International Studies
Major/Minor
- School of Arts, Sciences & Business
- History and Political Science Department
The International Studies program offers exceptional breadth in political science, history, business, economics, and foreign languages. The curriculum is distinctive for its focus on the role of women in international relations, as well as issues of justice and peace. It offers unique perspectives on problems of war, terrorism, genocide, racism, religious intolerance, and violence against women, and provides students with experiential learning opportunities to grapple with these problems in real-world contexts.
Program Locations
Available Majors
As an international studies major, you will select a specialization:
- International Business
- International Relations
Available Minors
Additional Study Options
Sample program of study for the international studies—international business major. Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor.
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
First Year |
|||
| NDMU-100 Perspectives in Education | 4 | Philosophy (200-level) | 3 |
| ENG-101 College Writing | 3 | COM-106 Fundamentals of Oral Comm | 3 |
| POL-103 Introduction to International Affairs | 3 | MAT-215 Statistics | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | ECO-211 Macroeconomics or ECO-212 Microeconomics |
3 |
| BUS-302 Principle of Management | 3 | BUS-303 Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| [15 credits] | [15 credits] | ||
Second Year |
|||
| ECO-211 Macroeconomics or ECO-212 Microeconomics |
3 | RST-201 Introduction to Biblical Studies | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | Foreign Language | 3 |
| Philosophy (300-level) | 3 | BUS-261 Managing Financial Resources | 3 |
| General education/Electives | 6 | Generation education/Electives | 6 |
| Physical Education | 1 | [15 credits] | |
| [16 credits] | |||
Third Year |
|||
| Literature | 3 | Philosophy (upper-level) | 3 |
| Religious Studies (upper-level) | 3 | BUS-350 International Business | 3 |
| Major elective | 3 | HIS/POL-330 European Foreign Relations | 3 |
| Internship or study tour | 3 | POL-440 Global Issues | 3 |
| General Education/Electives | 3 | Major Elective | 3 |
| [15 credits] | [15 credits] | ||
Fourth Year |
|||
| Major elective | 3 | POL-351 Problems of Developing Nations or HIS/POL-404 U.S. Foreign Relations | 3 |
| ECO-404 International Economics | 3 | HIS/POL-325 Revolution and Terrorism | 3 |
| POL-401 Political and Economic Globalization | 3 | Major elective | 3 |
| General Education/Electives | 3 | General Education/Electives | 6 |
| Internship or study tour | 3 | [15 credits] | |
| [14–16 credits] | |
||
Sample program of study for the international studies—international relations major. Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor.
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Year | |||
| NDMU-100 Perspectives in Education | 4 | Philosophy (200- level) | 3 |
| ENG-101 College Writing | 3 | COM-106 Fundamentals of Oral Communication | 3 |
| POL-103 Introduction to International Affairs | 3 | HIS/POL-290 Women in Islamic Societies or HIS/POL-200 Genocide | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | Foreign Language | 3 |
| General Education/Elective | 3 | MAT-215 Statistics | 3 |
| [15 credits] | [15 credits] | ||
Second Year |
|||
| ECO-211 Macroeconomics or ECO-212 Microeconomics |
3 | POL-252 Latin America or HIS-335 Modern Japan |
3 |
| HIS-222 Europe, 1848–Pres | 3 | Foreign Language | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | Natural Science | 4 |
| Philosophy (300-level) | 3 | Literature | 3 |
| Physical Education | 1 | RST-201 Introduction to Biblical Studies | 3 |
| General Education/Elective | 3 | [16 credits] | |
| [16 credits] | |||
Third Year |
|||
| HIS/POL-325 Revolution/Terrorism or HIS/POL-404 U.S. Foreign Relations |
3 | HIS-331 Modern China |
3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | Philosophy (upper-level) | 3 |
| Religious Studies (upper-level) | 3 | Internship or study tour | 3 |
| Physical Education | 1 | POL-351 Problems Developing Nations | 3 |
| General Education/Electives | 6 | General Education/Elective | 3 |
| [16 credits] | [15 credits] | ||
Fourth Year |
|||
| POL-361 Methods in Research | 3 | POL-440 Global Issues | 3 |
| POL-430 International Organizations | 3 | HIS/POL-330 Europe Foreign Relations | 3 |
| HIS/POL-elective | 3 | POL-401 Political and Economic Globalization | 3 |
| Major elective | 3 | Internship or study tour | 3 |
| General Education/Elective | 3 | General Education/Elective | 3 |
| [15 credits] | [15 credits] | |
|
What to Expect Studying at Notre Dame of Maryland University
Small classes, lectures and seminars provide a climate for individualized learning while study abroad experiences offer an opportunity to increase global awareness.
Research & Internship Opportunities
Internship and employment opportunities include:
- Visa International
- Department of Homeland Security
- Montgomery College
- Catholic Relief Services
- MBNA
- National Security Agency
- United States Department of Commerce
- International Monetary Fund
Study Abroad
Through the School Sisters of Notre Dame and partnerships with universities around the world, choose to study, intern, work, teach, or complete service projects abroad in short-term or semster-long programs.
International Studies Careers
- International Law
- Diplomacy
- National Security
- Global Advocacy
- International Journalism
- Academic Research
- Teaching