The Undergraduate Program in International Studies at UW
The International Studies undergraduate program is part of the larger School of Politics,
Public Affairs, and International Studies (SPPAIS – pronounced ‘spice’). In International
Studies, and the School more generally, we seeks to prepare students to make meaningful
contributions as social entrepreneurs, problem solvers, and citizens at multiple geographic
scales. The faculty and staff of the School are dedicated to accomplishing this mission
through quality, student-centered instruction, in a diverse and inclusive context,
and through innovative research on policy-relevant issues in governance, public policy,
and global studies. The School emphasizes the administration of public and nonprofit
agencies, the theory/praxis nexus, the governance and development of communities,
and challenges related to political economy, development, security, human security,
intelligence, environment-society relations, geopolitics, and cultural understanding.
Our students’ education is enriched by scholarships for study abroad and international
field research, public and private sector internships, and collaboration with faculty
doing cutting-edge research on timely issues (for example, pictured here is Dr. Zoe
Pearson with a former International Studies undergrad in the Ecuadorian Amazon for
their collaborative research).
In doing so, SPPAIS stresses the importance of democratic responsibilities and personal
integrity in the management of human affairs, as well as the critical thinking skills
and professional qualifications required for participating in constructive change.
Students and faculty alike are expected to: 1) use critical thinking and problem-solving
skills in addressing “local to global” societal issues from an interdisciplinary perspective;
2) demonstrate the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct; 3) implement
a set of applied and digital skills to enhance public value and 4) develop partnerships
with those who share our mission within the University of Wyoming, around the state,
the country, and the world, with the goal of being more inclusive and more diverse.
With an emphasis on experiential learning and the land grant tradition, the School
emboldens students’ curiosity in a collaborative framework, fostering initiative,
self-reliance, and leadership.
The International Studies program empowers students to understand and work in relation
to world regions and the global economic, political, and social processes that cut
across them. The perspective and skills that students develop in the program is in
high demand in public, private, and nonprofit sectors. International Studies majors
develop expertise in one of our two career-oriented interdisciplinary fields of specialization:
Development Studies and Security Studies. They also receive robust training in regional
studies, and learn about interconnections and interdependence of world regions, including
Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Our students’ education
is enriched by scholarships for study abroad and international field research, public
and private sector internships, and collaboration with faculty doing cutting-edge
research on timely issues.
If you have questions about the International Studies undergraduate program, please
feel free to contact the Program Director, Dr. Nicholas Crane:
ncrane@uwyo.edu
