• International studies major celebrates sixth decade at Baylor

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    Dwight Eisenhower was president and the Korean War was drawing to a close in 1953 when a type-written press release announced a new major at Baylor. “Foreign Service,” as it was known in the beginning, would become the International Studies major of today, a course of study that is truly educating students for worldwide leadership more than six decades later.

    As an interdisciplinary major, International Studies students learn the historical background and current issues facing a country or area, then choose an area of focus — often in conjunction with another major or minor — to better understand how a discipline such as business, political science or economics can be applied in that nation or region. Foreign language study is also often a key component for International Studies students, and there’s no shortage of classes offered in the major (“American Foreign Relations Since 1919,” “War and Peace in the Middle East” and “The Christian Church in Latin America,” just to name a few) to further help students understand the world around us.

    Not surprisingly, International Studies students end up in far-flung places for internships, fellowships or other educational pursuits. Senior International Studies and Arabic double major Sarah Crockett took part in an Arabic immersion program this summer at the prestigious Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

    “It was intense,” she recalls. “Most of the instruction was in Arabic, and we received a year’s worth of Arabic study in 5 ½ weeks. Seeing the history of the area and visiting other cities like Jaffa was great.”

    Crockett, who hopes to go into humanitarian work in the Middle East, is just one of many students who grew from a trip abroad in the summer and now participates in one of the more visible aspects of the major — Model U.N. It’s just what it sounds like — a model of the United Nations, where students learn to represent a country in class and perhaps participate with Baylor’s Model U.N. team that represents Baylor at the national conference each spring.

    Sic ’em, Baylor International Studies!