Related to Major
International Studies
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
For more information, visit the School for International Studies website.
Explore Your Possibilities
According to Workopolis, almost one third of Canadians have 5 to 10 different jobs in one career, and one in every four has more than 10 different jobs in one career (Workopolis, 2015).
Explore the list of job titles below for ideas about what you could do with your major. Remember your choice of major is not all there is to you, and organizations hire people, not majors.
Some of the occupational titles reflect jobs of SFU Alumni, and others are occupations commonly associated with each major. Jobs that typically require further education are also listed.
Make a list of options you are most curious about, then start exploring the possibilities.
Options commonly associated with the major
- Human Rights Advocate
- Humanitarian Aid Worker
- Regional Consultant
- Diplomat
- Economic Development Officer
- Immigration Officer
- Foreign Services Officer
- Activist
Other Possibilities
Job titles beyond the typical options
- Tourism Development Advisor
- Refugee Settlement Worker
- Media Correspondent
- International Business Advisor
- UN Representative
- Policy Analyst
- Public Affairs Consultant
- Intelligence Analyst
Further Education
Possibilities with additional education or training
- Lawyer
- Cybercrime Investigator
- Social Justice Commissioner
- Restorative Justice Facilitator
- Politician
- Journalist
- Financial Analyst
- International Development Worker
Fields of Work
There are myriad fields where you could find yourself following your undergraduate degree. For example:
- Arts and Culture
- Environment
- Health
- Manufacturing
- Scientific and Technical
- Telecommunications
What fields interest you? If you are uncertain, take the initiative and start exploring different fields. If your preferred fields turn out to not be what you expected, pause. Technology, climate change, automation, globalization and other factors may impact these fields and offer new or different opportunities.
The North American Industry Classification System gives you an overview of all industries and their subsectors.
WorkBC lets you browse careers, the education expectation, salary ranges, descriptions, and specific information about each job.
Core Skills (Major-Specific)
In the course of your undergraduate degree you’ll develop a wide array of skills. While many of these skills encompass essential skills and 21st-Century skills, you’ll also develop job specific skills. These are the specialized knowledge and skills you’ll gain through your courses and are unique to your discipline.
Content knowledge and technical skills vary widely between occupations and are generally only used in one line of work. The type of skills that you’ll need depend on the scope of the work.
You want to understand what skills you developed and the one’s you want to use, so when someone asks you about your discipline content knowledge and skills you can speak clearly and confidently about them.
+ MAJOR Specific Skills
- Organizational and conflict management skills developed from evaluating political experiences locally and internationally and identifying priorities and proper courses of action in each situation.
- Written and verbal communication skills developed from interpreting data to negotiate with people and achieve the best solutions for all parties involved.
- Quantitative and qualitative research skills from gathering and organizing information using appropriate technology and information systems.
- Critical thinking skills from evaluating and synthesizing information to solve complex global problems.
- Analytical and observation skills from evaluating complex textual and cultural phenomenon.
- Interpersonal skills and cultural awareness that allows you to respectfully acknowledge different opinions, diverse backgrounds, capabilities, and limitations.
- Teamwork skills from overseeing, supervising, and contributing to group projects.
Foundational Skills
You’ll need these skills to perform different tasks and at varying levels of complexity in education and work environments depending on the what further education you pursue and on the nature of the work. The Government of Canada and other organizations such as the World Economic Forum report that these skills are increasing in importance and are highly valued and sought after by employers.
Through each of the different events and experiences in your life (education, work, travel, hobbies and extra-curricular activities) you have developed a diverse range of these skills, probably more than you realize.
Useful Sites
Through extensive research, the Government of Canada along with other agencies have identified and validated key literacy, essential and employability skills. These skills are used in nearly every career and throughout daily life and are instrumental in helping you enter, stay in, and progress in the world of work.
Get involved
There are plenty of opportunities and different ways to get involved in activities, programs and services outside of the classroom to learn and grow. By engaging in student leadership programs, volunteering, paid work, and student clubs and groups, you’ll develop new skills, make connections, and gain experience.
Explore a diverse range of inclusive events, services, and community outreach opportunities for students, staff, alumni and friends of SFU.
Explore on-campus opportunities like workshops and events, as well as volunteer and paid positions.
Want to gain experience and earn money while studying? Consider applying to the co-op program
Apply for on-campus volunteer and paid positions, participate in career and leadership development programs and workshops, and access your Co-Curricular Record.
Not-for-profit network by students for students. Find student unions, clubs and other resources and services.
Related Professional Associations
Professional associations are a valuable resource for occupational research, work search and building connections. They may offer career information, job boards, networking, mentorship, volunteer opportunities and additional resources.
Resources
Take your career exploration one step further by doing your own research. Here are some organizations and resources to get started.