Global Studies and International Affairs major

Do you love travel, languages and new cultures? Do you enjoy working with people different from you? Are you fascinated by international politics, economics and other global issues? Then Global Studies and International Affairs might be the major for you.

Whether you fill up your passport or use your skills at an organization close to home, this major will give you a broader perspective and deeper understanding of our place in a constantly changing world.

The Alverno edge

Alverno is internationally known for its unique abilities-based curriculum, which will help you become a strong communicator, leader, critical thinker and problem-solver — all skills prized by employers here and abroad. That strong foundation will be further enhanced by the knowledge you’ll gain in your Global Studies program, which will include a diverse mix of courses in world language, economics, geography, history and political science.

Experience a different culture

You’ll be expected to participate in an immersion experience in another culture, either abroad or in the United States. You can choose summer or semester-long study abroad programs, or take a short-term travel course taught by Alverno faculty. The Global Studies program is built with flexibility in mind, and any courses you take while studying abroad can count as a Global Studies elective if they don’t already fulfill a major requirement.

Practice being a diplomat

Every Global Studies major participates in a four-day Model United Nations simulation in Chicago, where you’ll play the role of a diplomat from another country after studying the foreign policy of “your” country in class. This valuable experience allows you to interact with more than 1,000 college students from across the U.S., and many of our students love the Model UN so much they return two or even three times.

The support you need to succeed

Forget about giant lecture halls or vying for face time with professors in crowded classes. Alverno’s 10-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes — almost always under 25 students — ensure you’ll really get to know our caring faculty, and that personal connection allows professors to guide you toward meaningful electives and internships that will help you reach your goals.

Get involved

Looking for more experiences outside of the classroom? Join one of Alverno’s dozens of student organizations to practice your leadership skills and connect with other students who share your passions. Alverno offers a Global Studies Club as well as several multicultural student organizations.

Internships for the Global Studies major

Our Internship Office, which is connected to more than 2,000 partner sites, can help you find the right internship for you. Past Global Studies majors have interned at internationally focused organizations based in Milwaukee (such as the Global Youth Leadership Institute), at Alverno’s own International and Intercultural Center, and with other global and international affairs organizations outside of Wisconsin, including the U.S. Department of Defense’s Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, D.C.

How you can use your degree

There’s a growing demand for professionals who are fluent in international and cross-cultural issues, and this versatile degree prepares you for a variety of jobs in corporate, governmental, educational and nonprofit sectors. You might specialize in overseas markets for a financial institution, assist with resettlement and immigration at a social service agency, or work for an international aid and development agency. This major is also excellent preparation for graduate studies in fields such as international law, international education, journalism and public policy. Some of the places where you’ll find Alverno’s Global Studies graduates include the U.S. Social Security Administration, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Institute for World Affairs, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, University of Auckland in New Zealand, and Zabel Property AG in Germany.

Faculty

David Brooker
Associate Professor of Political Science
Director, Global Studies

David Brooker teaches courses in international politics and global studies and is the director of the Global Studies program. He teaches courses on the United Nations, Comparative Politics, and regional integration. He is the co-leader of Coastal Cities: Baltic Sea which studies how cities can be affected, economically, culturally and environmentally, by being located on the water. The class ends with a trip to Poland, Sweden and Denmark to explore cities on the Baltic Sea. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Miami University in 1993. His specialty is Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Zohreh Emami
Professor, Economics

Zohreh Emami received her Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University. She teaches courses in international economics, development economics, women and the economy, women and leadership, the economic environment, and history of economic thought. Her book, with Paulette Olson, entitled Engendering Economics: Conversations with Women Economists in the United States was published by Routledge in April 2002. She has also written on Joan Robinson and her contributions to the methodology and the pedagogy of economics. She is currently involved in writing on the role of education in sustainable economic development and democracy.

Megan Bollen
Instructor, Geography

Megan teaches World Geography. She has lived and studied in Russia and Greece and has led educational programs aboard a Tall Ship in the Atlantic Ocean, in Costa Rica and in various U.S. locations including indigenous communities in Alaska. She holds a Masters of Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Bachelors of Arts in Global Studies from Colorado Christian University.