Social Studies Degrees

International Studies

Colby’s International Studies major challenges you to investigate global issues from a variety of perspectives. We believe that understanding the changing face of the European community, instability in Mexico, or the dramatic changes in China and Russia demand an appreciation of anthropolgy, politics, history, and economics. The major requires that you gain expertise in more than one geographic area, and deepen your understanding of how international policy is made. Courses on the environment, international institutions, trade, and finance prepare you to analyze the world around you. Competency in a foreign language is required, not only because language skills are your global passport, but because the study of language deepens your cultural understanding. More…

It is important that you test your classroom learning abroad. Over the past two years our majors have studied in a variety of countries including Morocco, Chile, Brazil, China, and Japan, in addition to the European nations. For example, Colby course work on international organizations has informed the study of the European Parliament, and the anthropology of gender has been applied to a study of women’s cooperatives in Ecuador. When majors return to Colby, a senior seminar or a semester-long independent study project helps tie together areas of interest. Some seniors undertake an honors project under the close supervision of one or two faculty members.

Our international studies advisory board is composed of faculty from history, government, anthropology, economics, sociology, and the languages. Advanced students often have the opportunity to work with faculty on their research projects, studying issues such as ecological change in Africa, the military in Latin America, or economic sanctions in foreign policy. Students have a voice in the program through class-year student representatives, and students and faculty often come together for a meal or a lecture on international affairs.

International studies majors pursue careers in public policy, government, economics, public service, diplomacy, and international business, as well as academic careers with an international focus. You will find Colby graduates in the Peace Corps, the State Department, policy institutes, international banking, commerce and the academy.

Have you thought about working as a journalist covering the separatist movement in French-speaking Quebec? As a translator for an archeological team researching Mayan ruins in Mexico? As an environmental chemist helping clean up industrial sites in the new Eastern states of Germany? The study of foreign languages at Coe College can make such dreams real, and it can do more. When you study Japanese, German, Spanish, Latin or Greek at Coe, you become culturally literate in the language, poetry, music, food, geography, painting and customs of another people and are then better able to understand your own place in your own culture.

Our approach to languages at Coe is integrated and comprehensive. Study in any of our languages enhances what you learn in Political Science, in Music, in History, in Philosophy, even in Chemistry and Mathematics. Students studying foreign languages learn under inventive, dedicated teachers who enjoy close working relationships with students and who bring energy and passion to the classroom. When students leave Coe they are prepared to put their language skills and their liberal arts education to work in the world.

Foreign Languages

Have you thought about working as a journalist covering the separatist movement in French-speaking Quebec? As a translator for an archeological team researching Mayan ruins in Mexico? As an environmental chemist helping clean up industrial sites in the new Eastern states of Germany? The study of foreign languages at Coe College can make such dreams real, and it can do more. When you study Japanese, German, Spanish, Latin or Greek at Coe, you become culturally literate in the language, poetry, music, food, geography, painting and customs of another people and are then better able to understand your own place in your own culture.

Our approach to languages at Coe is integrated and comprehensive. Study in any of our languages enhances what you learn in Political Science, in Music, in History, in Philosophy, even in Chemistry and Mathematics. Students studying foreign languages learn under inventive, dedicated teachers who enjoy close working relationships with students and who bring energy and passion to the classroom. When students leave Coe they are prepared to put their language skills and their liberal arts education to work in the world.

Foreign Languages

Have you thought about working as a journalist covering the separatist movement in French-speaking Quebec? As a translator for an archeological team researching Mayan ruins in Mexico? As an environmental chemist helping clean up industrial sites in the new Eastern states of Germany? The study of foreign languages at Coe College can make such dreams real, and it can do more. When you study Japanese, German, Spanish, Latin or Greek at Coe, you become culturally literate in the language, poetry, music, food, geography, painting and customs of another people and are then better able to understand your own place in your own culture.

Our approach to languages at Coe is integrated and comprehensive. Study in any of our languages enhances what you learn in Political Science, in Music, in History, in Philosophy, even in Chemistry and Mathematics. Students studying foreign languages learn under inventive, dedicated teachers who enjoy close working relationships with students and who bring energy and passion to the classroom. When students leave Coe they are prepared to put their language skills and their liberal arts education to work in the world.