B.A. in Global Studies

Are you looking for a major that takes you places you never thought possible? Global Studies is an interdisciplinary program that draws from at least ten disciplines. Rooted in humanities and social sciences, you learn multiple ways of approaching global problems, issues, cultures, and relations. You graduate exposed to various ways to study the world and depth in two regional concentrations.

Get Ready to Study and Explore the World

Get ready to give your passport a workout. Whether you’ve been bitten by the travel bug or are just curious about expanding your cultural horizons, UNE’s Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies will give you experiences you’ll never forget. And with nearly three out of four U.S. employers seeking new employees who are knowledgeable in international cultures, your degree will give you the global fluency and multidimensional perspective needed to succeed in the workforce. So explore a fjord in Iceland, gaze upon the Mona Lisa in Paris, cross the Moroccan desert on camel-back, or engage in the seemingly endless nightlife in Seville. Your adventures await you.

Two students stand in front of a white building with a green and gold dome

Why UNE for Your B.A. in Global Studies

Uniquely equipped for Global Studies, UNE has its own international campus in Tangier, Morocco, situated at a crossroads of civilizations that blends the languages, religions, and cultures of the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. It’s no wonder that UNE students travel abroad at five times the national average.

  • Select two semester-long programs (Morocco, Spain, France, and Iceland) or one semester and 12 travel course credits
  • No additional cost for study abroad
  • Choose two regional concentrations
  • Internships available in Morocco and Spain
  • Senior capstone thesis
  • Lab sciences offered in Morocco and Spain
John Reinbott '18

John Reinbott ’18

Marine Science
A constant reminder of how much John Reinbott loved his time in Morocco
In English, the Arabic tattoo reads "The world is a book. Those who don’t travel only read one page in it."

Have you ever loved something or someone so much that you needed a constant reminder of just how much? Well, I loved my experience in Morocco so much I had it permanently inked on my arm. That's the kind of passion a semester abroad in Morocco creates. As if that weren't enough, my new found love of travel helped me discover my career path.

Upon my return from Tangier, Morocco, I focused on continuing my studies in the marine sciences. Unsure of what path within that field I would take, but yearning for more travel experiences, I enrolled in a travel course that would take me to Belize to study coral reef ecology. Each semester Jeri Fox, associate professor of Marine Biology, offers a course that takes students to Belize to expose them to coral reefs.

After spending eight days snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef off the coast of Ambergris Caye in Belize, I knew I was destined to spend my life helping to conserve and protect these beautiful, fragile coral reefs and their surrounding ecosystems. In order to make this a reality, though, I needed more hands-on experience and that's just what I did.

There was no better way to combine a desire to travel and a need to gain more experience in a field I could spend a lifetime devoted to, than to intern in a foreign land. Before I could apply, I had to get my scuba certification. As with all things, when given the opportunity, I went full speed ahead and completed that certification and began working up to becoming a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certified rescue diver. With certification in hand, it was time to apply.

Both UNE travel experiences and my sense of adventure prepared me well to accept the offer to become a coral reef intern at a remote dive base within the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Mexico with Global Visions International (GVI). I was incredibly excited to start the two-month journey as I grabbed my mosquito net and GoPro and boarded a plane for destinations little known.

John Reinbott diving for Lion Fish
Surveying Lionfish, an invasive species.

As a coral reef intern, I took part in an in-depth science regiment to learn how to identify sixty coral species by their scientific names. This was achieved by exams conducted on the computer as well as in the field. I and a qualified science officer would dive and as they pointed at a type of coral I would write its name down on a dive slate. After many long days spent repeating these exams, I graduated to reef monitor.

John Reinbott

Soon, I was headed out on our dive boats to a nearby monitoring site where I helped collect vital data (reef and species composition/abundance, coral predation and bleaching, the competition of other benthic organisms). The data collected was organized and sent off to other companies such as CONAP and Amigos de Sian Ka'an to help aid in assessing the overall health of surrounding reef ecosystems. Despite the lack of air conditioning, running water, and cell service the two months I spent working with GVI, to help conserve the surrounding section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, were the best two months of my life.

I returned to my hometown in New Jersey from my internship poised to finish my final year at UNE and land a position at a coral reef conservation organization anywhere in the world. I am grateful for the opportunities I was provided and unbeknownst to it, UNE serendipitously not only gave me a love of travel but a clear direction for where my professional life was headed.

My semester in Tangier, Morocco gave me a love of travel and a travel course — snorkeling among coral reefs in Belize — gave me a career path.

Marine Science

What Will You Study? Global Studies Degree Curriculum Overview

The Global Studies major offers three different regional concentrations. You will select two on which to focus your studies.

  • Europe and the Mediterranean
  • Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Africa and the Middle East

B.A. in Global Studies Courses

There are many ways you can navigate this major. The following are some examples of the exciting courses that you can take:

  • International Political Economy
  • Society, Population, and the Environment: A Global Perspective
  • Tangier — Crossroads of Civilization
  • Rebellion and Revolution in 20th Century Latin America
  • Caribbean Sustainable Development
  • Middle East and North Africa Through Film
  • Center for Global Humanities Seminar

For more information, contact Kenneth Courtney, Ph.D., Global Studies coordinator at kcourtney1@rdsy.net or (207) 602-2156

Meet our faculty and professional staff

Learn about the Center for Global Humanities Seminar

Career Paths for Global Studies Majors

In an increasingly globalized world, cross-cultural fluency has never been more valuable. We give you the tools and knowledge to relate to global issues and diverse populations. By honing foreign language skills and acquiring greater intercultural competence through your travels and internships, you will be prepared to assume leadership roles in a variety of fields. Potential professions include:

  • Policy Expert
  • Elected Official
  • International Attorney
  • Teacher
  • U.S. Foreign Service Agent
  • Consultant
  • Nonprofit Administrator
  • International Businessperson
  • Global Health Care Provider

Employers seek employees with skills and experience in communication, critical thinking, teamwork, problem solving and ability to adapt to new environments and challenges. As a Global Studies major, you will be well prepared to apply your knowledge to these skill sets desired. You will be able to speak on the value of your extensive study-abroad and foreign language experience and be a strong applicant for business, non-profit, teaching, and government environments.

How Does Global Studies Relate to Other Majors, Minors?

Have you already declared a major and/or minor and wondering how adding a focus in Global Studies will correlate to the career path of your current major? Here are a few examples:

Program + Global StudiesHistory + Global Studies
Potential CareersInternational History Professor, Archivist, Foreign Services, Reporter, Civil Service, Cultural Officer
Program + Global StudiesPre-Med Biology + Global Studies
Potential CareersMedical Career Abroad (i.e., Doctors Without Borders, PeaceCorp, International Medical Corps)
Program + Global StudiesBusiness + Global Studies
Potential CareersInternational Trade, International Hotel Administrator, International Account Manager
Program + Global StudiesMarine Sciences + Global Studies
Potential CareersGlobal careers through companies such as Earthwatch, Nature Conservancy, Oceana
Program + Global Studies Potential Careers
History + Global Studies International History Professor, Archivist, Foreign Services, Reporter, Civil Service, Cultural Officer
Pre-Med Biology + Global Studies Medical Career Abroad (i.e., Doctors Without Borders, PeaceCorp, International Medical Corps)
Business + Global Studies International Trade, International Hotel Administrator, International Account Manager
Marine Sciences + Global Studies Global careers through companies such as Earthwatch, Nature Conservancy, Oceana

Any of the possible career choices can also be done in the U.S.

 

Career Advising for B.A. in Global Studies Students

Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.

Global Education in the Bachelor’s Degree in Global Studies

Global experiences are the cornerstone of the Global Studies major. You’ll get to apply the concepts you learn in the classroom as you navigate different cultures and languages, all while experiencing immeasurable personal growth.

You are required to spend two full semesters abroad or spend one full semester and acquire a minimum of 12 travel course credits. You may even complete an internship abroad.

Choose from our programs in:

Our shorter, faculty-led travel courses include exciting trips to Cuba, Mexico, Iceland, Italy, and Kenya.

A Day in the Life Studying Abroad in Morocco

Experiential Learning in the Bachelor’s Degree in Global Studies Program

Hands-On Activities

This multidisciplinary program exposes you to global issues, problems, cultures, and relations through the lenses of the humanities, social sciences, business, and more. But there is no better view than the one through your own eyes. When it comes to cultural competencies, we believe in learning by doing.

  • Engage in multiple travel-abroad experiences
  • Participate in global internships for culturally immersive on-the-job experiences
  • Conduct original research in an area of interest for your senior capstone thesis
a female student overlooks a village

Internships for Global Studies Majors

As a Global Studies major, you are highly encouraged to complete a globally-oriented internship. Our Academic and Career Advising Center will work with you to find the right opportunity to suit your interests. You may consider an internship in a number of fields, including:

  • Diplomacy
  • Law
  • Trade
  • Social and Environmental Nonprofits

Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies FAQ