Question: is international studies the same as international relations

Answer: No, International Studies (IS) generally refers to the specific university degrees and courses which are concerned with the study of 'the major political, economic, social, and cultural issues that dominate the international agenda'. Predominant topics are politics, economics and law on a global level. The term itself can be more specifically defined as 'the contemporary and historical understanding of global societies, cultures, languages and systems of government and of the complex relationships between them that shape the world we live in'. The terms and concepts of International Studies and international relations are strongly related; however, International relations focus more directly on the relationship between countries, whereas International Studies can encompass all phenomena which are globally oriented.