International Studies
Introduction
The International Studies (IS) major equips students with multidisciplinary training in analyzing the underlying dynamics of global affairs. Combining traditional fields of study like international relations, international economics and international law with innovative approaches to globalization studies, the IS major gives students the intellectual skills with which to pursue leadership positions in government and foreign services, international organizations and development NGOs, and multinational corporations alike. Emphasizing the importance of developing a strong regional expertise, the IS major capitalizes on UIC’s location in Seoul as an academic, commercial, and technological hub to offer an especially rich array of courses dealing with East Asia. But true to its name, the ultimate goal of the IS major is to help students develop the thinking skills they would need to be effective in careers anywhere in the world.Download IS Degree Requirements
Curriculum
The IS major acquires a strong foundation in interdisciplinary perspectives and extensive training in how to use the key analytic tools of social sciences and humanities. With a special emphasis on area studies, the IS major teaches students to understand the trends and forces of globalization by giving them a firm grasp of the relevant issues at both regional and international level. Given the multifaceted nature of these challenges, the key advantage of the IS major is that it overcomes the narrow confines of traditional academic disciplines to provide comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspectives on the issues that define our rapidly globalizing world.
Careers
The IS graduates are positioned to pursue a wide range of career paths in fields such as international business, diplomacy, development, law, and academia. Many IS graduates work in the overseas marketing or sales divisions of major Korean conglomerates; others pursue advanced master’s or PhD degrees on the basis of their undergraduate studies. The IS graduates find success in the job market because interdisciplinary studies prepare them to solve a wide range of problems while the academic rigor of their classes trains them to take on the complex work required when working across international borders.
Faculty
The IS major draws its core teaching faculty from the Graduate School of International Studies along with other departments of Yonsei. The IS major also invites distinguished scholars with practical work experience or unique areas of expertise to offer diverse courses for IS students.