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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

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Flor Dimassi – Founder and CEO - GlobalSpeak Translations

"UST gave me the support and guidance I needed to discover who I am today, and more importantly, what I wanted to do with my life."

Flor Dimassi Founder and CEO

GlobalSpeak Translations

Thomas Mendez – Medical-Legal Partnership Attorney – Texas Children’s Hospital

"UST professors taught me how to think critically and write clearly. These two skills have opened up more doors than any subject matter expertise."

Thomas Mendez Medical-Legal Partnership Attorney

Texas Children’s Hospital

Sarah Flanagan – Head of Acceptability, Nonconventional Product Line- Total

"UST helped me grow in faith, heart and mind. I believe I can make a difference and I have faith that my steps are being guided in the right direction."

Sandra Flanagan-Lay Head of Acceptability, Nonconventional Product Line

Total

Venol Raymond - Army Veteran – Vets Eligibility Specialist, Harris County Community Services

"UST Professors and students treat each other with respect. It’s a positive, safe learning environment with an outstanding student support system."

Venol Raymond Army Veteran – Eligibility Specialist

Harris County Community Svcs

Naissance Capital Real Estate Ltd.

"The professors in the International Studies department were passionate and pushed me towards achieving my potential. I wouldn't have received the same care anywhere else."

Azeemeh Zaheer Exec. Managing Director/CEO

Naissance Capital Real Estate Ltd.

Tomas Garibaldi - VP – Bel Air Investment Advisors

"It was at UST where I developed a passion for international politics and economics, inspired by professors that helped shape who I am today."

Tomas Garibaldi VP

Bel Air Investment Advisors

Claudia Lopez – Downstream Rotational Analyst - Shell

"UST prepared me for the real world by challenging my analytical, time management and interpersonal skills. All of them are essential to my career."

Claudia Lopez Downstream Rotational Analyst

Shell

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MajorsMajors

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

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

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

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

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

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

Minor Plan

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
North America

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

Latin America
Latin America

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

Europe
Europe

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

Asia
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 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.

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.
Dr. Hans Stockton, Director, Center for International Studies

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

ActivitiesAt 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
Faculty

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Dr. Hans Stockton Professor Interim Dean of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Hans Stockton
Professor Interim Dean of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Elizabeth Coscio Associate Professor
Dr. Elizabeth Coscio
Associate Professor
Dr. Ulyses Balderas Associate Professor
Dr. Ulyses Balderas
Associate Professor
Mr. Richard Sindelar Assistant Professor
Mr. Richard Sindelar
Assistant Professor
Dr. Yao-Yuan Yeh Assistant Professor Interim Chair of Department of International Studies, Modern Languages and Political Science
Dr. Yao-Yuan Yeh
Assistant Professor Interim Chair of Department of International Studies, Modern Languages and Political Science
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