If you’ve ever scrolled through SDSU’s list of majors, chances are good that you’ve seen one that you’ve never heard of before–International Security and Conflict Resolution, or ISCOR. Similarly, if you’re interested in International Relations and are looking at California schools, there’s a chance that you have seen it pop up before.
This major was my primary reason for choosing SDSU as my university, and I am incredibly happy with my decision. Because of this, I was able to study abroad, graduate in three years, and interact with so many amazing people. When I graduated, I was chosen as Outstanding Graduating Senior of my year. That just goes to show how much I loved it!
So what exactly is ISCOR? How has SDSU kept this fantastic major a secret for so long? We’re about to explore that with seven things you should know about ISCOR.
What Is ISCOR?
International Security and Conflict Resolution, or ISCOR for short, is an interdisciplinary major that takes international relations theory and conflict resolution practice and puts them together. Within the major, there are three specialties: Justice in the Global System, Conflict and Conflict Resolution, and Environment and Security. The major focuses on drawing from as many different subject areas as possible, from science to communications to history, to create well-rounded individuals who are prepared to deal with the world’s current and future problems. Classes usually focus on questions like:
- What is International Theory and why does it matter?
- What’s going on with Russia, China, and other major players on the world stage?
- What global tensions are there? How can we address them?
- How can we work to fix conflict at local, state, national, and global levels?
- How can we learn from previous conflicts?
- What threats are facing humanity today?
- How are sustainability and conflict related?
They also deal with topics like:
- Human rights
- Immigration laws
- Conflict resolution practices
- Nuclear weapons
- Threats to humanity (CBRNE)
- High conflict areas
- Economic difficulties
- Nonprofits, government organizations, corporate efforts
- Sustainability
- BRICS and MIST nations (rising powers)
- America’s place on the world stage
- How the global order has changed and is changing
These are only a handful of questions and topics that the classes address. If you’re interested in politics, environmental studies, history, diplomacy, current events, geography, or anything else in that realm, this might be a great major for you. ISCOR’s official SDSU website is here for even more information.
Who Does ISCOR?
The general population of ISCOR classes is fairly interesting and unique. While it has definitely grown in the last ten years, it’s still a smaller major. Most people switch into it after taking an ISCOR class for a general education requirement. Because of that, it’s not always the case to have a ton of freshmen. Additionally, it’s a popular major for older students, retired military students, and transfer students. While many of my other classes would have primarily 18-23 year old students, my ISCOR classes were often about 25-50% older students, ranging from mid-to-late 20s to 60s.
Another huge component of ISCOR’s student body is international students. Because of the subject matter, this is a fantastic major for these students to bring their perspectives to the table. I can’t underscore enough how fruitful the discussions were solely because of everyone’s different perspectives and background experiences. You learn something new every day, and people are genuinely very respectful of all opinions.
A final unique trait about people in this major is the manner in which politics are handled. What I mean by this is that I’ve found many political science students to be very, very convinced that their ideas are the absolute best ideas. They often get their information from one to two sources. ISCOR isn’t quite the same. Because most of the subject matter handles issues abroad, I’ve found that students are more apt to look at issues in a different light. They are well-researched, look at both domestic and global news, and often take a more holistic approach to politics. This isn’t always true, but I did find it to be rather refreshing.
What Can You Do with an ISCOR Degree?
ISCOR gives you a variety of career options. Most graduate from this program go into four career fields: government, nonprofit, legal, and education. While a few do go corporate, this is not the majority of students. I’ll break it down further so that you can explore your options.
Government
This is a hugely popular area for ISCOR graduates. Whether it’s going into the military, working for a federal branch like the FBI or NSA, becoming involved in local politics/committees, this is a huge opportunity. Many students also go on to apply to be Foreign Service Officers (FSOs), diplomats, translators, and contractors. Considering the government has so many different levels, agencies, and needs, this is a great option.
Nonprofit
Especially for those who want to stay in San Diego, nonprofits are very popular. Many people choose this major because they want to make a difference and help people. Because of the internship requirement, many also get involved with nonprofits during their time at SDSU. Within nonprofits, many graduates serve in leadership roles from founder to finance manager to membership coordinator. Some fantastic examples of nonprofits in San Diego include San Diego Diplomacy Council, International Rescue Committee, and Nile Sisters Development Initiative. Idealist, a job search board geared more toward nonprofit work, is also a helpful resource to explore options.
Legal
It’s not uncommon for students to head straight into law school after graduating. This opens up a whole field of opportunities, and many graduates find work for private firms or government offices after law school. Immigration law is a huge area of interest, as is international law. Because of the focus on conflict resolution, many people often go the arbitration/mediation route as well.
Education
The vast majority of my peers have either already completed a graduate program, are in the middle of completing one, or are planning to apply to one soon. Education is a huge value within the ISCOR community, and if you look on LinkedIn or other platforms, you will see this reflected. Because of the conflict resolution and communication skills, jobs like trainers, teachers, professors, and researchers are common. Of course, the education requirements for these positions range, but that is why most students go on to build their background with a Masters in a more specialized field.
Bonus: Post-Secondary Activities, Opportunities, and Options
Grad school is a popular option for many students in this major, but many also go on to apply for super competitive scholarships and fellowships (and win!). Some of these include Fulbright Scholarships, Boren Awards, Critical Language Scholarships, Peace Corps, Rhode Scholarships, and other international, renowned opportunities to work, volunteer, and study abroad. If you know that you want to get involved with the international community but don’t know exactly what you want to do, these options can be great post-college opportunities.
What On-Campus Clubs Are There for ISCOR?
ISCOR has its own club: ISCOR Student Society. This club usually meets once every week and is a fantastic way to meet other people within the major. Each meeting usually has guest speakers (aka connections to be made!) talking about a topic and then a social part as well. From when I went there, many guest speakers were former students or professors who taught related classes. They talked about everything from military operations and tactics in certain locations to combatting human trafficking through using geographical technology. If you’re at all interested in global politics, this is a fantastic and insightful group to get involved with.
Why Should I Do ISCOR?
At the center of this field of study is the desire to help others and to gain the skills to do so. If you want to be surrounded by people like that, and if you also enjoy international politics, this is for you. Is resolving conflict an interest of yours? If so, do this. Do you want to learn something new every day? Get involved in your local and global communities? Make a difference? Study abroad?
If you answered yes to any of these things, you should genuinely consider this major.
Additionally, there’s an incredible amount of support and community within the major. You know most of your classmates decently well, and your professors/faculty know you. In a fun trip down memory lane, you can find the article that they wrote about me when I received my Fulbright here. If you skim through the other articles, you can tell just how much pride the department takes in its students, both current and graduated. That kind of support is fairly unique, and it made my experience incredible.
Finally, ISCOR is intentionally a very flexible major. The faculty advise you to branch out–get a minor, learn a new language, spend more time on a relevant internship. They acknowledge the fact that academics are just one aspect of who you are and who you want to be as a budding professional. This alone is a fantastic reason to consider the major.
What Can I Expect?
ISCOR has three main components: the classes, a study abroad, and a capstone project (internship or thesis paper). Your lower division classes will be geared around related subjects like history, geography, anthropology, religion, economics, politics, and languages. Your upper division classes will revolve around international theory, conflict resolution methods, and justice. There is quite a bit of flexibility here, so you can often specialize in what you choose. If you want to look more into the major map (the required classes), you can find it here.
A study abroad is required for this major. Some people study abroad for an entire year, others choose just a semester, and others still (myself included) do summer programs. There is also a fantastic program that many students choose, whether it is because of interest, time, responsibilities, or cost, that allows you to fulfill this requirement by taking a graduate level class in Tijuana once a week. My friends who did this program absolutely loved it–both for content and flexibility! The department also has two study abroad trips in the winter and summer that are very popular with students. One fantastic part about this department is the amount of help they give you when searching for a study abroad, from advice to suggestions for securing financial support.
Finally, the capstone project is usually done your senior year, and it entails doing an internship and writing a paper or writing a thesis with guidance. A vast majority of people do the internship because it gives you those crucial connections and experience. A few, however, do choose to do the thesis, and they receive a significant amount of mentoring from a faculty member. Both count toward the capstone requirement, and both equip you with career-finding assistance.
How Are the Professors and Faculty?
Wonderful.
It can be summed up that easily. In my time at SDSU, I was never disappointed in an ISCOR class. All of my professors were incredibly engaging and interested in their material. It was clear that they didn’t just recycle old, pointless information. They gave us up-to-date news articles as readings, based our discussions are current events, and ensured that we would come out of the program with real life skills. My advisor and other professors would personally send me internship and job opportunities that they thought would fit well. Whenever I selected classes, I made sure to visit my advisor first, because I knew that he would genuinely work with me and not just try to earn the university more money.
Furthermore, I trusted my professors. Their credibility, advice, and motives were good. They were the top of their fields and had brilliant insight. Something that I especially loved was that they had a variety of backgrounds and reasons for getting into a more niche subject. This only increased their passion for it! While I was happy with nearly all of my professors at SDSU, ISCOR professors were truly exceptional.
A Final Word
ISCOR might be a niche major, but that only makes it all the more appealing. The support, experiences, and lessons I learned from doing this major were fantastic, and I am incredibly happy I chose this as my field of study. Even though I am not directly in the line of work right now, I still use the skills and materials I gained constantly. Whether this is volunteering with international nonprofits or simply making peace between two students, I know I would not be where I am without my ISCOR experience. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please leave them below! I’d love to help you decide if this major is right for you.
