International Studies


Using a multi-disciplinary approach to address global issues.

The international studies major draws from several departments across Hopkins so students can use a variety of perspectives to understand international political, economic, historical, and cultural questions from. By learning new languages, studying the history and cultural diversity of societies across the globe, and unpacking the politics and theories of international relations or the dynamics of the world’s economy, you’ll gain the tools required to be competitive in a complex global setting. Plus, you’ll have access to experts and research opportunities at the Aronson Center and School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), one of the top graduate programs for international relations.

learn more about the program

CLASSES YOU MIGHT TAKE

States, Regimes & Contentious Politics

Drawing on a mix of classic works and contemporary scholarship, we introduce you to the study of politics and political life in the world with a particular focus on the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Throughout the course, we’ll analyze the sources of order and disorder in modern states, addressing questions like why are some states democracies while others are not? How do people organize to fight oppression? Why does conflict sometimes turn violent? What are the causes of ethnic war?

The Battle of Ideas for the World Economy

This seminar is organized around a series of thematic pairings, covering such political economic themes like free trade vs. protectionism, free market capitalism vs. socialism, democratic erosion vs. autocratic strength, hegemonic stability vs. U.S. abdication of power, or whether the current populist wave has mainly economic or mostly cultural roots. It’ll hone your analytical and writing skills by exposing you to theoretically advanced forms of political economy argument in a “proposition-opposition” format.

Politics of Inequality

This seminar is designed to provide you with a critical overview of the field, both theoretically and empirically. We’ll review the main issues when measuring inequality and examine the political and institutional foundations of income inequality and also its effects on institutional development, political participation, and voting choice.