The aim of the studies is to train specialists in the phenomena that characterize the era of globalization in which we live, with a comprehensive and transdisciplinary vision from the social sciences, beyond exclusively economic, political or cultural perspectives. Global studies go beyond the study of relations between international actors (such as states and supra-state organizations) because these studies address the analysis of global challenges that affect humankind as a whole (e.g. climate change, migration, intellectual artificial intelligence, economic crises, war and violence, poverty, pandemics, structures of domination and injustice, racism, or gender discrimination).

We understand that the training of such specialists must be transversal, open and flexible, so that they are able to anticipate and adapt to global changes and challenges that cannot yet be foreseen. We also believe that their training must take into account the local (and, therefore, cultural and particular) values and points of view through which each community explains the how and why of those challenges. Only with this perspective will these specialists be able to contribute to explaining and solving these global challenges and to collaborating in the design and transformation of humankind.

Specific competences

• To describe the global phenomena that affect the entire world population, from a transdisciplinary perspective.

• To analyze global phenomena from the local - global dialectic

• To build a holistic vision based on knowledge of the conceptual and methodological foundations of the different disciplines that constitute global knowledge.

• To reflect critically on globalization and its challenges, paying attention to ethical, cultural, environmental, human rights, gender and social justice considerations.

• To recognize cultural, religious and value diversity for the understanding, management and resolution of conflicts and global problems.

• To pose and solve global problems through different methodologies specific to the disciplines that make up the Degree.

• To design, plan and manage programs and strategies of global scope in public institutions, non-governmental organizations, companies and large international corporations.

• To demonstrate ability to understand and intervene in contemporary problems.

Transversal competences

To communicate effectively in English and other languages other than the mother tongue.

Basic and general competences

• To apply your knowledge to your work or vocation in a professional way

• To elaborate and defend arguments and solve problems within your area of ​​study.

• To gather and interpret relevant data so as to issue judgments reflecting on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.

• To convey information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

• To develop the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.

• To communicate ideas, content and knowledge clearly and accurately using the most appropriate expression and discourse for each audience and context.

• To show knowledge about the implications of the new ideological, political, economic and technological forms that act in contemporary global society from a globalized and cosmopolitan perspective.

• To develop attitudes and skills that facilitate internationalization and one’s own training as authentic citizens that are sensitive to the values ​​of peace and equality and able to understand, manage and administer knowledge in a global community.

We recommend that the students who wish to access the degree in Global Studies have a minimum knowledge of mathematics, history, and geography, as well as a flair for written and oral communication and an ability to analyse, discuss, and dialogue. An interest in learning foreign languages is equally important, as well as creativity, imagination, innovation, and a passion for continuous learning.

Syllabus of Bachelor's degree in Global Studies

Contents of subjects of Bachelor's degree in Global Studies

Some of the companies and institutions where the students of the Degree in Global Studies have done internships are:

• ACCIÓ Agència per a la competitivitat de l'empresa (Generalitat de Catalunya)
• Advisum RRHH
• Ajuntament de Terrassa
• Associació Barcelona Global
• B. LINK BARCELONA STRATEGIC PROJECTS
• Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona
• CIDOB
• Consulado General del Uruguay
• Creu Roja a Catalunya
• Departament d'Acció Exterior i Unió Europea (Generalitat de Catalunya)
• Departament d'Igualtat i Feminismes (Generalitat de Catalunya)
• Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya
• GlovoApp23 S.L.
• Hispaania Maja (Tallinn, Estònia)
• I2 Social Impact Investing, S.L.
• Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación
• Observatori del Deute en la Globalització
• Parlament Europeu
• S2m-group Data Services & Software Holding
• Saga Ventures, GmbH (Suissa)
• Sateliot
• SciTech DiploHub
• ServiZurich
• Sostre Cívic
• Tandem Social, SCCL
• University of Twente (Paisos Baixos)

According to the experience of countries where similar courses are already implemented at the degree level, the graduates of Global Studies can find work in a broad range of professional areas.

With cross-disciplinary and in-depth knowledge, analytical resources, language skills, and international experience, the future graduates will have multi-purpose training that will allow them to opt for positions and access distinguished and more and more in-demand posts in government administrations (local, regional, national, and international), diplomatic corps, cultural and educational institutions, the media, multinational companies, import and export firms, non-governmental organizations working in cooperation and development, political parties, private international authorities, international consultancy services, research organizations, think tanks, and environmental agencies.

Language learning and use in the bachelor’s degree course

Due to its international nature, the degree in Global Studies is regarded as a space for the use and study of several languages. Plurilingual learning is a key element in the training of the future graduates. Moreover, the degree must combine the linguistic training needs of very different types of students, taking into consideration the diversity of their geographic origins.

The language of instruction during the first two years will be almost always English. The optional subjects in the third year can be taken in English, Spanish, or Catalan, according to the courses offered by the faculties involved. A minimum of subjects in Spanish and Catalan will be ensured so that foreign students who wish to do so can strengthen their command of these languages.     

Language training includes three compulsory subjects in one foreign language, with a choice between Chinese, Arabic, Russian, French, or Spanish (only for international students) and taking a maximum of 18 credits. Starting from scratch (except in Spanish) and in accordance with the scales of the CEFR of the European Council (90-100 face-to-face hours for each level: A1, A2, B1, etc.), the students should reach level A2.1 or higher in Chinese, Arabic, Russian, or French and level B2.1 in Spanish in order to get a passing score on finishing the third subject. With some extra work in independent, online, and tutored learning, the students with the best grades could reach level A2 (B2 in the Spanish case).

These compulsory foreign language subjects are worth 6 credits each, recorded in table 5.1.3 in the third trimester of the first, second, and third years. Since we are dealing with language learning, continuous teaching throughout the year is the most effective approach. Therefore, the classes are distributed throughout the three trimesters, at two credits per trimester. This leaves the number of ECTS credits of the student at 20 for each trimester, though the final assessment is in the third trimester and, therefore, in table 5.1.3 the trimesters appear apparently unequal in the number of credits (18, 18, and 24 credits, respectively, which in terms of the student’s actual dedication can be considered 20, 20, and 20 credits).

In addition, there are optional subjects in German, Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian, governed by the same criteria as the CEFR, as well as extracurricular Catalan language classes incentivized at a special price and currently already on offer for exchange students in UPF in general.

The stay abroad will provide many students with reinforcement in the foreign language chosen, in the same way that foreign students will learn Spanish and Catalan through immersion in local daily life in Barcelona. This can be further reinforced with the Languages UPF courses and with the language volunteering systems.  

The objective of language learning in the degree in Global Studies is for the students to be able to cope proficiently or at the level of an experienced user in two of the six official languages of the UN (English and Spanish), and to acquire a basic user level (A2.1) in at least one of the other four languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, or Russian). Ideally, the future graduate of Global Studies should learn to understand and use at least four of these six world languages through the degree’s optional courses or by other means.

• Foreign languages and document accrediting knowledge of languages
• Language policy
• Language security and incidents/complaints
• The Voluntariat Lingüístic

Testimonials: My experience in the Degree in Global Studies

Peter Berna Williams
Graduated
2018-19

Musa Obed
Graduated 2020-21

The launching of degree and post-graduate programmes in Global Studies dates back to the end of the Twentieth Century  and finds its epicentre in the Anglophone academic context (especially the United States), though this tendency has been spreading fast to other regions. Thus, after just a little over a decade, today there are degree courses in Global Studies available in over 240 universities and higher education institutions in the United States (including, among others, Yale University, UCLA, Indiana University, University of California-Santa Barbara, Texas State University, University of the Pacific, University of Illinois, University of Denver, University of Pittsburgh, and Warren Wilson College) and in over 25 universities in other North American countries (Wilfrid Laurier University or Vancouver Island University), Latin American countries (Nahual Institute for Global Studies), African countries (The American University in Cairo), Asian countries (Shanghai University, National University of Singapore, The University of Hong Kong, Hitotsubashi University, Akita International University, or Doshisha University), or in Oceania (Monash University, The University of Sydney, or University of Technology Sydney).

The European continent has not been an exception to this gradual expansion of programmes in Global Studies and we can identify at least thirty post-graduate options in prestigious universities (Humboldt University, University of Freiburg, Ghent University, University of London-SOAS, Moscow State University, The London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Vienna, or the Norwegian University of Science and Technology). As indicated in the previous section, in the Spanish university context it is difficult to find degree or post-graduate examples for the degree in Global Studies proposed here.