Are you interested in not only traveling the world but also in positively impacting it in your own distinctive way? Do you want to help others and change the world? Are you interested in going beyond information gathering to a “deeper” learning of the contemporary issues affecting our lives? This process has to begin with the awareness of your own self and local surroundings. In this interconnected world, issues at home have a ripple effect globally, and one can delineate pathways to affect change and be a good global citizen.
A global citizen is curious about the world, empathetic, open-minded, responsible, committed to social justice and equity, and aware of an respectful of diverse viewpoints. A global citizen collaborates, communicates, appreciates global interdependence, can negotiate conflicts and compromise, and, above all else, has a sense of identity and self-awareness.
Learn how to be a good global citizen.
Globalization is ubiquitous, to say the least. We come across references to its processes and consequences in newspapers, blogs, and books on a daily basis. So what does it mean? When did it start? What are the consequences? Is the world we live in more just and equal than before globalization started?
In his book The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman argues that the world is being “flattened” by the economic, socio-political, and technological advances — such as the end of the Cold War, outsourcing, and advances in Internet and mobile technologies, to name a few. By “flattening,” he is hinting at a more interconnected globe, albeit for some people. While people like Paul Farmer (whose true story is told in Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder) and Jan Egeland (A Billion Lives) take a more humanitarian approach to understanding the effects of globalization. On the other hand, Harm De Blij, in his book The Power of Place, posits that the world is corrugated — with some people closer to the flat line and connectivity (technology and political power) and others still struggling for basic rights and necessities. Migration of the “have-nots” for economic and/or socio-political reasons to areas traditionally occupied by the “haves” sets in motion dynamic processes that question the very notions of equality and social justice in a global world.
Hence, the study of globalization requires one to develop critical thinking skills to engage with issues around the world and in our local surroundings. Being a responsible global citizen requires one to reflect on the information gathered and to transform the information and experiences into “deeper” understanding. A worldview based on peace, understanding, and respect has to evolve from knowledge of the cultural, political, social, and economic processes at work. This attempt to understand and define the unequal world around us is the start to bringing about change.
Careers in the field of globalization are diverse and varied, ranging from fields in marketing, international business, advertising, information technology, new media, translation, consulting, education, government, public policy, global conflict management and/or sustainability in government agencies and diplomacy, non-profit organizations, international non-governmental organizations, sustainability specialists, educators, outreach coordinators, or project managers. There’s also the possibility of working in industry, consultancy, utilities, regulatory agencies, architecture, urban planning, community development, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
At the undergraduate level, few options exist to make globalization a course of study:
1. Global Studies at UCLA International Institute
The Global Studies Interdepartmental Program (IDP) provides UCLA undergraduates with a rigorous interdisciplinary education in the principal issues confronting today’s globalized world.
Global Studies students are not only given the tools to understand the processes of globalization and their consequences, they are empowered to shape their world as the next generation of global leaders in business, education, government, and the non-profit sector. Housed in UCLA’s International Institute, Global Studies offers a research-oriented undergraduate major leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), as well as an undergraduate minor.
2. The online BA in Global Affairs at University of Massachusetts, Boston
The online BA in Global Affairs, the first online bachelor of arts degree to be offered at UMass Boston, is an interdisciplinary program that prepares graduates for advanced study and careers in governance, politics, NGO leadership, consultancy, enterprise systems and management of regional economies.
Students choosing this degree will build a whole-world perspective as they are introduced to topics relevant to concerns shared among nations: cultural awareness and sensitivity, international public policy, international security, international development, economics, and environment and geography.
3. Bachelor of Arts degree and minor in Global Studies at the University of Wisconsin — Milwaukee
UWM’s Global Studies program is recognized nationally for its comprehensive approach to interdisciplinary globalization studies, combining studying abroad, mastering a foreign language, learning about globalization, and exploring career prospects as interconnected endeavors. Global Studies students develop critical intercultural communication skills preparing them for a job market in which the ability to function effectively in multicultural and international environments is highly valued.
Visit UWM’s spotlight page to read the stories of some of their stellar alumni who majored in either Global Studies or International Studies.