Social and behavioral sciences - Political and international studies

With preventable diseases on the rise globally, there's a growing demand for international public health professionals. Pursuing this bachelor's in international public health allows you to make a positive impact on the health of people around the world. This career field emphasizes the importance of preventive care and treating chronic conditions for patients globally. This program also prepares you to fight epidemics and pandemics, which is essential to international public health efforts. In this field, you can create effective public health practices within the principles of equity, ethics and sustainable development. You can also work to improve infrastructure to provide public health, preventative and clinical services to communities in need.

The knowledge and skills you’ll develop

This international public health degree provides the knowledge and skills needed for a career addressing systemic issues in global wellness and health care. In your coursework, you’ll cover topics ranging from health policy and advocacy to epidemiology and data analysis. Upon graduating, you’ll be equipped to evaluate, synthesize and communicate evidence-based public health information to diverse audiences throughout health care.

Additionally, you’ll gain valuable transferable skills that you can apply to many careers, including:

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Cultural competency
• Leadership
• Problem-solving

Global coursework and learning abroad opportunities

In this program, you can participate in global intensive experiences, study abroad programs and internships abroad that focus on international and comparative health systems. There are over 250 study abroad experiences available, which can be as long as a semester or as short as one week. All programs offer the opportunity to earn course credit and some also include international internship placements.

This program combines multiple disciplines to connect theory, practice and policy in addressing global challenges. You'll learn to identify and design solutions for critical issues, such as climate change, economic and social development, global conflicts, human rights and urbanization.

The curriculum integrates political science, sociology, history, economics and geography to provide a broad understanding of our interconnected world. Guided by internationally recognized faculty, you’ll explore diverse perspectives and develop innovative solutions to global challenges.

You’ll gain transferable skills in critical thinking, argumentation, research, empirical analysis and writing. Plus, you can participate in global experiences, such as an internship or other international opportunities.

What you can do with a global studies degree

This program prepares you for professional or graduate training, leading to possible careers within governmental organizations, international businesses or global policy entities. If you're already working in your field, it equips you with the expertise to transition into international career opportunities.

Additionally, this bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master’s degrees include:

• Master of Arts in global security
• Master of Arts in global security – cybersecurity
• Master of Arts in global security – irregular warfare
• Master of Arts in international affairs and leadership

This program drives creative problem-solving and original solutions for promoting the health of people. You’ll investigate the intersections of disciplines such as anthropology, epidemiology, evolutionary theory and more. You’ll also build competencies in critical thinking, research abilities, service learning and advocacy.

Earning a global health degree is an ideal option if you're interested in exploring health promotion with an emphasis on cultural influences, evolutionary factors and social issues. This program is intended to support your efforts in asking the right questions and imagining new answers that create meaningful change in the world. To enhance your learning, you’ll be encouraged to explore study abroad opportunities and gain hands-on experience in the field.

What you’ll learn in this program

The study of global health addresses many crises ranging from infectious diseases, chronic conditions and age-related illnesses to mental health concerns from war, violence and displacement. In this program, you’ll learn about each of the social, ecological and biological dimensions of health to develop solutions for these challenges. Courses include cross-cultural studies, statistics, human evolution, epidemiology and more. The main takeaway you’ll gain from this program is the knowledge to protect the well-being of families and communities around the world through various elements.

What’s the difference between a BA and BS in global health?

In both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science global health programs, you’ll focus on key core competencies such as the global burden of disease and the social and environmental determinants of health. In this BA program, you’ll analyze the process of building community partnerships to tackle health challenges. Whereas, the BS program takes a much more quantitative approach to studying the global health issues at hand. The BA is also broader, allowing you to learn the foundations of global health and other disciplines.

Additionally, this bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. Applicable master's degrees with this opportunity include the Master of Science in global health.

This program provides you with the tools used to make connections with theory and real-world issues in the political sphere. In your courses, you’ll cover a range of topics from national and global political trends to statistics, science and society. Upon graduation, you’ll be well prepared to pursue a career or graduate program in the realm of government or politics. Key skills you’ll develop include, but are not limited to:

• Critical reasoning and argumentation
• Effective and engaging writing
• Data analysis
• Targeted research

Which political science degree is right for me?

The Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in political science both offer a strong foundation in the concepts of policy, government and citizen needs. However, the two programs differ in terms of their individual focus areas.

The BS includes additional learning in statistics and science courses that directly apply to the developmental processes of policy. Whereas, the BA includes a foreign language component, which is especially valuable for those interested in political pursuits and international business.

To learn more about the differences between a BS or BA in political science and the careers you can pursue with each, check out this article.

The graduate programs political science majors are prepared for

This political science degree combines a comprehensive understanding of government, policy and citizens with the traditional scientific emphasis of a BS program. You’ll study topics such as public opinion, peer-reviewed scientific research, statistical analysis and the development and revision of policy. Whether you’re interested in starting your career after graduation or pursuing a graduate program, gaining advanced knowledge in these subject areas will elevate your learning on your path.

This bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This path can reduce your time and costs while deepening your expertise. Eligible programs include:

• Master of Arts in global security
• Master of Arts in global security – cybersecurity
• Master of Arts in global security – irregular warfare
• Master of Arts in international affairs and leadership
• Master of Arts in political psychology
• Master of Public Administration

A political science degree emphasizes critical skills in research design and effective communication, which are then applied to address contemporary political issues across the globe. Policy creation, review and processes that sit at the core of political science are also key areas of focus. In this program, you’ll build talents including empirical analysis, reasoning, argumentation and more.

Upon graduation, you may follow a variety of paths in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Ultimately, political science aims to find connections between theory and practical problems. Identifying these links is valuable in politics and in the operation of government agencies, private businesses and nonprofit groups. You’ll also gain transferable skills in research and writing that can be useful in law school and graduate study.

How does this Bachelor of Arts in political science compare to a BS?

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in political science both emphasize key concepts in this field, including policy, government and the needs of citizens. However, they differ in a few important areas. 

The BS in political science degree includes additional focus on statistics and science, along with their relationship to crafting and reviewing policy. Differently, the BA in political science degree features a foreign language component that can prove to be especially valuable for roles involving international relations and global business pursuits.

To learn more about the differences between a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts in political science, read this article.

The graduate programs you’ll be prepared for

Once you’ve completed this program, you’ll be equipped to pursue various graduate programs applicable to this field. Graduates of this program seek related programs in study areas such as global security, political psychology, public policy, international affairs and more.

This bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This path can reduce your time and costs while deepening your expertise. Eligible programs include:

• Master of Arts in global security
• Master of Arts in global security – cybersecurity
• Master of Arts in global security – irregular warfare
• Master of Arts in international affairs and leadership
• Master of Arts in political psychology
• Master of Public Administration