¶¶Òõpro

Skip to main content
MenuSearch & Directory

International Studies, B.A.

¶¶Òõpro's undergraduate degree in international studies is offered through theÌýCollege of Arts and Science'²õÌýpolitical science department. The program provides 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.

Additional program highlights include:

  • 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) and complete nine credits of coursework as well as a thematic focus (arts and culture, environment and health, economics and development or war and peace) and complete nine credits of coursework related to that topic. A list of applicable courses will be published before each semester.

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 and complete internships 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 atÌýSLU’s Madrid campusÌýor 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

¶¶Òõpro also accepts the Common Application.

Freshman

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 ¶¶Òõpro 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.Ìý

Transfer

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED.

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 mustÌýsubmit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).

In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of ¶¶Òõpro. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.

International Applicants

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

  • Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
  • Proof of financial support must include:
    • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at ¶¶Òõpro
    • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
  • Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Tuition

Tuition Cost Per Year
Undergraduate Tuition $52,260

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a ¶¶Òõpro education:

  • Scholarships:ÌýScholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
  • Financial Aid:ÌýFinancial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

¶¶Òõpro makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2022, 99% of first-time freshmen and 90% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $445 million in aid University-wide.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by December 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visitÌýwww.slu.edu/financial-aid.

  1. Graduates will be able to analyze cultural, economic, political and social aspects of contemporary international issues.
  2. Graduates will be able to describe howÌýculture and national identity affect a person’s perspectives.
  3. Graduates will be able to apply a variety of methodologies to answer empirical questions about international phenomena.
  4. Graduates will be able to assess analytical arguments.
  5. Graduates will be able to assemble evidence from reliable sources to support their arguments.
  6. Graduates will be able to estimate the global or transnational impact of local actions.
  7. Graduates will be able to apply their knowledge of international phenomena to engage effectively as global citizens.

International studies students must complete a minimum of 36 creditsÌýfor the major.

University Undergraduate Core32-35
Major Requirements
Foreign Language 13
Select one of the following:
°ä±á±õ±·Ìý3010
Proficiency in Chinese I: Language and Culture
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý3030
21st-Century France
´Ç°ùÌý¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý3040
Society, Nation & the Arts in Pre-Revolutionary France
±õ°Õ´¡³¢Ìý3010
Written Communication in Italian I
´Ç°ùÌý±õ°Õ´¡³¢Ìý3020
Oral Communication in Italian I
³Ò¸éÌý3010
Communicating in Written German: The German Media
´Ç°ùÌý³Ò¸éÌý3020
Communicating in Spoken German: Contemporary Issues
¸é±«³§³§Ìý3020
Communicating in Russian: History and Politics
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý3020
Eloquent Communication in Spanish
International Politics3
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý1600
Introduction to International Politics
International Economics3
Select one course with the International Studies - Economics attribute, such as:
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý1510
Politics of the Developing World
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2600
Introduction to International Political Economy
·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý3790
Economies of Latin America
·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý3850
Political Economy European Union
·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý4300
International Trade
·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý4310
Exchange Rates and Global Economics
·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý4560
Economic Development
Cultural Anthropology3
´¡±·°Õ±áÌý2200
Cultural Anthropology
World Regions9
Three classes covering regions of the world. Ideally, these will match the student's language focus. Some sample courses that fulfill regional requirements are listed below.
Thematic Focus9
Three classes pertaining to a single theme. Thematic foci and sample courses are described below. Courses in this category focus on contemporary implications of the phenomena being studied.
Internship, field research, elective course3
Select one of the following:
±õ³§°Õ¶ÙÌý4910
Internship in International Studies
±õ³§°Õ¶ÙÌý4970
International Field Research
Any course with an ISTD attribute or ISTD subject code
Capstone Seminar3
±õ³§°Õ¶ÙÌý4800
Capstone: Seminar in International Studies
The capstone seminars take an interdisciplinary approach to the study of an international phenomenon or area. Students complete research projects and examine the contributions of various approaches.
General Electives49-52
Total Credits120
1

Fluency in a language other than English can substitute for this requirement (as demonstrated via standard language proficiency protocols of the College of Arts and Sciences).Ìý Student's who meet this requirement without taking a class will add one ISTD elective to meet the 36 hour requirement of the major.

World Regions

´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý2100
Art of Jerusalem and Three Faiths: Past and Present
´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý2120
Art in Africa
´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý2140
Islamic Art and Society
´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý2320
Art of the African Diaspora
´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý2350
Excavating Culture of 3 Faiths
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3170
European Drama
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3250
British Literary Traditions to 1800
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3260
British Literary Traditions after 1800
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3300
Eastern European Literature
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3390
Literature and Film of World War II
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3500
Literature of the Postcolonial World
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3540
Literature of the African Diaspora
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý4670
Contemporary Postcolonial Literature and Culture
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4180
French and International Relations: Global Simulation
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4290
Women and Global Issues
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4670
Postcolonialism and Violence, Issues of Representation in Francophone Culture, Literature and Film
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4870
Exoticism in French Literature
³Ò¸éÌý3250
German Culture Studies II
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý1710
China and Japan Since 1600: Samurai, Revolutionaries, Entrepreneurs
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý2730
Crossroads of the World: The Middle East and North Africa Through History
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý3120
French Revolution and Napoleon, 1789-1815
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý3140
Twentieth Century Europe: Era of World Wars, 1914-1945
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý3170
Colonial Latin America
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý3280
Russia to 1905
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý3290
Russia Since 1905
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý3740
The British Empire
±õµþÌý3020
Latin American Business
±õµþÌý3040
Asian Business
±õµþÌý3150
Middle Eastern Business
±õ°Õ´¡³¢Ìý3650
Italy Beyond Borders: Social Justice in Modern Italian Culture
±õ°Õ´¡³¢Ìý3700
Global Italy: Migration and Multiculturalism
³¢´¡³§Ìý3000
Introduction to Latin American Studies
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2510
European Politics
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2520
Introduction to African Politics
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2530
Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2560
The Politics of Asia
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2570
Introduction to Latin American Politics
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2590
Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3500
East Asian Political Economy
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3567
Political Development in Contemporary Spain
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3650
International Relations of Africa
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3760
The Politics of Pope Francis
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3810
Latin American-U.S. Relations
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý4500
Russian Political Culture
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý4630
The European Union: Politics and Political Economy
¸é±«³§³§Ìý3250
Russia From Peter to Putin: Imperial, Soviet, and Post-Soviet Culture
¸é±«³§³§Ìý4510
The Russian Orthodox
³§°¿°äÌý1180
World Geography
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4240
Short Stories: History, Histories. Deciphering Latin-American Societies and Cultures
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4280
Early Latin American Novel
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4320
The African Experience in Spanish America
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4380
Cultural Stereotypes: Latin Am
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4400
Strangers in a Familiar Land: Displacements in Latin America
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4590
Spanish Jewry in Spain and in the Diaspora
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4790
Spanish Culture & Civilization
°Õ±á·¡°¿Ìý2715
Jerusalem: Three Faiths, One City
°Õ±á·¡°¿Ìý2755
Islam: Religion, Culture, and Society
°Õ±á·¡°¿Ìý3335
Christians In Middle East
°Õ±á·¡°¿Ìý3415
Christ and Color: Liberation Theology
°Õ±á·¡°¿Ìý3710
Arts of Hinduism and Buddhism
°Õ±á·¡°¿Ìý3720
Intuition, Spontaneity, and Flow: Daoism in Comparative Context

Thematic Focus

Arts and Culture in an Age of Globalization (attribute International Studies-Arts)
Ideas move rapidly across boundaries. This information takes a variety of forms – words, images, sounds – and moves across a variety of media. Participating in this great cultural exchange requires students to transcend disciplinary boundaries – bringing together art and politics, music and religion, language and history – in order to understand the creation and global diffusion of shared meaning across time.
´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý1090
Global Masterpieces in Art
´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý2120
Art in Africa
´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý2320
Art of the African Diaspora
´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý2100
Art of Jerusalem and Three Faiths: Past and Present
´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý2140
Islamic Art and Society
´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý2350
Excavating Culture of 3 Faiths
´¡¸é°Õ±áÌý3720
Modern Art in Spain and France
´¡³§°Õ¶ÙÌý2300
Americans Abroad
´¡³§°Õ¶ÙÌý3040
Religion and U.S. Global Activism
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3310
World Literary Traditions I
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3330
World Literary Traditions III
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3500
Literature of the Postcolonial World
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3540
Literature of the African Diaspora
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý4680
Major Post-Colonial Writers
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý4690
Topics in 20th/21st Century British, Irish, & Postcolonial Literature & Culture
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4220
French and Francophone Media : Qu’est-ce qui se passe ?
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4290
Women and Global Issues
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4670
Postcolonialism and Violence, Issues of Representation in Francophone Culture, Literature and Film
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4870
Exoticism in French Literature
²Ñ±«³§°äÌý1170
Music of Cultures of the World
¸é±«³§³§Ìý3440
Art, Media, & Power in Post-Soviet Russia
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4060
History of the Spanish Language
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4350
Latin American Testimony
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4360
Women's Literature in Latin America
°Õ±á·¡°¿Ìý2710
Religions of the World
°Â³Ò³§°ÕÌý4860
Global & Transnational Feminism
Global Health and the Environment (attribute International Studies-Health)
Many of the most critical contemporary issues – from climate change, to pandemics, to sustainable development – transcend national boundaries, and solutions must also transcend boundaries. Addressing these issues requires students to understand the scientific facts, the ways societies adapt to those realities, and the political process through which change could occur.
´¡±·°Õ±áÌý2460
Global Mental Health
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý1200
Ecological Issues and Society
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý1340
Diversity of Life
µþ±õ°¿³¢Ìý3280
Ethnobotany
·¡´¡³§Ìý1080
Introduction to Environmental Science
·¡´¡³§Ìý1090
Climate Change
·¡´¡³§Ìý1310
Water-Our Precious Resource
·¡´¡³§Ìý1600
Sustainable Energy
·¡´¡³§Ìý2530
Fundamentals of Climate Systems
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý1740
Peoples and Pandemics in History
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý3660
History of Nature in America
±Ê±á±õ³¢Ìý3420
Environmental and Ecological Ethics
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý4840
Global Health Politics and Policy
±Ê±«µþ±áÌý2100
Introduction to Global Health
±Ê±«µþ±áÌý2300
Contemporary Issues in Global Health
³§°¿°äÌý2360
Health Inequalities in the U.S.
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4150
Spanish for the Health Professions
Global Economy and Economic Development (attribute International Studies-Economy)
Trade links people and places that are very distant and sometimes different from each other. While global markets can be a force for progress and rising living standard, they can also be a source of conflict and forced homogenization, as some prosper at the expense of others. To participate effectively in this global economy, students need to understand its past, present, and potential from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
´¡±·°Õ±áÌý2080
Urban Issues: Poverty and Unemployment
·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý4300
International Trade
·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý4310
Exchange Rates and Global Economics
·¡°ä°¿±·Ìý4560
Economic Development
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4180
French and International Relations: Global Simulation
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4290
Women and Global Issues
±õµþÌý2000
Introduction to International Business
±õµþÌý3100
Geopolitics of World Business
±õµþÌý3160
Cultural Differences in International Business
±õµþÌý3140
International e-Business
±õµþÌý4120
International Business Strategies
±õµþÌý4900
Global Immersion in International Business
±õµþÌý4910
International Business Internship
³¢´¡³§Ìý3000
Introduction to Latin American Studies
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý1510
Politics of the Developing World
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2560
The Politics of Asia
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2570
Introduction to Latin American Politics
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2600
Introduction to International Political Economy
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2820
American Foreign Policy
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3500
East Asian Political Economy
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3600
Problems of Globalization
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3620
International Organization and the Management of World Problems
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3800
The Structure of Poverty: Globally and Locally
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý4630
The European Union: Politics and Political Economy
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý4840
Global Health Politics and Policy
³§°¿°äÌý3180
Immigration
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4160
Business & Prof Spanish
War and Peace in the Contemporary World (attribute International Studies-War)
International conflict leaves untold human suffering in its wake, including refugees unable to return home, damaged social and political institutions, and environmental devastation. Understanding the roots and forms of conflict and the mechanisms that allow people to live together without violence enables students to work toward a more peaceful and just world.
´¡±·°Õ±áÌý3260
Peace and Conflict
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3390
Literature and Film of World War II
·¡±·³Ò³¢Ìý3400
War in Literature
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4180
French and International Relations: Global Simulation
¹ó¸é·¡±·Ìý4670
Postcolonialism and Violence, Issues of Representation in Francophone Culture, Literature and Film
±á±õ³§°ÕÌý3250
World in Conflict Since 1945
³¢³¢°äÌý3250
Migrants and Borders on Screen: The Cinema of Migration in Mediterranean Europe
²Ñ±õ³¢³§Ìý4500
Modern American Military History
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2590
Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2640
International Terrorism
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2691
Theory and Practice of Human Rights
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý2820
American Foreign Policy
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3530
Comparative Revolutions
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3630
International Security and Conflict Resolution
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3640
International Law
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3650
International Relations of Africa
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý3810
Latin American-U.S. Relations
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý4610
International Relations: Theory and Practice
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý4630
The European Union: Politics and Political Economy
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý4650
War, Peace, and Politics
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý4692
Theories of World Politics
³§°¿°äÌý3180
Immigration
³§±Ê´¡±·Ìý4350
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.

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 and/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-/program-specific academic and performance requirements.
  • Complete at least 50% of the coursework for the major and 75% for the minor/certificate through ¶¶Òõpro or an approved study abroad program.
  • Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through ¶¶Òõpro or an approved study abroad program.
  • Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.

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

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
FallCredits
°ä°¿¸é·¡Ìý1000 Ignite First Year Seminar (Must be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) 2-3
°ä°¿¸é·¡Ìý1500 Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community (Must be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes / Must be taken at SLU) 1
°ä°¿¸é·¡Ìý1900 Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication (Should be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) 3
Foreign Language Course 3
±Ê°¿³¢³§Ìý1600 Introduction to International Politics (Fulfills Core Global Interdependence attribute) 3
General Electives 3
ÌýCredits15-16
Spring
COREÌý1200 Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication (Should be taken in first 60 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) 3
COREÌý1600 Ultimate Questions: Theology 3
´¡±·°Õ±áÌý2200 Cultural Anthropology 3
Foreign Language Course 3
General Electives 3
ÌýCredits15
Year Two
Fall
COREÌý2800 Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression (taken any time) 2-3
COREÌý1700 Ultimate Questions: Philosophy 3
International Economics Course 3
Foreign Language Course 3
General Electives 4
ÌýCredits15-16
Spring
COREÌý3800 Ways of Thinking: Natural and Applied Sciences (taken any time) 3
COREÌý2500 Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation 0
Areas of the World Course 3
Foreign Language Course 3
International Studies Theme Course 3
General Electives 3
ÌýCredits15
Year Three
Fall
COREÌý3400 Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture (taken any time) 3
Areas of the World Course 3
Foreign Language Course 3
General ElectivesBe sure to fulfill all Core attributes 6
ÌýCredits15
Spring
COREÌý4000 Collaborative Inquiry (taken any time) 2-3
Areas of the World Course 3
Foreign Language Course 3
International Studies Theme CourseSome options fulfill Core attributes 3
General Electives 4
ÌýCredits15-16
Year Four
Fall
COREÌý3500 Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World 1
Internship, field research, or course with an ISTD attribute 3
International Studies Theme Course 3
General ElectivesBe sure to fulfill all Core attributes 9
ÌýCredits16
Spring
±õ³§°Õ¶ÙÌý4800 Capstone: Seminar in International Studies 3
General ElectivesAs needed to complete Core and graduation requirements 11
ÌýCredits14
ÌýTotal Credits120-123

Students can complete all or part of the international studies degree in Madrid, Spain.