International Studies

Career - what can you do with a International Studies degree?

In today’s global society, an undergraduate degree in international studies opens the door to a wide variety of career options. Earning an international studies degree may lead to a career abroad or prepare students for a domestic career that benefits from a global perspective.

Many international studies majors find work in federal and state government, international business or law, branches of the armed forces, non-profit organizations, and universities.

Knowledge of the language, customs, history, and business practices of another nation will help significantly in assimilating to and working in that country.

Internships and Co-ops

Each year international studies majors participate in internships and cooperative education programs. Experiential learning does not have to be in a foreign country to gain exposure to global issues and people with different cultural experiences than your own.

BGSU partners with organizations like The Washington Center to provide internships that inspire students to become well-informed, public-spirited, and more socially engaged in their communities.

Organizations like Women at Risk, International (WAR, Int'l), a U.S.-based, nonprofit creates safe havens and healing for at-risk women and children in over 31 countries, including the United States. WAR, Int'l has offered internships at two of their Michigan locations in recent years.

Similarly, US Together, with locations across Ohio, is contracted to provide welcome and assimilation services to refugees from across the globe. As a result, BGSU international studies students have gained valuable experience through internships and expanded their worldview, helping people with very different life experiences find their feet in the United States.

Peace Corps Prep Program

BGSU offers a Peace Corps Prep program whose requirements can be fulfilled through major and BGP courses. The Peace Corps Prep certificate can lead to work with the Peace Corps and many other international outreach organizations in the areas of global health, international education, international business, and environmental science and policy.

Curriculum

The student's individual experience in the international studies program may be tailored toward a specific focus area such as a world region, a single country, a particular issue or discipline, or toward a future career goal such as government, business, or foreign service.

The major acquaints students with approaches from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. This multidisciplinary approach is supported by faculty from across the University who have connections around the world and diverse viewpoints to help students expand their knowledge and experience.

The curriculum helps students identify their implicit bias in gathering data about others and emphasizes the strengths of case studies, qualitative and quantitative data, and the uses of comparative frameworks for analyzing international issues. 

The curriculum culminates in a choice of academic or community-based research for the international studies capstone seminar. 

All BGSU international studies majors continue world language courses at least through the third-year college level. Education abroad experience is also required.

BG Alternative Breaks

BG Alternative Breaks (bGAB) is a student-led program within the Center for Public Impact that prepares groups of students to collaborate with communities experiencing social injustices by learning about, providing direct service for, and reflecting on a specific social issue. 

bGAB provides students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a culture of service and allows students to create positive change on trips during fall and spring breaks. Since 2013, when bGAB was founded by Maddi Georgoff '15, the program has sent out 502 students on 41 trips, dedicating 12,569 hours of direct service to community partners.

The Global Village Learning Community

This internationally-minded learning community consists of international and American students from all majors who have a sincere interest in meeting and learning about people from other countries and cultures. 

Residents are paired with students of different cultural backgrounds and share a living space. This unique and dynamic community is fueled by cross-cultural conversation, fun times, friendship and moments of discovery.

The International Relations Organization

The International Relations Organization (IRO) is a student group whose goal is to inform, facilitate and support awareness of international affairs. The group holds debates and discussions, sponsors presentations, organizes field trips, and promotes all things international.  

Each year, members of IRO participate on the BGSU Model United Nations Team. The BGSU Model UN team has competed in the American Model UN Conference since 2001.

BGSU World Student Association

The BGSU World Student Association promotes intercultural understanding and friendship among students from different cultures and backgrounds through cultural, educational, and social activities. Students from all majors are welcome.