技术以及文化和经济一体化的力量正在缩小社会之间的距离。同时，种族，宗教和经济冲突继续在社会内部和社会之间爆发。其他社会的距离以及它们之间以及它们之间的剩余鸿沟都需要对它们的文化和制度有更好的了解。不能孤立地或在一个时间点上理解社会，但是，它们是由全球和区域环境（包括其政治，军事，经济和文化利益）及其过去所塑造的。个人和社会在重新解释其历史时反过来塑造了这些环境。<br> <br>国际研究计划是多学科的，并基于圣地亚哥大学加州分校现有国际专业的优势。国际关系和比较政治是政治学的公认领域。经济理论和方法论对于
The International Studies major provides students with both a firm grounding in a discipline and the flexibility to explore alternative perspectives. The focus chosen by each student contains the disciplinary foundations of the major. This is complemented with three required electives taken in departments outside that of the student's chosen primary track. International Studies majors also complete two core courses that serve as gateways to the multi-disciplinary approach and to central international and comparative issues that cut across the ISP curriculum. Among the topics are cultural boundaries and identities, economic and social development, international and regional integration and their effects, the evolution of political and social institutions, and forms of communication and language. A required capstone seminar permits the completion of a research paper in close association with a member of the faculty.