The International Studies Specialization is an academic program that combines coursework at UW-Stout and abroad with practical experience living, studying or working with people of another country or culture. Many students take the specialization in place of a traditional minor. With careful planning, many of the requirements of the specialization can also be used to meet requirements in your degree program. Therefore, you can often get the specialization without taking a lot of additional courses beyond your degree requirements. The combination of study abroad and the International Studies Specialization can help you develop:
- Ability to communicate ideas clearly with people of different cultures and languages.
- Ability to analyze and solve problems from local, national, global and cross-cultural perspectives.
- Self confidence in living and working with people from other countries and cultures.
- Tolerance for other cultures and different cultural approaches to problem-solving.
Note: The International Studies Specialization program is not currently accepting applications.
Who can enroll in the specialization?
Any student interested in international studies can enroll; however, the Specialization is designed to work best for students in the following majors:
- Apparel Design and Development
- Business Administration
- Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management
- Retail Merchandising and Management
- Education Majors
- Undeclared
And students wanting to study a foreign language
What is the program of study?
All students enrolled in the specialization study international relations, world geography, cross-cultural communication, language and area studies at Stout or in one of the study abroad programs.
Then you take additional professional courses from one of the specialized options listed below:
- International Business
- International Tourism
- Language Studies
- Area Studies
- International Education
- Apparel Design and Development: Retailing
The specialization is flexibly designed to offer you an opportunity to better understand other cultures and international relations, and to prepare for life and a career in the global society of the 21st Century. Many students combine the specialization with a study abroad program in order to gain actual experience living in another culture.
