Area Studies
Area Studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the economics, geography, language, history and culture of a particular region of the world. Because of the breadth of the approach, Area Studies provides a strong foundation in the humanities and social sciences and prepares students for graduate or professional study in a broad range of fields including law, international relations, business management, education, social work, museum and library work, and public administration.
In addition, the expertise gained in a particular area is of value in a number of careers that are international in nature including international affairs, foreign trade, immigration, banking, tourism, publishing, and diplomacy.
Representative Job Titles and Areas of Specialization
| Area Specialist | Interpreter | | Bank Officer | International Business | | Border Patrol Agent | International Law | | Communications | International Relations | | Criminal Investigator | Librarian | | Cultural Affairs Officer | Professor/Instructor/Teacher | | Editor | Public Affairs Officer | | Foreign Service Officer | Public Relations | | Immigration Inspector | Publishing | | Intelligence Analyst | Translator | | Intelligence Officer | |
Nature of the Work
The Foreign Broadcast Information Service hires individuals with a degree in area studies, a strong reading ability in one or more foreign languages and a strong substantive background in liberal arts to scan foreign publications for information needed to support U.S. government analysts and policy makers. This includes summarizing, gisting or selecting material for translation by contractors, writing short articles on important developments in assigned fields, reviewing and evaluating translations done by contract translators and coordinating efforts with analysts throughout the government.
The United States Foreign Service assist the President and Secretary of State in planning, conducting, and implementing our foreign policy at home and abroad.
Career opportunities exist for both undergraduate and graduate students as Foreign Service Officers, Foreign Service Information Officers and Foreign Commercial Service Officers. The responsibilities of Foreign Service Officers cover four main career areas: administration, consular, economic and political. Representing the United States International Communication Agency, Foreign Service Information Officers are required to define and explain U.S. policies and society, correct any misconceptions, and analyze and report on public perceptions of the United States. At many posts, the Information Officer is also the Press Attache, and is responsible for those activities which directly concern the media--press, publications, radio and television. The Foreign Commercial Service Officer works with governments, business representatives and individuals concerned with the increase and continuation of trade with the United States.
International consulting firms, for the most part, do client research. Entry-level staff start as research assistants, collecting and interpreting data and working on teams with more senior staff. The next step is research associate. Associates may take long-term overseas positions and upon return be promoted to senior staff. The senior staff have more client contacts and are expected to bring in new business for the firm.
Places of Employment
| Banks | National Security Agency | | Consulting firms | Peace Corps | | Council on Foreign Relations | United States Information Service | | Federal government | Import-export companies | | Agency for International Development | Insurance companies | | Central Intelligence Agency | Inter-American Development Bank | | Department of Agriculture | Library of Congress | | Department of Commerce | Organization of American States | | Department of State | Publishing companies | | Department of Transportation | United Nations | | Immigration and Neutralization Service | |
Training
While a B.A. is sometimes accepted for administrative positions in non-profit international organizations, an M.A. or Ph.D. is preferred.
A number of federal agencies hire bachelor's level graduates for junior positions in personnel, management, budget, finance and accounting. Higher level positions as foreign affairs specialist require an M.A. or a Ph.D. with teaching experience and expertise in specialized international affairs areas.
International business prefer those with business experience, and/or business degrees. A foreign language is usually not required. Most people sent abroad have been with a company for two to five years and have extensive experience in the field.
Many entry-level opportunities in international consulting require an advanced degree and foreign language capabilities. Writing skills, quantitative skills and, increasingly, computer experience are also basic requirements.
For further information and/or career counseling contact the Career Center, Veitch Student Center, Northwest Wing, University of California, Riverside, 951.827.3631.
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