Dartmouth College

What you'll study

The Area Studies pathway combines coursework from history, anthropology, political science, economics, literature and language departments to build deep, region‑specific knowledge. Students choose a primary regional focus (for example Africa, East Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, South Asia or Indigenous/Native American regions) and follow a coherent programme of study that typically includes language study to at least intermediate or advanced level, regionally focused seminars, and methodological courses in area‑studies research.

• Core themes: regional history and politics; cultural and literary traditions; economic development and societal change; comparative governance and policy analysis.
• Language training: progressive language courses with opportunities for intensive study and study‑abroad placements to develop reading, speaking and research fluency.
• Methods and theory: qualitative and quantitative research methods, ethnography, archival research, and source criticism applied to the chosen region.
• Capstone: a senior thesis or major research project supervised by faculty, often involving original language‑based sources or fieldwork.
• Electives and cross‑training: students are encouraged to take courses in related disciplines—economics, environmental studies, public policy, and media studies—to broaden analytical tools.

Entry requirements

Admission to Dartmouth College is to the undergraduate college; students interested in Area Studies normally apply to Dartmouth through the standard undergraduate admissions process. Successful applicants typically present a strong academic record with emphasis on humanities and social sciences, demonstrated interest in languages and global affairs, and evidence of intellectual engagement through essays, recommendations and extracurricular activities.

For students declaring the Area Studies major after matriculation, departments generally expect completion of introductory courses in the chosen region and one or two levels of language study, plus consultation with an academic advisor to plan the major sequence. International applicants and those for whom English is not a first language typically need to demonstrate English proficiency through accepted testing or school records.

Career prospects

Graduates with an Area Studies degree develop regionally specific knowledge and transferable skills—language proficiency, research and analysis, cross‑cultural communication and critical thinking—that are valued across many sectors. Common career paths include:

• Government and diplomacy: foreign service, policy analysis, intelligence and international development agencies.
• Non‑governmental organisations and international NGOs: programme management, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation roles focused on specific regions.
• Business and consulting: roles in international business development, market analysis and cross‑border trade that require regional expertise.
• Media and communications: journalism, translation, editing and cultural programming with a regional emphasis.
• Academia and education: graduate study in area studies, anthropology, history, political science, or language pedagogy, and teaching at various levels.
• Cultural institutions: museums, archives and heritage organisations working on preservation, curation and public engagement around regional cultures.

Why study at Dartmouth College

Dartmouth offers a liberal arts environment with small seminars, close faculty mentorship and opportunities for original research, all of which are well suited to the interdisciplinary demands of Area Studies. The college’s quarter-based D‑Plan allows flexible study sequences and facilitates off‑campus study, internships and extended language immersion experiences. Students benefit from cross‑departmental collaboration across language departments and regional programmes, access to faculty with active research agendas, and resources such as library special collections and study‑abroad advising to support fieldwork and senior research projects.