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Bachelor of Arts in International StudiesBachelor of Arts in International StudiesBachelor of Arts in International Studies
A world of possibilities through a single degree.
The professional world has gone global. No matter where you go in your career, you stand to face both challenges and opportunities associated with increasingly interconnected societies. So your interest in world culture can become highly valuable to many different organizations in almost every industry.
Earning a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at Maryville allows you to build a personalized degree to develop broad, cross-cultural skills. And by examining culture up close, you can form deep global insights that can help take your career anywhere you want it to go.
Our online international studies degree is designed to help transform the way you think about the world, including the opportunity to learn a foreign language and a chance to study abroad in your preferred location or complete a virtual study abroad experience from anywhere. Your online international studies degree can serve as your chance to reset your perspective and add new value to your career by developing knowledge that wraps around the globe.
Choose your experience: study abroad, virtual study abroad, or internship
Start in fall, spring, or summer
Transfer eligible credits
Apply for financial aid
Learn a foreign language
Why earn your online B.A. in International Studies?
When you pursue your online B.A. in International Studies, you can become a valuable resource in any field, because you’ll learn to apply vast knowledge that spans global culture, history, and politics.
At Maryville University, your online international studies degree can prepare you to interpret global issues, conduct cross-cultural research, and offer solutions with broad impact. These skills can lead you to careers in government and many other industries, including communications, business, pharmaceuticals, marketing, and more.
Your online international studies degree can provide a platform to explore all of your interests, from world art to global politics. As you complete your degree, you’ll have the chance to get closer to other cultures by learning a foreign language and completing a capstone project. You’ll also have the opportunity to choose a study abroad experience or complete an internationally-focused internship.
Throughout the program, you can learn how to apply your international knowledge and insight to help your organization thrive in a global society.
Flexible, affordable, customizable — and 100% online
- 100% online coursework. No campus visits required.
- 3 options for experiential learning. Get real-world experience tailored to your professional goals. Complete a study abroad opportunity, virtual study abroad experience from anywhere, or an internationally-focused internship.
- Engage with our supportive faculty. Discuss your goals with our dedicated faculty, who help you connect the curriculum to your career vision.
- Study at a respected university. Join Maryville University, which ranks among Forbes’ “America’s Top Colleges” and the best values in private colleges by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
- Financial aid. Apply to be considered for financial aid.
What can you do with an International Studies major?
You see important connections made every day around the world. Those with the expertise to facilitate new global partnerships become key to an organization’s growth. That’s why our international studies degree is designed to adapt to fit your professional goals, whether you’re pursuing a career as a strategist, politician, historian, writer, policymaker, or any other role in which global insights are valued.
You can work in a variety of settings, including:
- Government agency
- Private enterprise
- School/university
- Large corporation
- Startup company
- Technology firm
- Pharmaceutical company
- Healthcare organization
- Private corporation
- Nonprofit organization
- Communications/media firm
Career opportunities for international studies degree grads include:
- Consultant
- Legislator
- Foreign services officer
- Export sales manager
- Management analyst
- Market researcher
- Political analyst
- International business specialist
- Account executive
- International assistant
- Foreign correspondent
- Diplomat
- Relief worker
- Human resources representative
- Human services specialist
What’s the market outlook for B.A. in International Studies graduates?
High demand for analysts.
Your international studies degree can prepare you for trend and issue analysis at the global level, helping you qualify for jobs where the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects higher-than-average growth between 2019 and 2029. This includes a wide range of positions like market research analyst (18% growth), management analysts (11%), and social/human services assistants (17%).
Pursue increased earnings.
While compensation varies based on factors like location and experience, global studies can lead to a wide range of careers with great earning potential. Some high-paying career choices for international studies majors include management analyst or consultant ($85,260),* emergency management director ($74,590),* and grants manager ($58,368).**
Take your career global.
Organizations across all industries are going global. Whether you want to work in business, finance, nonprofits, communications, government, education, tech, or any number of industries, you can distinguish yourself as a leader on the global stage and help your organization meet the challenges and opportunities of a global society. With your bachelor’s in international studies, complement your natural and learned skill set with the acumen to navigate the complexities of an increasingly connected world.
*2019 median salaries based on data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
**According to self-reported salary data compiled by PayScale.com
Why choose Maryville University’s online international studies degree program?
Maryville’s online B.A. in International Studies gives you everything you need to succeed. You’ll have access to a personalized program that helps you shape the knowledge you seek to bolster your career. We go beyond the basic politics and economics of most international relations programs and give you the power to place an emphasis on subjects that inspire you, including the opportunity to pursue a minor that connects with your interests.
Our program can help you build the insights to transform the way you approach the challenges and questions surrounding an increasingly connected global society — and help you prepare to take advantage of the broad range of rewarding, stimulating career opportunities.
We have a history of challenging the status quo and a reputation for delivering value. Maryville University was founded in 1872 and has been educating motivated professionals and developing industry expertise ever since. Ninety percent of our full-time faculty holds a doctorate or terminal degree. We’re proud of our reputation for quality academics and affordability, because it demonstrates our devotion to advancing students like you.
We’re continually recognized for excellence:
Our faculty teaches from their
experience building global connections.
Meet Alden Craddock.
Instructor, International Studies
Dr. Alden Craddock has nearly two decades of experience in international relations, with a broad background in the theory and application of international studies to various fields. His career has included being a researcher and administrator at a national security think tank, running million-dollar projects for the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of Education, building partnerships that connect U.S. educators to their counterparts in emerging democracies, and teaching and leading students and professionals on educational exchanges abroad.
From the start of his career, Dr. Craddock has been an internationally-focused educator who constantly strives to develop greater international understanding.
Associate Vice President, Institutional Values and Professor of Education and Political Science
- PhD, Political Science with a focus in International Relations — The Ohio State University
- MA, Political Science — The Ohio State University
- BA, Political Science and Government — Wright State University
Our faculty members work to inspire you from their experience building and maintaining international relations. Dr. Craddock is a professor in our international studies program who is passionate about connecting students like you with the global knowledge you seek to take your career all the places you want to go.
As an internationally respected educator, Dr. Craddock currently dedicates his time to exploring ways to promote democracy in the U.S. and abroad. He has coordinated an impressive civic education program that brings together academics and practitioners in far-flung regions, and he works with long-term partnerships in emerging democracies like Morocco, Poland, South Africa, and Ukraine. He also oversees Maryville’s Office of Study Abroad to ensure that our students have the opportunity to learn by experiencing other cultures. With his broad knowledge of and experience in international relations, Dr. Craddock can help you develop the skills to navigate your global goals.
Online Bachelor’s in International Studies Curriculum
The online Bachelor of Arts in International Studies is designed to help you develop a truly global perspective, with freedom to study a wide range of subjects that fuel your broad interests. Our program includes general education courses, international studies major courses, and general electives.
- International Studies Core: Build your understanding of the broad applications of international studies as you study global issues. You can choose to study abroad on-location, complete a virtual study abroad experience from anywhere, or pursue an internationally-focused internship. Your program culminates in a capstone experience.
- Culture and Politics Components: Tailor your degree to your interests and select the courses that appeal to you most in topics like art, music, religion, economics, culture, writing, and politics.
- Foreign Language: Learn a foreign language and build your proficiency throughout this four-course component.
Your choices continue as you pick your elective courses to pursue additional focus areas that can benefit your career. At the end of your program, you work with faculty to tie your learning together through a capstone project. It’s our goal to help you graduate with the global knowledge and perspective to build your linguistic, experiential, and professional skills to excel on the global stage and contribute to the international success in organizations everywhere.
Take your international studies even further.
With an online international studies degree at the core of your career, you can aspire to many roles. Earning your B.A. in International Studies can also prepare you for your next degree.
At Maryville University, your international studies major can help you qualify for early access to our online master’s degree programs. Earn your master’s here, and we can continue to help you connect your global expertise to relevant areas like business, strategic communications, leadership, and more.
When you’re ready to go further, consider these online graduate program options:
- Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Leadership, with options to specialize in business, nonprofit, marketing, or social media.
- Master of Business Administration, with your choice of nine concentrations, including marketing, management, information technology, and more.
- Master’s in Management and Leadership, with options to create your own career path from areas like human resource management, executive management, and more.
Learn more about the online B.A. in International Studies at Maryville University.
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