A degree in an interdisciplinary field such as Global Studies prepares graduates for many different career avenues. Read on to get ideas of what you can do with a degree, hear from alumni and get strategies and resources for success after graduation.
What Can I Do with My Global Studies Degree?
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| International Business |
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| Tourism Industry |
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| Politics |
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Alumni Testimonials
“International Studies brings a softening of the heart. When we see other cultures and know that others exist in different ways than we do, we know we can solve problems in different ways. We pull on the collective strengths of the humans of the world.”
—Alissa Collins, BA in International Studies and Japanese, 2007. Alissa is the cofounder of Latitude Regenerative Real Estate.
“I have found that I am already utilizing my global health toolbox at the residential treatment facility where I work. I try to be mindful about the intersectional social determinants that may have contributed to a client's experience with mental illness. Furthermore, I have found myself tuning into various pillars of explanatory models of distress within the clients I interact with: What language do they use to describe their experience? What cultural, familial, and personal factors contribute to how they perceive themselves?”
—Riley Shaffer, BA in International Studies and Spanish, Minor in Global Health, 2019
“When I went into undergrad, I had the long term goal of working in the international nonprofit sector and knew that majoring in International Studies would help me realize that goal. I appreciated the flexibility of course selection that the International Studies major offered, and enjoyed taking both foundational and concentration-specific courses, including courses on global human rights and development, as well as how to overcome culture shock and adjust to being in a new country/environment. The classes I took through the International Studies Department helped me develop holistically, and gave me the confidence to go into unfamiliar situations knowing that I am equipped to engage with people across diverse backgrounds.”
—Madeline Tong, BA in International Studies, 2020.
Career Highlights and Strategies for Global Studies Majors
For more ideas, visit our Internships page.
Skills & Strengths. Below are traits and skills common to Global Studies graduates, though you will almost certainly have skills not listed here:
- Interact with diverse groups of people
- Refine verbal/written communication
- Multiple language proficiency
- Interpret and evaluate events, information, and ideas
- Understand and compare diverse cultures
- *Identify and predict trends
- *Understand and evaluate complex interrelationships
Potential Employers. A few examples of organizations that hire Global Studies graduates:
- Federal Government (including State Department, Immigration & Naturalization Service, The Smithsonian Institute)
- State, regional, and local goverments
- Peace Corps
- Universities (especially study abroad programs)
- Elementary/Secondary schools
- Consulting Firms
- International nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
Sample Job Titles. Some of the job titles held by Global Studies graduates:
- Curator
- Peace Corps/VISTA Volunteer
- Lawyer
- Educator
- Historian
- Research Associate
- Consultant
- Public Administrator
- Foreign Service Officer
- Foreign Corespondent
Letters of Recommendation
Advice on how to get a letter of recommendation, along with a letter of recommendation request form.
Thank You Letters
Information on how and when to write a thank you letter. (Hint: If you received a letter of recommendation, you're going to want to write a thank you letter!)
Professional Associations
Membership in professional associations is often less expensive for students and can give you access to current information on jobs and trends in the field. Membership can also be listed on your resume and demonstrates commitment to your discipline. Here are a few samples: