It provides a solid liberal arts foundation, substantive requirements in international marketing, business and economics, and an area-specialty determined by the language or languages studied. It seeks to provide an undergraduate international experience for each of its students and to prepare them both for direct-entry careers and for graduate study. The area specialization provides a nexus of courses in national histories and literatures, politics, economic problems and social imperatives that support and inform the advanced-level language proficiency required by the major. Foreign languages in the curriculum include Chinese, Japanese and Russian as well French, German, Italian and Spanish.
All courses are oral-intensive, with individual oral examinations each term.
Many students take two languages and elect a language minor. The International Business Component provides a practical framework for the major. Requirements and electives include international marketing, international business, comparative economic systems, multinational corporations, and economic development. The International Area Studies curriculum provide a flexibility and a variety of course offerings that respond to individual career interests. Students considering entry-level careers in government, public relations, international advertising, and service agencies elect additional courses in liberal arts and languages.