International Studies: Shaping a Humanistic Outlook on an Interconnected World

What does it mean to foster global citizens in an increasingly fraught, divided world? This question is at the heart of the learning that takes place in the International Studies Concentration at SUA.

One of five possible concentrations that students may choose while they earn a B.A. in liberal arts, the IS Concentration includes courses in history, international relations, political science, anthropology, sociology, and economics. The IS Concentration gives students the flexibility to gain a wide breadth of knowledge on global issues and regions while still providing ample opportunities to develop expertise in the subjects that interest them most.

The IS Concentration speaks to SUA’s founding principles of fostering leaders of humanism in society and leaders of pacifism in the world. “A lot of the world’s problems are rooted in intolerance,” said Lisa MacLeod, associate professor of international studies and the director of the IS Concentration. IS courses not only enable students to acquire knowledge about societies and cultures around the world, she said, they also help them understand why diversity “can be a strong asset for a resilient society.”

Students choose the concentration for a variety of reasons. “I was drawn to IS because of my deep interest in global health, cultural exchange, and the impact of international policies on society,” said Muchindu Mwananyanda ’25 from Lusaka, Zambia. “I wanted to develop a broader understanding of international healthcare systems, diplomacy, and cross-cultural interactions to contribute to the fight against infectious diseases in low-income settings.” One of his favorite courses in the concentration has been Introduction to Global Health taught by Dr. Jacqueline Mills ’08, visiting assistant professor of general education, global health, and health professions advisor.

For Viktoria Lohk ’26 from Kärdla, Estonia, the decision to concentrate in IS was influenced by her goal to “help build a world rooted in nonviolence, whether through advancing nuclear disarmament education, shaping international policy, or advising sovereign states.” She has especially enjoyed MacLeod’s class on international law and an introductory course on peace studies taught by Tetsushi Ogata ’05, visiting assistant professor of peace and conflict studies.

“IS is more than politics, policy, or governance,” said Mukesh Bastola ’24, an IS alumnus from Solukhumbu, Nepal. “It is an opportunity to develop a global perspective, refine critical thinking skills, and engage with the complex issues that shape our world.”

From Theory to Profession: How IS Skills Create Career Opportunities

IS concentrators cultivate widely applicable skills that set them up for success across a range of professional paths. Alumni and current students see clear connections, for example, between their critical thinking and analytical skills and their academic training in IS.

“The seminar-style classes, open discussions, and thought-provoking assignments,” Bastola said, “consistently challenged me to think critically and engage with global issues in a nuanced way.”

One of the core goals of IS courses, Ogata said, is to help students see the world from different perspectives. This includes considering the point of view of different people or groups as well as examining a topic through the lens of various disciplines like history, political science, sociology, or economics.

Practicing this type of analysis within the IS Concentration has expanded Lohk’s understanding of world issues and enriched her approach to thinking about complex problems.

“I’ve learned how to analyze all sides of a conflict with precision,” she said, “considering historical context, legal frameworks, and the interests of different actors.”

In addition to this flexible, interdisciplinary thinking, IS students learn how to develop research questions, pursue answers to those questions through rigorous academic research, and communicate their findings effectively in writing. This is a critical skill set not only for graduate school, but also for many professions across an array of industries.

“Whether you’re a speech writer or an NGO activist,” said Shane Barter, professor of comparative politics, “the ability to write things that are factual, concise, and supported by research is invaluable to a lot of different fields.” And because classes at SUA are small — averaging just 12 students — faculty members can provide students personalized feedback that supports their growth as writers. Students also hone their oral communication skills by giving presentations and participating in class discussions.

Above all, the IS Concentration helps students build the ability and confidence to take informed action on pressing local, regional, and global issues.

“We want to combine practical and ethical citizenship,” MacLeod said. “The intention is that this knowledge will inform your thinking, and eventually your choices and actions. I think our students are genuine global citizens with a sincere interest in improving the world around them.”

This desire to positively contribute to society has led IS alumni to graduate programs in law, human rights, conflict studies, education, social policy, political science, area studies, international relations, gender and development, and security, intelligence, and strategic studies.

“As a graduate student in public policy and management,” Bastola said, “I find myself building on the knowledge and skills I gained at SUA. Whether analyzing migration trends or evaluating complex policy issues, I draw on my IS background daily.”

IS alumni have pursued careers in global development, refugee resettlement, and government consulting. They have worked for various departments within the United Nations, addressing issues from gender equity to migration and mine action. They have served in the Peace Corps, at embassies across the world, and at international NGOs that focus on sustainability, public health, and nuclear non-proliferation.

However, the IS Concentration is certainly not limited to students who are interested in diplomacy or working abroad for humanitarian causes, MacLeod said. Some IS alumni, like Nandini Puri ’14, have applied what they learned to ethical entrepreneurship. In 2022, Puri co-founded a business that sources fair trade, sustainably grown spices from family-owned farms in India. Other alumni have become journalists, lawyers or paralegals, marketing experts, human resources professionals, business and management consultants, and educators at every level, from preschool to university. A number have worked for federal government agencies, been elected to their local city council, or worked for large tech companies like Google.

Though career paths span a broad range of professions, a common thread for alumni is how their liberal arts degree with a concentration in IS has afforded them the flexibility to adapt to diverse professional contexts and a changing global economy. When IS graduates enter the workforce, their open-mindedness, willingness to learn, and resilience in the face of a challenge tend to set them apart from their colleagues.

“That curious mindset and desire to look for opportunities to make a positive change really defines Soka students out in the world in a significant way,” MacLeod said.

Capstone Research: Students Explore Complex Global Issues

All students complete a capstone project during their final year at SUA. With guidance and coaching from a faculty advisor, Soka seniors investigate their own research question and produce a substantial academic exploration of their findings. Students often find that the capstone process illuminates what they would like to pursue after graduation.

For IS students, the capstone is a great opportunity to dive deep into a topic that interests them and draw important insights from international comparisons. Bastola researched the role that home states play in migration, using three developing countries as case studies to examine how “migration is not just an individual choice, but a deeply political process shaped by home and host state policies.” This thorough exploration also served as a great exercise in the kind of analytical thinking and policy analysis that he currently practices in his M.S. program at Carnegie Mellon University.

Current student Mwananyanda’s capstone focuses on access to HIV/AIDS care among Black and Brown queer men in Zambia, Uganda, and the Deep South of the United States. Through rigorous historical research and analysis of socioeconomic factors and healthcare policies, he aims to understand disparities in treatment access.

“The goal of my project,” he said, “is to highlight existing inequalities, identify opportunities for more inclusive healthcare policies, and propose actionable solutions to improve access to equitable HIV/AIDS care.” After graduation, Mwananyanda plans to “contribute meaningfully to international health initiatives and advocacy for marginalized communities” through a career in public health research, global health policy, or international development with a focus in healthcare equity.

In her capstone, Akemi Terukina ’23 took full advantage of Soka’s interdisciplinary education, delving not only into IS, but also U.S. domestic politics and urban planning, subjects that overlap with the Social and Behavioral Sciences and Environmental Studies concentrations. Her project analyzed how U.S. immigration policies were implemented in San Diego, examining how national and local policies have been shaped by differing priorities even within the same political party. Originally from Kobe, Japan, Terukina is now based in Tokyo, where she works as a reporter at Bloomberg News covering Japanese politics and economy.

“Expand Your Horizons”: Advice for IS Success

The IS community had many words of wisdom to share with current and potential IS students. MacLeod thinks students should use their intellectual curiosity as a guide when choosing courses in the concentration.

“Take the classes that you’re interested in and excited about,” she said. “You’ll learn more in those courses because you’ll enjoy learning more, and you won’t have to convince yourself to do the homework.”

MacLeod also stressed the importance of allowing yourself to explore widely by selecting courses taught by a variety of faculty members. “We all have our different styles and areas of expertise,” she said. “I think we complement each other in how we look at similar issues from very different perspectives.”

Barter advised frequently asking questions and speaking up in class discussions, even if you’re afraid of being wrong, because active participation can lead to immense learning and growth. Along the same lines, he encourages students to challenge themselves academically.

“If you’re writing a paper for class,” he said, “choose a topic that you don’t know as well … Expanding your horizons is classic global citizenship.”

Faculty, alumni, and students all highly recommended regularly attending office hours to talk with professors one-on-one.

“What I cherished most about SUA,” Bastola said, “was the unwavering support of faculty … Their doors and calendars are always open for discussions about course topics, career advice, current events, or anything else you want to talk about.” He credits these interactions with inspiring him to push himself to grow as a student, critical thinker, and individual.

The mentorship and self-reflection Bastola described often helps students cultivate their intellectual and ethical convictions — something Ogata sees as a crucial part of concentrating in IS and preparing to make a difference in the world. He hopes students take these years of intense learning to develop “a strong humanistic philosophy that brings together humans at a societal level, societies at the global level, and countries at the international level.” This outlook is fundamental to addressing conflicts in today’s polarized world. “When people refuse to talk to each other,” he said, “that’s when the real dialogue needs to start.”