Welcome to International Studies!

First, for visitors, a clarification of where you are. All of Macalester College has rich international dimensions, in every department and program on campus. Within this cornucopia, there are three key units: 1) The International Studies Department, where you are now, is Macalester’s core academic home for transnational study. We run the oldest (since 1949), broadest, and deepest such program at any private liberal arts college in the world. 2) The Institute for Global Citizenship houses a rich range of public, co-curricular, and community endeavors. 3) The International Center runs our study abroad programming. Their mission is to strengthen liberal arts education by engaging students, faculty, and staff in international and intercultural learning.

Whereas “International Studies” at most schools means only that subset of Political Science called International Relations, Macalester's International Studies draws ideas from across the spectrum: social sciences, humanities, sciences, and fine arts – with our own dedicated courses and a rich range of offerings beyond. Combining a demanding overarching global perspective with language training, study abroad, and thematic, regional and disciplinary focuses, International Studies is useful preparation for virtually any endeavor. Our alumni go on to the strongest graduate and professional schools in the U.S. and abroad; government and international-organizations work; and directly into business, international development, global health and many other fields. The opportunities are broad; the boundaries all but nonexistent.

The links on your left provide more information on our Department and several of the cognate units of the College. Welcome!