What Can I do With a Degree in International Studies?

Career Center Library Resources
The Career Center Library has a variety of resources to help students explore potential career fields. These resources include information about typical responsibilities, qualifications, career paths, job outlook, salary, and related careers.

Books Specifically Related to International Studies Majors

• Careers for Foreign Language Majors & Other Multilingual Types
• International Jobs — Where They Are & How to Get Them
• Jobs for People Who Love Travel
• Transitions Abroad
• Teaching English Abroad
• Inside a U.S. Embassy: How the Foreign Service Works for America

Books of General Interest to Liberal Arts Majors

• Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors
• The Best Jobs for the 21st Century
• The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People
• Making a Living While Making a Difference

Vocational Biographies
Vocational Biographies describes the career success stories of 1001 real people. Search by career, title, keyword, topic, and career cluster. Username: portland su and pass code: 3w9n.

• Foreign Service
• Bilingual Program Director
• Interpreter/Translator
• Literacy Volunteer Coordinator
• Teacher of ESL
• International Visitor's Council Secretary

Professional Associations

• International Studies Association
• The African Studies Association (ASA)
• The Association for Asian Studies
• Asia Society
• Middle East Studies Association (MESA)
• American Institute of Iranian Studies
• European Community Studies Association (ECSA)
• Latin American Studies Association (LASA)

Internet Sites with Career-Related Information for International Studies Majors

• International Relations: What Can I do? — From Career Services at Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota.
• International Relations Major Resources Kit — From the MBNA Career Services Center at the University of Delaware.
• What Can I do with a Major in Politics and International Relations? — From Scripps College, Claremont California.
• Career Opportunities: International Relations and Global Affairs — From the International Relations and Global Affairs Department, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida.
• International Studies — From the Career Services Office at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio. Lists potential job titles for international studies majors.

Internet Sites with Job Search Information for International Studies Majors

• Asia Society: Career Opportunities
• Employment Opportunities — Posted by the Latin American Studies Association. Majority of positions require advanced degrees.
• U.S. State Department, Foreign Service Officers Overview — Detailed description of Foreign Services Officer specializations.

Places of Employment

A major in international studies helps students develop transferable skills that are valued by employers. These skills include: analysis, research, writing, problem solving, and knowledge of other cultures and languages. International studies majors may find employment in business, government, nonprofits, social services, consulting firms, and educational institutions depending on their skills and experience. Internships may be a prerequisite to finding employment.

The following list of employers and job titles was derived from the Career Center's jobs database where the employer specifically requested international studies majors. This list does not reflect all potential places of employment or kinds of jobs for international studies majors. This list does not reflect current openings.

• ABF Freight System, Inc. — Management Trainee
• American Water Works International — International Sales Trainee
• Calypte Biomedical Corporation — Business Development Analyst
• Cascadia Behavioral HealthCare — Cultural Specialist
• CBS — News Internship — requested International Studies majors in the following areas: Africa, East Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East.
• Care: Job Opportunities
• Child Aid — Administrative/Fiscal Assistant
• Clark College — Director of International Programs
• Columbia Grain International, Inc. — Export Operations
• Columbia Sportwear Company — International Regional Assistant I
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) — Staff Operations Specialist
• FUNADEH (Fundacion Nacional para el Desarrollo de Honduras) — Assistant to Coordinator of Activiteca
• GlaxoSmithKline — Marketing Consultant
• Global One — International Trade Researcher
• Innovation and Intrigue: Employment at the CIA
• IRCO - Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization — Academic & Activity Instructor & Tutoring Support Specialist 
• Hands to Hearts International — Research and Outreach Coordinator
• Human Rights Watch — International Human Rights Fellowships
• Jesuit Volunteer Corps — Includes international opportunities.
• JET Programme
• Medical Teams International — Manager Emergency Relief
• National Security Agency (NSA) — Employment
• Northwest Interpreters, Inc. — Interpreter Project Coordinator
  Oregon Economic and Community Development — International Trade
• Oregon State University (OSU) — OSU Asia Regional Director for Exchanges and Internships
• Oregon University System (OUS) — Asia Regional Director for Exchanges and Internships, International Trade and Development Fellowship
• Lutheran Community Services Northwest — SUN Site Coordinator
• Oxfam International - Vacancies
• Pacific Interpreters, Inc. — Interpreter Resource Assistant, Language Tester
• Peace Corps: The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love! — Peace Corps at PSU
• Radford University — Director of Multicultural and International Student Services
• Save the Children — Employment
• Schneider National, Inc. — Rotational Leadership Program Undergraduate
• Siemens Building Technologies — Global Sales Communications
• Southern Oregon University — International Students Program Advisor, Study Abroad Program Advisor
• Teach Abroad — On-Campus Recruiter
• Quadra Chemicals Western, Inc. — Project Coordinator
• United Nations Employment Opportunties
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Career Opportunities
• USAID Employment Opportunities
• U.S. Department of State Career Site
• VTechAAT — Director of Product Management
• World Cancer Research Fund International — International Management Trainee
• Ziba Design — International Project Coordinator-Japnanese

Study/Work Abroad

• PSU Education Abroad — Study Abroad Programs
• PSU Education Abroad — Internships — "Work abroad through PSU's IE3 International Internship Program."
• Transitions Abroad
• Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)
• Best Bets for Student Work Exchange — From the University of California, Irvine, Center for International Education.
• International Careers — From the University of California, Global and International Studies Office, Santa Barbara, California.
• Peace Corps Master International (PMCI) at PSU.

Miscellaneous

• Duke University International Careers Page — Provides answers to questions such as: Can I qualify for an international opportunity overseas?, Can I qualify for an international opportunity in the U.S.?, How can I improve my chances for an international career?. Also provides general information about Teaching Overseas.

International Studies Program — Portland State University
Institute for Asian Studies — Portland State University