Center for International Studies

It's All Here

Your passport to a Global Education Experience

University of St. Thomas Houston students with Colosseum in background during study abroad trip to Rome, Italy We aren’t just a study abroad office. We’re home to one of the largest undergraduate programs on campus. You’ll learn about political and economic cultural diversity and how it’s relevant to your future.

Your experience will include:

Coursework
Study Abroad
Club activities and events
Internships
Community work

Meet Some of Our Alumni

Slide 1: Flor Dimassi – Founder and CEO - GlobalSpeak Translations
Slide 2: Thomas Mendez – Medical-Legal Partnership Attorney – Texas Children’s Hospital
Slide 3: Sarah Flanagan – Head of Acceptability, Nonconventional Product Line- Total
Slide 4: Venol Raymond - Army Veteran – Vets Eligibility Specialist, Harris County Community Services
Slide 5: Naissance Capital Real Estate Ltd.
Slide 6: Tomas Garibaldi - VP – Bel Air Investment Advisors
Slide 7: Claudia Lopez – Downstream Rotational Analyst - Shell

MajorsMajors

B.A. Intl. Studies

Helps you become an informed and active citizen in a global society, preparing you for careers in:

Public service
Teaching
Communications
Intl. Public Law
Travel and Tourism

You can also do this as a joint major with areas like:

Catholic studies
Communication
Political Science
Spanish

Available as a major or a minor.

Major Degree Plan Minor Plan

B.A. Intl. Development

Identifies common themes of importance to human development by combining the study of:

Catholic studies
Communication
Political Science
Spanish

Additional technical training is provided in business-related fields including:

Accounting
Economics
Finance

Major Degree Plan

B.A. Intl. Business

A joint collaboration with UST’s Cameron School of Business.

Helps you be an effective problem solver and decision-maker in a global business context, preparing you for careers in:

Management
Human resources
Labor relations
Banking and Finance
Economics
Product and supply chain management
Healthcare administration
Manufacturing

Major Degree Plan Learn More

B.A. Spanish

Spanish is the second most popular language in the United States, spoken by about 40 million people. Houston is one of the top 5 Spanish-speaking U.S. metropolitan areas.

Learning Spanish can open up new doors of opportunity for you in:

Government
Industry and Commerce
Travel and Tourism
Interpretation/Translation
Service and Education
Arts, Media and Entertainment

Available as a major or a minor.

Major Degree Plan Minor Plan

Minors

B.A. Latin American Studies

Includes international studies, political science, Spanish and history classes totaling 18 credit hours.

Helps you develop:

An understanding of the histories, cultures and societies of Latin America
A deeper knowledge of the historical and contemporary interaction of Latin American states and the U.S.
Greater awareness and appreciation of social realities, migration patterns, politics, economics, arts and literature

Prepares you for a career in:

Government
Business
Private industry
Law
Nonprofit organizations
International teaching
Peace Corps
Military service

Minor Plan

B.A. East Asian Studies

Offers you the opportunity to engage in more focused study of the history, cultures, language (Japanese or Mandarin), and current affairs of East Asian states and their relationship with the U.S.

Given the region’s economic, security, and diplomatic importance to the world and the United States, the Federal Government has identified East Asia as a region of critical importance.

Prepares you for a career in:

Education
Advocacy
Human Services
Business
Law and Politics
Media and The Arts

You can add a 12-hour concentration or certificate to any major program. This is a great opportunity to focus general elective hours toward deeper specialization.

Study AbroadStudy Abroad

University of St. Thomas students in Argentina during study abroad trip At UST, the world is your laboratory and you’re the researcher living in the experiment.

We provide study abroad programs for all students and you can study abroad as early as your freshman year!

Each year, we host 9 faculty-led group programs, each of which runs about 2-3 weeks. Plus, you can study at partner schools across the globe.

University of St. Thomas students standing in front of Aizuwakamatsu Castle during study abroad trip to Japan

UST students study abroad in Japan
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan invited 21 UST undergraduate students to participate in Japan's Friendship Ties program which promotes a people-to-people exchange between Japan and the United States.

As ambassadors, students went on cultural excursions, learned about Japanese culture and the economy, and engaged in discussion with Japanese counterparts.

North America

Main area of focus is Mexico. Experience Mexican life (fiestas, nightlife, etc.) and immerse yourself in local language and culture.

Latin America

We have active student exchange agreements with sister schools in Argentina and Chile – vibrant countries with diverse populations.

Europe

We have sister schools in England, France, Hungary, Ireland and Spain. We’ve also visited Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Asia

Encounter cultures very different from the U.S. We have active student exchange agreements with schools in Japan and Taiwan.

Your SuccessYour Success

The World Revolves Around You In most international studies programs, you’ll take a set number of courses in Political Science, History, Economics, etc. And they’re all separate experiences developed separately from each other that only come together on a degree plan.

With our program, everything happens within one department. Working with your adviser, you’ll be able to tailor your degree. When we write the curriculum, we’re writing it with the flow of the degree in mind. The courses speak to each other. Faculty members know where you’ve been and where you’re going. Everyone moves in a common direction.

This notion that we academics are holed up in our ivory tower – that's dying. We're active, involved in our community and invested in your success.

Dr. Hans Stockton Director, Center for International Studies

Activities

Activities At the Center, your success is defined by more than just academics. We have an active student life to help you sharpen your social skills. Clubs include:

Chinese Culture and Language Association
French Club
International Study Society
Japanese Club
Model United Nations
Political Science
Spanish Club
UNICEF Club

Internships Internships
Presentations Presentations
Events Events

Faculty

Slide 1: Dr. Hans Stockton Associate Dean & Professor Director, Center for International Studies
Slide 2: Dr. Elizabeth Coscio Associate Professor
Slide 3: Dr. Ulyses Balderas Associate Professor
Slide 4: Mr. Richard Sindelar Assistant Professor
Slide 5: Dr. Yao-Yuan Yeh Assistant Professor

Next stepsNext steps

In addition to support offered through Academic Advising, the Center holds a career development strategies workshop every Spring. Hosted by a UST alum, it helps you with:

Creating a personal brand
Building a career plan
Developing a personal marketing strategy
Assembling your resume
Sharpening your interview skills

Done in relation to your coursework and study abroad destination(s). Students have done internships for:

Mayor’s office (Dept. of Protocol and Intl. Affairs)
Asia Society
Greater Houston Partnership
The Alliance (multicultural community services)
Foreign consulates in Houston (Taiwan, Egypt, U.K., Mexico)

We’ve also sent interns to the U.S. State Department on their most competitive internship program.

Your coursework concludes in a 2-semester senior thesis. You then get to present your research at a real-life professional conference focused on international studies. Students have presented at conferences hosted by:

Southwest Social Science Association
Western Social Science Association
Latin American Studies Association
Southwest Conference on Asian Studies

University of St. Thomas Houston students on study abroad trip in Prague Over the years, Houston has transformed into a global city. The Center has played a part in that through our programming and networking. By supporting the Center, you help us continue to heighten our profile and awareness in Houston. This allows us to expand opportunities for student internships and professional preparation.

Your contributions also support study abroad programs and internships for students. Why is this necessary? Because over 80% of UST undergraduate students receive financial aid and the University’s annual budget for study abroad scholarships can only cover a fraction of the associated costs.

Financial support from the community empowers future leaders of our community and our world to enjoy a global education experience they would otherwise not be able to afford.

Make a Gift Online

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