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International Studies

Bradley’s international studies major gives you a global perspective valuable for a career in international relations, law or business.

Preparing You For Success

You sharpen your analytical abilities, critical-thinking skills and understanding of current events through the IS curriculum and additional courses in economics, history and political science. Small class sizes emphasize research, presentations and spirited conversations about pressing global matters. Additionally, course requirements give you flexibility to tailor the degree to your career interests. Those classes provide opportunities to dialogue with guest lecturers and members of the Peoria Area World Affairs Council (PAWAC). The major can be paired with a second major, such as history, political science or economics.

By the time you graduate, your experiences include:

  • Proficiency in a foreign language
  • Specialized knowledge of a region or foreign affairs-related topic
  • Opportunities to study in Washington, D.C., or abroad
  • A senior research project mentored by an IS professor
  • Networking and professional development through Bradley’s International Affairs Organization and partnership with PAWAC

Making Your Mark

The international studies degree can launch your career or prepare you for future graduate studies. It’s valuable for careers in business, foreign affairs, nonprofits and law. Recent Bradley graduates are working for the Global FoodBanking Network, U.S. Agency for International Development, Central Intelligence Agency and World Trade Center, St. Louis. Others have attended graduate school at Tufts University, Georgetown University and Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Additionally, Bradley graduates have won Fulbright Scholarships to study in Austria, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain and other countries.

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Major Requirements

Required Courses - 21 hrs.

  • IS 103: Fundamentals of International Studies: Global Analysis - 3 hrs.
  • IS 104: Fundamentals of International Studies: Area Analysis - 3 hrs.
  • IS 275: Political Economy of the Developing World - 3 hrs.
  • IS 295: Research Design and Qualitative Methods for International Studies - 3 hrs.
  • IS 495: Advanced Seminar in International Studies - 3 hrs.
  • PLS 105: Introduction to American Government - 3 hrs.
  • ECO 222: Principles of Macroeconomics - 3 hrs.

Thematic Concentrations - 18 hrs.

Choose one regional concentration and one functional concentration. Both regional and functional concentrations require three separate courses for completion. At least one course in each concentration must be from International Studies.

Regional concentrations:

  • Asia: IS 182, 285, 318, 373, 381, 385; ENG 381; HIS 207, 314, 330; RLS 338, 340
  • Europe/Russia IS 330, 331, 353, 355, 431; ENG 385; HIS 208, 210, 340, 342, 375, 382; PLS 304; WLF 321, 322; WLG 321; WLS 306
  • Latin America: IS 322; HIS 205, 332, 335; WLS 322, 345, 410
  • Middle East and Africa: IS 363; HIS 206; RLS 121; 321

Functional concentrations:

  • Culture and identity in a globalized world: IS 182, 410; ANT 101, 305, 314; COM 315; ENG 140; HIS 329, 333, 339; PHL/PLS 307; SOC 205, 300, 311, 326
  • Global commerce, exchange, and political economy: IS 275, 410; ENT 381, 386; IB 204, 205, 206; ECO 391; MTG 315, 346, 388; PLS 319
  • Global governance and policy: IS 250, 305, 306, 312, 318, 330, 331, 410; ENS/IS 307; HIS 204; PLS 306, 317, 318

Quantitative Analysis Elective (choose one) - 3 hrs.

  • MTH 111: Elementary Statistics - 3 hrs.
  • PSY 205: Quantitative Methods - 3 hrs.
  • PLS 209: Scope and Methods of Political Science - 3 hrs.
  • QM 262: Quantitative Analysis I - 3 hrs.

World Language Proficiency

  • French, or German, or Spanish: a minimum of two courses at the 300 level.
  • Other languages offered by the Department of World Languages and Cultures (i.e. Arabic or Chinese): two semesters at the 200 level
  • Demonstrated proficiency in a language not offered at Bradley will be considered with the approval of the Institute Director.

Experiential Learning

The Experiential Learning requirement of the Bradley Core Curriculum must be fulfilled via completion of IS 495 and one of the following:

  • A study abroad activity approved by the campus Study Abroad Office. The activity can be for one year, one semester, a summer program, a January or May interim program, or a semester-long course with an embedded abroad experience;
  • An individually-arranged abroad experience completed via IS 490;
  • A Department of State internship or e-internship completed via IS 498;
  • Completion of a Bradley approved summer- or semester-long program in Washington, DC that includes an internship course (via OCP credit);
  • Completion of an internship experience with suitable international content approved by the Smith Career Center and by the Institute Director (via LAS 301);
  • A faculty directed research project completed via IS 499.