Ethan Hoggan isn’t new to moving around the world.
Though born in Utah, US, he spent most of his childhood and teenage years bouncing between California (US), Toronto (Canada), Washington (US), and eventually back to Utah (US).
It was in his home state that he went ot university, but it wasn’t until a study abroad experience in Florence, Italy, that he saw what he was missing out on.
“I met a couple of international students who were just out there to party, and I thought that was what studying abroad was all about,” admits Hoggan. “But during classes, a professor taught me how to care about the world and to invest in myself.”
That one lesson was life-changing, to say the least. When Hoggan completed the exchange and returned to Utah, he committed to pursuing a BA in International Studies and met up with his academic advisor to plan his next study abroad adventure.
“I told my academic advisor that I had to go back out right now and to sign me up for any study abroad programme,” he shares.
Hoggan will graduate with a Master’s in International Education from the University of St. Andrews. Source: Ethan Hoggan
Jetsetting across the globe
A few months later, Hoggan boarded a flight to Chile for a four-month faculty-led internship programme as a business intelligence and coding intern at Forus S.A., a leading Chilean company specialising in building prestigious footwear, apparel, and accessories.
“I got to explore Santiago in Chile, then Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Cusco, Peru,” shares Hoggan. “During my time there, I had the opportunity to learn all about international studies and business from the leaders and faculty members.”
When his time in Chile ended, he returned to the US briefly before taking off to Japan for a year-long exchange programme.
“I knew I wanted to study in Japan, so I studied Japanese while in Chile,” he shares. “I loved studying abroad so much that I have no regrets switching majors to international studies.”
Hoggan enrolled into Akita International University, ranked #10 in Times Higher Education’s Japan University Rankings 2025.
There, his Japanese proficiency went from beginner to intermediate, and he even delivered several speeches and presentations in the language. He also taught English to local students and spent a month in Kyoto to learn about Japanese history.
“I got to see people from all over the world come together in Japan, and it touched my heart,” says Hoggan. “What’s different this time round was that I was not surrounded by students from my home institution in the US, and it was a great experience.”
Hoggan has studied in Chile, Japan, and Italy. Source: Ethan Hoggan
Realising that “we’re all human with differences that should be celebrated,” Hoggan has decided that once he earns his degree, he’ll pursue a career in education to help others find their way — just like how his professor in Florence had done for him.
Unfortunately, halfway into his year-long exchange programme in Japan, Hoggan had to return to the US due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Determined to give Japan and himself another chance, he applied for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme and secured a spot as an assistant language teacher (ALT) in Akita.
There, Hoggan spent two years co-developing curriculum with over 50 teachers, taught English and intercultural awareness to over 500 students, facilitated cultural and language exchange with foreign exchange students from all over the world, and led an internationalisation programme in a rural city of 70,000 people.
It was everything he dreamed of and more.
Today, Hoggan is back in Utah as an engaged learning coordinator at Salt Lake Community College, helping students find opportunities to live and learn abroad.
“It has come back a full circle,” says Hoggan. “I had nothing but amazing experiences studying and teaching abroad, and I want to help students experience the same.”
That’s not all; he is also completing an MS in International Education at the University of St. Andrews, through a hybrid-learning format.
“When I was participating in the JET programme, I felt the power of connecting people together, and I realised the way to do it is through education,” Hoggan shares. “You get to watch people with different perspectives on the world open up.”
From hopping between time zones and helping others do the same, all because of his degree in international studies, Hoggan’s journey shows how going abroad can shape your path in unexpected, life-changing ways.
Hoggan is an engaged learning coordinator at Salt Lake Community College, managing study abroad, domestic-away, and community-engaged learning programmes. Source: Ethan Hoggan
What you can expect when pursuing international studies
When you hear “international business,” you’d immediately picture global trade, corporate negotiations, and fast-paced careers across continents.
Say “international relations” and you’d think of diplomacy, global politics, and high-stakes negotiations between countries.
But mention “international studies” and you’d probably be puzzled or follow up with this question, “So…what is that and what do you do?”
Despite its broad scope and relevance, international studies don’t always get the immediate recognition it deserves.
What exactly is international studies?
TLDR; it’s an interdisciplinary field that examines the complex interactions and issues at play on a global scale.
Within the degree, you’ll be required to minor in disciplines of your choice, including political science, economics, business, sociology, and history. You’d also learn about different languages, cultures, and customs.
“On top of my BA in International Studies, I minored in business, trade, and commerce,” Hoggan shares. “So I learnt how business is run internationally and in different nations.”
You can even explore trending fields like artificial intelligence (AI), which in international studies, lets you learn about it through a global lens, helping you understand how it’s applied and perceived across cultures.
“AI will be talked about very differently in international studies, and it’s different in whatever country you’re in,” Hoggan says.
“If you’re in Japan, it will be used and be perceived differently, and if you’re in Chile, again, it will be different, making the degree the best to pursue. And that’s not all; the best part of the degree is that you’ll learn to consider other people’s perspectives.”
Hoggan participated in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) and worked as a teacher for two years in Akita, Japan. Source: Ethan Hoggan
The hard part about pursuing international studies
Being an international studies student means you’ll be focusing on internationalism and globalism, and a lot of vocabulary comes along with it.
“So you must understand, memorise, and apply many terms; it isn’t the easiest thing to do,” says Hoggan.
And then there’s the travelling part of it. While that might sound fun, you’ll be away from family and friends for an extended time, making homesickness a common challenge in your study abroad experience.
What you can do with an international studies degree
This degree is somewhat like a Swiss Army knife; you can jump into different jobs and industries, and you’ll basically be spoiled for choice.
Whether you’re fascinated by politics, culture, languages, or economics, international studies opens doors to careers that let you work across borders — literally and figuratively.
If you love storytelling, you could venture into journalism, diplomacy, or even international education, just like what Hoggan is doing now at Salt Lake Community College. You could become the next global leader, whether it be while covering breaking news, working towards peace agreements, or inspiring the next generation.
The best part about the jobs? “You’ll be able to communicate with people from around the world to make the world a better place,” says Hoggan.
You could secure jobs in global marketing, trade, or even international business at corporate companies. You could also dive into international development or human rights work alongside NGOs to coordinate aid projects or research on climate policies.
The best advice for those choosing an international studies degree
For those thinking about international studies but haven’t considered going abroad, you should.
“It will bring an interesting perspective as an international student studying international studies, and there’s only so much you can learn from your home country,” he says. “And it’s such a noble cause as it shows that you care about the world and want to learn from it.
