The BGInS program draws upon the two distinct but interrelated concepts of the “international” and the “global.” Scholars with an “international” focus tend to look at the world in and through the nation-state. They address issues relating to economics, law and politics, the international state system, and associated issues of trade, human rights and conflict. Scholars with a “global” focus look primarily at the shifting meanings of identity and belonging in the global community, especially in the face of the many changes wrought by globalization. They draw upon insights from the humanities (literature, religion, history and the arts) to look at the world outside and beyond the state, while problematizing the distinction of state and society in multiple ways. The BGInS program is the first in Canada to emphasize both global and international approaches to the study of the world. It places these two viewpoints in creative tension with each other, allowing students to acquire a nuanced understanding of the world in which we live. It is multidisciplinary in that it examines the world through many different disciplinary perspectives; it is interdisciplinary in that it places these disciplinary perspectives in creative dialogue with each other.

A global perspective, intercultural understanding and second-language ability are increasingly important skills for success in the workplace. Graduates of the BGInS program will have acquired these skills through their experience of living overseas, their facility in a second language, and their knowledge of diversity and complexity in global social and cultural environments. A BGInS degree can provide the foundation for careers in advertising, business, communications, foreign service, journalism, marketing, policy analysis, public relations, public service, sales and many other fields.