International Studies Major
Why Study International Studies at Virginia Tech?
We offer broad training in the liberal arts, emphasizing the study of foreign languages. You will develop specialized skills to prepare for roles in government, business, defense, international development, and non-governmental organizations. There are many opportunities for further education outside of the classroom available to students, such as study abroad and internships.
12
Languages to Study
24
Average Class Size
2
Programs to Study Away in D.C.
Meghan Oakes, '15
Interested in international diplomacy, Meghan started out by gaining a better understanding of U.S. domestic politics in her Congressional internship through the Hokies on the Hill program.
Nizar Taifour, ’16
Nizar graduated with degrees in international studies and business. He currently works at Accenture, a management consulting company, where he advises multilateral and financial services clients on opportunities for development. He says, "I chose international studies and business to drive governments and industries to invest in people."
Bijan Peters, '15
Upon graduating with an International Studies major and Spanish minor, Bijan moved to Conway, Arkansas to work for Hewlett Packard Enterprise, focusing on sales of their server, storage, and networking portfolio. Today, Bijan works in McLean, Virginia as a Sales Executive for Deloitte's Cloud practice focused on MuleSoft and Amazon Web Services.
Ally Miller, '18
After completing her degree in international studies with minors in Arabic and psychology, Ally completed a master's degree in Forensic Psychology at George Washington University. Her internships during her time at Virginia Tech at both the state police and in federal law enforcement, especially her experience working for the Behavioral Analysis Unit, sparked her interest in further studying psychology. She is currently employed by Deloitte.
Linsi Goodin, ’21
Linsi studied international studies with minors in Chinese studies, international public policy, and national security and foreign affairs. She participated in Hokies on the Hill, interned in Washington DC for the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) and for Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). Linsi also conducted research for the Hume Center and the Diplomacy Lab on campus. She is pursuing a Master of Public Policy (MPP) at The George Washington University.
Erin Kaplan, '23
This summer I had the opportunity to intern with Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company as a Leadership Development Intern and Team Leader for the Food and Beverage Department. Throughout these past 12 weeks, I have had the opportunity to experience the day-to-day operations of a world-class entertainment and hospitality company, shadow various management officials, work event planning within concert venues, and build many new connections with other interns and professionals from all over the country and world. During my third week, I got promoted to a team leader which helped further develop my leadership skills through problem solving in various unique situations and training dozens of new employees. Not only did this opportunity help me grow professionally, but it also made me realize my potential and capabilities and as a result making me more confident and prepared to enter the workforce.
Clement Mulock, '22
Clement has worked with the National Academy of Sciences on the Board of Army Research and Development. Additionally, he completed research with Dr. Stivachtis on two projects, including a paper on Organized Crime in the European Union. Clement plans to attend law school.
Careers and Further Study
What Can You Do with an International Studies Major?
Jobs Held by Our Graduates
- Military officer
- Consultant
- Political organizer
- Teacher/Professor
- Journalist
- Attorney
- Foreign aid administrator
- Law enforcement officer
- Foreign correspondent
- Federal agency official
- Foreign service officer
- International business analyst
- Public policy analyst
- Politician
- Nonprofit employee
- Foreign affairs specialist
- Human rights officer
Beyond the Classroom
Experiential Learning
Although studying abroad isn't required, it can often be a pivotal experience for you. Living in a different country is the best way to understand the differences and similarities between cultures. It allows you to develop personal expertise in a specific national or regional context.
Internships and cooperative education programs give you an opportunity to receive academic credit for working in a professional setting. Our students complete internships with the U.S. government, international organizations, and national, state, or local administrative agencies. Talk to an advisor who can help you find and secure a meaningful internship opportunity.
Our faculty members are productive authors, scholars, and award-winning teachers who are always eager to mentor students on research projects in their field of interest. We have experts on Japan, the European Union, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, the United Kingdom, and other nations, as well as specialists in topics like international security, citizenship, and human rights. If you'd like some guidance on an undergraduate research project, just ask!
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We work with many students in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and ROTC, as well as veterans and students waiting to begin a government training program. Our major provides training to prepare you for a career with the U.S. Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, or various intelligence agencies of the U.S. government.
The Department of State’s Diplomacy Lab program is a partnership with Virginia Tech to conduct research related to foreign policy. You will have the opportunity to research topics such as climate change, democracy and human rights, global health, and energy security. This program allows you to explore real-world challenges and work alongside faculty members who are authorities in their fields.
Work closely with a faculty mentor to create and pursue your own project or join a professor's project. The Diplomacy Lab program also offers several opportunities for students to pursue individual or collaborative research projects.
Curriculum
What You'll Study
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies Degree
- Including Virginia Tech's Pathways
International Studies Major Requirements
- Global Development
- International Communication
- Nations and Nationalities
- Global Security
- World Politics
- The Global Economy and World Politics
Minor and Elective Hours
Our program gives you the opportunity to build knowledge in another area by pursuing a minor, double major, or cognate.
120 hrs
B.A. International Studies
45 hrs
General Education
57 hrs
Major Requirements
36 hrs
Elective
Campus Life
Campus Life
Discover all that Virginia Tech has to offer inside and outside of the classroom. Our campus life aims to build communities, promote holistic education, and cultivate environments that offer opportunities for leadership, innovation, and service.