Why Major in International and Area Studies at K?
Learn how to be a conscientious global citizen and succeed in our modern, interconnected world through intimate classes, study abroad experiences, and research opportunities.
As an International and Area Studies (IAS) student, you will learn how to critically assess global and transnational issues; compare countries’ political, economic, and cultural structures; develop an in-depth knowledge of a particular region of the world; and master a foreign language. You will develop these skills through globally-minded courses, the completion of your Senior Integrated Thesis, and taking part in an immersive study abroad experience.
As a deeply interdisciplinary major, you will have the opportunity to supplement your IAS courses and fulfill graduation requirements through select courses in relevant fields, such as Anthropology and Sociology, African Studies, Political Science, History, Philosophy, and various languages. You will also have the chance to learn through immersion by taking advantage of Kalamazoo College’s stellar study abroad program with 50+ opportunities across six continents to choose from.
By the time you graduate, you will be well prepared to live in and make sense of the interdependent global world and have a solid foundation for a career in the international sector or for further studies.
What can you do with an International and Area Studies degree?
Below are some of the careers, employers, and graduate schools of our IAS alumni.
Careers
- English Teacher
- Legal Affairs
- Program Advisor
- Policy and Advocacy Fellow
- Writer
Employers
- Fulbright
- Teaching Assistant Program in France
- Spain Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports
- The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
- ACLU of Illinois
Graduate Schools
- Queen Mary University of London
- Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
- University of Bonn
- University of Strasbourg
- Aberystwyth University
Faculty
John Dugas (Chair), Margaret and Roger Scholten Associate Professor of Political Science. BA Louisiana State University PhD Indiana University-Bloomington
Amy Elman, Weber Professor in Social Science. BA Brandeis University MA, PhD New York University
Dennis Frost, Wen Chao Chen Professor of East Asian Social Sciences. BA Wittenberg University MPhil, PhD Columbia University
Enid Valle, Professor of Romance Languages and Literature. BA University of Puerto Rico MA, PhD University of Michigan
Meet the Current Departmental Student Advisor
Joseph Shumunov (he/him)
Majors: International & Area Studies and Political Science
Study Abroad: Amman, Jordan
Best Adjective to Describe You: Formidable
What is the best thing about being part of this department?
The interdisciplinary nature of the department allows you take internationally focused courses in different fields.
What drew you to the department?
I have always been interested in International Relations specifically in the Middle East since high school, and I thought the region-specific discipline of the department was very intriguing.
What is your favorite thing about K?
I love the size of the student body. It’s the perfect amount of students for a college: you have seen all of the students on campus, but you know only a few.
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
Since the very beginning of my college career, I’ve enjoyed the open curriculum because it allowed to pursue my interests and not be stuck in the Gen-Ed rigidity of other colleges. The flexible curriculum allowed me to finish most of my major requirements early, which allowed me to take courses that I simply just took because they piqued my interest. Since I specialize in Middle East, I would never have imagined I would take courses like German Film, Magical Realism, or others. Those courses are completely out of my expertise but opened me up to skills like film analysis, literature analysis, etc.
What is your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)?
I will be analyzing why Azerbaijan remains strong and stable amid Russian aggression against other GUAM states like Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova. As a part of my SIP, I will be a summer visiting fellow at the Topchubashov Center, an international politics think tank in Baku, Azerbaijan.
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I hope to pursue the Fulbright Master’s Degree Program in Israel. I hope to receive an MA in International Relations at Tel Aviv University and return to the US to pursue a law degree.