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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
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2018-2019

International Studies

College of Humanities and Sciences

Concentration(s):
European Studies, Latin American Studies, General Studies, International Social Justice Studies, World Cinema
Program description
The international studies program offers a varied interdisciplinary humanities curriculum, global in scope and designed to increase students’ knowledge about the cultures and traditions, languages, literature and media, history, values, concerns, and aspirations of peoples in different countries and regions of the world. The goal of the program is ultimately also to both broaden students’ comparative intercultural perspectives and develop their cross-cultural communication abilities. Within each chosen concentration, the interdisciplinary range of offerings allows for flexibility in configuring each individual’s course of study, which can be organized in a manner that best suits a student’s particular needs.
Career opportunities
  • Social justice/advocacy, humanitarian and refugee assistance
  • Research in social or political science
  • US Government: Immigration and customs, cultural affairs office, homeland security, international intelligence analysts, TSA
  • International journalism, news reporting, international communications
  • International business, export businesses   

Social justice careers are found primarily in the nonprofit and government sectors among non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations (IOs), think tanks, religious institutions, law firms and even law schools.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Export-import specialists
  • Foreign correspondents
  • Intelligence officers
  • Peace Corps Volunteer
  • Policy Analyst
  • United Nations Career Paths | Young Professionals Program
Professional associations and resources
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 131
Science required
  • 1-2 additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.25

Contact information

Department name:
School of World Studies
Building/room location:
312 North Shafer Street
Phone:
(804) 827-1111
Email:
info-sws@vcu.edu
http://worldstudies.vcu.edu/academics/international-studies/programs/
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
Major map compass icon
Major map

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester to discuss tutoring, course electives, and degree progression.
  • Take INTL 101.
  • Either continue language course sequence from high school or begin new language sequence.
  • Attend Ready, Set, Go – Sophomore Transition Experience.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond, including its museums, parks, festivals, and cultural events!
  • Apply to live in the ASPiRE, Globe, INNOVATE, or LEAD Living & Learning Program.
  • Get involved with VCU Student Government or one of over 450 clubs and organizations on campus.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Complete a “Gap Analysis” Strategic Plan with academic or career advisor.
  • Explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor and explore minors, certificates, and skills-based value added courses and complete the major exploration form.
  • Continue to fulfill major language requirements.
  • Explore scholarship opportunities for study abroad and discuss strategies for success in your degree with faculty and advisors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a social issue (ConnectVA).
  • Join a foreign language club.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the School of World Studies.
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for I-LEAD Connect, Alternative Spring Break, and other leadership and service events.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend the SWS Student Research Conference and other International-related events.
  • Attend Diversity Scholars in Research Week.
  • Get to know other VCU students from all over the world at a monthly Global Café!
  • Consider short-term, semester and year long Study Abroad opportunities.
  • Attend OMSA Social Justice Conference.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Engage in an active process of career exploration via SWS programming (ongoing sequence of workshops) and via Career Services.
  • Create a draft resume and come to drop-ins at VCU Career Services to have it reviewed.
  • Consider taking WRLD 291 - Intro to Research Opportunities.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct numerous informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • See a SWS advisor at least once, each semester.
  • Students considering graduate school should discuss research projects with SWS faculty.
  • Complete WRLD 302 and RELS 340.
  • Start developing your World ePass portfolio.
  • Consider completing a minor that diversifies your skills and broadens your career options - foreign language skills are key on the global marketplace!
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Create and complete a concentration related community-engaged research project.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the School of World Studies.
  • Attend a program through the Wellness Center.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Participate in summer, semester-length or year-long study-abroad experience.
  • Participate in Foreign Language discussion groups and Conversation Partner program on campus.
  • Consider applying for a Fulbright or other post-graduate international fellowship program through VCU’s National Scholarship Office.
  • Consider a summer internship or service-learning experience.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Consider taking WRLD 394 - Research Assistantship, or doing the VA Capitol Semester.
  • Start research in preparation for presentation at the Student Research Conference.
  • Identify at least three career options within your field of interest that you may want to pursue.
  • Meet with a career adviser to discuss your career direction and create an action plan.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Based on career goals, talk to a career/academic advisor or a faculty member about whether graduate school or a job fits your career goals.
  • Join job listserv sites that provide access to job postings in desired fields. Revisit gap analysis assessment and continue adjusting strategic career plan with Career Services.

Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation to ensure all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Continue taking major courses and upper level requirements and concentration electives.
  • Take INTL 490 Senior Capstone.
  • Complete an internship (INTL 493).
  • Complete the World ePass portfolio by the middle of your final semester.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Consider jobs in the nonprofit sector.
  • Consider applying for a year-long service opportunity after graduation through programs like VCU AmeriCorps, Literacy Lab, Peace Corps, Fulbright Student Scholars, Teach for America and City Year.
  • Volunteer and take on a leadership role within a student organization that relates to foreign languages.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Build your intercultural competence by engaging with international students on campus by becoming a conversation partner to an international student.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the department.
  • Learn to teach English through VCU’s TEFL certificate, an internationally-recognized credential for overseas employment as an English teacher.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Present at the Student Research Conference and Senior Symposium.
  • Gain practical experience related to your career goal through internships, externships and skill building.
  • Take on a leadership role in a student organization or club or go deeper in your service opportunities.
  • Expand your network and remember that you can network anywhere.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Complete necessary exams, applications, or self-marketing activities for next steps beyond graduation.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Have your personal statement or cover letter reviewed, and do a mock interview at VCU Career Services.
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2018-2019

International Studies

College of Humanities and Sciences

Concentration(s):
European Studies, Latin American Studies, General Studies, International Social Justice Studies, World Cinema
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester to discuss tutoring, course electives, and degree progression.
  • Take INTL 101.
  • Either continue language course sequence from high school or begin new language sequence.
  • Attend Ready, Set, Go – Sophomore Transition Experience.
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond, including its museums, parks, festivals, and cultural events!
  • Apply to live in the ASPiRE, Globe, INNOVATE, or LEAD Living & Learning Program.
  • Get involved with VCU Student Government or one of over 450 clubs and organizations on campus.
  • Complete a “Gap Analysis” Strategic Plan with academic or career advisor.
  • Explore Career Pathways on VCU Career Services’ website.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
Experience Year 2
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor and explore minors, certificates, and skills-based value added courses and complete the major exploration form.
  • Continue to fulfill major language requirements.
  • Explore scholarship opportunities for study abroad and discuss strategies for success in your degree with faculty and advisors.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a social issue (ConnectVA).
  • Join a foreign language club.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the School of World Studies.
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for I-LEAD Connect, Alternative Spring Break, and other leadership and service events.
  • Attend the SWS Student Research Conference and other International-related events.
  • Attend Diversity Scholars in Research Week.
  • Get to know other VCU students from all over the world at a monthly Global Café!
  • Consider short-term, semester and year long Study Abroad opportunities.
  • Attend OMSA Social Justice Conference.
  • Engage in an active process of career exploration via SWS programming (ongoing sequence of workshops) and via Career Services.
  • Create a draft resume and come to drop-ins at VCU Career Services to have it reviewed.
  • Consider taking WRLD 291 - Intro to Research Opportunities.
  • Conduct numerous informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Year 3
  • See a SWS advisor at least once, each semester.
  • Students considering graduate school should discuss research projects with SWS faculty.
  • Complete WRLD 302 and RELS 340.
  • Start developing your World ePass portfolio.
  • Consider completing a minor that diversifies your skills and broadens your career options - foreign language skills are key on the global marketplace!
  • Create and complete a concentration related community-engaged research project.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the School of World Studies.
  • Attend a program through the Wellness Center.
  • Participate in summer, semester-length or year-long study-abroad experience.
  • Participate in Foreign Language discussion groups and Conversation Partner program on campus.
  • Consider applying for a Fulbright or other post-graduate international fellowship program through VCU’s National Scholarship Office.
  • Consider a summer internship or service-learning experience.
  • Consider taking WRLD 394 - Research Assistantship, or doing the VA Capitol Semester.
  • Start research in preparation for presentation at the Student Research Conference.
  • Identify at least three career options within your field of interest that you may want to pursue.
  • Meet with a career adviser to discuss your career direction and create an action plan.
  • Based on career goals, talk to a career/academic advisor or a faculty member about whether graduate school or a job fits your career goals.
  • Join job listserv sites that provide access to job postings in desired fields. Revisit gap analysis assessment and continue adjusting strategic career plan with Career Services.
Excel Year 4
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation to ensure all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Continue taking major courses and upper level requirements and concentration electives.
  • Take INTL 490 Senior Capstone.
  • Complete an internship (INTL 493).
  • Complete the World ePass portfolio by the middle of your final semester.
  • Consider jobs in the nonprofit sector.
  • Consider applying for a year-long service opportunity after graduation through programs like VCU AmeriCorps, Literacy Lab, Peace Corps, Fulbright Student Scholars, Teach for America and City Year.
  • Volunteer and take on a leadership role within a student organization that relates to foreign languages.
  • Build your intercultural competence by engaging with international students on campus by becoming a conversation partner to an international student.
  • Attend at least two or three public talks or other events advertised by the department.
  • Learn to teach English through VCU’s TEFL certificate, an internationally-recognized credential for overseas employment as an English teacher.
  • Present at the Student Research Conference and Senior Symposium.
  • Gain practical experience related to your career goal through internships, externships and skill building.
  • Take on a leadership role in a student organization or club or go deeper in your service opportunities.
  • Expand your network and remember that you can network anywhere.
  • Complete necessary exams, applications, or self-marketing activities for next steps beyond graduation.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Have your personal statement or cover letter reviewed, and do a mock interview at VCU Career Services.