Program Details

Complete your Bachelor of Arts in international studies full-time or part-time while keeping your full-time job. Learn valuable lessons about economic policy, human rights and environmental reform in the context of international relations.

Online classes: Degree can be completed taking only online courses
Small classes: Classes capped at 30 allowing personal attention
Learn from full-time faculty: Almost all courses taught in international studies are taught by full-time Ph.D. professors, never teaching assistants
Learn another language: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish or other approved non-English language
Study abroad: An academic international experience is required, normally a study abroad, but other options possible
Choose a concentration: See concentration descriptions in the table below. Other concentrations like environment, arts and literature, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America should be approved by the program coordinator.

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International Studies B.A. Concentrations

Global Cultural and Social Dynamics Concentration

Global Governance Concentration

Environment and Development Concentration

This concentration explores significant issues related to various aspects of human society and culture, such as immigration, human rights, social movements, conflict and justice, and civilizations: histories, languages, and religions of various regions and countries.

See Catalogue Requirements

This concentration explores the ways different global actors such as states, international organizations, social movements, NGOs/INGOs, TANS, or insurgent movements seek to manage complex international issues such as global markets, trade or finance or money, power, war and conflict, conflict resolution, human rights, migration, and international law.

See Catalogue Requirements

This concentration focuses on how global development trends such as industrialization, urbanization, infrastructure deployment, and resource extraction directly impact natural environments and human/non-human livelihoods. Courses will consider effective mitigations and solutions such as agricultural policy, eco-tourism, and sustainability practices, that require cooperation and coordination across international borders.

See Catalogue Requirements

Why Major in International Studies?

International Studies graduates gain a competitive edge in the global workforce & increase relevant experiences and marketability for continuing education and careers in a global economy.

"We look for people that have a global mind-set. It's people that are open to and excited about working with people from other cultures."

-Dan Black, Americas director of recruiting at Ernst & Young, NYTimes

International Studies Give You an Edge

The curriculum, the language requirement, and the international experience requirement will allow you to:

Acquire first-hand experiences with diverse cultures, peoples, and places.
Develop leadership, critical thinking and problem-solving skills while framing issues in a global context.
Increase your language skills and fluency and enhance your skills in intercultural communication.
Internationalize your network of peers/colleagues.
Critically analyze stereotypes, generalizations and media accounts based on first-hand information.
Broaden your cultural awareness, appreciation and engagement. (Your time abroad will likely also lead you to appreciate your own culture in a more sophisticated manner.)
Increase confidence, resourcefulness and resilience in handling dynamic situations which arise in international travel and cultural exchanges.
Gain a global perspective that places the United States as one player on the world stage.
Represent UNCW, North Carolina and the United States as an ambassador of good will.
Study the world, see the world!

Declare an International Studies Major

Expand Your Job Opportunities

There are many careers open to graduates of International Studies. International Studies is an interdisciplinary program that exposes students to a variety of courses from different perspectives in hopes of producing students who think critically about global issues and problems.

Having studied a broad array of global issues and perspectives, international studies graduates find opportunities in:

International business
Government agencies
International organizations
Nonprofit organizations
Humanitarian agencies
Policy and research think tanks
Civil service
Tourism industry
Media and public relations

Knowing the employment possibilities helps students focus their studies and ultimately their job search to find the right position where they can apply their skills in critical thinking, issue and policy analysis and cross-cultural understanding.

These organizations and positions represent only some of the employment possibilities made possible with a B.A. in International Studies.