The global affairs field focuses on the impact of international relations, economics and culture on all societies. It provides students with a well-rounded understanding of the global environment and the complex issues affecting all nations, peoples and cultures around the world.
The study of global affairs is interdisciplinary, incorporating topics and theories from disciplines such as political science, history, geography, sociology and economics. It is often viewed through a postcolonial and critical-theoretical lens that challenges perspectives of Eurocentrism and Orientalism in traditional conceptual frameworks.
Students majoring in global affairs gain a strong foundation in international politics, government, foreign policy and history while exploring topics like environmental sustainability, human rights, global health and justice and international business. The curriculum allows students to build an area of focus that is aligned with their career goals through a thematic or regional concentration. Students also gain a more sophisticated understanding of the complexity of the global environment through capstone projects and senior essay courses in their last semester.
A global affairs degree is especially relevant given the current shifts in the international order. With the Trump administration’s pivot towards Russia, restored economic ties with China and internal political shifts in Europe, the global balance of power is changing at a pace not seen since the end of the Cold War. The skills learned in a global affairs degree equip graduates to anticipate and respond to this new reality as they build their careers as leaders, citizens and change makers.