University of California at Santa Barbara: Global & International Studies Program

January 2004 marked the fifth anniversary of the establishment of UCSB’s pioneering global studies major. When it was established in early 1999 it was widely recognized as one of the first interdisciplinary undergraduate majors in international studies in the country to focus on globalization. Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher presided over the inaugural occasion.

Within those five years, the numbers of global studies majors grew to over 700 per year—60% focusing on the socioeconomic and political aspects of globalization, and 40% emphasizing the cultural and ideological side. Most students choose Europe as their geographical area, and Spain is the most popular venue for studies abroad.

More majors from Global Studies participate in Education Abroad experiences than from any other department or program on campus.

The first student to enroll in global studies was Safeed “Titu” Asghar. After graduation Titu attended the American University School of International Service in Washington DC. Now married, he is employed in government service in the Washington area.

Other graduates of the program have attended Columbia University’s School of International Affairs, the George Washington University School of Foreign Service, UC-San Diego School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, other graduate programs in international studies, law schools, business schools, and medical schools. Some have gone directly into business, public service agencies, and government service. Many have traveled abroad. Several have gone into the Peace Corps and some have taken the foreign service exam. The Alumni Page of the our website provides letters from alums reporting on their diverse and fascinating experiences around the world.

Faculty related to the global studies program include several whose positions are partially or wholly in global and international studies and who teach the core required global studies courses in the curriculum. These faculty are augmented by affiliate faculty who teach courses related to the global studies major, and by distinguished visiting faculty such as Richard Falk and Hilal Elver, Barbara Bodine, Paul Orfalea, and Ann Louise Bardach. A total of over thirty faculty participate directly in the program. (See our Faculty page.)

In Fall 2003 a graduate-level PhD Emphasis in Global Studies was created, supported by the departments of Anthropology, English, History, Political Science, Religious Studies, and Sociology departments, and coordinated by Global & International Studies.

The program is comprised of currently six core full-time faculty, as well as nine visiting and nineteen affiliated faculty members. A search is presently underway for at least one additional core hire and up to three joint appointments.

MA, Global and International Studies

Ph.D. emphasis in Global & International Studies

The two-year M.A. program combines courses from the social sciences and humanities with practical training and real-world experience. Students typically spend the summer of their first year and fall quarter of their second year abroad, taking courses and doing internships with non-governmental organizations, governmental bodies, or businesses. The program is developing partnerships with other globally-oriented educational institutions abroad, and a range of international NGOs, for study and intern placements. Students will also take two policy-oriented workshops designed to simulate real-life decision-making situations. Non-credit workshops will also be available for interested students, providing opportunities to learn about such practical matters as grant writing and foundation funding, tracking organizational finances, information management, and computer-based technologies.

The curriculum consists of three courses per quarter. The first year includes required courses on Organizational Policy and Management, Micro/Macro Economics, International Economics, Global Trade and Finance, Transnational Forces and Political Systems, Global Governance and World Order, Theories of Intercultural Understanding, and Global Organizations and Civil Society. Students are also required to take a course on Research Methods in Global & International Affairs, participate in a policy analysis and exercise seminar, and attend a one-unit seminar that focuses on contemporary issues and internship preparation.

The second year allows students to choose courses that provide background in particular cultural/geographic regions, and focus on a career emphasis in either Global Social and Economic Development or Global Culture and Human Rights. Students are also required to take courses in an area specialization of their choice: East Asia, South and Southeast Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, or Europe. A course on Managing Development Organizations, Non-Profits and Other NGOs: Theory and Practice is also offered as an elective. The second year culminates with a required policy workshop.

In consultation with their advisors, students can elect either Master’s Plan I (thesis) or Master’s Plan II (project). It is expected that most students will choose the former.

Anthropology

Area Studies

Economics

English

Environmental Studies

Law (Law & Society)

Middle East Studies

Political Science

Religious Studies

Sociology

Women's Studies

six academic quarters, plus one summer-quarter internship

In Fall 2003 a graduate-level PhD Emphasis in Global Studies was created, supported by the departments of Anthropology, English, History, Political Science, Religious Studies, and Sociology departments, and coordinated by Global & International Studies. At present the PhD Emphasis program is undergoing expansion by four additional departments. 

In June 2008, the MA in Global & International Studies program will graduate its inaugural (2006) class of students, totaling 18. With a second cohort of 15 and a Fall 2008 incoming class of 20 new students, the MAGIS program is averaging around 35 students a year. 

M.A. Student Profiles

MAGIS students reflect a broad diversity of backgrounds, prior academic training, work/professional experience, study abroad, and world travel. Among current students, non-US nationalities are represented by Canada, China, Greece, Guam, Kosovo, India, Iran, Israel, and Trinidad/Tobego, while American students from multi-ethnic backgrounds bring in Armenian, Chilean, Japanese, Lebanese, Mexican, Palestinian, Thai, and Vietnamese perspectives, among others. This diversity represents a tremendous enrichment to the program.  

Graduates of the Master of Arts in Global & International Studies will seek careers in the international NGO sector, in the foreign service and government agencies, and in international business; some will go on to other professional schools in foreign affairs or to PhD programs emphasizing global and international studies. 

Both the Masters in Global & International Studies program and the Global & International Studies Program itself (undergraduate major and PhD emphasis) are administratively domiciled in UCSB's College of Letters and Science. 

The Orfalea Center for Global & International Studies at UCSB is an interdisciplinary programmatic center spotlighting activities in global studies across the campus. The Center helps coordinate support for students and initiatives of the Masters program in Global & International Studies, as well as campus-wide interdepartmental research initiatives in global studies.  

Orfalea CenterNews

The Orfalea Center is coordinative office for the Global & International Studies program's affiliation with the Global Studies Consortium, and is a consortium Steering Committee member. 

Mark Juergensmeyer, Director, Orfalea Center for Global & International Studies

Contact:

Victor Faessel, Program Director, Orfalea Center for Global & International Studies

Graduate Program Advisor:

Graduate Program Advisor

Room 3044, HSSB

Tel: (805) 893-4668