African and Middle Eastern Studies B.A.

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The UCLA International Institute offers interdisciplinary academic programs. They include six undergraduate majors, ten undergraduate minors, and three M.A. programs. Together, they enroll close to 1,000 students per year. Our alumni, some of whom go on to pursue professional degrees, work in education, government, cultural, nonprofit, and business sectors all over the world. We invite you to explore these programs, along with information about faculty, staff, alumni, and opportunities for engagement.

International & Area Studies

Our majors inspire the next generation of global leaders, managers, and thinkers! Study culture, society, economics, and politics of an international region through a multidisciplinary lens.

Academic Counseling

We offer virtual and in-person advising support. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to read through our website. If you still have questions or concerns, you may contact us at undergrads@international.ucla.edu (please include your UID). Click here for our contact information. To be featured in our bi-weekly bulletin, please complete our online request form.

Our Students

Esther, Asian Studies

"My major in Asian studies has provided me a lens to understand some of today's urgent issues in the international field and to explore my parts in what the world can become. Serving as an International Student Ambassador, I gained much valuable experience through international student outreach by navigating everyday complexities of intercultural communications."

Maria, European Studies

"I decided to major in European Studies because I wanted to learn how contemporary Europe and the European Union fit into today's global context. What I love about this program is its interdisciplinary nature, which allows me to tailor my schedule towards classes I am most interested in, and are relevant to my career plans. Combining humanities and STEM into my curriculum, provides a strong foundation for real-world applications."

Emeth, African and Middle Eastern Studies

"Majoring in AMES has provided me with unique insight into the region, the transnational impact of its religions and diasporic peoples beyond the extent of today's hegemonic dialectics. Despite its interdisciplinary nature, I have been equipped with methodology and knowledge entirely academic and fully applicable to individual and international interactions. This major is ideal for students like me hoping to specialize in fields associated with other majors (such as anthro, econ, religion, etc) while maintaining orientation towards the region."

Careers with International & Area Studies

Business & Finance

Banking & Investments
Entrepreneurship
Logistics & Trade

Education

Accessible Education
Exchange Programs
International Schools

Government

Embassies/Consulates
Law/Policy
Peace Corps

Entertainment & Leisure

International Marketing
Translation
Travel & Aviation

Health

Health Access
Non-Government Organizations
Doctors Without Borders

Our Alumni

Leonard, Latin American Studies, 2019

"After graduating from UCLA, I started working as a Healthcare Consultant at Triage Consulting Group based in San Francisco. I analyze data from hospitals across the United States in order to increase revenue flows. I also volunteer with the UCLA Latino Alumni Association to mentor incoming Bruins."

Yichen, Asian Studies, 2019

"During OPT period. I started working in United Education Group company that serves international students. I am now a student consultant in the company to effectively help international high school and undergraduate students live in the United States. I also work in the company's marketing department. In Fall 2020 I will start MA program in International Education at Columbia University."

Kyilah, European Studies, 2019

"I am pursuing my Master's in International Relations at Georgetown University; my regional concentration is Europe and my topical concentration is Migration Diplomacy and Asylum Policy. I just concluded my internship with the State Department in the Bureau of European/Eurasian Affairs as well as my research assistantship with Georgetown's Institute for the Study of International Migration. I am currently working for a think tank called Migration Policy Institute (MPI) and getting ready to apply to PhD programs for Political Science."

Courses

Our students take classes from many departments across campus. Here are just a few of the many interesting courses you could take!

- Chocolate in Americas: Bittersweet Bliss
- 1989: Europe's Revolution
- China in the World: Environment and Politics

Questions?

You can email us!

Transfer Students

Please see our 'Transfer Students' tab!