Quotes from International Studies Students
Martha M., 2005
- Why I chose the I.S. major/What I like about the I.S. major.
I chose to become an I.S. major because I felt it not only complimented my political science major but also would help me prepare myself for law school. International law particularly interests me and I felt this major would allow me to explore, more in depth, different aspects of our global community. Courses in history, anthropology, sociology and political science are all part of my I.S. major and the range of courses that can be taken with this major is very appealing.
- What I am planning to do after graduation (and how your PTS core and/or extracurricular activities are preparing you for that).
I am interested in either attending law school or becoming a part of Teach for America. A major in I.S., I believe, will be beneficial regardless of which one I choose to do. Because the I.S. major is flexible with what courses one must take for such a major, students can personalize their course work to better prepare them for what they want to do in their future.
- What I gained from my study abroad experience.
(I am currently abroad, but what I have gained so far...) I have gained a better awareness of different political and social ideas and customs. I chose to study abroad in Vienna, Austria, which has a much different political and social system than the US. Living in another country has caused me to question my own ideas and what I believe to be true--it is definitely a quite humbling and wonderful experience. I think one definitely gains different perspectives while living abroad and this is essential to one's education with a major such as International Studies.
Emma S., 2005
I feel as though by being part of the International Studies major, I am gaining a liberal arts education that would be hard to come by in any other major at this school. It gives me a broad view of many aspects of how the world works, and because of the Technical Core, Language and Area Studies choices, you can follow more closely those aspects that interest you.
I am going to study abroad in Spain all next year so that I can learn the language, the culture, and the Spanish way of life in more depth. I feel that this major prepares me for not only a career, but also being a more well rounded person.
I chose this major because I grew up in Europe, and hope to return there after my undergraduate work. With a major designed the way this one is, I feel i will be more adequately prepared when I am looking for a job overseas.
Aubrey C., 2005
I chose to major in International Studies because I felt that it would provide me with a very strong liberal arts background. I am also very interested in international issues, such as the role of women in Less Developed Countries and the effects that the IMF and other International Financial Institutions have on the economies of these countries. I feel that the International Studies major gives students a great deal of freedom to explore what really interests them, to become proficient in another language, and to learn about a new or different culture through studying abroad. International Studies gives me a chance to try new disciplines which I feel will make me a very well-rounded student. After I graduate, I plan to take a semester off and do community service in South America, and then I plan to go to graduate school. Hopefully my PTS Core of Human Rights will prepare me to work in an NGO or a non-profit organization dealing specifically with women's and children's rights.
Alison K., 2005
I chose to be an international studies major because fell it is based upon the attitude of being a global person. I don't think this is a major just for students who are planning to work abroad or who even speak other languages. While those things are great, the USA needs people who are internationally and globally minded, people who see the changing world and people who can work with others from other cultures.
If you have ANY interest in our world and a global, connected place then this is a major for you. Once you take your core classes you can venture out on your own and chose a focus that relates exactly to what you wanna do.
Most international studies majors are doing totally different things. While I’m learning about Latin America, improving my language skills in Spanish, and dealing with human rights issues another IS major is studying Asia and learning about trade and commerce. This areas or totally different but similar in that they deal with the world in which we all live.
Plus the many state and NGO jobs look for people with this major. The state job tend to be in the USA, are well paying and flexible. The NGO jobs many times lead to opportunities to work abroad.
Mark W, 2005
Not one month after I started my freshman year at the U of I, the calendar read Sept. 11, 2001. That day it quickly became clear that we Americans needed to be more aware of the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the world - questions many of us couldn't answer that day. So the International Studies path was natural and necessary.
My double major is Spanish. Whether I do business, governmental or other work in the future, a strong background in all things "international", especially at an early stage like undergrad years, will be critical. Plus, major's curriculum accommodated my 3 semesters of study abroad, still enabling me to graduate in 4 years.
Beyond that, it has been exciting and a joy to be able to actually understand what it is I read about in the newspaper and hear on the news. I feel better informed about my world and my role in it.
