Why Global Studies?
Globalisation calls for a way of understanding contemporary issues that goes beyond the boundaries of any single discipline.
Global Studies is a new, multidisciplinary field of inquiry that examines the processes and effects of globalisation across political, economic, social, and cultural domains around the world. Coupling broad, multidisciplinary education with a focus on policy and policy-making, the Programme is designed to cultivate the combination of expertise and creative, critical thinking skills that are necessary for the next generation of global leaders and citizens.
Curriculum
Single Major [B.A. (Hons)]
Pass at least 60 Units of GL courses or GL-recognised non-language courses which include the following:
- GL1101E Global Issues
- GL2101 Origins of the Modern World
- GL2102 Global Political Economy
- GL2103 Global Governance
- GL2104 Inquiry & Method or SC2101 Methods of Social Research (basic methodology requirement)
- One of the following courses for the advanced methodology requirement:
NM4102, GE3230A, GE3233, GE3240, GL3201, MS4101, PH3201, PS3257, SC3101, SC3209, SC3213, SC3221, SC3227, SN4101, SE4101 or HY4230 - GL4101 Research in Global Issues
- GL4102 Task Force
- A minimum of 12 Units from ONE of the following themes:
- Colonialism, Security, and Global Order
- Global Health, Environment, and Technology
- Global Political Economy
- Peoples, Cultures, and Globalisation
- A minimum of 16 Units of 3000-level GL or GL recognised courses (including GE3230A, GE3233, GE3240, GL3201, PH3201, PS3257, SC3101, SC3209, SC3213, SC3221 or SC3227)
- A minimum of 20 Units of level-4000 or higher GL or GL-recognised non-language courses (including GL4101 and GL4102, NM4102, MS4101, SN4101, SE4101 or HY4230) with at most 1 level-5000 courses to be counted towards major requirements (subject to Department's approval)
- No more than 16 Units of the electives may be from a single discipline (excluding NM4102, GE3230A, GE3233, GE3240, GL3201, MS4101, PH3201, PS3257, SC3101, SC3209, SC3213, SC3221, SC3227, SN4101, SE4101 or HY4230)
Notes:
- To qualify for Honours/ARS4 track, students must have completed 120 Units.
- GL4101 Research in Global Issues and GL4102 Task Force has to be read in the same academic year. The pre-requisite for GL4102 Task Force is GL4101. These two core courses are offered once every academic year consecutively - GL4101 in Semester 1 and GL4102 in semester 2.
IMPORTANT NOTE: GL Majors may undertake a second major in another discipline.
Job Ready
A degree in Global Studies prepares students for careers in a variety of fields. Global Studies majors learn critical thinking skills that are important in many careers. The cross-disciplinary nature of the Global Studies major equips students with a variety of analytic tools and the ability to approach current global problems creatively. The regional focus and emphasis on language training ensures that students are trained to apply those tools to concrete problems in specific parts of the world. Finally, the Global Studies major encourages students to adopt a cosmopolitan sensibility toward global problems. The skills gained in Global Studies can be helpful for careers in diplomacy, civil service, international business, law, social enterprise, education, and other exciting fields.
Why CHS?
The College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) is the enhanced undergraduate experience for students of the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences (FASS) and the Faculty of Science (FOS) at the National University of Singapore.
Scale of Impact
Taps and builds on the research expertise of two of the largest and most established faculties in Singapore.
Deliberate Curriculum Curation
A distinct interdisciplinary approach that emphasises the ability to draw connections, discover links and connect insights across disciplines.
Unparalleled Flexibility
Offers greater choice and unparalleled flexibility to pursue breadth and depth from more than 1,000 modules per academic year.
Testimonials
Ashleigh Tan
Global Studies
Why major in Global Studies?
I chose Global Studies because I was really intrigued by how you could build your own curriculum in a way where you were not constrained to only taking modules from a particular discipline. Also, having a language component (which was compulsory for my batch) was quite interesting!
What do you intend to do after graduation?
That would definitely be the ability to look at important issues and subjects from different perspectives, a skill I am acquiring from my professors and peers. Keeping an open and inquisitive mind during classes really helps me to understand more about my own thought processes and how I can better add value to discussions.
Nasuha Binte Nizam Thaha
Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Cargill
Global Studies '16
With its multi-disciplinary curriculum and multi-stakeholder approach, Global Studies has helped to hone my analytical, problem-solving and communication skills. Despite being fresh graduates, we are seen as valuable individuals with the ability to understand issues through multi-disciplinary lenses, an important skill in the workforce.
I am particularly grateful for the GL4101 Readings in Global Issues and GL4102 Task Force modules that provided me with the chance to apply the theoretical knowledge gained throughout my curriculum to a pressing global issue that affects the livelihood of many communities, bearing in mind the realities of involving many actors from various fields and institutions. Producing a policy paper on the Transboundary Haze allowed us to propose solutions for an issue that was evolving as we researched. This developed into an interest in business-led solutions towards global issues. Involvement for the Task Force also allowed me to build rapport with Cargill, thus paving the opportunity for my current career with them.
The Global Studies programme is an important field of knowledge reflecting the needs of the 21st century. Its multidisciplinary curriculum and application-based learning has equipped me with the necessary skills for the workforce and given me invaluable opportunities that I would never have thought possible when I first decided to major in the programme.
Aseera Shamin
Global Studies '22
I majored in Global Studies because I was very interested in global issues and how they are shaped by globalisation. The value of global studies and what appealed to me was the interdisciplinarity of it and how you can be exposed to a particular issue from a whole different range of perspectives. Although I was always sure that I was interested in international affairs, it was through my major that I really learned the nuances of the various issues out there. It made me realise what I wanted to do which is to engage in research and study more to potentially play a part in tackling these issues.
What I find exciting is that at FASS, it really is up to you to make what you want out of your own education. There's a whole long list of modules, allowing you to pick and choose based on your own interests.
Tan Seng Chai
Chief Corporate and People Officer, CapitaLand Group
"It's a new normal we live in, and there are critical attributes the next-generation workforce must possess in order to thrive, including the willingness to learn, ability to innovate, and high adaptability. CapitaLand recognises this and proactively collaborates on opportunities that encourage the development of these traits. That is why we're supportive of the curriculum at NUS College of Humanities and Sciences. Its focus on interdisciplinary education coupled with experiential and problem-based learning will allow future-ready CHS graduates to handle a variety of workplace scenarios across different disciplines better, and put them in good stead to ride the waves of the future of work."
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