Back to IS HomeBeyond US Borders
International Studies at the University of Memphis College of Arts and Sciences
What can I do with a major in International Studies?
 

This is probably the most common question asked about ANY major. Yet in many respects it is also the wrong question to be asking. Like most undergraduate majors, International Studies is not an "apprenticeship" program that dictates a single career pathway. Though the IS major can provide you with useful knowledge and skills that many organizations may find desirable, your major is only a portion of what makes you employable.

Thus a more productive way to approach this issue is to examine:

  • "What do I want to do for a career? What types of work do I find exciting and/or engaging?"
  • "Will an IS major help me obtain the necessary tools for this career?"
  • "Do I enjoy my field of study? Do I find the courses intellectually challenging and stimulating?"

In other words, your choice of major should be examined in light of your long-term goals, the relevance of your major towards attaining these goals, and your personal interest in the subject matter. Towards that end, the links below provide further information to help you better assess your own goals, as well as the various career opportunities for which IS can prepare you

  • Common Career Paths in International Studies - Career Paths

Useful Web Resources


The statements found on The International Studies webpages are for informational purposes only. While every effort is made to ensure that this information is up to date and accurate, official information can be found in the University publications.
The University of Memphis, a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action University.
It is committed to education of a non-racially identifiable student body.