Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Area Studies - Literature, Culture and Arts Concentration

The BA in International Area Studies is an interdisciplinary, intercultural and interactive major that links language study with other academic disciplines such as politics, history, economics, sociology, anthropology, literature and philosophy. Students develop intercultural awareness and the critical knowledge and skills necessary to understand current global political, social and economic trends. The major prepares students to become responsible citizens who are aware of larger world issues and local concerns, and who are able to draw on their knowledge of the humanities, social sciences and sciences when considering these issues. The interdisciplinary nature of IAS in particular is a key strength: rather than focusing on a single field (e.g., politics or anthropology), students can create a cohesive course of study while sampling classes from around the University. The Literature, Culture and the Arts concentration allows students to develop a major around their language studies, putting greater emphasis on the cultural life associated with the language and its regions. This concentration provides a broader understanding of the ways in which language intersects with so-called “high culture,” as well as expressions of everyday life in creative and symbolically significant ways. It helps build well-rounded, culturally literate and deep-thinking students with a broad appreciation of social and artistic trends. As with all IAS majors, such diverse fields as comparative literature, art history and the humanities combine with language study to create a customized course of study. Students following this concentration will be prepared for graduate studies in comparative literature and modern languages, as well as careers as interpreters and translators, or work in international organizations, international education or cultural institutions.