Study world cultures, languages, history, politics, religions, and more, on campus or while studying abroad!
A major or minor in International Studies provides students with a basic understanding of modern world history, international relations, world cultures, and world religions. While on campus, students can join a language club (French, German, Spanish), other student organizations, or take part in department-sponsored events.
The Bachelor’s in International Studies major includes courses from numerous departments. The core courses ensure that students are exposed to major international issues, while the courses in the concentrations allow students to specialize in international artistic expressions, cultures, or study the world more broadly. International Studies courses fulfill a number of General Education requirements. Students also gain intermediate to advanced language study and participate in a study abroad.
Learn a new language!
International Studies majors must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English at the 202 level or higher. At the intermediate and advanced levels, our department offers language courses in Spanish, French, German, and American Sign Language.
If a student studies a language abroad that is not offered at NMU and only achieves proficiency in that language through the 102 level, the student may demonstrate proficiency in a second language other than English through the 102 level.
Explore international issues in the classroom
As students advance, they deepen their understanding of particular parts of the world and specialized issues of international importance. Study abroad and language requirements ensure that NMU students experience internationalism rather than just learn about it in classrooms.
IP 490 International Studies Seminar, the capstone course for the International Studies program, offers students the opportunity to make comparisons and contrasts that integrate their study-abroad experience into their academic program.
Study abroad!
All International Studies students will study abroad during their time at Northern. International Studies majors are encouraged to complete a pre-approved service learning, internship, or work experience abroad. Courses taken abroad can count toward the major, with departmental approval.
Our department offers Faculty-Led Study Abroad opportunities, and NMU's International Programs office provides a wide range of study abroad programs across the globe.
Additional Considerations
Many International Studies majors also double major. Some popular major pairings include Spanish, French, or German (especially for students who plan to study abroad in a Spanish-, French-, or German-speaking country); Biology and Environmental Studies (especially for those who wish to complete field work outside of the U.S.); and Political Science (especially for students who wish to learn more about diplomacy and government systems), just to name a few.
International Studies majors are students who want to live an international life. Students in the International Studies program are familiar with world geography, keep up with global events, and take advantage of internationally-related opportunities on campus and beyond.
I will miss taking classes that gave me new perspectives on the world. I have taken a lot of courses that I never thought I would take (for example, The Holocaust or various linguistics courses), and they have helped me change the way I think about the world or various global events.
Tyler Archambault
2021-22 International Studies Outstanding Graduate
Program Requirements
International Studies Major
Core
- IP190 Introduction to International Studies (4 cr.)
- IP490 International Studies Seminar (4 cr.)
- PL270 World Religions (4 cr.)
- GC164 Human Geography (4 cr.)
Concentration (19-20 cr.)
- Option One: Global Studies
- Option Two: Global Artistic Expressions
- Option Three: Global Cultures
Additional Requirements
- Study Abroad
- Intermediate Language Proficiency
- Department Head Approval
Coursework
The international studies curriculum is designed to give students a broad view of the world while understanding how to navigate constant change. The ability to relate to people from a wide variety of backgrounds is a must in this field. The International Studies program emphasizes aptitude in cultural diversity, communication, critical thinking, reading and writing, thus providing students with marketable and durable skills regardless of their career path.
We offer an International Studies major and minor.
Skills and Competencies
The multinational tech firm Google surveyed its workforce, and many of the top characteristics of Google employees are skills acquired in the International Studies courses. The top 7 abilities included:
- Being a good coach
- Communicating and listening well
- Possessing insights into others (including others’ different values and points of view)
- Having empathy and being supportive
- Being a good critical thinker
- Being a problem solver
- Being able to make connections across complex ideas
Potential Careers
- Lawyer and Immigration Specialist
- International Business
- Customer Support
- Journalism and Writing
- Flight Attendant and Pilot
- Government
- Public and Private International Education
- Criminal Justice
- Military
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- International Finance
- Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Educational Content Creation
- Jobs that don’t even exist yet! An International Studies major shows that you are flexible, curious, culturally aware, and open to new ideas.
International Studies Major Outcomes
By the time they graduate, students who major in International Studies will be able to…
- Demonstrate global awareness by identifying characteristics of the world’s major regions, including the location of major countries, geographical features, religions, economic factors, conflicts, and languages.
- Analyze major regions of the world (the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa), taking into account their history, geography, economy, politics, current conflicts, cultures, communication, and languages.
- Demonstrate research skills that utilize both quantitative and qualitative techniques, as well as the ability to report findings in written and oral formats. The research must be interdisciplinary.
- Demonstrate the ability to thrive abroad, recognizing and negotiating issues related to communication, language, culture, and institutions. Said ability includes formal reflection on the experience of dealing with the issues enumerated.
- Evaluate and explore professional avenues in various dimensions of International Studies. Evaluations/explorations must include analysis of…
- What organizations employ people in the chosen avenues,
- What people in the avenues actually do,
- The impact people in those avenues can have,
- Advantages and disadvantages of pursuing those avenues, and
- Employment requirements.