Studies & Degrees in International Studies
International Studies Study Programs
International studies is an interdisciplinary field that looks at how countries, societies, economies and cultures are connected. It overlaps with international relations, but it is broader: politics is one strand next to economics, history, languages, anthropology and area studies. Universities also call it global studies. The University of Chicago, for example, describes its Global Studies major as concerned with the interconnected and interdependent nature of the contemporary world.
Students usually take a common core on globalisation, world politics and the global economy, and then choose a theme or a world region. The Pennsylvania State University organises its degree around five pathways: human rights, culture and identity, global conflict, wealth and inequality, and health and environment. The University of Washington lets students in its Jackson School concentrate in one of ten regional options or one of two thematic programmes, or follow a general course. Two elements appear in most programmes: a foreign language and time abroad.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree. In the United States, international studies is a major within a four-year Bachelor of Arts. Penn State and the University of Miami both require a minimum of 120 credits for the degree. In Spain, an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits.
- Language requirement. Penn State requires six credits of world-language study beyond the 12-credit proficiency level, or in a second language. The University of Chicago asks for competence equivalent to six quarters of language instruction.
- Study abroad. At Arcadia University, all Global Studies students complete at least one semester abroad or an approved immersive experience. The University of Miami strongly encourages a summer, a semester or a year abroad.
- Master's degree and doctorate. Graduate study is common. The Jackson School at the University of Washington lists master's programmes in international studies and a PhD programme. In Spain, official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
- Short and non-formal courses. International People's College in Elsinore, Denmark, a folk high school, offers global studies courses of four to six months and short courses of one to three weeks. It is a non-formal residential school, so ask the school what recognition its courses have.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 100 active schools for international studies. The United States has 76 of them. Spain and Australia have five each, Denmark and Austria two each, and Canada, the Netherlands, South Korea, Argentina, Russia, Ecuador and Zimbabwe are among the countries with one.
In the United States the list includes The Ohio State University, the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, Duke University, Yale University, the University of Pittsburgh, San Diego State University and Illinois State University, as well as two-year colleges such as Laramie County Community College. In Australia it includes the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC).
Most of these programmes are taught in English. International People's College states that everything at the school happens in English. In Spain, check for each degree whether it is taught in Spanish, in English or in both.
Careers
The degree does not lead to one profession. Penn State names government, education, diplomatic service, intelligence analysis, international business and finance, NGOs and non-profit organisations as fields its graduates enter. The University of Miami notes that graduates also continue at graduate level in law, business and international studies.
Research and analyst posts often ask for more than a first degree. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, political scientists typically need a master's degree, and their employment in the United States is projected to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035. Languages, quantitative skills and work experience abroad therefore matter when choosing a programme.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between international studies and international relations?
International relations concentrates on politics between states and international organisations. International studies is broader and interdisciplinary: it adds economics, history, culture, languages and regional studies.
Do I have to learn a foreign language?
In most programmes, yes. Penn State requires six credits of language study beyond the 12-credit proficiency level, and the University of Chicago asks for the equivalent of six quarters of language instruction.
Is study abroad compulsory?
It depends on the university. Arcadia University requires at least one semester abroad or an approved immersive experience; the University of Miami strongly encourages it.
How long does a degree in international studies take?
A US bachelor's degree requires a minimum of 120 credits at Penn State and the University of Miami, normally four years of study. An official Spanish grado has 240 ECTS credits, and a master's degree 60, 90 or 120.