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2021-2022

International Studies, Bachelor of Arts

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts (Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway))
Brightpoint Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts

Program description

The Bachelor of Arts in International Studies is designed for students to acquire the historical, theoretical, and methodological knowledge to explore how culture, religion, media, politics, economics, and the environment shape each other and shape human life and the hands-on experience to participate in the work of building a sustainable and generous society that empowers all persons to live well as responsible global citizens. The program strengthens students’ abilities to see the world from diverse perspectives, communicate across cultures, and work with others to address significant challenges facing human beings locally and globally.


The program offers concentrations in Film Studies, Latin American Studies, European Studies, and International Social Justice. Each concentration offers a range of courses from which students may choose to fashion a course of study that best supports their educational and career goals. As is true with World Studies’ degrees in Anthropology, Foreign Languages, and Religious Studies, International Studies offers opportunities to engage in real world learning through internships, lab-based and field research, and study abroad programs. Through their coursework, students connect with students from different cultural backgrounds and develop genuine empathy and a practical commitment to contribute to the social good.

Career opportunities

International Studies majors graduate with an abundance of transferable knowledge, skills, and experience that are highly employable in a variety of businesses, government agencies, non-profit organizations, institutions, and programs that understand the value of diversity and are committed to contributing to the health and well being of society. These include such areas as social betterment organizational management, leadership, and advocacy; humanitarian relief; refugee assistance; research analyst for organizations and institutions that focus on barriers to and support for development, democracy, human rights, and environmental restoration, preservation, and protection; international cultural ambassadorship and cultural affairs; international journalism, reporting, communications; global business affairs; civil rights and legal aid/advocacy.


We encourage students to double-major in International Studies and one of the other majors degrees in the School of World Studies: Anthropology, Foreign Languages or Religious Studies, as doing so strengthens their cumulative knowledge, experience, academic record and resume for success in whatever path they choose after graduation.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Blogger/Vlogger
  • Event Planner
  • Flight Attendant
  • Health Systems Front Desk Specialist
  • Office Manager
  • Reporter
  • Social and Human Services Assistant
  • Social Media Manager
  • User Experience (UX) Researcher
  • Web Content Manager
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Diplomat
  • Foreign Affairs Specialist
  • International School Administrator
  • Producer
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.25+ major GPA
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for International Studies with concentration in European Studies, General Studies, International Social Justice Studies, Latin American Studies, World Cinema

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

International Studies, Bachelor of Arts

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts)

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
  • Attend Tyler Orientation.
  • Understand how you will fund your education.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Apply to the John Tyler Pathways Program.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Review career services at John Tyler.
  • Browse the career coach related to International Studies.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Use the career coach to take a career assessment.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways at VCU.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Understand how you will fund your education. Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Experience Year 2
  • Meet with your academic advisor.
  • Use Navigate to remain on your pathway.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Learn about the World ePass and start considering how you will fulfill the experiential learning requirement for the bachelor's degree.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a current issue through ConnectVA or HandsOnRVA.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the School of World Studies.
  • Research housing for next year.
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies events.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend Tyler Orientation.
  • Understand how you will fund your education.
  • Register for SDV course.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway.
  • Apply to the John Tyler Pathways Program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Review career services at John Tyler.
  • Browse the career coach related to International Studies.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Use the career coach to take a career assessment.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways at VCU.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Understand how you will fund your education. Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Meet with your academic advisor.
  • Use Navigate to remain on your pathway.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Learn about the World ePass and start considering how you will fulfill the experiential learning requirement for the bachelor's degree.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a current issue through ConnectVA or HandsOnRVA.
  • Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
  • Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the School of World Studies.
  • Research housing for next year.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options at VCU.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or School of World Studies events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

International Studies, Bachelor of Arts

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts)

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning MATH 131 3 General education
Foreign Language Foreign Language (101-level) - FRE 101 or SPA 101 VCU equivalent 4 General education
CST 100 Public Speaking SPCH 121 3 Elective
ENG 112 College Composition  II UNIV 200 3 General education
Foreign Language Foreign Language (102-level) - FRE 102 or SPA 102 VCU equivalent 4 General education
Art elective Art Elective: ART 101, 102, CST 130, CST 151, MUS 121, MUS 226 VCU equivalent 3 General education
HIS History elective (select 1): HIS 111, 112, 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
Social/Behavioral Science Social/behavioral science (select 1): PSY 200, SOC 200, SOC 211 (PSY 230 will be accepted if Associate degree is completed) VCU equivalent 3 General education
Foreign Language Foreign Language (201-level) - FRE 201 or SPA 201 VCU equivalent 3 Major (Ancillary)
Laboratory Science Laboratory science (select 1): BIO 101, CHM 101, CHM 111, ENV 121, PHY 101, PHY 201 VCU equivalent 4 General education
HIS History elective (select 1): HIS 111, 112, 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
ENG Any 200-level ENG literature course (select 1) ENGL 3 General education
Philosophy/Religion Philosophy/Religion elective (select 1): PHI 101, 111, 220, REL 100, 230 VCU equivalent 3 General education
Foreign Language Foreign Language (202-level) - FRE 202 or SPA 202 VCU equivalent 3 Major (Ancillary)
Select from REL 230, SOC 268, PLS 135, GEO 210, GEO 220, PLS 241. VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Transfer elective Transfer elective VCU equivalent 8 Elective
John Tyler credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Experiential learning requirement Students must fulfill an experiential learning requirement through an approved internship, service-learning course or study-abroad program. See VCU advisor for options. 0 to 3 Major (Ancillary)
World ePass Portfolio (see VCU advisor). The World ePass portfolio content requirements include professional preparation, transferable skills articulation, academic career highlights, experiential learning experiences and global citizenship. 0 Major (Ancillary)
INTL 375 Interdisciplinary Methods for International Studies Research 3 Major
INTL 465 Rethinking Globalization 3 Major
INTL 490 Senior Capstone in International Studies (capstone) 3 Major
RELS 340/INTL 341 Global Ethics and the World's Religions 3 Major
WRLD 210 International Social Justice Studies 3 Major
WRLD 302 Communicating Across Cultures 3 Major
Upper-level foreign language coursework (300-level or higher) 6 Major
Concentration upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses). See VCU advisor for course options. The focus of a degree in international studies is interdisciplinary and should reflect a well-rounded mix of courses completed in a variety of disciplines (e.g. ANTH, HIST, POLI, SOCY, WRLD and foreign language). 18 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 6 Elective
Open electives 12 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 60
Bachelor's degree total 120