International Studies

Department website: International Studies

Gonzaga University’s International Studies is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the interconnected and interdependent processes shaping the contemporary world. The International Studies program promotes the College of Arts and Sciences’ mission to engage in holistic, active learning and to connect our students’ passions and their academic disciplines through innovative and integrative educational experiences. While students will acquire historical and cultural knowledge, they will build linguistic proficiency relevant to a geographically defined region, and develop an understanding of the larger structures and mechanisms that organize the world.

Given its multidisciplinary orientation program encourages students to examine local and global issues through a diverse set of perspectives and methodologies. Students who major or minor in International Studies learn to reflect on the socio-economic and cultural position from which they engage local and global communities. The program challenges students to assume the ethical and social responsibilities associated with global citizenship, to cultivate global perspectives and enable global engagement, and to foster an ability to analyze and engage insightfully with local and global cultures to help create a more sustainable, participatory, and equitable world.

Mission Statement

The primary objective of the International Studies program is to develop students’ capacity to recognize the increasingly interdependent nature of today’s world and to assess the processes, systems, and structures that interconnect local and global communities. To this end, students must become knowledgeable about global systems as well as regional realities. They must also learn to examine complex issues through the application of interdisciplinary theories and methodologies and to communicate effectively the results of their independent research. Students are further expected to achieve proficiency in a language that augments their regional studies and are strongly encouraged to participate in experiential learning, especially through internships and study abroad/away programs. Ultimately, the program aims to prepare students to act and interact in social and professional settings with the intercultural awareness and social responsibility of global citizens.

The International Studies major and minor are composed of four main components: foundational courses; a Regional concentration; a Thematic concentration; and proficiency in a language spoken in the student's selected Regional concentration. Students should choose their language and concentrations with assistance from a faculty advisor to ensure a timely and appropriate degree completion.