International Studies Degree

Undergraduate Degree in International Studies

The International Studies major is a 48-60 credit-hour interdisciplinary program that combines the study of language and culture with the study of political science, business or environmental studies. A sequence of core courses offers all majors a foundation for integrating these separate disciplinary tracks. In the senior year capstone, students conduct either an original interdisciplinary research project or an internship that allows them to
apply the interdisciplinary knowledge they have gained in the classroom.

The International Studies major at Adelphi is distinctive because it combines interdisciplinary learning with in-depth disciplinary knowledge. Integral to the International Studies major is the language track. Students in the major not only learn to communicate effectively in their target language, they also gain a cross-cultural perspective on the contemporary political, economic, and social institutions of the countries or region whose language they are studying. The combination of disciplinary tracks with a core curriculum helps students bridge discrete bodies of knowledge and understand the interdependent global community in which we live. By mastering subjects that connect the global community—politics, business and the environment—students acquire the tools necessary to understand and analyze the problems that confront our increasingly complex world.

International Studies students continue their education outside the classroom, from participating in faculty-led study abroad trips to a full semester or year spent studying abroad. Opportunities also exist closer to home. Adelphi University's status as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) of the United Nations and our strong connection to the UN offers many opportunities for International Studies majors. From participating in UN NGO conferences and briefings, attending the Ambassadorial lecture series on campus, to taking the National Model United Nations course, International Studies majors can take advantage of our proximity and growing relationship with the UN to expand their horizons and to network in a truly global environment. Adelphi's easy proximity to New York City, a world business and financial center, provides both intellectual and practical opportunities to International Studies majors, particularly in the business track. Students in the environmental studies track can gain hands-on experience with a number of international, national and local environmental consortia, organizations, agencies and groups ranging from the National Park Service, the Environmental Protection Agency to the Alley Pond Environmental Center on Long Island.

With intensive language training and thorough immersion in a disciplinary track,
our students both master disciplinary knowledge and learn to transcend disciplinary boundaries. Our graduates have gone on to great success, finding employment at international organizations like the World Bank, non-governmental organizations like the World Federalist Association, with export-import banks, and in international education. International Studies graduates frequently pursue advanced degrees, and they have been
accepted to some of the world's most prestigious universities, including institutions such as Columbia University, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan, Cambridge University, and the London School of Economics.

Study Abroad Opportunities
As part of their international studies degree coursework, students may study abroad for a summer term, one semester or for the whole academic year. Adelphi offers opportunities for immersion in a foreign language as well as concentration in International Studies in many locations around the world. Please contact Adelphi’s Center for International Education for further information.

Please see our resource list of Grants and Scholarships for Studying Abroad.


Contact Us

For additional information about Adelphi University International Studies degree programs, please contact: