International Studies

The International Studies (INST) Major at UNO is an interdisciplinary program that provides an international focus and foundation for professional careers in the private, nonprofit, and public sectors, as well as graduate studies. Among these careers and further studies are international management and business, diplomacy and foreign service, national security and intelligence, international law and policy, conflict mediation, humanitarian aid, international development, non-profit organizations, international education, and public affairs. The members of the International Studies Faculty encourage students majoring in International Studies to place significant emphasis on the study of foreign languages and cultures.  Many INST majors have a double major or a minor in a foreign language. 

At a minimum, in order to satisfy the INST foreign language requirement, majors who are completing an Area Studies Concentration must complete the equivalent of three years of one university-level foreign language study (completion of a minor is recommended) or two years each of two foreign languages.  At least one foreign language studied by those completing an Area Studies Concentration must be associated with the area chosen.

For students who are completing the general curriculum option, the Global Strategic Studies concentration or the International Management and Business Leadership concentration, the foreign language requirement will be two years of one foreign language (16 hours) or one year of foreign language (10 hours) supplemented with 6 hours of language credits in the same language from studying abroad.

If a student is a native speaker of another language, formal foreign language study may not be required.

Student Groups

Sigma Iota Rho (International Studies Honorary Society)

Fast Track Program - Master of Science in Political Science for International Studies Majors

The Department of Political Science has developed a Fast Track program for highly qualified and motivated students providing the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an accelerated time frame.  With Fast Track, students may count up to 9 graduate hours toward the completion of their undergraduate program as well as the graduate degree program.

Program Specifics:

• This program is available for undergraduate students pursuing BA/BS in Political Science or BA in International Studies and desiring to pursue a Master of Science in Political Science.
• Students must have completed no less than 60 undergraduate hours
• Students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5.
• Students must complete the Fast Track Approval form and obtain all signatures and submit it to the Office of Graduate Studies prior to first enrollment in a graduate course.
• Students will work with their undergraduate advisor to register for the graduate courses.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduate coursework is required to remain in good standing
• Students remain undergraduates until they meet all the requirements for the undergraduate degree and are eligible for all rights and privileges granted undergraduate status including financial aid.
• Near the end of the undergraduate program, formal application to the graduate program is required. The application fee will be waived, the applicant will need to contact the Office of Graduate Studies for a fee waiver code.
  • Admission to Fast Track does NOT guarantee admission to the graduate program. 
  • The admit term must be after the completion term of the undergraduate degree.

Contact

208B ASH
402.554.3027

Website

Degrees Offered

• International Studies, Bachelor of Arts

Writing in the Discipline

All students are required to take a writing course within their major. For the INST major, the following are some of the recommended courses: ENGL 2420 Critical Approaches to Language Studies, ENGL 3050 Writing for the Workplace, ENGL 3980 Technical Writing, or JMC 2100 Media Writing.

Check with the INST advisor for additional approved advanced writing courses.

Minors Offered

• International Studies Minor

As an International Studies major, a world of opportunities open up that span the globe. The International Studies major cultivates skills that are translatable across continents and cultures. Even within the United States, there are a wealth of possibilities for International Studies Majors.

College graduates need to be prepared for a new world - one digitally linked, partnered in trade, and demanding transnational solutions.  UNO’s International Studies Major (INST), an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree program, provides undergraduate students with the necessary background in global affairs and intercultural communications. The degree is individualized, flexible and marketable.

Career Opportunities

By nature, International Studies majors make exceptional employees in virtually any field because of their ability to communicate effectively, think critically and solve complex problems. These timeless skills make them attractive to employers from all walks of society. Specifically, International Studies majors tend to pursue careers in the following fields:

• Diplomacy and Foreign Service
• Security and Intelligence Analysis
• Public Service
• Conflict Mediation
• Communications
• Cultural Diversity Training
• Economics
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching
• Sustainable Development
• Executive
• Human Resources
• Humanitarian Relief
• Human Rights
• Immigration
• International Commerce/Global Business
• International Development
• International Education
• International Law and Policy
• International Non-profit Sector
• Lobbyist
• Military
• Peace Corps