Arizona's first bachelor's degree in global citizenship launches at ASU this fall
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This fall, Arizona State University students can begin earning a degree designed to turn their interest in languages, cultures and global issues into a career.
The School of International Letters and Cultures, part of The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will launch a Bachelor of Arts in global citizenship beginning in fall 2026. It is the first standalone bachelor's degree in global citizenship in Arizona.
The program is available both in-person and through ASU Online.
"The new BA in global citizenship is a game changer, a humanities degree for today," said Jeffrey Cohen, dean of humanities in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. "The BA prepares students to engage thoughtfully and ethically with an interconnected world while building a successful career."
Cohen said the school has outstanding expertise in language, culture and intercultural communication, and the new program enables students to change the world through what they learn.
While most universities offer global citizenship as a certificate, a general education requirement or a concentration within a broader major, ASU's program is a full degree that equips students with the cultural insight, language skills and ethical framework to explore questions such as:
- What does it take to lead in a globally connected workforce?
- What role does language play in shaping culture and identity?
- How can intercultural understanding drive social justice?
- How do migration and climate change connect communities across borders?
The program builds on the strengths the school has developed over decades: faculty expertise spanning global regions and a curriculum that connects language study with intercultural competence and real-world communication skills.
Core courses cover topics including introduction to global citizenship, cross-linguistic cultural competence and globalization from colonialism to climate change. Students also take 300-level coursework in a language of their choice.
Every student completes required experiential learning through an internship, applied research or study abroad, with the option to immerse themselves in the language and culture of their choice while earning credit toward the degree.
The BA prepares students to engage thoughtfully and ethically with an interconnected world while building a successful career.
Jeffrey CohenDean of humanities, The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The launch comes at a time of surging interest in language and culture programs at the school, which saw a 52% jump in entry-level language enrollment this spring. The degree reflects growing employer demand for graduates who can work across cultures and borders. A 2025 survey by the American Association of Colleges and Universities found that 75% of employers prefer hiring graduates with cross-cultural experience.
"In a world shaped by global challenges and cultural interconnectedness, the BA in global citizenship empowers students to become informed, multilingual and socially engaged leaders committed to building a more just, inclusive and sustainable future," said Sara Beaudrie, director of the School of International Letters and Cultures.
"Through the development of language proficiency, intercultural understanding and critical thinking skills, students gain the knowledge and experiences that employers and communities value most, giving them a competitive edge in an increasingly globalized world."
The school's graduates are already building careers that reflect what this degree formalizes.
Tatum Koroli, who graduated in 2020 with a degree in Spanish and global studies, now serves as a consular officer in Mexico for the U.S. Department of State. Monica Orillo, who graduated the same year with a degree in German and political science, is now a foreign service officer posted in Wuhan, China, after studying German, Chinese and Indonesian through the school.
Building global literacy from day one
The program's foundational course, SLC 125: Introduction to Global Citizenship, launches this fall.
"SLC 125 invites students to think beyond national boundaries and toward an understanding of how social, cultural, political and ecological systems are all connected," said Nina Berman, professor in the School of International Letters and Cultures.
"Through the study of migration, climate change, language loss, global inequalities and social movements, the course builds the critical literacy students need to navigate our interconnected world."
Berman said the course combines cultural analysis with questions of human rights, social justice and planetary responsibility, preparing students to think across borders and disciplines while recognizing their own role in global networks.
Careers that cross borders
The program aligns with United Nations and UNESCO global citizenship education priorities and prepares graduates for careers that span industries and borders. Graduates can pursue paths in diplomacy and foreign service, international law, journalism, nonprofit leadership, global security, education and beyond.
Students already pursuing another major can add the BA in global citizenship as a concurrent degree, pairing intercultural competence and language skills with their primary field. Barrett, The Honors College students looking for a second or third degree will find it especially relevant for careers in the global and international market.
Ready to become a global citizen?
The BA in global citizenship is now accepting students for fall 2026.
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