As a Samford University Global & Cultural Studies student, you will become fluent in different perspectives on global issues. You will recognize the connections between local and global events and know how to respond to them. You will become a global problem solver, committed to promoting understanding between cultures and to making a difference at home and abroad.  This interdisciplinary program invites you to reach across disciplines and learn from a wide array of approaches and methods as you prepare to enter our globalized world.

The Global & Cultural Studies curriculum offers a foundation in global topics and approaches through two introductory courses on world history and interdisciplinary methods. These courses prepare you to specialize in several concentrations: Latin America, Middle East, Europe, and Human Geography. Within this framework, the concentrations allow you to select a specialized program of study and choose from a set of concentration-specific electives, culminating in a research-based and writing-intensive capstone seminar. Each track offers many elective options, with new courses added each year. You will work closely with faculty mentors to select the best options for your intended career path.

The Global and Cultural Studies major is well suited for people who are critical thinkers who also love learning about different cultures. In addition to being flexible and adaptable, candidates should be self-motivated and communicate well.

The Global and Cultural Studies major is an obvious choice for students aiming specifically for an international career in government, business, or the non-profit sector. Its interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature will provide an appropriate foundation for work or graduate study in any field affected by global change.  

We’re committed to hands-on learning at Samford University because we know the most important lessons are often learned outside the classroom. For Global & Cultural Studies majors and minors, this means getting off campus—sometimes very far off campus. You will have the opportunity to travel the world, learning about other cultures first-hand. These study abroad experiences allow you to become personally acquainted with people around the world, their histories, their cultures, and their lives.

You will also benefit from small class sizes, mentoring, a learning community, scholarship opportunities and concentration options to help you tailor your education to fit your career goals.

Market Ready

We believe that your future success grows out of a strong foundation in critical thinking, historical understanding, and cross-cultural dialogue. These skills will not only prepare you for any future career but will also empower you to meaningfully serve the communities around you. Global & Cultural Studies students have gone on to fruitful careers in business, government, journalism and new media, non-profit work, and vocational missions. 

Career Opportunities

This major is an obvious choice for students aiming specifically for an international career in government, business, or the non-profit sector. Its interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary nature will provide an appropriate foundation for work or graduate study in any field affected by global change.   Global & Cultural Studies majors often find rewarding careers in a wide variety of fields, including:

Civil service

Government/diplomacy

Missions and ministry

Law

Journalism

Education

International business

Marketing

Public affairs

Social work

Internships

Lifeline Children's Services, The Dance Foundation, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama, Maxwell Law Firm

Alumni Careers

Business, Law, Journalism, Education, Government, Non-Profits, Missionary

Mia Owens

Keely Smith