What are you going to do after graduation? If you need help with that question, you should pick up a copy of "The Next Step". This publication is especially for Arts & Sciences majors, and it will help guide you through the process of getting that great job after graduation. Get your copy from the SIAS office, Hester Hall 101.

General Skills Related to an International and Area Studies Degree:

In successfully completing a major in International and Area Studies, a student will possess the following attributes:

Foreign Language Skills - An IAS degree requires that students study at least 16 hours of one foreign language relevant to the geographical area of concentration. IAS students have the ability to speak, read and write in a second or third language. Since our students are required to study abroad, the students become proficient in a foreign language, and also learn to use that language in real-life situations on a regular basis.
Adaptability - IAS students are able to adjust and function in different environments, as practiced by studying abroad and adapting to an entirely foreign environment where people speak a different language and have different customs.

Cultural Awareness - Cultural sensitivity is important in an increasingly global environment. IAS majors study a great deal about foreign cultures and customs through language and comparative studies and also experience different countries through studying abroad. As a result, they have broad views of the way the world works in all its variety. They develop intercultural skills, and are generally open-minded to differences, sensitive to cultural diversity, and tolerant of different types of people.

Broad Knowledge Base - Many companies in today's society value a broad knowledge base versus just a narrow specific area of study. IAS majors know how to separate specific from general. Students with an IAS major take courses not only in the student's specific area of study (Asia, Latin America, The Middle East, Western/Eastern Europe and Africa), but also courses outside of his/her chosen area. They study instead a broad scope of a geographical region, tying together history, politics, economics, language, and other cultural studies.

Research - International and Area Studies majors practice their ability to collect and organize data as well as simplify complex data through history, political science, and other courses that require students to write extensive research papers. Students also develop analytical skills.

Writing Skills - IAS students learn to organize ideas and express them on paper, because many of their courses require that they describe and evaluate issues and concepts within lengthy reports and essay exams.
Oral Skills - The ability to speak clearly and coherently to inform and explain ideas is practiced in classes and abroad.

Interpersonal Skills - Students are often required to interact in duo or group projects, and they also hone their interpersonal skills when studying abroad because they must engage in interaction when applying language skills and attempting to learn a new culture.

What can I do with my degree?

A Degree in International and Area Studies lays the groundwork for successful careers with an international dimension in a wide range of fields. International Area Studies majors are prepared for careers in business, diplomacy and international aid and economic development and other forms of public service: Large corporations continue to expand their production and distribution systems to the most distant reaches of the globe. Professional groups and associations have expanded their connections with counterparts in other countries. As the line between public and private increasingly blurs, the opportunity increases for international service in a wide range of nonprofit agencies, institutions and foundations, research centers, public interest groups, non-governmental development agencies. There are today broader ranges of relevant opportunities both within government and within the expanding private and nonprofit sectors. Students majoring in International Studies tend to go into four types of careers:

1. International public service (US State Department, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Oklahoma Department of Tourism, United Nations and other international organizations).
2. International business, either multinational firms, or small firms that are developing international markets.
3. International non-profit organizations: Religious missions, Transparency International, Feed the Children, etc.
4. Advanced Study, MA in International Affairs, PhD, International Law.

Listed below are some other examples of fields IAS students might explore after graduation:

Aside from the Internet, students can also contact the Career Services office and also use the library's resources on career opportunities. The Career Services office has information on some public sector opportunities that may be helpful for IAS majors.