The world’s most pressing issues — climate change, war, poverty, and disease — transcend borders. Solving them requires a broad-based approach, from international cooperation to local action. Our graduates are equipped to tackle these challenges with an in-depth understanding of the interdependence of nations and their peoples.
They learn to think critically about global problems by considering the interplay of political science, sociology, history, law and economics. And they are well-prepared for jobs in government, nonprofit organizations, education, and business.
Global affairs students are encouraged to pursue a thematic or regional concentration that fits their interests and career goals. Core courses give them a foundational knowledge of the underlying processes that affect all societies – including terrorism, refugee crises, global inequality, and health and environmental challenges. They are also encouraged to explore the rich scholarly traditions in the field and take advantage of opportunities for studying abroad.
In their capstone projects, students apply their academic training to a global policy problem. Whether working with an external partner or as a student team in GLBL 4500, the senior capstone, they create a solution that has real-world impact.
Students must complete a minimum of nine courses in the major, including GLBL 1013 and two upper-division global affairs electives. Students must also take a modern L4 language course (GLBL 2121 or GLBL 2222), an advanced micro- or macroeconomics course, and an approved qualitative methods course. The majority of these courses are taught in the Jackson School, but credits may be counted toward the major for courses taken at another institution or during an approved summer or term-time study abroad program with DUS approval.