International History
Through our international history major, explore how the world has changed over time and the social, political and economic forces that continue to shape its ongoing transformation.
The international history (IHIS) major at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service (SFS) equips you with the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to understand how the world has evolved and the forces shaping its future. Through the interdisciplinary SFS curriculum you will develop a critical and nuanced understanding of global history, drawing from diverse fields like anthropology, political science, sociology, economics and literature.
In a rapidly changing world—marked by challenges with historical precedents such as pandemics, authoritarianism, democratic backsliding and urgent calls for racial and environmental justice—the IHIS major provides the perspectives and analytical tools needed to interpret current events. Through rigorous training and various historical methodologies, you will learn to evaluate and construct complex arguments and conduct research that explores how the past informs today’s global issues.
Overview of the major
Major declaration dates
Sophomore year
- Begins: After add-drop in September
- Ends: Friday before Spring Break
Curricular dean
At a glance
- 1 introductory course
- 5 courses supporting your concentration
- 2 elective history courses
Concentrations
- Environmental history of the Middle East
- Religion and gender in the early modern world
- Economic history of US-China relations
- Imperialism and race
- Military strategy and 19th-century colonialism
Program outcomes
As an international history major, you will gain skills that will prepare you to make informed, evidence-based arguments about historical processes that transcend national borders and continue to shape modern life. As an IHIS student, you will:
- Approach the discipline of history as an ongoing conversation between sources, scholars and students
- Analyze sources based on their claims and the quality of their evidence
- Trace major themes, issues and developments in comparative, international and global history
- Formulate comparative questions and arguments about different societies and cultures
Career paths
Students majoring in international history gain critical analytical and writing skills that prepare them for policy, law, diplomacy and research careers. Alumni of this program work in global affairs as journalists, policy analysts, diplomats and security experts, contributing their deep historical knowledge to international conversations.
Academics
As an international history major, you’ll access a wealth of resources across the School of Foreign Service, the Department of History and the Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences. Our program offers the opportunity to combine diverse courses in fields like anthropology, philosophy, political science and literature, with a core focus on international relations, to creatively approach the study of history from a variety of methodological perspectives.
Courses
To get the most up-to-date list of courses available, as well as past course offerings, visit GU Experience and follow these steps:
- Go to GU Experience > registration dashboard
- Under the schedule of classes section, select browse classes
- Select term
- In the subject menu, choose a subject (e.g. history)
- Scroll down and click the class search button to explore available classes
I became confident that majoring in international history would provide me with a full scope of understanding that encapsulates all the fields I am interested in, such as international affairs, politics and culture.
Grace Hyemin (IHIS’23)
The classes I took to fulfill my major and minor degree requirements were the most intellectually rewarding. Georgetown has an amazing history department, and I would retake all of my major classes again if I could.
Eosin Chelius (IHIS’22)
Faculty
Our international history faculty are world-leading scholars who specialize in various regions, periods and fields. You can take classes that examine sweeping international trends in environmental history or the experiences of small communities in a specific place and time.
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Anna von der Goltz
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Erick Langer
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James Millward
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John Tutino
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Joseph Sassoon
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Michael David-Fox
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Mustafa Aksakal
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Osama Abi-Mershed
Alumni spotlight
Our international history alumni have built successful careers in policy, law, foreign service, research and academia. Our alumni apply critical analytical and writing skills to careers as journalists, policy analysts, diplomats, global affairs consultants, security analysts and leaders in the nonprofit sector.
“I think I really understood the value of the education [I got at SFS] and I keep understanding the value of the education in my everyday work.”
Stéphane Dujarric (SFS’88) has served as the spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General since 2014. The alumnus studied international history as an undergraduate at SFS and says that he has been able to tap into the Georgetown community in every country he has traveled to as part of his UN work.
International history stories
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Asya Eksioglu (SFS’25) explores global perspectives in international history
Asya Eksioglu (SFS’25) came from Istanbul to study international history and became a thoughtful leader in global development.
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Jonathan Lee (SFS’24) harnesses the flexibility of SFS to pursue international history and art history
In his time on the Hilltop, Jonathan Lee (SFS’24) explored the vast array of options that the Georgetown curriculum provides.