UPDATED International Studies – General Major (Autumn 2026 and after)

International Studies (Genera)l major is a multidisciplinary academic program designed to build a deep understanding of the politics, systems, history and cultures of the world today. Students have the opportunity to focus the major to match their thematic and regional interests to pursue a wide range of careers.

Nora VanRees
Student Snapshot: Spotlighting the Jackson Leadership Award recipient for 2026, Nora VanRees

What our Alumni are up to

Why major in International Studies

The International Studies program equips students with writing and foreign language skills and the disciplinary tools to analyze international challenges. Students can choose from various thematic and regional concentrations to shape their course of study. The program’s Task Force capstone experience provides students with a bridge between their academic and professional pursuits, either by participating in a team-based creation of policy reports and recommendations evaluated by external policy experts or by deepening their research and publication skills.

Task Force Website: Current offerings, archives, and more!

5 Things to Know about Task Force

Task Force is a unique undergraduate capstone that offers Jackson School students practical experience making policy recommendations. Each Task Force report is produced by teams of student researchers and evaluated by real-world experts in the field.
5 Things to Know about Task Force

What International Studies Students do with their degrees

Emma Lii

Emma Lii

B.A. International Studies (General) - 2020

While a JSIS student, Emma pursued coursework related to cybersecurity in the Jackson School and completed her Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and global politics.

After graduation, Emma works as a Government & Public Services Business Intelligence Analyst for Deloitte US.

Each year, the faculty and staff are truly impressed by the exceptional talents of our graduates. We are consistently enthusiastic to learn about the journeys our graduates will embark on next, and we are always keen to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments. Below is a brief overview of the paths some of our recent graduates have taken:

  • Federal Government, intern: Congressional Staff and Department of Justice
  • Federal Government, employed: Intelligence Officer and Department of Defence
  • NGO’s
  • Private Sector: Office Manager, Director, Operations Specialist, International Marketing, Data Engineer, Consulting Analyst, Freelance translator and editor, Research analyst, etc.
  • Higher Education: Stanford University, UW, International Universities, and other universities across the United States
  • Boeing
  • Education (abroad)
  • UW Medicine
  • Peace Corps
  • Binaytara Foundation
  • International Hotel Management

Make your degree in International Studies a pathway to a global career

How to declare and complete the International Studies Major

International Studies is an open major. Students in good academic standing may declare this major at any time. There is no application process.

To declare the major, please make an undergraduate student advising appointment with a Jackson School undergraduate advisor.

International Studies (General) – Major

Major Requirements 50 credits

  • 50 credits (~10 courses) from the requirements listed below
  • Competency in a language other than English through the second-year college level (proficiency requirement before graduation). Native speakers of a language other than English may be exempt.
  • Minimum 25 credits taken in 300/400 level courses.
  • Minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in courses applied to the major.

Introductory Courses 3 Courses 15 Credits

  • JSIS 200 The Making of the Modern World SSc, W 5

    Provides a global history of the present by investigating the relationships between political forces, economic processes, and socio-cultural dynamics of expansion, domination, and resistance. By looking into the past to understand the contemporary world, examines how the modern world came to be structured around nation-states, when most economies became capitalist, and why most societies are organized around structures of inequality.

  • JSIS 201 Contemporary International Problems SSc 5

    Explains contemporary international and global problems using interdisciplinary approaches. Focuses on the origins of current issues such as war, migration, poverty, trade, populism, climate change, technology, and other topics from the twentieth century up to today. Students learn to critically engage with the causes and potential solutions to problems facing the world today through research, writing, and discussion.

  • JSIS 202 Culture and Power in International Studies SSc, DIV 5

    Dives into how power, violence, and development shape the world, focusing on diverse cultures and histories. Explores how economic, political, and social backgrounds influence interactions and identities internationally. Students think critically about culture, examining how different groups use it today. Through case studies and social science methods, students gain new perspectives on how diversity plays a role in addressing global challenges.

Political Economy 1 Course 5 Credits

  • JSIS 222 Understanding the Global Economy SSc 5

    Focuses on making economics accessible by simplifying complex models, graphs, and jargon. Designed for students with little economics background, this course builds analytical and critical skills to interpret global economic news, analyze reports, and evaluate arguments in real-world international contexts.

  • JSIS B 330 International Political Economy SSc 5

    Establishment, maintenance, and decay of the post-1945 international economic order. Political economy of international trade, monetary relations, inflation, and North-South relations.

  • JSIS B 331 Political Economy of Development SSc 5

    Examines development challenges, analyzing why some countries are poorer than others and how to address these challenges. Outlines the roles of state and non-state actors in development and explores how global political factors shape government policies, power dynamics, and economic development worldwide.

  • JSIS B 332 Political Economy of International Trade and Finance SSc 5

    Theoretical and historical analysis to explore the causes and effects of the rise and decline of four major international trade and monetary regimes. Foundations and emerging features of the new international trade and monetary regime and its implications for the world economy.

OR one from the list of approved courses

Area courses (All JSIS A courses and more!) a minimum of 2 courses at least 10 Credits

Choose at least TWO area courses, here are some featured examples: 

  • JEW ST 359 Jewish American Literature and Culture SSc, A&H 5

    Literature, film, graphic novels, and other cultural artifacts that pertain to experiences of Jews in the United States in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. How questions of immigration, assimilation, identity, religious expression, gender, sexuality, race, intergenerational trauma, and memory have been and continue to be represented by American Jewish writers, comedians, filmmakers, and other culture-makers.

  • JSIS A 206 Contemporary India and Pakistan SSc, W 5

    Interdisciplinary introduction to the field of South Asian Studies. Overview of the topographic, social, and linguistic geography and history of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Examines politics, economy, social structure, religion, cultural production and the arts, popular culture, and transnationalism.

  • JSIS A 301 Conflict and Cooperation in Contemporary Europe SSc 5

    Using the expertise of University of Washington faculty from several disciplines, the course will also introduce you to different methods and approaches to studying Europe. Special emphasis will be placed on the politics of European integration and the capacities of the EU to cope with multiple simultaneous challenges in the economic, political, social, and foreign policy realms.

  • JSIS A 314 History of Modern Israel/Palestine SSc, DIV 5

    Introduces the people, institutions, and culture of Israel is the context of larger global forces. Examines domestic, regional, and international elements, both historically and in the contemporary period, that have shaped Israel's culture, politics, and special role in world affairs. Topics include nationalism, ethnicity, politics, religion, film, literature, and culture.

  • JSIS A 325 Modern Mexico: Culture, Politics And Society SSc 5

    Provides an historical survey of Mexican politics, culture, and society. Explores debates about the role of violence and foreign intervention in Mexico's political development. Topics include revolution, U.S.-Mexico relations, race and gender politics, student movements, cultural production, neoliberalism, and the war on drugs.

  • JSIS A 371 China's Ocean Governance SSc 5

    Explores China's approach to ocean governance and how it differs from global and U.S. norms. Examines the impacts on international security, global development, the environment, and the future of international rule-making. Covers the worldwide impact of China's ocean governance, given their great power and ocean resources.

OR one from the list of approved courses

Theme Courses (All JSIS B courses are more!) a minimum of 2 courses at least 10 Credits

Choose at least TWO theme courses, here are some featured examples: 

  • JSIS B 110 Sports and Global Affairs

    Covers the connection between sports and global affairs, including wars, dictatorships, racism, and women and LGTBQIA communities' discrimination, while also examining several socioeconomic, political, and historical issues at local, national, and global levels.

  • JSIS B 212 Global Environmental Justice SSc, DIV 5

    Examines why environmental disasters (such as floods, fires, and oil spills) hit some countries harder than others. Explores global environmental justice, examining how political, economic, and social systems distribute environmental harm unevenly. Uses tools and frameworks to challenge these inequalities and explores recent events like heatwaves and wildfires through an environmental justice lens.

  • JSIS B 220 Diplomacy, Strategy, and United States Foreign Policy SSc 5

    Explores key theories and approaches that shape U.S. foreign policy, with a focus on history and political science. Covers diplomacy, strategy, and U.S. foreign relations, including military, economic, and cultural aspects. Includes how domestic, international, and transnational processes shape these policies and their global impact. Provides a well-rounded understanding of U.S. foreign affairs.

  • JSIS B 255 Technology and International Studies SSc 5

    Technological advancements have profoundly shaped the international system throughout history. Covers major recent technological developments and their impact on the global system, including weapons of mass destruction, information and communication technology, cybersecurity, energy, and emerging technology such as artificial intelligence.

OR one from the list of approved courses

Capstone 1 Course 5 Credits

Choose ONE of these capstone courses – note the quarter each are offered.

AUTUMN: JSIS 490 Public Writing in International Studies
WINTER: JSIS 495 Task Force
SPRING: JSIS 498 Readings in International Studies

Advising needs? To discuss your academic plan, or if you still have questions, please make an undergraduate student advising appointment with a Jackson School undergraduate advisor.

Applying for Graduation

When to Apply

  • Quarterly Graduation Application deadline: THIRD Friday of the quarter you intend to graduate. 
  • Up to 3 quarters before your graduation quarter (for example, apply in autumn to graduate in spring). Quarterly deadlines are posted on UW’s Academic Calendar.
    • Note: If you are graduating in the summer quarter but want to participate in the spring commencement before graduating, you must apply by the third Friday of that spring quarter.

Why do students need to complete a Graduation Application to graduate?

  • This is a critical step to receiving your diploma. It is when your advisors sign off on your academic plan to complete your degree by your intended quarter. If this is not completed, students cannot receive their diplomas.
  • Graduating Senior Priority (GSP) Registration: Once you have completed a Graduation Application, you will be updated to Graduating Senior Priority for Registration. Students who have used their GSP for two quarters will revert to regular senior priority.
  • This process will help you confirm that you will meet degree requirements with a reasonable quarterly schedule.
  • NOTE: Students who plan to double major or double degree must submit a second Graduation Application with their other departmental adviser and graduate with both undergraduate majors in the same quarter.

How do students complete a Graduation Application for International Studies?

Jackson School Honors Program

Learn more about the Jackson School Departmental Honors Program here!

International Studies General Minor

Not ready to commit to the major? An International Studies (General) Minor might be a great fit for your academic goals.