International Studies, B.A.
Saint Louis University's undergraduate degree in international studies is offered through the College of Arts and Science's political 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 at SLU’s Madrid campus or 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
Saint Louis University 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 Saint Louis University 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.
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 must submit 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 Saint Louis University. 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 Saint Louis University
- 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 post-secondary 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 | $54,760 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
- Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
- Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided through grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
Saint Louis University makes every effort to keep our education affordable. In fiscal year 2023, 99% of first-time freshmen and 92% of all students received financial aid and students received more than $459 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 more information on scholarships and financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
- Graduates will be able to analyze cultural, economic, political and social aspects of contemporary international issues.
- Graduates will be able to describe how culture and national identity affect a person’s perspectives.
- Graduates will be able to apply a variety of methodologies to answer empirical questions about international phenomena.
- Graduates will be able to assess analytical arguments.
- Graduates will be able to assemble evidence from reliable sources to support their arguments.
- Graduates will be able to estimate the global or transnational impact of local actions.
- 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 credits for the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Undergraduate Core | 32-35 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Foreign Language 1 | 3 | |
Select one of the following: | ||
| Proficiency in Chinese I: Language and Culture | ||
| 21st-Century France | ||
or FREN 3040 | Society, Nation & the Arts in Pre-Revolutionary France | |
| Written Communication in Italian I | ||
or ITAL 3020 | Oral Communication in Italian I | |
| Communicating in Written German: The German Media | ||
or GR 3020 | Communicating in Spoken German: Contemporary Issues | |
| Communicating in Russian: History and Politics | ||
| Eloquent Communication in Spanish | ||
| International Politics | 3 | |
| Introduction to International Politics | ||
| International Economics | 3 | |
Select one course with the International Studies - Economics attribute, such as: | ||
| Politics of the Developing World | ||
| Introduction to International Political Economy | ||
| Economies of Latin America | ||
| Political Economy European Union | ||
| International Trade | ||
| Exchange Rates and Global Economics | ||
| Economic Development | ||
| Cultural Anthropology | 3 | |
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| World Regions | 9 | |
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 Focus | 9 | |
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 course | 3 | |
Select one of the following: | ||
| Internship in International Studies | ||
| International Field Research | ||
Any course with an ISTD attribute or ISTD subject code | ||
| Capstone Seminar | 3 | |
| 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 Electives | 49-52 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 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). 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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Art of Jerusalem and Three Faiths: Past and Present | ||
| Art in Africa | ||
| Islamic Art and Society | ||
| Art of the African Diaspora | ||
| Excavating Culture of Three Faiths | ||
| European Drama | ||
| British Literary Traditions to 1800 | ||
| British Literary Traditions after 1800 | ||
| Eastern European Literature | ||
| Literature and Film of World War II | ||
| Literature of the Postcolonial World | ||
| Literature of the African Diaspora | ||
| Contemporary Postcolonial Literature and Culture | ||
| French and International Relations: Global Simulation | ||
| Conflict and Social Change: Women Writers in French | ||
| Postcolonialism and Violence, Issues of Representation in Francophone Culture, Literature and Film | ||
| Exoticism in French Literature | ||
| German Culture Studies II | ||
| China and Japan Since 1600: Samurai, Revolutionaries, Entrepreneurs | ||
| Crossroads of the World: The Middle East and North Africa Through History | ||
| French Revolution and Napoleon, 1789-1815 | ||
| Twentieth Century Europe: Era of World Wars, 1914-1945 | ||
| Colonial Latin America | ||
| Russia to 1905 | ||
| Russia Since 1905 | ||
| The British Empire | ||
| Latin American Business | ||
| Asian Business | ||
| Middle Eastern Business | ||
| Italy Beyond Borders: Social Justice in Modern Italian Culture | ||
| Global Italy: Migration and Multiculturalism | ||
| Introduction to Latin American Studies | ||
| European Politics | ||
| Introduction to African Politics | ||
| Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics | ||
| The Politics of Asia | ||
| Introduction to Latin American Politics | ||
| Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | ||
| East Asian Political Economy | ||
| Political Development in Contemporary Spain | ||
| International Relations of Africa | ||
| The Politics of Pope Francis | ||
| Latin American-U.S. Relations | ||
| Russian Political Culture | ||
| The European Union: Politics and Political Economy | ||
| Russia From Peter to Putin: Imperial, Soviet, and Post-Soviet Culture | ||
| The Russian Orthodox | ||
| World Geography | ||
| Short Stories: History, Histories. Deciphering Latin-American Societies and Cultures | ||
| Early Latin American Novel | ||
| The African Experience in Spanish America | ||
| Cultural Stereotypes: Latin Am | ||
| Strangers in a Familiar Land: Displacements in Latin America | ||
| Spanish Jewry in Spain and in the Diaspora | ||
| Spanish Culture & Civilization | ||
| Jerusalem: Three Faiths, One City | ||
| Islam: Religion, Culture, and Society | ||
| Christians In Middle East | ||
| Christ and Color: Liberation Theology | ||
| Arts of Hinduism and Buddhism | ||
| Intuition, Spontaneity, and Flow: Daoism in Comparative Context |
Thematic Focus
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | ||
| Global Masterpieces in Art | ||
| Art in Africa | ||
| Art of the African Diaspora | ||
| Art of Jerusalem and Three Faiths: Past and Present | ||
| Islamic Art and Society | ||
| Excavating Culture of Three Faiths | ||
| Modern Art in Spain and France | ||
| Americans Abroad | ||
| Religion and U.S. Global Activism | ||
| World Literary Traditions I | ||
| World Literary Traditions III | ||
| Literature of the Postcolonial World | ||
| Literature of the African Diaspora | ||
| Major Post-Colonial Writers | ||
| Topics in 20th/21st Century British, Irish, & Postcolonial Literature & Culture | ||
| French and Francophone Media : Qu’est-ce qui se passe ? | ||
| Conflict and Social Change: Women Writers in French | ||
| Postcolonialism and Violence, Issues of Representation in Francophone Culture, Literature and Film | ||
| Exoticism in French Literature | ||
| Music of Cultures of the World | ||
| Art, Media, & Power in Post-Soviet Russia | ||
| History of the Spanish Language | ||
| Latin American Testimony | ||
| Women's Literature in Latin America | ||
| Religions of the World | ||
| 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. | ||
ANTH 2460 | ||
| Ecological Issues and Society | ||
| Diversity of Life | ||
| Ethnobotany | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Science | ||
| Climate Change | ||
| Water-Our Precious Resource | ||
| Sustainable Energy | ||
| Fundamentals of Climate Systems | ||
| Peoples and Pandemics in History | ||
| History of Nature in America | ||
| Environmental and Ecological Ethics | ||
| Global Health Politics and Policy | ||
| Introduction to Global Health | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Global Health | ||
| Health Inequalities in the U.S. | ||
| 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. | ||
| Urban Poverty: A Global Perspective | ||
| International Trade | ||
| Exchange Rates and Global Economics | ||
| Economic Development | ||
| French and International Relations: Global Simulation | ||
| Conflict and Social Change: Women Writers in French | ||
| Introduction to International Business | ||
| Geopolitics of World Business | ||
| Cultural Differences in International Business | ||
| International e-Business | ||
| International Business Strategies | ||
| Global Immersion in International Business | ||
| International Business Internship | ||
| Introduction to Latin American Studies | ||
| Politics of the Developing World | ||
| The Politics of Asia | ||
| Introduction to Latin American Politics | ||
| Introduction to International Political Economy | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| East Asian Political Economy | ||
| Problems of Globalization | ||
| International Organization and the Management of World Problems | ||
POLS 3800 | ||
| The European Union: Politics and Political Economy | ||
| Global Health Politics and Policy | ||
| Immigration | ||
| 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. | ||
| Peace and Conflict | ||
| Literature and Film of World War II | ||
| War in Literature | ||
| French and International Relations: Global Simulation | ||
| Postcolonialism and Violence, Issues of Representation in Francophone Culture, Literature and Film | ||
| World in Conflict Since 1945 | ||
| Migrants and Borders on Screen: The Cinema of Migration in Mediterranean Europe | ||
| Modern American Military History | ||
| Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | ||
| International Terrorism | ||
| Theory and Practice of Human Rights | ||
| American Foreign Policy | ||
| Comparative Revolutions | ||
| International Security and Conflict Resolution | ||
| International Law | ||
| International Relations of Africa | ||
| Latin American-U.S. Relations | ||
| International Relations: Theory and Practice | ||
| The European Union: Politics and Political Economy | ||
| War, Peace, and Politics | ||
| Theories of World Politics | ||
| Immigration | ||
| 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 Saint Louis University or an approved study abroad program.
- Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through Saint Louis University 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 enrollment unless otherwise noted.
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.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CORE 1000 | Ignite First Year Seminar (Must be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) | 2-3 |
| CORE 1500 | 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 |
| CORE 1900 | 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 | |
| POLS 1600 | Introduction to International Politics (Fulfills Core Global Interdependence attribute) | 3 |
| General Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CORE 1200 | Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication (Should be taken in first 60 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) | 3 |
| CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| ANTH 2200 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| Foreign Language Course | 3 | |
| General Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 2800 | Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression (taken any time) | 2-3 |
| CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| International Economics Course | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Course | 3 | |
| General Electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CORE 3800 | Ways of Thinking: Natural and Applied Sciences (taken any time) | 3 |
| CORE 2500 | Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation | 0 |
| World Regions Course | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Course | 3 | |
| International Studies Theme Course | 3 | |
| General Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 3400 | Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture (taken any time) | 3 |
| World Regions Course | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Course | 3 | |
| General Electives | Be sure to fulfill all Core attributes | 6 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CORE 4000 | Collaborative Inquiry (taken any time) | 2-3 |
| World Regions Course | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Course | 3 | |
| International Studies Theme Course | Some options fulfill Core attributes | 3 |
| General Electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 3500 | Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World | 1 |
| ISTD 4800 | Capstone: Seminar in International Studies | 3 |
| International Studies Theme Course | 3 | |
| General Electives | Be sure to fulfill all Core attributes | 9 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Internship, field research, or course with an ISTD attribute | 3 | |
| General Electives | As needed to complete Core and graduation requirements | 11 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 120-123 | |