Why Study International Studies?

    You care about the world and your place in it. You’re concerned about poverty, sustainability, human rights, and conflict across the globe. You want to be the one to make positive changes. As an International Studies major you will learn the tools and strategies you need to be that change.

    Why Study International Studies at MMC?

    Studying at MMC, you gain real-world skills and knowledge to engage the most pressing social, political, and economic issues of today. Uniquely situated as a small college in a global city, within walking distance to the United Nations and other major international institutions, MMC offers you the best of both worlds: global connections and a close-knit community. Our interdisciplinary faculty with on-the-ground experience in countries around the globe explain the complexities of international problems as you explore connections between global and local issues. The International Studies program also encourages language development and exploration of other cultures through travel and study abroad: you can study sustainable development in Costa Rica, apartheid and constitutional reform in South Africa, and the landless movement in Brazil with our faculty.

    What You Will Learn

    The International Studies program trains you to work effectively with the major cultural, political, and economic issues of our time. The course of study is anchored in the critical, creative investigation and practice of development, human rights, and global cooperation. We provide a solid foundation with core courses in globalization, historical development of the modern world and international relations, and advanced coursework focuses on issues such as international law, food security, gender and development, war and peace, and area studies in each world region – leading to the senior thesis for which you conduct original research.

    You will be able to:

    • Demonstrate a critical and theoretically informed understanding of global politics, economics, and history through oral and written analysis of case studies.
    • Critically evaluate research and policy publications from the field.
    • Analyze contemporary global issues, orally and in writing, from cross-cultural and multicultural perspectives

    Program Highlights

    United Nations
    In the fall semester of your senior year, you’ll have the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the nature, role, and functions of the United Nations through full-time professional immersion in UN programs, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accredited to the United Nations, and Permanent Missions of Member States. 
    Andreas Hernandez and students during a discussion in Costa Rica
    We encourage you to study abroad and broaden your perspective. Recent students have studied Arabic and migration in Morocco, sustainable development in Tanzania, environmental sustainability in northern India, and Asian history and culture in South Korea.
    MMC Students
    You can intern with major international organizations in New York such as the United Nations, UNICEF, the International Rescue Committee, and the Council on Foreign Relations as well as important local organizations such as Madre and the Urban Justice Center. You can also be placed at political offices and law firms throughout the metropolitan area.

     

     

    • Monica Nyenkan 

      My IDS study had many different facets; I took administration, visual art, theatre, business, communication, sociology, and culture classes. This major allowed me to explore the intersection where art and business meet. The IDS Major gave me so much flexibility to take the classes and internships I needed to get the job I wanted.

      Monica Nyenkan ’18

      Class of 2018, Major in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Arts Administration

      Meet Monica
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    Careers and Outcomes

    Prepare yourself for a wide range of career opportunities in government and international agencies, non-governmental organizations, transnational corporations, education and research, or journalism and publishing. Our graduates have also pursued higher degrees at top programs throughout the country, with recent acceptances at Columbia University, New York University, and the London School of Economics, the New School, Rutgers University, and Georgetown University. International Studies students are also awarded Fulbright Teaching Fellowships (recently in Thailand, South Korea, and Uzbekistan) and the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program).

    job titles

    • Director of Community and External Affairs
    • Senior Manager
    • Legislative Assistant
    • Social Inclusion Officer
    • Gender Program Coordinator
    • Development and Evaluation Associate
    • Enterprise Partnership Manager
    • Development Projects Assistant

    employers

    • Office of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer
    • NYC Kids Rise
    • U.S. House of Representatives
    • World Learning
    • NGO Committee on the Status of Women/New York
    • Community Financial Resources
    • DailyPay
    • Scalabrini International Migration Network

    Venture Out

    As a student, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in long-term study abroad programs or in faculty-led travel courses that complement your interests, expand your understanding of other cultures, and open your eyes to your possibilities.

    Learn more about our study abroad programs

    Start your journey today.

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