BA Global Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara

Programme overview

Global Studies offers a degree with contemporary as well as historical globalizing trends as the central organizing theme. It provides an undergraduate major that is distinctive in its emphasis on transnational processes and interactions that bring the world together across traditional national boundaries.

Faculty: College of Letters and Science | Department: Department of Global Studies | Study mode: full-time | Location: Santa Barbara, CA, United States

What you will study

Major requirements are organised as Pre-Major: GLOBL 1, GLOBL 2, HIST 2A, HIST 2B, HIST 2C, HIST 4A, HIST 4B, HIST 4C, HIST 49A, HIST 49B, HIST 49C, HIST 8A, HIST 8B, HIST 17A; Preparation For The Major: ANTH 2, ECON 1, ECON 2, FEMST 20, FEMST 30, GEOG 5, SOC 1; Upper-Division Major. In order to qualify for admission into the Global Studies Major, students must complete Global Studies 1 and 2 with a UC GPA of 2.7 or above.

Career pathways

Graduate and professional pathways include Business; Government; Nonprofit organizations; International Affairs; Peace and World Order Studies; International Business. Top employers include English teaching programs abroad, Invoca, The Asia Foundation.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to UCSB is to the university and a college (College of Letters and Science, College of Engineering, College of Creative Studies), not to the individual major; applicants must meet the University of California subject requirements for first-year or transfer applicants and apply through the UC Application. Selective-major and second-choice-major rules are described by UCSB Undergraduate Admissions.

Entry term: fall. First-year and transfer applicants apply for fall 2027 through the UC Application.

First-year and transfer applications for fall 2027: UC Application filing period October 1 - November 30, 2026 (opens August 1). Application fee: $80 per campus for U.S. residents, $95 per campus for international students. Transfer applicants also submit the UCSB TAG Application September 1-30. First-year decisions mid-March; transfer decisions mid-April; Statement of Intent to Register May 1 (first-year) and June 1 (transfer).

SAT and ACT scores are not used in admission selection or scholarships; submission is optional and may be used for course placement. Students applying to College of Creative Studies majors submit a supplemental application; Dance and Music B.M. applicants complete an audition.

Graduate applicants apply through the UCSB online graduate application; the deadline is set by each department. Application fee: $135 for US citizens and permanent residents, $155 for all others, payable by credit card, check or money order. GRE required only by some programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/

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