The Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies nurtures world-changing ideas and cultivates the expertise to put them into action. Develop a strong foundation in international business and politics through majors focused on cultures, languages, and policies, and apply your learning in hands-on internships and study abroad programs. You can also combine HLS programs with any other Indiana University major, blazing new trails to create global impact.
The world awaits you
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Finding the right major
Bachelor’s programs in international affairs, international law, and others equip you with expert knowledge in world regions to prepare you for a wide variety of careers in areas like foreign policy, international law, or consulting for the US government or the private sector. You will also gain competency in international business through language acquisition and cultural expertise.
Want to customize your degree?
Diversify your opportunities by pairing your bachelor’s degree with a second major, minor, or certificate program.
Secondary degree
Interested in global public health? Combine International Studies with Biology. Curious about refugee policy and immigration law? Study International Law and Institutions and Arabic. By combining any IU major with your HLS program, you can focus your learning experience on the areas of international policy that most interest you.
Minors
Build on your international affairs interests and expand to new spheres with one (or more!) of HLS’s minors: African Studies, Central Eurasian Studies, EALC, East Asian Studies, European Studies, International Studies, Latin American & Caribbean Studies, MELC, Russian & East European Studies, or Southeast Asian & ASEAN Studies.
Certificates
Obtain comparative and interdisciplinary training in specialized subjects through our career-focused certificate programs: African Studies, EALC, East Asian Studies, European Studies, Islamic Studies, Latin American & Caribbean Studies, and Peace Corps Prep.
Pursue your passions
Eashan Kumar graduated with a dual degree in International Studies and Neuroscience. During his time at IU, he also worked with the IU Diplomacy Lab to conduct research on telemedicine in Argentina and environmental policy in Malaysia. He plans to enter medical school after completing a commitment as a teacher with Teach for America.
Eashan Kumar
2018 IU Bloomington Commencement Speaker
Make the world your classroom
Encountering cultures goes beyond the classroom at HLS. We are unique among international affairs programs, offering more than 80 languages—the most of any university in the United States—and more than 300 study abroad programs. You’ll put your learning into action for a summer, a semester, or a year in global contexts from Azerbaijan to Zurich.
By studying in one of more than 52 countries connected to IU, you’ll make connections and build your global readiness for a career that can take you anywhere. Perhaps this is why LinkedIn named Bloomington one of the top cities for launching an international career.
Prepare for global service
"I was impressed with my ability to immerse so well and quickly to the people and culture... This is mainly due to my inherent need to be exposed to a collectivist culture. So, when I’m in places like Uganda and Rwanda, I'm able feel at home and comfortable."
Brittany Gasama
Brittany Gasama (International Studies minor, class of 2020) served as a student teacher for Books and Beyond, a TESL program for students at Kabwende Primary School in Kinigi, Rawanda seeking to develop globally-minded students by increasing critical literacy skills, addressing the Rwandan "book famine," and developing models for cross-cultural teaching and learning.
Find career success
The hands-on learning and international experience of a global studies degree from HLS will prepare you for a competitive career, but we equip you with more than an excellent education. From mentor programs to public service opportunities and career development workshops to networking events, we can help translate your strengths into an impressive resume that reflects your individual goals.
Join the Hamilton Lugar School community
Invest in your future with an international relations degree from the Hamilton Lugar School. We offer two paths to becoming a student: direct admission and standard admission. The first step for either path is applying to attend Indiana University and selecting a Hamilton Lugar School major.
If you can, apply to IU beginning August 1 (the fall of your senior year of high school). Note: your complete IU admission application—and all application materials—must be submitted by November 1 for maximum scholarship consideration.
Direct admission
Do you want the Hamilton Lugar School to be your academic home? Direct admission allows you to join the HLS community as soon as you arrive on campus. This means you'll be able to meet with our advisors and have priority consideration for the Hamilton Lugar School Living-Learning Community! We offer direct admission to incoming fall students based on the following criteria:
- High school academic performance (e.g., grades, breadth and depth of coursework, intellectual curiosity)
- Test scores (for those who choose to have their test scores considered)
- Community service, leadership, work and life experiences
- Interest in global learning and engagement, world cultures, or foreign language(s)
All Direct Admits are considered for school-based funding.
Standard admission
Not ready to declare a major on your application? That's okay! You can gain admission to the Hamilton Lugar School after satisfying the following requirements:
- 26 credit hours of coursework that can count toward an HLS degree
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in College of Arts & Sciences courses
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in your intended major
- Satisfy the CASE English Composition requirements
Most students complete the requirements by the end of their first year.
Note: Students are eligible for direct admission if they are admitted to IU Bloomington AND have selected a Hamilton Lugar School major on their application.
Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies