African Studies
The interdisciplinary African Studies program draws on scholarship across departments and schools while engaging with African past, present, and future from a decolonized perspective.
Global & Intercultural Studies
What drives cultural exchange and global interaction? How do traditions and histories influence how people and communities connect and evolve? Explore the rich diversity of global cultures and examine how societies adapt, collaborate, and respond to the challenges of an interconnected world.
Explore Global & Intercultural Studies
Discover areas of study that deepen our understanding of global & intercultural studies, spark new ideas, and lead to impactful discoveries.
American Studies
American Studies draws on the humanities and social sciences to examine components of U.S. culture, the diverse experiences of Americans, and the American impact on local, national, and global concerns.
Asian American Studies
Asian American Studies explores the long and rich histories, culture, and politics of Asians in the United States.
Asian Languages & Cultures
Asian Languages & Cultures students explore a variety of Asian cultures in depth, compare histories and traditions across Asia, and consider them in relation to those of other regions, both within and outside Asia.
Black Studies
Black Studies looks at the global Black experience using intellectual tools from History, Literature, Political Science, Theater, Sociology, and other disciplines to understand Black life as situated in particular times and places.
Global Health Studies
Global Health Studies students interrogate the key social, political, historical, and economic determinants of health and the role they play in global health concerns past and present, as well as health interventions across cultural and geographical environments.
International Studies
The International Studies adjunct major provides students with a platform for interdisciplinary understanding of international affairs in connection with contemporary politics and society.
Jewish & Hebrew Studies
Jewish & Hebrew Studies examines Jewish life from ancient to modern times as a cultural, ethnic, and/or religious identity and phenomenon. Courses offer students the chance to explore Jewish texts and languages, philosophy and literature, religion and history.
Latin American & Caribbean Studies
Latin American & Caribbean Studies explores the languages, politics, art, cultures, and religions of these regions and populations.
Latino & Latina Studies
Latino & Latina Studies focuses on the historic and contemporary circumstances that shape Latina and Latino lives, spaces, subjectivities, and politics in the United States.
Middle East & North African Studies
Middle East & North African Studies looks at this region and the networks that join it to the rest of the world. Curricula includes language training in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, or Hebrew and a mix of history, humanities, and social science courses related to the Middle East and North Africa.
Native American Studies
A minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies offers students the chance to engage with the priorities, histories, lifeways, and artistic and cultural practices related to Native American and Indigenous communities.
Russian and East European Studies
A major and minor are offered, with the opportunities to concentrate in language, literature, culture, or area studies.
Interesting Courses
Check out some cool courses that immerse you in global and intercultural studies.
ITALIAN 351-0
How many Italian filmakers does it take to influence one another's style?
ASIAN AMER 216-0
How have Asian diasporas shaped and been shaped by migration over time?
Slavic 211-2
How did Doctor Zhivago become a Cold War battleground for art and politics?
Blk_St 380-0-20
How does AfroFuturism imagine the future through art, music, and literature?
POLI_SCI 383-0
Is peace between major powers just a historical fluke, or can it actually last?
BLK_ST 315-0-20
How have African traditional religions shaped Caribbean history, culture, and resistance?
SOCIOL 276-0
How has Israeli sociology shaped and been shaped by the nation’s history and politics?
POLI_SCI 335-0
Do hidden biases and emotions secretly control how we vote?
What is it like to be a student?
As a student, you can delve into the study of global and intercultural studies through interdisciplinary coursework, internships, community projects, and extra-curricular activities. You also can collaborate with faculty on cutting-edge research.
Mirabella Johnson '24
From cognitive science to global health, Mirabella Johnson shares how Northwestern's community and opportunities shaped her journey. With connections in student organizations, Mirabella found inspiration and support in her path to public health. Her advice? Embrace Northwestern's unique blend of people, classes, and experiences—you'll find your place and discover new possibilities.
Dori-Taylor Carter '23
An American studies major with minors in French and sociological research at Weinberg College, Dori-Taylor Carter has been involved with the Rainbow Alliance on campus, working to make the University a more hospitable place for LGBTQ+ students.
In the classroom, I was inspired by the talented and renowned faculty’s lectures and writings. The sheer depth of culture and history they bestowed upon me was, at times, overwhelming. But, the experience was more than worth it.”
Seora Kim '24
With a major in economics and minors in global health studies and data science, Seora Kim '24 found that Northwestern's interdisciplinary approach helped her connect diverse interests. Starting undecided on her major, she explored different fields through foundation courses, leading her to a unique mix of studies. She's excited to apply what she's learned to combine insights from each area for her future career.
Ramzy Issa '23
Issa’s family is from Palestine and during his time on campus he served as a co-president of the Middle East and North African Student Association. A neuroscience and global health double major in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Issa's research focuses on Arab-American health, a subject he will continue to explore next year in the Feinberg School of Medicine’s Northwestern Undergraduate Premedical Scholars Program.
From Classroom to Cropland: How Nikki Okrah '11 Is Changing Agriculture in Ghana
Nikki Okrah ’11 was attracted to Northwestern's breadth of courses and the Herskovits Library of African Studies, home to the world’s largest Africana collection. She credits her liberal arts education with helping her think critically across disciplines, ask better questions, and connect the dots between global economics, local farming, and social impact.Channeling Native American tradition through canoe making
One of only a handful of Native birchbark canoe builders remaining in the U.S., Northwestern University artist-in-residence Wayne Valliere is sharing the traditional Native art, unchanged in three millennia, with students.Innovators in the Classroom and Beyond
Get to know some of our dedicated professors who are passionate about teaching and nurturing your success as a student.
Shalini Shankar studies the positive impacts of immigration
The Professor of Anthropology and Asian American Studies talks about how her lived experiences inform her research on the ways immigrants to the United States engage with media and language.If you want to make the world a better place, you have to understand how it works, why it works the way it does, and who benefits. Every single one of my classes digs into that.”
— Noelle Sullivan, Director & Professor of Instruction; Program in Global Health
Shaping the Future of Global and Intercultural Research
Sera Young
Anthropology and Global Health
The focus of Professor Young's work is on the reduction of maternal and child undernutrition in the first 1000 days, especially in low-resource settings. Most recently, she has led efforts to develop the Household Water InSecurity Experiences (HWISE) scale, a cross-culturally valid tool to measure household water insecurity.
Geraldo Cadava
History
Professor of History Geraldo Cadava is an expert in Latino histories and teaches all students to think like historians. He is the author of The Hispanic Republican and Standing On Common Ground, and is now writing a third book called A Thousand Bridges, about Latino history over the past five hundred years.
Tracy Vaughn
Black American literature
Professor Tracy Vaughn is a scholar of Black American literature. Her research weaves Black feminist theory, cultural aesthetics, and American folk traditions to examine how quilts shape narratives of identity, history, and liberation in Black expressive arts.
Outside the Classroom
Explore student clubs, internships, and campus resources.
Weinberg in the World Podcast
In Weinberg College's monthly podcast, alumni share their career experiences. Discover stories about working in fields related to global and intercultural studies.
Career Conversation with Kian Gohar '98: Founder and CEO of Geo-Lab and Best-Selling Author
November 23, 2022
Weinberg grad Kian Gohar '98 discusses his journey from Northwestern to founder and CEO of Geo-Lab. Learn about his great teacher, work-life balance, fellowships, post-grad options, and his book.
Career Conversation with William Paik '20: Studying Stand-Up Comedy in Seoul
February 23, 2023
Weinberg grad William Paik '20 discusses his journey from Northwestern to law school. Learn about the Asian American Studies program, comedy at Northwestern, Fulbright research in Korea, and how an interdisciplinary education has helped him.
ITALIAN 351-0
Italian Film and Transnational Cinema
About the Course
In-depth exploration of key Italian filmmakers in the context of transnational cinema. Focus on relation between filmmakers (including Visconti/Renoir, Rossellini/Godard, and Antonioni/Wenders) and dynamics of cinematic style and cultural influence.
ASIAN AMER 216-0
Global Asians
About the Course
Survey of Asian diasporas in the U.S. and elsewhere in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, emphasizing causes of migration, process of settlement, relations with other ethnic groups, and construction of diasporic identities.
Slavic 211-2
20th-Century Russian Literature: Doctor Zhivago
About the Course
This course explores the legendary novel Doctor Zhivago (1957), written by the Noble Laureate Boris Pasternak. This work is discussed in the Russian and European cultural and historical context of the Cold War era; we follow and compare the paths of literary heroes and their real-life prototypes: Pasternak himself and his long-time companion Olga Ivinskaya.
Blk_St 380-0-20
Feeling Black Music
About the Course
Explores AfroFuturism, a literary and cultural aesthetic demonstrating/imagining how people of color project ourselves into narratives of the future. Investigation of speculative fiction, fantasy literature, sound cultures, artworks, music videos, and dance to trace the concept of an AfroFuturist point of view. Creation of AfroFuturist media and performances.
POLI_SCI 383-0
War and Change in International Politics
About the Course
Is war between major powers inevitable? Historically, major powers have fought wars for territory, status, and grievances. However, the post-WWII era marks a long period of peace. This course explores how states have created rules to facilitate trade, peace, and cultural interaction. We’ll examine why major power wars occurred and how international systems are managed, studying both Western and non-Western perspectives. Students will choose modules focused on specific regions or topics, such as the Chinese tributary system or international relations in the Islamic world, to develop their own views on the future of global order.
BLK_ST 315-0-20
Religion in the Black Atlantic
About the Course
Obeah. Santeria. Vodou. These African traditional religions emerged in the Caribbean due to the transatlantic slave trade. This course critically explores Caribbean history, culture, and religion, examining key themes in religious traditions, cosmological expressions, and their roles in resistance by enslaved and free subjects. We’ll explore how religion shaped Caribbean identity through texts, film, literature, and music, while addressing topics like belonging, migration, colonialism, race, gender, and class to understand what makes these religious practices uniquely Caribbean.
SOCIOL 276-0
Israeli Society and Israeli Sociology
About the Course
This course explores the relationship between knowledge, history, and politics through the lens of sociology in Israel. We will start by discussing sociology and the politics of knowledge production. Then, we'll examine works from early Jewish-Zionist proto-sociologists to Israeli "establishment" sociologists and later critical approaches. Key questions include how these sociologists viewed Israeli society, its comparison to other nations, and Israel's relationship with Palestinians. Students will gain a deeper understanding of Israeli society while developing critical thinking and reading skills.
POLI_SCI 335-0
Political Psychology
About the Course
How do campaign advertisements influence voters' perceptions and behavior? What roles do emotions play in politics? Do we all harbor some measure of racism, sexism, or homophobia, and what role do these stereotypes play in political behavior? How and why do ideologies form, and how does partisanship influence the way that voters understand the political world? How do people perceive threat, and what are the psychological consequences of terrorism?