Department of International Studies
Albuquerque, USA
Certificate
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus, Distance Learning
Key Summary
About: The International Studies Institute (ISI) at the University of New Mexico offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate major and minor in International Studies, advancing knowledge of global issues, peoples, cultures and policy. Founded in 2003, ISI enrolls 154+ students, runs two annual public lectures, and sits within an R1 research university that hosts over 1,300 international students. The AMIGO scholarship (3.5/40 GPA) can reduce tuition by up to $23,000. Keywords: global studies, international relations, cross-cultural studies, area studies.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter diplomacy, international development, policy, NGOs, education, journalism, and global business; roles include policy analyst, program officer, communications specialist, liaison.
The International Studies Institute (ISI) is the home of the interdisciplinary undergraduate program in International Studies within the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New Mexico. Our mission is to advance and disseminate knowledge about today's world — on the UNM campus and across the state of New Mexico.
An interdisciplinary undergraduate program advancing understanding of global issues, peoples, cultures, and challenges — connecting UNM students to the wider world.
At a Glance
- 154+ students enrolled
- Founded in 2003
- Programs offered: Major & Minor
- Lecture series: 2 per year
Vision: To advance understanding of global issues and other regions of the world — their peoples, cultures, developments, and challenges — including those of strategic and economic interest to the U.S.
Mission: To provide greater opportunities for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge about today's world — serving undergraduates, affiliated faculty, and the broader New Mexico community.
Goal: To pursue broad-based initiatives — coordinating lecture series, reaching out to secondary schools, and supporting international research, study, and exchange programs worldwide.
Approved Thematic Concentrations
Arts and Culture (ARCL)
Art and culture are powerful lenses through which we understand what it means to be human. This concentration invites students to explore how creative expression — musical, cinematic, literary, visual, and beyond — functions differently across societies and cultural environments. Students examine art as a form of communication, identity, and resistance, and consider how cultural expression travels, transforms, and connects communities across time and geography, including through diasporic migration and cross-cultural exchange.
Environment and Sustainability (ENSU)
Environmental challenges do not respect borders. This concentration examines the environment as a fundamentally global issue, asking students to grapple with the causes and consequences of climate change, population growth, and resource depletion — and the deep inequities that shape how these challenges are experienced across the Global North and South. Students explore what sustainable futures might look like within the social, political, and economic systems that define 21st-century global relations.
Global Markets and Governance (GMGV)
Who governs the world — and how? This concentration examines the international institutions and intergovernmental bodies that shape global, regional, and transregional governance. Students may focus on political and diplomatic organizations such as the United Nations, the African Union, ASEAN, or the European Union, or turn their attention to institutions that regulate global trade and finance, such as the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, or the World Economic Forum. The concentration also engages with emerging trends in global integration, including the rise of digital economies and cryptocurrencies.
Conflict, Peace, and Diplomacy (CPDY)
From the roots of armed conflict to the fragile architecture of peace, this concentration offers students a broad and critical exploration of war, diplomacy, and conflict resolution. Students examine the changing nature of both violence and peacebuilding — including the role of the United Nations' peacekeeping mandate and the growing involvement of regional organizations in conflict prevention and peace maintenance. The concentration encourages students to think carefully about the many forms violence takes and the diplomatic, institutional, and grassroots efforts that work to address it.
Rituals, Identities, and Belief (RBIF)
What do religious ceremonies, trade negotiations, and daily routines have in common? This concentration takes an interdisciplinary approach to ritual and belief, encouraging students to expand their understanding of what "ritual" means and how these practices — across religious, cultural, and everyday life — shape human identity and community. By exploring belief systems and symbolic behaviors across societies, students gain new insight into how meaning is made and how cultures define themselves and each other.
Approved Area Studies Concentration
- Latin America
- Europe
- Asia/Middle East
- Africa
A1. Students will draw on their knowledge of international processes and issues to identify and describe at least two dimensions — historical, political, social, cultural, or economic — of specific international issues or problems.
B1. Students will integrate knowledge and scholarly approaches across disciplines, apply an interdisciplinary perspective, and account for the international context of a research problem.
B2. Students will present and discuss their research in compelling, coherent, and clearly structured analytical arguments.
C1. Students will communicate clearly and effectively in a language other than their native language.
C2. Students will develop intercultural awareness and communication skills.
D1. Students will evaluate career and post-graduate opportunities available to International Studies majors.
In an increasingly interconnected world, understanding global affairs and navigating cultural differences are essential skills. International Studies graduates leave UNM not only with deep knowledge of global issues, but with the perspective and preparation to make a meaningful impact — in their communities, their careers, and the world.
The ISI brings together students, faculty, and communities through a range of initiatives, including:
- Lectures, conferences, and public events that engage pressing global questions
- Outreach to secondary schools across New Mexico
- Support for interdisciplinary research and international study programs
- Faculty and student exchange programs that build lasting global relationships
We actively seek faculty with diverse international experience and cultivate partnerships with communities worldwide.