 Center for International Studies Texas State University-San Marcos

Mission Statement  The mission of the International Studies undergraduate program is to provide quality, interdisciplinary education to majors about international affairs in order that they will be prepared for careers in the public and private sectors and for further professional education in international studies and its allied fields. Students will be prepared with the necessary research and writing skills to pursue careers in law, diplomacy, international affairs, and graduate study in international studies.

Learning Outcomes  *Students will demonstrate oral and written communication skills in international studies with a focus in international business, foreign policy, or travel/tourism.  *Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze an international relations problem with an international business, foreign policy, or travel/tourism emphasis.  *Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct general and specific research quickly and intelligibly on international relations problems with an international business, foreign policy, or travel/tourism emphasis.  *Students will demonstrate knowledge of an interdisciplinary perspective, global issues, global processes, global trends, global systems, and foreign policy constants.  *Students will demonstrate understanding of their culture in a global and comparative context.

About the Center for International Studies  Established in Dr. Dennis Dunn named its first Director  Two main majors: International Studies and International Relations  Seven areas of specialty/focus, including International Business and European Studies  Two certificates: Inter-American Studies & Southeast Asian Studies  Masters of Arts in International Studies  Two international student/faculty exchange programs in Honduras and Cambodia

What makes our Program Unique?  Scholarships – The Center for International Studies offers 7 opportunities to receive a scholarship as well as 2 fellowship opportunities.  Curriculum – Comparable to other schools in the area our program is more in depth, and tailored to students.  UT only offers a 19 hour certificate in International Studies and does not have a degree or major in this field of study.  A & M only offers 5 degree options, but unlike our program they do not have specific regional focuses for students to choose from such as Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia, etc.  University of North Texas offers 1 general International Studies degree option, preventing students from learning about International Studies in depth.  Standards – Our program contains the highest GPA requirement of all the programs in the University.  Our students are leaders: Have completed internships in China, Cambodia, Germany, & Honduras among others countries.  Our students have studied in many different parts of the world and some will do the same this year/summer.

Our Students

Why International Studies? What can I do with this degree?  Why choose this degree? Interdependence and Globalization!  The world has steadily been becoming one community over the past several decades.  "There is a consensus today, much like the one about science and math studies after the launch of Sputnik 50 years ago, that globally fluent graduates are essential to American competitiveness. International exposure, whether study, volunteer work or internship, has become a must-have credential. With the new demand — the number studying abroad is twice that of eight years ago — what was once an add-on has become big business. About 6,000 programs send students to more than 100 countries.” New York Times, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007  Where can this degree take a student?  Where ever they’d like to be! Some of our alum have obtained careers and internships in the Foreign Service, British Parliament, Peace Corps, Teaching ESL abroad, international law, management, marketing, sales, and more. There is a more extensive list on our website.

Testimonials "The International Studies Program at Texas State University opened my eyes and mind the world. The classroom discussions and assignments helped me sharpen my ability to analyze issues and problems from different angles and communicate what I learned in an articulate manner. Moreover, serving as an intern at the U.S. Department of State and studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain, transformed my life in such positive ways. Majoring in International Studies provided me those opportunities. I feel like a better global citizen as a result." -Ann V. Collins, BAIS 1989 Assistant Professor of Political Science, McKendree University

Continued…  “Texas State University offers the best undergraduate and graduate degree in International Studies in the southwest.” -Geoffrey Connor, BAIS 1985 Attorney and Former Texas Secretary of State