WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES?

Overview
Explore Career Options
Career Preparation
Hopkins International Studies Alumni
Graduate School
Honor Societies & Professional Associations
Links

Overview
International Studies, or international relations (IR), is an interdisciplinary field that combines studies in political science, economics, history and foreign language to develop an understanding of international political questions and to think critically about the economic, historical and cultural dimensions of various countries, cultures and conflicts. Those who study it seek to understand why events occur the way they do throughout the world and their impact on peace and stability, and the interdisciplinary nature of the field allows Hopkins undergraduates who choose the major to develop their own interests within the field.1

International studies is the largest undergraduate major in the school of arts and sciences.2 In addition to undergraduate and graduate degrees, the department offers two accelerated degrees for international studies students who intend to pursue a master’s degree in international studies. These five year, BA/MA programs entail three years at the Homewood campus and two years at either the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington D.C. or at Université de Sciences Politique et Economique (Sciences Po) in Paris. These programs are both competitive but interested freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to apply.3

The discipline of international studies focuses on the importance of employing several approaches to understand world events.  Students develop skills as undergraduates that will be marketable, rewarding and useful throughout their careers, regardless of whether they go into government service, international investment, law, education, business or non-profits.  A few of these skills include:

• Communication skills – the ability to communicate ideas clearly in writing, verbally, visually and electronically;
• Research skills – the ability to locate, gather and organize information efficiently and accurately;
• Problem solving – the ability to use critical thinking skills to evaluate and solve problems with creative and innovative solutions;
• Teamwork skills – the ability to work effectively in a group setting.4

The International Studies department at Hopkins is renowned for the high quality of its faculty and students alike, and undergraduates who choose to major in the department will find a challenging but rewarding academic experience.

Explore Career Options

The interdisciplinary nature of International Studies allows students provides students with a well-rounded educational foundation in political science, history, economics and foreign language, along with the opportunity to focus on the areas and disciplines which interest them.  Upon graduation, innumerable career opportunities are open to students of international studies, including:

• Foreign service – while extremely competitive, those who pass the foreign service exam join a group of 9,000 who staff U.S. embassies abroad, the State Department and the United States Information Agency.
• Government agencies – the majority of International Studies professionals in Washington work for agencies other than the State Department, such as the Defense Department, Central Intelligence Agency, Homeland Security and National Security Agency, the majority as intelligence analysts or and a few as clandestine operators.  The Agency for International Development, which administers U.S. foreign aid, also falls into this category.
• Legislative staffing – as international economics and homeland security become an increasingly prominent political issue, the number of international studies professionals who work on Congressional staffs has increased dramatically.
• The United Nations – while difficult to obtain, administrative and communications positions within the United Nations are excellent opportunities for international studies graduates with strong language skills.
• Private research and intelligence contractors – Washington D.C. is home to a large number of these organizations that perform government work on a contractual basis.
• Non-profit organizations – these international organizations that work to distribute foreign aid, improve humanitarian conditions and tackle issues such as famine relief are largely staffed by international relations graduates.
• Academia and think tanks – international relations students with doctorates teach, research and write in a university setting, or research and lecture within think-tanks.
• Law/international law – international relations undergraduates are excellent candidates for law school due to their written and oral communications abilities, their knowledge of politics and international affairs and their research skills.  International law is an extremely competitive field concerned with whether the behavior of governments corresponds with international laws, and increasingly, the behavior of international corporations.  Prior to attending law school, students with undergraduate degrees in international studies can seek jobs as paralegals.
• The Peace Corps – the Peace Corps sends Americans abroad, typically for two year terms to developing countries are those in political or economic turmoil, to help the people of other countries work toward economic and social development. Volunteers often work alone in physically demanding conditions, and get independent management experience at a young age, making their experiences highly valued by employers hiring for international jobs.5
• Journalism – with the increased prominence of cable and Internet news, there is increased demand for journalists with backgrounds in international affairs and business experience as well as foreign language skills to work as foreign news correspondents.6
• International Business – the multidisciplinary nature of international studies graduates make them ideal matches for lucrative careers in international business, given their foreign language skills, political and cultural knowledge base, and background in economics.7
• Finance –many international relations graduates use their foreign language and economic skills for global financial analysis: assessing the economic performance of companies and industries for firms and institutions to invest in a globalized market, working as security analysts, investment analysts, portfolio managers, fund managers, risk managers, financial advisors and wealth managers.  A bachelor’s degree is acceptable for entry-level positions in this field, with most in finance eventually seeking an MBA.8
  

Career Preparation

Whether you intend to pursue a career in government, business, non-profit organizations, international media, or law, careers with an international scope require a conceptual grasp of history and contemporary events, the ability to relate specific cases to general patterns, basic skills in economic and political analysis, knowledge of other cultures and languages, the ability to analyze events across cultural or national lines, clear presentation of ideas both orally and in writing, a professional vocabulary and creative problem-solving skills.9 Consequently, stellar academic credentials and writing samples, such as the senior thesis written about the area in which you would like to specialize, are crucial to beginning a successful career in international relations.

Undergraduates should also take full advantage of the internship opportunities provided by Johns Hopkins’ close proximity to Washington D.C.  Internships of all kinds are a necessity to demonstrate practical experience in a professional setting.  Extra-curricular activities such as Model U.N. and Mock Trial are also well-regarded by employers and admissions officers at graduate school, as are all extra-curricular and volunteer activities that demonstrate teamwork, time management skills and concern for the community at large.

Hopkins Alumni

Hopkins Psychological and Brain Studies alumni go into a variety of career fields. Since 2003 the Career Center has surveyed recent graduates about their academic and career plans 6 months after graduation. Here is a summary of their responses.

Hopkins Alumni in International Studies

Audrey M Reynolds, Director of College Counseling, Friends Seminary
International Studies, Class of 1993

inCircle - a professional and social networking site for Hopkins students and alumn where you can identify alumni by career field, major and orgnaization.

LinkedIn.com -a professional networking site where you can identify Hopkins alumni. Join the LinkedIn Johns Hopkins University Alumni Group to add over 4000+ alumni to your network.

Graduate School

The Career Center is here to help you navigate the graduate school search process. Click here for guidelines and preparing for Graduate School and Professional School.

For information on the specific programs, the best people to talk to are the experts in your field you wish to study, faculty members and graduate students in that specific discipline. We strongly encourage you to talk with your advisor and other faculty members with whom you have a good working relationship. This will also help when you request letters of recommendation. The Career Center has a handout to guide you in asking for letters of recommendation.

Professional Associations and Honor Societies

Johns Hopkins maintains an active chapter of Sigma Iota Rho, the International Studies Honors Society, dedicated to promoting and rewarding scholarship and service among students and practitioners of international studies, and to foster integrity and creative performance in the conduct of world affairs.10

There are innumerable professional associations devoted to certain areas of international relations, given its interdisciplinary and multicultural nature.  Some of these include the American Foreign Service Association, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Foreign Policy Association.

Links

Education
ESL/EFL Career Guide
Transitions Abroad
English International
American Institute for Foreign Study
Fulbright Scholars Program
The International Educator
International School Services
Association of International Educators
Council on International Educational Exchange

Journalism
International News Links
International Journalists Network
International Center for Journalists
American Translators Association

Humanitarian/Volunteering
Public Citizen
Cultural Survival
Humanitarian Info.org
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
UNICEF
Amnesty International
Voluntary Service Overseas
Volunteers Abroad
World Wide Volunteering
Save the Children
International Committee of the Red Cross
Idealist

International Trade/Economics
Public Citizen
Cultural Survival
Humanitarian Info.org
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
UNICEF
Amnesty International
Voluntary Service Overseas
Volunteers Abroad
World Wide Volunteering
Save the Children
International Committee of the Red Cross
Idealist

Government
USA Jobs
Central Intelligence Agency
Defense Intelligence Agency
US Department of State
National Security Agency
Peace Corps

Endnotes:

1 Description of the International Studies Program, Department of International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

3 Description of the International Studies Program, Department of International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

4 International Studies Brochure, SFU Career Services

5 International Studies Careers, James Madison College, Michigan State University

6 Careers in International Affairs, Fredonia

7 What Can You Do with an Economics Degree?, Department of Economics, George Mason University

8 Financial Analysts and Personal Financial Advisors, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition

9 Careers in International Affairs, Fredonia

10 About Sigma Iota Rho, SIR