International Studies, BA

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Pennsylvania

Program Overview

The International Studies, BA at the University of Pennsylvania is an interdisciplinary major for Huntsman students who want to understand global affairs through advanced language study, regional knowledge, international politics, economics, and business. Students develop specialized knowledge of a region connected to their target language while combining liberal-arts learning with international business perspectives and completing a four-year dual-degree program with a BS in Economics from Wharton.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students begin building their international perspective through the INSP 1001 Huntsman Program First-Year Seminar in International Studies and Business, while starting intensive study in one target language. The first year also introduces the interdisciplinary approach of Huntsman, combining Arts and Sciences coursework with the foundations of the Wharton curriculum.

Year 2: Students deepen their language proficiency and begin developing regional expertise through Area Studies courses, which can cover subjects such as history, literature, culture, and socio-political issues. International Studies coursework can include subjects such as International Relations Theory and Practice, International Political Economy, and Globalization in the City, while Wharton coursework adds an international business perspective.

Year 3: Students continue advanced language and area studies while developing a stronger understanding of international business and global affairs. Courses can include International Corporate Finance, International Financial Markets, International Business Ethics, Human Rights and Globalization, or Technology in Global Markets, depending on the student's selected coursework and area of specialization.

Year 4: Students bring their interdisciplinary training together through advanced International Studies and International Business coursework and a substantial senior research project. The catalog permits students to complete INSP 4998 Senior Thesis, International Studies, INSP 4999 Honors Thesis, International Studies, or the MGMT 4090 & INSP 4997 Huntsman Capstone Study and Senior Capstone option.

Focus areas: International studies, international business, international political economy, international relations, regional studies, language and culture, globalisation, international finance, international business ethics, human rights, technology in global markets, comparative politics, history and socio-political studies

Learning outcomes: Students develop advanced proficiency in a target language, detailed knowledge of a particular world region, the ability to analyze international political and economic issues, understanding of international business in a global context, intercultural communication skills, comparative analytical thinking, and independent research and academic writing skills.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The International Studies BA is a College of Arts and Sciences major within the Huntsman Program rather than a separately professionally accredited degree. The wider Huntsman program integrates Arts and Sciences and Wharton education and awards students a BA in International Studies and a BS in Economics after completion of the dual-degree requirements.

Reputation (employability rankings): Penn does not publish a separate QS or Guardian employability ranking specifically for the International Studies BA. Official Huntsman information reports that alumni work across finance, consulting, politics, public policy, law, marketing, diplomacy, nonprofit management, public health, international development, technology, and other sectors, while Penn's Class of 2025 university-wide outcomes report states that 91% of graduates were working full-time or continuing their education within six months and the median starting salary for full-time employed graduates was $103,418. The latter figures are for all Penn undergraduates, not specifically International Studies or Huntsman graduates.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Experiential learning is a central part of the Huntsman experience, particularly through the required semester abroad, where students use their target language and regional knowledge in an international academic and cultural setting. Students can also take part in the Global Immersion Program, complete region-specific Area Studies coursework abroad, undertake senior research, and connect with alumni and professionals through the Huntsman community.

The program combines classroom learning with international travel, cultural immersion, research, professional engagement, and direct interaction with practitioners:

Required semester abroad: Students spend one semester in a region where their target language is primarily spoken, studying through a Penn Abroad-approved program and immersing themselves in the local language and culture.
Area Studies abroad: Students can complete Area Studies requirements overseas, with previous students taking subjects such as Cuban Cinema and the Revolution at Universidad de la Habana, History of France: 1940 to the Present at Institut d'Études Politiques de Lyon, and Japanese Business Culture at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.
Huntsman Global Immersion Program: This experiential course combines classroom preparation with international travel and immersion in global cities. Students participate in site visits, cultural excursions, and discussions with policymakers, business leaders, community organizations, scholars, practitioners, industry professionals, and Penn alumni.
Target-language development: Students specialize in one of 11 languages—Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish—and use the language throughout their academic and international experience.
Senior research: Students complete a senior thesis under the supervision of a faculty member, producing a substantial formal research paper based on their own research.
Living-learning community: During their first year, Huntsman students live together in Kings Court/English College House, creating an environment where they can practice intercultural and linguistic skills with peers from diverse backgrounds.
Alumni mentoring: The Huntsman Alumni Mentoring Program connects students with alumni who can provide academic and professional advice, while the alumni network also shares career and internship opportunities.
Internship and research support: The Huntsman Program provides summer internship and research support as part of its broader professional-development resources.
Career and internship platform: Students can access Penn's Handshake platform for university-wide job and internship opportunities, alongside opportunities shared through the Huntsman alumni network.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The International Studies BA provides a combination of language expertise, regional knowledge, international affairs, and business education that can be applied across public, private, and nonprofit careers. Official Huntsman sources report alumni pursuing careers in finance, consulting, politics, public policy, law, marketing, diplomacy, nonprofit management, public health, international development, technology, and other globally oriented fields.

Typical career directions include:

International Business Consultant
Diplomatic Affairs Specialist
International Development Specialist
Public Policy Analyst

Students can develop their professional direction through the following opportunities:

Huntsman Alumni Network: Students have access to a dedicated alumni network offering career chats, mentoring, networking, and job and internship opportunities.
Dedicated Huntsman advising: The program provides specialized academic advising through faculty and staff dedicated to Huntsman students, supporting students as they complete the dual-degree curriculum.
Career and internship opportunities: Handshake provides access to Penn-wide job and internship postings, while employers can also post opportunities directly through the Huntsman alumni network and LinkedIn community.
Industry and professional exposure: The Global Immersion Program gives students direct opportunities to engage with policymakers, business leaders, community organizations, scholars, practitioners, industry professionals, and Penn alumni.
Documented Huntsman outcomes: In the official Class of 2022 Outcomes report, 88.5% of 35 respondents reported full-time work, 8.5% reported other activities including research and language study, and 3% reported graduate education. The report covers Huntsman graduates and is not a current university-wide statistic.
Longer-term alumni outcomes: A Huntsman alumni career-plans report covering classes of 2014–2018 recorded 78.8% of respondents employed full-time and 17.6% attending graduate school; the report had a 47% response rate, so it should be interpreted as historical alumni survey data rather than a current placement rate.
Salary information: Penn's current official Class of 2025 university-wide undergraduate outcomes report lists a $103,418 median starting salary for graduates employed full-time. Penn does not present this figure as specific to the International Studies BA or Huntsman Program.
Global employer exposure: The Huntsman Program's 2025 summer survey lists organizations such as The World Bank, Boston Consulting Group, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, LVMH, American Express, and Warner Bros. Discovery among employers associated with surveyed rising students; this is an employer list from the program's survey rather than a placement guarantee.
Graduation structure: Completing the Huntsman requirements results in two degrees: a BA in International Studies from the College of Arts and Sciences and a BS in Economics from Wharton.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can continue into master's, doctoral, law, business, public policy, international relations, economics, and other professional or graduate programs. Official Huntsman sources note that many alumni attend graduate or professional school, with examples including MBA, international relations, management science and engineering, marketing, economics, sociology, and combined graduate-degree pathways.