journalism, and organizations advocating public policies, however it is unlikely that students will ever see this headline in a newspaper’s job listings: “Wanted-international studies major.” International studies majors are usually not being trained for a specific job. What an international studies education does provide is the ability to respond to opportunities, but the student must find the opportunities and show a future employer the work he or she can do.

Examples of Careers:

Foreign Service Officer (State Department)

• Consular Work – Visa, Immigration, Refugees
• Public Diplomacy – Press Relations, Culture Information, International Visitors – One of our majors interned with the Public Diplomacy Agency in the U.S. Embassy in Paris.
• Political – Domestic Politics, Human Rights, Military Issues
• Economic – Trade, Export Promotion, Finance, Energy – One of our majors interned in the Economic Agency of the U.S. Embassy in Vladivostok, Russia.
• Diplomatic Security – Counterterrorism, Security Investigations, Passport and Visa Fraud
• Administrative – Financial Management, Information Management, Community Liaison – One of our majors interned with the Administrative Agency in the U.S. Embassy in Paris and helped with the restoration of the George C. Marshall Museum.

International Development and the Global Environment

• Environmental Assessment Manager
• Environmental Certification Specialist
• Industrial Ecologist
• Work with NGO on environment issues – One of our majors interned with Ducor Waste Management in Liberia to help address the solid waste crisis and water quality issues that resulted from years of Civil War.

Global Economic Systems

• International Banking/Microlending
• International Trade/Marketing
• International Business – One of our alumni works for Smith/Kline Pharmaceutical and is the regional Director for Latin America.
• Work for internationally-focused company that matches your interest – like coffee? One of our majors interned with Thanksgiving Coffee Company and traveled to Rwanda to learn about coffee cooperatives and the Fair Trade Industry.
• Work for a business that performs background checks for investors in foreign companies - One of our alumni is the Director of the Washington D.C. office of Diligence, an intelligence gathering and risk management firm.

International Culture and Social Issues

• International Education – You can work for an academic institution or many organizations facilitate international educational experiences – One of our majors interned for AMIDEAST in Tunisia.
• Work with NGO on humanitarian issues

General

• Language Instructor
• Foreign Correspondent
• Free-lance writer for internationally-focused magazines
• International Lawyer
• Peace Corps
• Legislative Assistant for foreign affairs issues – Our majors intern with our Congressional delegation in Washington D.C.

To prepare for employment:

• Prepare a resume, job applications, and personal statement of interest

• Seek out internships while you are still in college with an organization that interests you.