There has been an increase of students who are majoring in Global Studies, one of the largest academic programs at St. Edward’s University. In the last few years, this major has quadrupled in size, and there are now more than 120 students in the program. 

This growth comes soon after the St. Edward’s marketing campaign , which is centered around the global theme of “take on your world.” Everything from signs on streetlights to television advertisements promote the university’s focus on being globally aware.

According to William E. Nichols, the chair of the Global Studies program, the current program was started in 2006, taking place of what was formerly International Relations.

“Dr. [George] Martin started pushing internationalization,” Nichols said.

The Global Studies department has been rapidly expanding. Since the time of its establishment, Global Studies has not only grown in the number of students, but professors as well. What started off as just Nichols has grown into a large faculty. A new professor who specializes in the Middle East was brought in this year, and a professor who will teach about Asia will start in the fall.

“The Global Studies program will have faculty members who can cover the whole world — except Antarctica,” Nichols said.

Nichols attributes most of the students’ interest to study abroad and having an international component to their education. Nichols said that some students had experience traveling either with their families or programs during the summer in high school that sparked their interest in Global Studies.

Freshman Global Studies major Luciana Rodriguez is one of these students. She became interested in being a Global Studies major after taking a class at her high school.

“I like to learn about everything outside of the United States. I love global issues, I love learning about things that are going on in other parts of the world,” Rodriguez said. “It’s helpful for you to understand what is going on in your own country if you understand what is going on in the rest of the world.”

Rodriguez says that the marketing campaign did not have any influence her decision to attend St. Edward’s; furthermore, she doubts that it has much of an impact on the majors incoming students choose. However, she does recognize the link between the theme of the advertisements and the Global Studies major.

Global Studies majors are able to choose what they want to specialize in: first they choose a regional focus, and then they decide if the want to be on a business track or a track focused on conflict and politics. 

Freshman Eleanor Murphy plans to focus on Europe. 

“Everyday, globalization makes the world smaller. Problems on the other side of the globe are America’s problems too, and decisions made there affect us. I learn something genuinely fascinating every day,” Murphy said.

Murphy is studying abroad in Spain in the fall and Belgium in 2014. She claims that the marketing campaign had no influence on her decision of university or major.

“I chose global studies because it is practically an interdisciplinary degree,” Murphy said. 

Nichols said that majoring in Global Studies can lead to different career paths. Some graduates of the program have persued “traditional” Global Studies positions, but Global Studies can also lead to law school, nonprofit work, and businesses.

It is not clear whether or not the marketing campaign has led to the success of the Global Studies department, but the reality is that both are growing and thriving. 

“It is part of my degree plan to take on the world,” said Rodriguez.