The global perspectives major prepares students for life in the 21st century––a century of rapidly changing paradigms in an increasingly globalized world. The program is designed to help students overcome a sense of fear about the complexities of the world they live in and to build understanding of these complexities. The global perspectives major integrates topics and fields which develop a worldview for today: civilizations and their histories, religions, comparative economics, global ethics, cultural and language diversity, international politics and ideologies, world geography, current events, and global environmental issues.

In addition to required and elective courses, students engage in a service project or program emphasizing the development of cultural sensitivity and awareness. As the culmination of their concentrated area of global study, majors undertake a senior capstone project focused on an issue of international concern that underscores the importance of global awareness.