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International Studies
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Ramapo College Office of Admissions
McBride House 505 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, NJ 07430
p: (201) 684-7300
e: admissions@ramapo.edu
f: (201) 684-7964
About International Studies
Do you want to know more about the world and experience it as a ‘global village’? Are you curious about other cultures? Does learning about the world through international experiences appeal to you? Are you interested in learning a foreign language to better understand others and to engage with people from other countries?
The International Studies program seeks to prepare students for the complex, challenging, dynamic, and interdependent global world of the 21st century. The program focuses on the political, economic, and cultural interdependencies and their effects on people in the emerging global system.
Classes you can take:
As an interdisciplinary major, courses from many different disciplines count toward the major. These include anthropology, communications, history, and political science. While there are a few required courses, students can choose the fields they would like to take for most of their requirements. Some students choose to focus primarily in one discipline, while others take a broad range of courses across disciples.
Popular courses include: Comparative Politics, International Politics, Food and Culture, World Cultures, Urban Anthropology, Politics of Developing Nations, Chinese Culture and Civilization, Contemporary Latin America, Women in Middle East Societies.
- POLI 205 - COMPARATIVE POLITICS
- POLI 235 - INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
- ANTH 220 - FOOD AND CULTURE
- ANTH 223 - WORLD CULTURES
- ANTH 238 - URBAN ANTHROPOLOGY
- POLI 227 - POLITICS OF DEVELOPING NATIONS
- INTL 235 - CHINESE CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
- INTL 283 - CONTEMPORARY LATIN AMERICA
- HIST 288 - WOMEN IN MIDDLE EASTERN SOCIETIES
Career Opportunities
We are often asked what specific of careers a major in International Studies might lead to. The interdisciplinary nature of the major and the wide array of courses that count towards the program mean that our graduates pursue a broad array of career paths. We also maintain strong connections with our graduates who often serve as mentors to current students and guide them into their future career paths.
A degree in International Studies provides an excellent basis for a wide range of careers, as well as for admission to graduate and professional schools, which are increasingly seeking “globally literate” individuals. Recent graduates have been accepted to prestigious graduate programs in international relations, political science, anthropology, public health, public policy, law, social work, and education at institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, Boston University, Columbia University, George Washington University, New York University, The New School, and The School for International Training. Additionally, many of our students have received prestigious grants and fellowships such as the Fulbright and Boren.
Typical career tracks for International Studies students include government, international business, law, non-governmental organizations and non-profits, international education, and multinational organizations.
Examples of positions that some of our alumni hold:
- Economist & Operations Analyst, The World Bank Group;
- Consular and Administrative Officer, Consulate General of Ireland in New York;
- Proctor, United States Senate;
- Logistics Management Specialist, United States Department of Defense;
- Senior Financial Analyst, Johnson & Johnson;
- Assistant Vice-President – Prime Brokerage Client Operations, Credite Suisse;
- Corporate Recruiter, Wright-Pierce; Marketing Coordinator, Quinn Emanuel;
- AmeriCorp Program Manager, NORWESCAP;
- Manager of Academic Programs, CIEE Council on International Education Exchange;
- Manager of Digital Initiatives, American Museum of Natural History NYC;
- Senior Grants Writer, NJ Transit;
- Membership and Special Events Coordinator, Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences;
- Program Manager, Office of Global Experiences at the University of Pittsburgh;
- Law Clerk, United States District Court Judicial Law Clerk, New Jersey Superior Court;
- Litigation Associate -Government Contracts, Fox Rothschild LLP;
- Immigration Paralegal, Santana Law Group;
- Lecturer in International Relations, University of Pennsylvania;
- ESL Faculty, Bergen Community College;
- High School Social Studies Teacher, Immaculate Heart Academy;
- Senior Wellness Coordinator & COVID-19 Case Management Assistant, Premise Health;
- Health Policy Advisor, Partners in Health in Sierra Leone;
- Resident Medical Officer, Queensland Health Australia;
- Licensed Professional Counselor, Safe Haven Counseling;
- Group Manager – Lifecycle Marketing, The Washington Post;
- Editorial Staff, Carnegie Corporation of New York;
Sample Job Titles and National Salary Ranges
| Job Title | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Writers and Authors | $43,820 - $125,340 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $31,830 - $99,690 |
| Travel Agents | $39,720 - $78,750 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $83,510 - $208,410 |
| Instructional Coordinators | $52,100 - $113,780 |
| Community Health Workers | $39,190 - $80,270 |
| Political Scientists | $79,840 - $183,500 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $67,960 - $140,500 |
* Sources of Information: United States Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). For more information about careers and assistance in making your career plans, please contact Career Services (cahill@ramapo.edu) or visit www.ramapo.edu/careercenter/.
Success Stories
Hands-On Learning
International Studies majors are required to fill an experiential learning requirement (ideally a semester-long study abroad, or an international cooperative education, internship, or service-learning course). You can enrich and broaden your academic program through participation in The Model United Nations Club, the International Student Organization, and other college organizations and clubs.
Ramapo students have gained real-world work experience with organizations such as Global Alliance for Women’s Health, Margaret Sanger Papers Project, Mercedes Benz, Seiko Corporation of America, National Organization for Women, Thomson Reuters, and American Business Forum on Europe. On the global stage, our students have studied abroad in a wide array of locations such as Argentina, Chile, Italy, Japan, Nepal, South Korea, and Spain to name a few.
International Studies Minor
The International Studies minor seeks to prepare students for the complex, challenging, and dynamic interdependent world of the 21st century. As we enter this “global village,” the acquisition of new skills, additional knowledge and wisdom will be necessary for effective citizenship and career aspirations. The International Studies minor is designed to meet this challenge.
The program focuses on political, economic, and cultural interdependencies and their effects on people in the emerging global system. Interdisciplinary issues of war and peace, economic and political development, and cross-cultural communication are examined, as are global concerns of population, environment, and human rights. International Studies students become knowledgeable about another world culture, and become proficient in another language.
A minor will complement Political Science, History, International Business, Spanish Language Studies, Communication Arts, and a variety of other majors.
Related Programs
Anthropology
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East Asian Studies
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Human Rights and Genocide Studies
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Latino/a and Latin American Studies
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