Global Studies
About Our Program
You want to make the communities you’re a part of better. As a global studies major, you’ll gain the tools you need to tackle the complex challenges they’re facing and contribute to innovative solutions.
You’ll confront issues like healthcare, immigration, food security, or climate change from a variety of perspectives to understand the way they impact one another. You’ll analyze their intersecting effects in St. Lawrence County, across the country, and abroad. Through your research, you’ll report on underrepresented voices and grassroots movements working to combat big issues and drive positive change in their communities. The whole time, you’ll work closely with faculty who believe in your ability to make an impact and push you to dig deeper into the questions that motivate you.
The work you do as a student will open up a world of possibilities after you graduate, whether you want to continue your studies, pursue a law degree, teach at home or abroad, work for a non-profit, become an activist, work in public policy, and so much more.
Learning Experiences to Prepare for Your Career
Your curiosity (along with your collaborative faculty mentors) will be your guide as you craft a unique path based on your interests. After St. Lawrence, your deep understanding of intersecting global problems and processes will better position you to help organizations tackle their most complex problems.Choose Your Concentration
Our students mold their global studies major based on their passions for different areas, like African or Asian studies, languages, and themes, such as development, environmental studies, health, and social movements.
Senior Year Experience (SYE)
Your global studies major culminates in a Senior Year Experience research project that ties together the questions, issues, or areas you’ve spent time investigating in your courses, volunteer work, or study abroad experiences. You’ll work closely with a faculty mentor (who is also an expert in your subject matter) and glean valuable insight from an experienced writer and researcher as you fully immerse yourself in a topic you’re passionate about. Topics can be as unique and creative as your interests are. For example, Meca-Gaye Francis ’20 analyzed how memes can teach us about power and representation, while Paul-Hudson Erwin ’21 photographed street art in New York City at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Weave News
Put your knowledge into the world and share the work you’re doing with a broader audience through written reporting, podcasting, or photojournalism. Weave News is an independent media project of the global studies department that investigates underreported stories across the globe thanks to an active and engaged network of current students, alumni, and citizen journalists. Not interested in reporting? You can also gain experience with social media management, graphic design, or grant writing.
Global Dialogue Center
A space to engage with pressing global topics with your peers, the Global Dialogue Center encourages collaboration and conversation among diverse cultural backgrounds. You could gather here to work on a group project for class, mobilize volunteers for a community event, or host a “flash seminar” on topics like human rights protests in Hong Kong or equitable distribution of life-saving vaccines in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
Past Internships
Learn by doing in a real-world environment. Our majors intern with a wide range of organizations, including:
- Nature Up North
- U.S. Senate
- Office of the New York City Public Advocate
- Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition
- Heal Zimbabwe Trust
Volunteer Work
You can also gain experience while making a difference through service work. Our majors engage with our community through:
- Preparing and serving meals with Campus Kitchens
- After school programs at the Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club
- Reading/math help at local middle and elementary schools
- The Breakfast Club at Deep Root Community Center
Study Abroad
Enrich your understanding of some of the world’s biggest challenges by understanding how they affect communities and people on the ground. Choose from more than 30 semester-long programs in more than 20 international locations, including Spain, London, Kenya, New Zealand, and Costa Rica.
Travel Enrichment Grants
Apply for a grant to pursue further experiences while abroad and enrich your understanding of a place or culture. While studying abroad in Jordan, Cassandra Kunert ’21 used her grant to travel to Beirut to document street art for “Weaving the Streets,” a project of The Weave News.
Off-Campus Study in the U.S.
Other U.S.-based off-campus study programs include a Liberal Arts in New York City experience, which includes an internship with a Manhattan-based business or nonprofit.
Short-Term Trips & Field Experiences
In addition to semester- and year-long programs, you’ll also have the chance to participate in short-term travel study trips through your courses or when conducting research with faculty.
Connect with Community
Among the 150+ clubs and organizations at St. Lawrence, you’ll find many that involve cross-cultural exchange, global issues, community engagement, and advocacy, including:
- Andrew Goodman Foundation
- The Advocates
- African Student Union
- A.S.I.A Club
- Black Laurentian Initiative
- Commons College
- Euphrates Club
- Environmental Action Organization
- Literacy for Nepal
- Model U.N.
- Divestment Club
- La Sociedad
- International House
- SLU Legal
- Planned Parenthood Generation Action
- Thelomathesian Society
- UBUNTU. Magazine
- SLU Funk
Alumni Network
St. Lawrence graduates are big thinkers, problem solvers, and fearless leaders at companies and organizations across the country and world. Our alumni network is the second-most influential source for recent graduate employment (only behind internships).
Explore the Power of our Alumni Network
Outcomes
Laurentians do not seem to shy away from complex challenges, and those working in public policy or advocating for change to enhance the lives of others are part of a growing community of alumni.
Recent Employment
- World Resources Institute
- AmeriCorps
- Peace Corps
- World Wildlife Fund
- Education First
- Grassroots Campaigns
- United Nations Development Program
Recent Graduate School Placements
- Georgetown University
- U.C. Santa Barbara
- University of Oxford
- The American University of Beirut
- Tufts University
Why St. Lawrence for Global Studies
of global studies majors are employed or continuing their education within a year
of St. Lawrence students study off campus at least once
Unlimited Access
As a St. Lawrence student, you’ll amplify your education with free access to reputable news sources like:
- The New York Times
- The Wall Street Journal
- Washington Post
- Access World News
of global studies majors conduct at least one internship during their time as a student
Alumni at Work: Advocacy in Action
Laurentians don't shy away from complex challenges. That's why many St. Lawrence graduates go on to work in public policy and advocate for change.
Recent Employment
- World Resources Institute
- AmeriCorps
- Peace Corps
- World Wildlife Fund
- Education First
- Grassroots Campaigns
- United Nations Development Program
Recent Graduate School Placements
- Georgetown University
- U.C. Santa Barbara
- University of Oxford
- The American University of Beirut
- Tufts University
Volunteer-producing University
Peace Corps 2019, 2020
of St. Lawrence students pursue more than one area of study
More Program Information
Program Requirements & Courses
Explore global studies major requirements, as well as electives and combined study options.
Complementary and Related Programs
Global Studies Faculty
Whether you’re interested in representation in media or public health policy, your faculty mentors will help you design a path that you’re passionate about.
“Our major is forward-looking, rigorous, and it's going to prepare you extremely well if you’re interested in grad school or if you want to work in policy, non-profits, or advocacy.”
John Collins, Ph. D.
Habib Battah
Alison Jenkins Jayman, Ph. D.
Jayantha Jayman, Ph. D.
Ceyda Onaran Kartal, M.S.
Madeleine Wong, Ph. D.
“The discussions and debates in my classes challenged me and transcended the classroom. Being a global studies major made me reflect upon my life, and what I wish to contribute to the world now, and in the future.”
Hana Bushara
Fueled for Fulbright
For Julie DeGuardi ’17, curiosity has fueled her ambitious exploration as a student and as a graduate. Now, she is using her insatiable drive to learn, teach others, and make a difference as a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Grant recipient.
Stitching the World Together
Protecting pollinators. Political uprising in Haiti. Sustainable farming in the North Country. Bring underreported stories to life with Weave News.
Get More Information
We’re excited to learn more about you, tell you more about our interdisciplinary academic programs, show you around our beautiful campus, and help you navigate your college search.
Apply to St. Lawrence
We’re looking for curious students who are eager to make a difference. We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications and consider all aspects of your application and what we learn about you.