This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. We may add courses that expose our students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning. We may also add content to the general education program that focuses on racial literacy and a racial literacy graduation requirement, and may receive notification of additional program approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

The international studies program offers a varied interdisciplinary humanities curriculum, global in scope and designed to increase students’ knowledge about the cultures and traditions, languages, literature and media, history, values, concerns, and aspirations of peoples in different countries and regions of the world. The goal of the program is ultimately also to both broaden students’ comparative intercultural perspectives and develop their cross-cultural communication abilities. Within each chosen concentration, the interdisciplinary range of offerings allows for flexibility in configuring each individual’s course of study, which can be organized in a manner that best suits a student’s particular needs.

Student learning outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will know how to do the following:

International studies core learning outcomes

  • Critically analyze culturally specific as well as global issues from a variety of disciplinary perspectives
  • Demonstrate knowledge of universals and differences in worldviews and ethical systems (values) across a range of cultures
  • Demonstrate cross-cultural communication skills and cultural sensitivity to interact effectively in international and/or multicultural settings, and engage with cultural difference in an informed and compassionate fashion
  • Demonstrate intermediate college-level proficiency in a second language in each of the four modalities: speaking, listening, reading and writing

International social justice concentration-specific learning outcome:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of international social justice issues and challenges

Experiential learning and study abroad

Each student completing a degree program within the School of World Studies is required to complete a World ePass as part of their experiential learning requirement; students are also encouraged to participate in a study abroad program. For more information on the ePass portfolio and study abroad opportunities, students may visit the overview page for the School of World Studies.