Seeing the World in a New Way
Majoring in International and Area Studies (IAS) allows you to develop a broad understanding of the world, while exploring the diversity and richness of other cultures. What makes an IAS major powerful is its interdisciplinary nature. Whether in the classroom or in an optional study abroad program, IAS at Washington University opens up the world to you.
How Can You Use an International and Area Studies Major?
This exciting and evolving field of study opens up many career paths for you in the public and private sector including business, education, academia, diplomacy and law. Some graduates work in the nonprofit sector and in government service. Many find employment in the private sector, discovering that their familiarity with foreign cultures and languages gives them an added advantage.
Others have expanded their international experiences in the year or two following graduation by participating in the Fulbright Student Program, teaching English abroad, or serving in the Peace Corps. And some choose to continue their education through master’s degree programs in international studies, or graduate programs in business, law, medicine or other fields.
A Strong Program with Variety
IAS at Washington University is an established program consisting of a wide range of courses from a variety of departments. Our strengths include:
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A strong faculty drawn from many different departments – with special expertise in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East – to offer you opportunities to explore particular areas of the world in depth.
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A diversity of courses, including those which examine dynamic processes in the world system – such as global financial markets or development experiences of different regions.
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Available instruction in 14 languages including Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Swahili.
Opportunities to Study Abroad
Studying abroad for a summer, a semester, or a year opens up a world of possibilities and encourages you to embark on a lifelong journey of international education. You will have the opportunity to experience other cultures, improve your foreign-language skills, and study specialized subjects. Spending time in a different area of the world can be an especially valuable complement to your International and Area Studies major or minor. Most students find the experience career-enhancing and even life-transforming. Through our office of Overseas Programs, you may choose from a wide array of programs in countries appropriate to your concentration; available programs are listed at www.artsci.wustl.edu/~overseas
Year or Semester Abroad
Programs are available for IAS majors in Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain and Turkey.
Specialized Programs
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WU in Shanghai
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African history, culture and politics at St. Lawrence University Study Center in Kenya
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Intensive Arabic in Egypt
Summer Programs
You can immerse yourself in the culture and language of a foreign country in one of our summer programs in a variety of locations including China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Mexico or Spain.
General Information about the Major in International and Area Studies
There are five concentrations available to IAS majors. All are designed to provide you with a comparative, interdisciplinary perspective on the world.
You must satisfy a foreign language requirement in all five concentrations. You may do this with the successful completion of four semesters of language instruction in your chosen language program (other than English).
Development Studies– This concentration explores the interaction of politics, history, culture, society and economics as we try to understand what governments and societies do to promote or hinder growth and development, and how those actions influence social arenas.
Language requirement: this concentration allows for the study of any of the 14 languages offered at Washington University.
Study Abroad sites for the major in Development Studies include the SIT programs in the developing world (Africa, Asia, Middle East and Latin America), as well as London School of Economics and Political Science.
European Studies– Given the importance of Europe to the United States, both historically and in the contemporary period, relevant course work gives students a broad interdisciplinary perspective on the cultures, histories, politics, and economics of modern Europe (1750-present).
Language requirement: We offer advanced course work in most major European languages including French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.
Study abroad sites for the major in European Studies include a language and liberal arts program at the University of Padova, Italy; a semester or academic year at the University of Paris, Sciences Po or the University of Toulouse, France; German language and literature at the University of Tübingen, Germany; and a semester or academic year at Carlos III University in Madrid, Spain.
Global Cultural Studies– This concentration focuses on the practical and theoretical issues arising from cross-cultural encounters around the world. You will study these both by examining conventional cultural products (literature, film, visual art and music) and investigating their broader political and social contexts.
Language requirement: this concentration allows for the study of any of the 14 languages offered at Washington University.
Study abroad sites for the major in Global Cultural Studies include Bo¯gaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey; Jewish studies program in Prague, Czech Republic; University of Cape Town, South Africa; semester or summer program in Kenya; London School of Economics and Political Science; as well as programs in Egypt, Greece, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Senegal.
Global Futures– This concentration focuses on the practical challenges and ethical dilemmas the world faces in health, environment, population and uneven development. This interdisciplinary concentration is particularly suited for students with an interest in international development policy and practice at the grass roots level.
Language requirement: this concentration allows for the study of any of the 14 languages offered at Washington University.
Study Abroad sites for the major in Global Futures include the SIT programs in the developing world (Africa, Asia, Middle East and Latin America).
Latin American Studies– This program offers a wide range of courses, beginning with a thorough study of ancient civilizations up through modern times. Washington University, with its Latin American Studies program, was one of the 10 founding institutions funded by a Ford Foundation grant in 1964.
Language requirement: Students in this concentration generally acquire a high level of competency in Spanish or Portuguese, depending on their specialization.
Study abroad sites: Our study abroad program in Chile would be especially appropriate for students pursuing Spanish as their language requirement. SIT in Brazil would be appropriate for those pursuing Portuguese. Summer programs in Mexico and Ecuador also exist.
The Senior Capstone Experience
As a prime IAS major, you will complete a capstone experience some time during your last two semesters. This experience allows you to draw from your interdisciplinary course work and to synthesize, compare and consolidate the various approaches and theories you have explored.
Your capstone experience may take the form of:
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An honors thesis in IAS – if you have a strong academic record, you are encouraged to work toward honors by writing an honors thesis under the supervision of a faculty member.
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A joint senior research project in IAS – this is a collaborative research project, done under the supervision of a faculty advisor, with findings presented in a variety of formats.
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Research and editorial methods practicum in IAS – this is an opportunity to serve on the editorial board for the IAS Undergraduate journal and run the IAS Undergraduate Research conference.
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An IAS portfolio – a multi-media document which synthesizes and presents what you have learned in two 400 level seminars.
The International and Area Studies Minor
You may decide to pursue a minor in European Studies, Latin American Studies or Russian Studies. Students are required to complete a minimum of 18 graded credits in IAS, as well as fulfill the foreign language requirement.
Minor in Russian Studies
If you are interested in the Russian language and the cultures and social and political histories of Russia and other nations of the former Soviet Union, you can choose from a wide array of courses in several departments.
Language requirement: Students in this minor would acquire a high level of competency in Russian.
Study abroad site: Summer, semester or academic year at St. Petersburg University, Russia.
For Further Information, Contact:
International and Area Studies Program
Washington University in St. Louis
Campus Box 1088
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
Phone: (314) 935-5958
Fax: (314) 935-7642
Email: aloomis@wustl.edu