International Studies | LSU Majors

You are curious about other cultures and the issues that drive global politics.

About International Studies 

In this program, you can expect to gain a wide-ranging view of world issues while focusing on a particular geographic region or areas such as global diplomacy. In international studies, you will also have opportunities to participate in study abroad programs and develop in-depth knowledge of the languages and cultures of your chosen area.

Concentrations Available:

If you major in international studies, you'll be required to choose a concentration. Each available concentration is listed below.

• Africa: The concentration in Africa focuses on the politics, history, folklore, and culture of Sub Saharan Africa. This region has close cultural ties with the United States, and supplies a number of important resources which are shipped through the Port of New Orleans including cocoa, coffee, and rubber. Dramatic economic conditions in some parts of Africa highlight the urgent need for sustainable economic development. 
• Asia: The concentration in Asia focuses on the religion, politics, history, art, and literature of South and East Asia. This is a huge and diverse region encompassing the majority of the world’s population. The region includes important industrialized economies such as Japan, newly prosperous states like Korea, and nations undergoing or poised for rapid economic growth such as China and India. With such economic importance and potential, and a number of unresolved territorial disputes, U.S. policy has recently begun to pivot towards a greater focus on Asia.
• Environment and Development: The concentration in environment and development focuses on the interplay between economic development and natural resources. The goal of this concentration is to help students understand the difficulties and opportunities in the area of sustainable development. Economic activity has environmental effects at all scales from local pollution and resource depletion such as deforestation, to regional impacts from overfishing or excessive use of water resources, and on to global concerns such as climate change.
• Europe: The concentration in Europe focuses on the history, politics, art, and literature of the countries of modern Europe.
• Global Cultures: The concentration in global cultures includes arts, folklore, religious practice, and literature from cultures around the world, with an emphasis on the sharing of cultures across regions through migration, colonialism, and diasporas. The concentration draws heavily on anthropology and literary analysis to provide a vocabulary for the study of culture. It also examines how identities are created, maintained, or changed in a global world. 
• Global Diplomacy: The concentration in global diplomacy focuses on the interactions between nations.  The courses in this concentration focus on economic interactions, military security, and international law/organization.
• Global Studies: The concentration in global studies is a very broad concentration covering any topics which fall across multiple regions of the world. Much of international relations, global climate concerns, third world development, world population and globalization fit under this concentration.
• Latin America: The concentration in Latin America focuses on the history, folklore, culture, and literature of Latin America and the Caribbean. The close proximity of this region to the United States and our long history of interactions with the area make it a very important area for U.S. foreign policy and for American commercial interests. The stark disparities of economic conditions and environmental endowments across the Americas draw attention to the need for sustainable development.
• Middle East: The concentration in the Middle East focuses on the religion, politics, art, and literature of the Middle East and North Africa. The concentration includes the Arab world, as well as important bordering states such as Turkey and Iran. This is a region with a rich history and tradition which has been a preoccupation of recent United States foreign policy.

Possible Careers 

• Ambassador
• Federal agent
• Foreign service specialist
• International business manager or executive
• International development professional
• Lawyer  

Email hss@lsu.edu or call 225-578-3141 for more information.

Fast Track Available

• 3+3 Pre-Law Program