SUNY Potsdam Unveils New Program in International Studies

SUNY Potsdam Introduces Interdisciplinary Baccalaureate Degree in International Studies

POTSDAM, NY (03/20/2015)(readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam has been approved to offer a new baccalaureate program in the emerging field of international studies.

The College will offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies, an interdisciplinary social science major that combines coursework from politics and economics, enriched with a history foundation.

Students will graduate with a strong grasp of the contemporary forces that influence world affairs. International studies students will also speak and write in at least one foreign language, and will be required to have at least one academically-oriented intercultural experience, through study abroad, a travel course or an international internship.

"SUNY Potsdam is so proud to launch the international studies degree. In our rapidly globalizing world, employers and graduate schools are looking for college graduates who possess an understanding of the global system, and an appreciation for different regions and cultures," said President Dr. Kristin G. Esterberg.

The new program will offer students a focused course of study in world history and international politics, grounded in economics. Students will be required to complete a modern language requirement and an intercultural experience. The international studies BA program requires 31 to 37 credit hours to complete, and includes a choice of upper-level elective courses in governance, economy, history and society.

International studies students will be encouraged to complement their major coursework with existing minor program offerings in African, Arabic, Asian, French or Spanish studies.

Graduates of the international studies program can find career opportunities with federal and state government executive agencies, multinational corporations, law firms, international organizations such as the United Nations, non-profit organizations, and schools. An international studies degree also prepares students for a course of study in graduate school, for example in business, government and law.

The new international studies degree will also provide training in the skills that employers and graduate schools seek from applicants, especially in the areas of public speaking, writing, working in teams and managing quantitative information. In addition, the economics foundation offered in the major is widely recognized as a solid preparation for many professional careers in business, finance, non-profit organizations and government.

SUNY Potsdam's interdisciplinary studies programs weave together majors and minors that draw from multiple academic disciplines. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/interdisciplinary.

For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/majors/internationalstudies.cfm.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $27 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

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