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Studies & Degrees in Globalisation

Globalisation studies look at how economies, societies, cultures and political systems have become connected across borders, and at what that means for work, trade, migration, development and the environment. It is not a single discipline. Programmes draw on political science, sociology, economics, history and area studies, and many add a foreign language and a period abroad. The same field appears under several names: global studies, international comparative studies, global political economy or international affairs.

Typical course topics are the institutions and actors of the world economy, North-South relations and development cooperation, international labour standards, civil society and global social movements, and the study of one world region in depth.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. At undergraduate level the subject is usually a major within a broad arts and sciences degree. At Duke University, students of International Comparative Studies (ICS) study the culture, history, politics and language of one world region and combine this with core and comparative courses in global studies. According to the programme, well over 75 percent of ICS majors complete part of their coursework away from campus.
  • Master's degree. Most programmes with globalisation in the title are master's degrees. The Universität Kassel offers two, both taught in English and both leading to a Master of Arts. Labour Policies and Globalisation is a one-year programme (2 semesters) run with the Berlin School of Economics and Law within the Global Labour University network; it looks at globalisation from a labour and trade union perspective, includes a 6-week internship and, according to the university, requires an own contribution of €1,500. Global Political Economy and Development takes 4 semesters, is taught by political scientists, sociologists and economists, and includes a two-month internship.
  • Spain. Official degrees follow the national structure: a bachelor's degree (grado) of 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Business schools also teach the subject inside their own programmes; ask the school what recognition its qualification has.
  • Non-formal courses. International People's College in Helsingør, Denmark, a folk high school, makes global studies the main focus of its terms. All classes are taught in English, without grades or exams.

Where to study globalisation

SpainExchange lists 7 active schools for this subject: two in the United States and one each in Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark and Canada. They are Duke University in Durham and Northeastern University in Boston; the Universität Kassel; International People's College in Helsingør; the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver; UIBS / Barcelona Business School; and the Rome campus of the Swiss School of Management. The last two are business schools.

English is the usual language of instruction, also at the two master's programmes in Kassel. Applicants to Kassel with a bachelor's degree from outside Germany apply through uni-assist; both programmes start in the winter semester.

Careers

There is no single profession attached to the subject. Northeastern University, which teaches a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs, reports that its graduates go on to non-profit organisations and NGOs, government, banks, media and communications, research, public relations, education and companies. The labour-oriented master's in Kassel is aimed at candidates with experience in labour and social movements who want to help organisations in these fields take part in social dialogue, public debate and policy implementation. Many programmes build in work experience: both master's degrees in Kassel include an internship, which in the Global Political Economy and Development programme can be done at NGOs, international organisations or research centres.

Frequently asked questions

Is globalisation a degree in its own right?

Rarely at bachelor's level. It is usually taught as global studies, international comparative studies or international affairs, and as a named specialisation at master's level, as in the two Master of Arts programmes of the Universität Kassel.

How long does a master's in globalisation studies take?

One or two years. In Kassel, Labour Policies and Globalisation takes 2 semesters and Global Political Economy and Development takes 4 semesters. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.

Can I study it in English?

Yes. The schools listed in the United States and Canada teach in English, and so do both master's programmes in Kassel and the courses of International People's College in Denmark.

Do I need to study abroad?

It is not always compulsory, but it is common. At Duke, well over 75 percent of International Comparative Studies majors complete some coursework in study away programmes.