International Studies Major - Bachelor of Arts
The International Studies major helps you develop the skills to contribute effectively in this changing global environment, and interact with people with different backgrounds and world views.
To contribute to the increasing globalisation of the world, countries need people who understand the impact of global trends and issues, and can interact effectively in a multicultural environment. Intercultural competence is a skill highly valued by employers around the world.
In this major you can include courses from social sciences, business, culture, education, applied linguistics or languages. It’s a great addition to another major, especially in science, technology, engineering and maths. In your second year you can study overseas for one semester in the US, Spain, Japan, The Netherlands, Sweden, Korea or Taiwan.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Arts.
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Through the intercultural courses you'll develop transferable skills like cultural intelligence and resilience; skills that employers are looking for. You learn to evaluate the impact of globalisation, innovation and change on societies and individuals of processes, and analyse interactions in international or multicultural settings.
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.
Core courses
All Bachelor of Arts students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Complete one course from each of the following clusters. Each cluster aligns with one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Partnerships and Reduced Inequalities
Choose one of:
- ENGL502 Reading New Zealand
- ENGL503 A Pacific Reader
- JAPA511 Speak Japanese I
- MAOR505 Te Mānutanga Beginners Māori Language 1
- MAOR506 Te Ekenga Waka Beginners Māori Language 2
- NZSL502 Deaf Community and Culture I
- NZSL510 New Zealand Sign Language I
- NZSL520 New Zealand Sign Language II
- SPAN501 Spanish 1A
- SPAN502 Spanish 1B
Peace and Justice, Climate Action and Economic World
Choose one of:
- CRIM580 Criminology and Criminal Justice
- EVNT500 Introduction to Event Management
- HIST500 Introduction to New Zealand History
- HIST501 The Holocaust: Its Causes, Character, and Legacy
- PSYC580 Introduction to Psychology A
- SOSC582 Social Thinking
- SOSC583 Social Institutions
- SOSC585 Climate Action
- TOUR511 Global Issues in Tourism
Sustainability, Health and Wellbeing
Choose one of:
- FOOD501 Food and the Senses
- CLSY513 Organisation and Human Behaviour Perspectives
- HOSP509 Hospitality Social Enterprise
- TOUR512 Tourism and Sustainability
Quality Education, Gender Equality and Reduced Poverty
Workplace experience is an important part of your degree, and the Work Integrated Learning course is the final part of your degree. This is a supervised work placement related to your major(s), for an organisation of your choice. It's a great way to get industry experience while still being able to get feedback from AUT lecturers, and for many of our students this workplace experience also leads to a job offer.
Recent placements included:
- Red Cross
- Office of Ethnic Communities
- New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) – African Programme
- The Palestinian Federation, Chile
- ANZ Bank
You could also take the Foundations in Research course if you’re considering continuing into postgraduate study.
Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?
Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.
International studies major courses
If you're majoring in international studies, this is the main subject area you specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree and consists of eight international studies-related courses you study throughout your degree.
Complete the following courses
- CLSY510 Introduction to International Studies
- CLSY630 Intercultural Competence
- CLSY706 International Studies in the 21st Century
And choose from these courses
Complete one of:
- JAPA511 Speak Japanese I
- KORE500 Korean Language and Culture 1
- MAOR505 Te Mānūtanga Beginners Māori Language 1
- NZSL510 New Zealand Sign Language I
- SPAN501 Spanish 1A
Complete two of:
- CONF683 Human Rights and Human Wrongs
- INTB603 Dynamic Environments
- MAOR630 Mana Motuhake: The politics of Māori
And complete two of:
- HRMG701 Diversity and Inclusion for Social Impact
- POLS781 International Relations
- TOUR704 Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for more info on a specific course use our course search.
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
https://www.aut.ac.nz/courses/bachelor-of-arts/international-studies-major
Careers that involve interaction with people from other cultures, including:
- Business
- Diplomatic service*
- Health
- Justice system
- Local authorities
- Media
- National and international human rights organisations
- Police
- Public relations
- Service industries
- Social work
- Teaching
- Translation and interpreting**
*With the relevant pathway
**With relevant translation and interpreting courses
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Arts
- Creative Writing
- Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Economics (not open to new students from 2025)
- Education
- Event Management
- Global Tourism
- History
- Interpreting
- Māori Development
- Māori Media
- New Zealand Sign Language & Deaf Studies
- New Zealand Sign Language - English Interpreting*
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
*This major focuses on New Zealand Sign Language and developing the skills to become a Sign Language interpreter. It doesn’t include the option to include courses from different subjects.
- Sought-after knowledge and skills in our increasingly multicultural world and globalised workplaces
- Unique focus on intercultural and transnational competences
- Only major of its kind in New Zealand
- Work placement in New Zealand or overseas
- Option to include subjects from across AUT in your degree
- Curious about how people interact across cultures
- Interested in the world around you and how you can make a difference
- A bridge builder, cultural ambassador or cultural mediator
- Flexible and adaptable to change and the unfamiliar
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.