Program Overview

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International Studies, B.A.

Overview

Saint Louis University's undergraduate degree in international studies is offered through the College of Arts and Science's political science department. The program provides SLU students the opportunity to focus both on world regions and a specific topic or theme, including arts and culture, environment and health, economics and development or war and peace.

Program Highlights

• A wide variety of courses will fulfill program requirements, from economics, political science and sociology to art history, philosophy and theology.
• As part of a degree program, students will demonstrate proficiency in a modern language and complete a capstone experience.
• Students also have the opportunity to study abroad and participate in international internships.

Curriculum Overview

The international studies major requires 36 credits, and the curriculum includes the following requirements:

• Students must demonstrate proficiency in a second language and complete required courses in international politics, international economics and cultural anthropology.
• Beyond required courses, students will study world regions (Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America or the Middle East) for nine credits of coursework as well as a thematic focus (arts and culture, environment and health, economics and development or war and peace) for nine credits of coursework.
• Students will also complete an internship, field research experience or elective course.
• Finally, all students must complete a 3-credit capstone seminar.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Although not required, students are encouraged to study abroad. The international studies program includes a field research course that enables students to design and conduct research projects relevant to their program of study.

Students can study abroad at Saint Louis University-Madrid or any of the nearly 40 SLU-affiliated programs on six continents. Students can also gain practical experience in their field through an international internship that complements their major.

Careers

An undergraduate degree in international studies prepares students for a global career and can make students more attractive to future employers. Some examples of fields where a degree in international studies can be beneficial include:

• Foreign service and diplomacy
• Private business and consulting in finance, technology, energy, etc.
• NGOs and nonprofits
• International organizations and law
• Public health
• Migration
• Education, academia and research
• Environment and climate change
• National defense and intelligence

Admission Requirements

• All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted.
• Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.
• To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test.

Transfer Requirements

• Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED or HiSET.
• Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements.
• Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).

International Applicants

• All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
  • Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
  • All academic records must include an English translation. An official course-by-course transcript evaluation may be required and accepted.

Tuition

• Undergraduate Tuition: $56,960
• Additional charges may apply.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

• There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
  • Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
  • Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

Course List

Major Requirements

• Foreign Language: 3 credits
• International Politics: 3 credits
• International Economics: 3 credits
• Cultural Anthropology: 3 credits
• World Regions: 9 credits
• Thematic Focus: 9 credits
• Internship, field research, elective course: 3 credits
• Capstone Seminar: 3 credits

World Regions

• ARTH 2100: Art of Jerusalem and Three Faiths: Past and Present
• ARTH 2120: Art in Africa
• ARTH 2140: Islamic Art and Society
• ARTH 2320: Art of the African Diaspora
• ARTH 2350: Excavating Culture of Three Faiths
• ENGL 3170: European Drama
• ENGL 3250: British Literary Traditions to 1800
• ENGL 3260: British Literary Traditions after 1800
• ENGL 3300: Eastern European Literature
• ENGL 3390: Literature and Film of World War II
• ENGL 3500: Literature of the Postcolonial World
• ENGL 3540: Literature of the African Diaspora
• ENGL 4670: Contemporary Postcolonial Literature and Culture
• FREN 4180: French and International Relations: Global Simulation
• FREN 4290: Conflict and Social Change: Women Writers in French
• FREN 4670: Postcolonialism and Violence, Issues of Representation in Francophone Culture, Literature and Film
• FREN 4870: Exoticism in French Literature
• GR 3250: German Culture Studies II
• HIST 1710: China and Japan Since 1600: Samurai, Revolutionaries, Entrepreneurs
• HIST 2730: Crossroads of the World: The Middle East and North Africa Through History
• HIST 3120: French Revolution and Napoleon
• HIST 3140: Twentieth Century Europe: Era of World Wars
• HIST 3170: Colonial Latin America
• HIST 3280: Russia to 1905
• HIST 3290: Russia Since 1905
• HIST 3740: The British Empire
• IB 3020: Latin American Business
• IB 3040: Asian Business
• IB 3150: Middle Eastern Business
• ITAL 3650: Italy Beyond Borders: Social Justice in Modern Italian Culture
• ITAL 3700: Global Italy: Migration and Multiculturalism
• LAS 3000: Introduction to Latin American Studies
• POLS 2510: European Politics
• POLS 2520: Introduction to African Politics
• POLS 2530: Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics
• POLS 2560: The Politics of Asia
• POLS 2570: Introduction to Latin American Politics
• POLS 2590: Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
• POLS 3500: East Asian Political Economy
• POLS 3567: Political Development in Contemporary Spain
• POLS 3650: International Relations of Africa
• POLS 3760: The Politics of Pope Francis
• POLS 3810: Latin American-U.S. Relations
• POLS 4500: Russian Political Culture
• POLS 4630: The European Union: Politics and Political Economy
• RUSS 3250: Russia From Peter to Putin: Imperial, Soviet, and Post-Soviet Culture
• RUSS 4510: The Russian Orthodox
• SOC 1180: World Geography
• SPAN 4240: Latin American Short Story
• SPAN 4280:
• SPAN 4320: The African Experience in Spanish America
• SPAN 4380:
• SPAN 4400: Strangers in a Familiar Land: Displacements in Latin America
• SPAN 4590: Spanish Jewry in Spain and in the Diaspora
• SPAN 4790: Spanish Culture & Civilization
• THEO 2715: Jerusalem: Three Faiths, One City
• THEO 2755: Islam: Religion, Culture, and Society
• THEO 3335: Christians In Middle East
• THEO 3415: Christ and Color: Liberation Theology
• THEO 3710: Arts of Hinduism and Buddhism
• THEO 3720: Intuition, Spontaneity, and Flow: Daoism in Comparative Context

Thematic Focus

• Arts and Culture in an Age of Globalization (attribute International Studies-Arts)
  • ARTH 1090: Global Masterpieces in Art
  • ARTH 2120: Art in Africa
  • ARTH 2320: Art of the African Diaspora
  • ARTH 2100: Art of Jerusalem and Three Faiths: Past and Present
  • ARTH 2140: Islamic Art and Society
  • ARTH 2350: Excavating Culture of Three Faiths
  • ARTH 3720: Modern Art in Spain and France
  • ASTD 2300: Americans Abroad
  • ASTD 3040: Religion and U.S. Global Activism
  • ENGL 3310: World Literary Traditions I
  • ENGL 3330: World Literary Traditions III
  • ENGL 3500: Literature of the Postcolonial World
  • ENGL 3540: Literature of the African Diaspora
  • ENGL 4680: Major Post-Colonial Writers
  • ENGL 4690: Topics in 20th/21st Century British, Irish, & Postcolonial Literature & Culture
  • FREN 4220: French and Francophone Media : Qu’est-ce qui se passe ?
  • FREN 4290: Conflict and Social Change: Women Writers in French
  • FREN 4670: Postcolonialism and Violence, Issues of Representation in Francophone Culture, Literature and Film
  • FREN 4870: Exoticism in French Literature
  • MUSC 1170: Music of Cultures of the World
  • RUSS 3440: Art, Media, & Power in Post-Soviet Russia
  • SPAN 4060: History of the Spanish Language
  • SPAN 4350: Latin American Testimony
  • SPAN 4360: Women's Literature in Latin America
  • THEO 2710: Religions of the World
  • WGST 4860:
• Global Health and the Environment (attribute International Studies-Health)
  • ANTH 3460: Global Mental Health
  • BIOL 1200: Ecological Issues and Society
  • BIOL 1340: Diversity of Life
  • BIOL 3280: Ethnobotany
  • EAS 1080: Introduction to Environmental Science
  • EAS 1090: Climate Change
  • EAS 1310: Water-Our Precious Resource
  • EAS 1600: Sustainable Energy
  • EAS 2530: Climate and Climate Change
  • HIST 1740: Peoples and Pandemics in History
  • HIST 3660: History of Nature in America
  • PHIL 3420: Environmental and Ecological Ethics
  • POLS 4840: Global Health Politics and Policy
  • PUBH 2100: Introduction to Global Health
  • PUBH 2300: Contemporary Issues in Global Health
  • SOC 2360: Health Inequalities in the U.S.
  • SPAN 4150: Spanish for the Health Professions
• Global Economy and Economic Development (attribute International Studies-Economy)
  • ANTH 2080: Urban Poverty: A Global Perspective
  • ECON 4300: International Trade
  • ECON 4310: Exchange Rates and Global Economics
  • ECON 4560: Economic Development
  • FREN 4180: French and International Relations: Global Simulation
  • FREN 4290: Conflict and Social Change: Women Writers in French
  • IB 2000: Introduction to International Business
  • IB 3100: Geopolitics of World Business
  • IB 3160: Cultural Differences in International Business
  • IB 3140: International e-Business
  • IB 4120: International Business Strategies
  • IB 4900: Global Immersion in International Business
  • IB 4910: International Business Internship
  • LAS 3000: Introduction to Latin American Studies
  • POLS 1510: Politics of the Developing World
  • POLS 2560: The Politics of Asia
  • POLS 2570: Introduction to Latin American Politics
  • POLS 2600: Introduction to International Political Economy
  • POLS 2820: American Foreign Policy
  • POLS 3500: East Asian Political Economy
  • POLS 3600: Problems of Globalization
  • POLS 3620: International Organization and the Management of World Problems
  • POLS 4630: The European Union: Politics and Political Economy
  • POLS 4840: Global Health Politics and Policy
  • SOC 3180: Immigration
  • SPAN 4160: Business & Professional Spanish
• War and Peace in the Contemporary World (attribute International Studies-War)
  • ANTH 3260: Peace and Conflict
  • ENGL 3390: Literature and Film of World War II
  • ENGL 3400: War in Literature
  • FREN 4180: French and International Relations: Global Simulation
  • FREN 4670: Postcolonialism and Violence, Issues of Representation in Francophone Culture, Literature and Film
  • HIST 3250: World in Conflict Since 1945
  • LLC 3250: Migrants and Borders on Screen: The Cinema of Migration in Mediterranean Europe
  • MILS 4500: Modern American Military History
  • POLS 2590: Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
  • POLS 2640: International Terrorism
  • POLS 2691: Theory and Practice of Human Rights
  • POLS 2820: American Foreign Policy
  • POLS 3530: Comparative Revolutions
  • POLS 3630: International Security and Conflict Resolution
  • POLS 3640: International Law
  • POLS 3650: International Relations of Africa
  • POLS 3810: Latin American-U.S. Relations
  • POLS 4610: International Relations: Theory and Practice
  • POLS 4630: The European Union: Politics and Political Economy
  • POLS 4650: War, Peace, and Politics
  • POLS 4692: Theories of World Politics
  • SOC 3180: Immigration
  • SPAN 4350: Latin American Testimony

Study Abroad

International studies majors are encouraged to study abroad. The program director will work closely with them to locate courses in study abroad programs that will fulfill international studies requirements.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a 2.00 GPA in the major. Students who fall below the 2.0 GPA in the major will be placed on program probation. Students who remain on program probation for more than two consecutive semesters will be withdrawn from the major.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete a minimum of 120 credits (excluding pre-college level courses numbered below 1000).
• Complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements.
• Complete major requirements: minimum of 30 credits required.
• Complete remaining credits with a second major, minor, certificate or electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
• Achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, a 2.00 grade point average in the major(s), and a 2.00 grade point average in the minor/certificate or related elective credits.
• Complete department- and program-specific academic and performance requirements.
• Complete at least 50% of the coursework for the major and 75% for the minor/certificate through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
• Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through Saint Louis University or an approved study-abroad program.
• Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.

Roadmap

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Plan of Study Grid Year One

• Fall: CORE 1000, CORE 1500, CORE 1900, Foreign Language Course, POLS 1600, General Electives
• Spring: CORE 1200, CORE 1600, ANTH 2200, Foreign Language Course, General Electives

Year Two

• Fall: CORE 2800, CORE 1700, International Economics Course, Foreign Language Course, General Electives
• Spring: CORE 3800, CORE 2500, World Regions Course, Foreign Language Course, International Studies Theme Course, General Electives

Year Three

• Fall: CORE 3400, World Regions Course, Foreign Language Course, General Electives
• Spring: CORE 4000, World Regions Course, Foreign Language Course, International Studies Theme Course, General Electives

Year Four

• Fall: CORE 3500, ISTD 4800, International Studies Theme Course, General Electives
• Spring: Internship, field research, or course with an ISTD attribute, General Electives

Total Credits: 120-123

Students can complete all or part of the international studies degree at SLU-Madrid.

Learn More

2+SLU programs provide a guided pathway for students transferring from a partner institution.

International Studies, B.A. (STLCC 2+SLU)

For additional information about this program, please contact pols- or call .

SLU-Madrid Next Steps

Ready to take the next step? Learn more about how to apply, transfer or study abroad at Saint Louis University’s Madrid campus.

Apply Now Transfer Students Study Abroad Students

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