Popular transnational topics include international security and diplomacy, global environment, international development, global health, international business, intercultural communications, international trade and finance, global arts, and international law. Common languages to study are Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish.

Students majoring in international studies earn a BA degree. The major is useful for careers in the arts, business, engineering, government, health, law, media, and the nonprofit sector, among other fields.