International Studies

International studies is an innovative program that combines off-campus study in a non-English-speaking location with on- and off-campus coursework. A rotating team of faculty teach courses from a range of disciplines to give you a broad multinational perspective. You’ll study globalization, human rights, global environmental policies, international business, and more.

By the time you graduate, you will have: 

• Gained a multinational perspective through various academic lenses
• Developed an advanced level of proficiency in a foreign language
• Built a deeper understanding of other cultures through one or more international travel experiences

Joint Major in International Studies

You can major in international studies by combining the field with another discipline. This offers you a distinctive opportunity to design a major that is customized to your learning goals. Examples include:

• International Studies & Anthropology
• International Studies & Business, Organizations and Society
• International Studies & Dance
• International Studies & Environmental Studies
• International Studies & Government
• International Studies & Public Policy
• International Studies & Sociology

Minor in International Studies or Area Studies

F&M’s International Studies program offers two minors: international studies and area studies. If you choose area studies, you will focus your minor on a specific region of the world. Examples include:

• African Studies
• Asian Studies
• European Union
• Japanese Studies
• Latin American Studies
• Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies

We encourage all of our students in the program to reach a high level of proficiency in a second — or even a third — language. We offer courses in nine modern foreign languages and two classical languages:

• German
• Italian
• Russian
• Chinese
• Greek
• Latin
• Japanese
• Spanish
• Hebrew

Curious what international studies classes are like? Take a look at our course catalog to see the depth and breadth of what’s available to you.

A critical component of the international studies program is immersing yourself in the languages and cultures you choose to study. You’ll find extraordinary opportunities to step off the F&M campus and extend your understanding in other continents. 

Off-Campus Study

International studies majors are required to participate in one semester of off-campus study in a non-English-speaking country. They also must complete research or coursework in the native language of the country to which they choose to travel. Those minoring in the program are strongly encouraged to study outside the U.S., but are not required to do so. Our students have studied on six of the seven continents.
Explore off-campus study at F&M

Research Opportunities 

Every student at F&M has extraordinary opportunities to engage in independent or faculty-led research. International studies students in particular can look forward to summer travel awards, scholarships, and post-graduate fellowships to support their research or study-abroad experience.
Explore research at F&M

Joseph International Center

The heart of F&M’s global community is the Joseph International Center, a campus space dedicated to bringing all members of the F&M community together across borders, cultures and languages. JIC has an open, airy communal space for coffee hours and group study, a cozy seminar room, a kitchen, and a small Japanese garden. It hosts a variety of events such as a weekly international coffee hour and Lunar New Year celebrations. The JIC is the primary hub for off-campus study planning, international student services and the international studies academic program.
Explore the Joseph International Center

After you graduate with a degree in international studies, a world of opportunities awaits. 

Graduate School

Graduate school is a popular path for our students. Many complete or enroll in doctoral programs in government, languages, science, medicine or law. Our graduates have completed their advanced degrees at the best universities in the U.S. and abroad.

Career Paths

Career outcomes for international studies graduates are diverse. Many obtain entry-level positions in government, nonprofits, foreign service, international law, healthcare, medicine, and marketing and business consulting.