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Studies & Degrees in Global Studies

Global studies is the interdisciplinary study of issues that cross national borders: migration, climate change, inequality, human rights, conflict, trade and global health. It combines politics, economics, history, sociology and anthropology, and usually a foreign language. The Department of Global and International Studies at the University of California, Irvine describes the field as dedicated to understanding pressing global issues such as rising authoritarianism, climate change, human rights, inequality, immigration, global health and global governance.

The subject is close to international relations, and many universities teach the two together. International relations concentrates on states, diplomacy and security. Global studies gives more room to societies, cultures, companies and non-governmental organisations. Typical core courses, taken from the UC Irvine major, are Introduction to Global Studies, Global Cultures and Society, Global Political Ideologies, Global Political Economy, Human Rights and Global Governance, and Global Environmental Issues.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. Most programmes are bachelor's degrees in the arts or social sciences. Hofstra University offers a BA in Global Studies and a minor. The University of Texas at Austin has a major in International Relations and Global Studies. At UC Irvine the major is called International Studies and provides an interdisciplinary perspective on global politics, economics, cultures and history.
  • Language and time abroad. A second language and international experience are common requirements. The UC Irvine major requires competence in a language other than English and an international experience or approved internship.
  • Master's degrees and doctorates. Graduate programmes specialise in areas such as development, public policy or a world region. UC Irvine offers a PhD in global studies with a stated time to degree of six years, ending in a dissertation; students from any undergraduate major may apply.
  • Spain. Official bachelor's degrees (grados) have 240 ECTS credits and official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Global studies is taught under its English name or within degrees in international relations.
  • Semester, summer and non-formal courses. Students of other subjects can take global studies courses during a study abroad programme. International People's College, a folk high school in Denmark, offers long courses in global studies of four to six months and short courses of one to three weeks, without grades or exams.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 47 active schools for global studies. Thirty-one are in the United States and seven in Spain. Denmark and Sweden have two each, and the Netherlands, South Korea, Australia, China and Japan have one each.

The schools in the United States include large public universities such as The Ohio State University, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Penn State, Rutgers, and the University of California campuses in Los Angeles and Irvine. Private universities on the list include Duke University, the University of Southern California, Hofstra University, Arcadia University and Bentley University.

In Spain the list includes the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo (UIMP), based in Madrid; the Escola de l'IGOP of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, which teaches a master's programme in social and urban policy; Global Business School Barcelona; and the Centro Universitario Internacional of the Universidad Pablo de Olavide in Seville. This centre runs semester programmes for international students, and it states that its most popular one, the Hispanic Studies semester programme, has classes in Spanish and English.

In Asia the list has Kyoto University in Japan and the KDI School of Public Policy and Management in South Korea, a graduate school where all classes are taught in English. In Denmark, International People's College states that everything at the school happens in English.

English is the main language of instruction in this subject, also outside English-speaking countries. Check the language and the entry requirements of each programme before applying.

Careers

Global studies does not lead to one profession. UC Irvine states that its major prepares students for careers in international public policy, international business and finance, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and academic research and teaching. Hofstra University mentions careers in policy, sustainability, technology and international development, and strongly encourages all its majors to complete an internship. Graduates also work in public administration, journalism, education and development cooperation.

Many graduates continue to a master's degree or to law school. This matters for research and policy jobs. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, political scientists typically need a master's degree in political science, public administration or a related field to enter the occupation. The bureau projects employment of political scientists in the United States to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035. The occupation is small, and most global studies graduates work under other job titles. Languages, time abroad, internships and quantitative skills make a clear difference when applying for a first job.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between global studies and international relations?

International relations focuses on relations between states: diplomacy, security and foreign policy. Global studies is broader and more interdisciplinary, and also covers culture, the economy, the environment and civil society. Some universities combine both in one degree, as The University of Texas at Austin does.

Do I need to speak a second language?

Often, yes. The UC Irvine major, for example, requires competence in a language other than English and an international experience or approved internship.

Can I study global studies in English outside the United States?

Yes. On this list, the KDI School in South Korea teaches all its classes in English, and International People's College in Denmark works entirely in English.

How long does a degree take in Spain?

Official bachelor's degrees in Spain have 240 ECTS credits, at 60 credits per academic year, and official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.