Global affairs describe the interactions and relationships between states and non-state actors on a worldwide scale, encompassing issues such as diplomacy, trade, security, and human rights. Often, these international phenomena are interconnected and cross-cutting, creating complex challenges that require multidisciplinary training to address.
The study of global affairs is a multidisciplinary endeavor, drawing on the perspectives and frameworks of a range of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, and offering students a unique perspective on the world in which we live. Through this broad background, students develop a sophisticated understanding of the challenges and issues facing the modern world.
In addition to core courses, students in the major have the opportunity to explore global affairs through specialized courses such as those that focus on a specific region or field of study. The choice of a thematic or regional concentration allows students to tailor their degree to their interests and career aspirations. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the Jackson School’s extensive internship opportunities and study abroad programs to gain hands-on experience in the field.
A capstone project in which small groups of students apply their academic training to a real-world problem in the field of global affairs is required in the fall of the student’s senior year. Students may choose to complete this requirement in a substantive seminar of their choosing or in the global affairs senior essay course, GLBL 4500. Students must secure an advisor and secondary reader for their senior essay in either case.