Global Challenges: Society, Politics, Environment

The aim of this bachelor degree programme is to provide students with an interdisciplinary approach to tackle political, social and environmental global challenges in a holistic fashion. Using the fields of study of political science, environmental studies, social anthropology and sociology, this program encourages students to pull theories across disciplines together. The programme is unique in 1. Addressing the contemporary challenges in global world on macro, mezzo and micro level of individuals, social structures, and policies, 2. Incorporating the interdisciplinary approach, and 3. Stressing the variety of research methods and tools for understanding global issues and training students. Students after graduation are able to participate in processing primary forms of analytical knowledge and are competent in social science research and analysis. During the study, students will acquire the ability to work with information – evaluate and put information in context. They will learn to understand the world around them and to see related issues and problems from different perspectives.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Analyze and interpret the current issues of global challenges from interdisciplinary perspectives.
• Articulate and critically use the basic theories of each of the three subfields: political science, sociology, and environmental studies.
• Competently apply appropriate quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods in research projects, analyze and interpret both quantitative and qualitative data and communicate the results to various audiences.
• Interpret, react, and respond to existing policies relying on each of the three fields of study, and to develop new policies from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Students graduating from the Global Challenges programme can find employment in governmental agencies, research institutions, non-governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations, as well as continue their education into a specialized master programme. Additionally, skills learned through this program (problem solving, analytical work, communication, data collection, project management, team work, interpretation, etc) will help them in any other field or occupation they choose.

The degree programme does not require any formal practical training. Students are encouraged to seek out internships. Related internships can take the place of one optional course.

A standard scope of a Bachelor's thesis ranges from 8 000 to 10 000 words including footnotes, cover sheet, content, index, list of literature, and annotations. Students should demonstrate the ability to work critically with specialized texts, process the concepts and theories discovered there, and find relevant answers to the given question. Student’s thesis’ will be expected to address a problem in their specialized field using an interdisciplinary approach of all three fields. Instructions for Final State Examinations and elaboration of the Bachelor's/Diploma thesis are regulated by FSS Directive No. 5/2024 State Final Examinations, Final Theses and their Defences.

Students can continue studying in masters programmes in each of the three fields at Masaryk University - Sociology, Conflict and Democracy Studies and Environmental Education (joint-degree in process of preparation), while they are also able to continue studies in other esteemed universities around the world.