Global Studies
your passport to understanding our complex planet
In an interconnected world where borders blur and cultures creatively mix and collide, Global Studies offers a passport to understanding our complex planet! In the Global Studies track, students will explore this interdisciplinary major that examines our global interdependence from several perspectives including international politics, cultural diversity, global economics, social movements, as well as the environmental and other pressing challenges facing our world today. Through hands-on activities analyzing current global events, you’ll get a world-class perspective on what it means to be a global citizen. You’ll hear directly from UNC faculty and students about their experiences connecting classroom theory to real-world global issues, gaining insights that will help you navigate this exciting field. You’ll learn about the diverse career pathways that Global Studies opens up, from working with NGOs and international organizations to careers in foreign service, global business, or journalism. By the end of the week, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to chart your course towards a Global Studies major!
Instructor: Michal Osterweil
Michal Osterweil is a Teaching Professor and Director of Internships at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research focuses on contemporary social movements, political thought, and the ways communities develop and share knowledge. Her work explores transnational movements, including the Global Justice Movement and Zapatista networks, as well as new approaches to social and political change. In addition to her research, she is committed to interdisciplinary learning and engaging students in projects that connect academic study with real-world social issues. She earned her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill, with degrees in Cultural Studies and Anthropology.
Instructor: Erica Johnson
Erica Johnson is a Teaching Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research and teaching focus on comparative politics and political economy, particularly post-Soviet state-society relations. Her work examines the relationship between governments and citizens in post-Soviet Central Asia, including the use of information and communication technologies and the development of civil society across the region. Before joining UNC-Chapel Hill, she was a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and her master’s degrees and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Washington.