The goal of the Global Affairs (GA) major is to help students understand how our increasingly interconnected world works and how it could work better. The major does this by providing a rigorous academic programme that grounds students’ learning in international relations and international development, and culminates in a capstone project. The capstone project allows students to demonstrate their mastery of the knowledge and skills they have acquired to analyse a global issue of their choosing within a specific national, regional, or global context.

Requirements for a Major in Global Affairs

The Global Affairs major is comprised of nine courses and a capstone that will count as two additional courses. Students can count one language course toward their major if it applies to their capstone research project.

Class of 2021 onwards: Requirements for GA Major

1. International Relations
2. International Development
3. Two methods courses:    
   • Methods in the Social Sciences
   • Ethnography
   • Econometrics
   • Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
   • Empirical Qualitative Analysis in Global Affairs
4. 3 electives – at the 2000 or 3000-level
5. 2 x 4000-level courses
6. 1 year-long capstone project [equivalent to 10 Units] or two 4000-level GA courses

Up to 4 courses can be cross-registered outside of Yale-NUS (Study abroad, NUS or LKY SPP)

Requirements for a Minor in Global Affairs

To earn a minor, a student must complete 25 Units. All minor courses must have a letter grade. The Head of Studies must approve exceptions in writing. Global Affairs minors cannot gain unit for language study.

Class of 2021 onwards: Requirements for GA Minor

• International Relations
• International Development
• 3 additional GA courses

Up to two of these five courses can be cross-registered courses. All minor courses must have a letter grade. The Head of Studies must approve exceptions in writing. Global Affairs minors cannot gain unit for language study.

 To see a visual representation of the journey through the Global Affairs major, click here.

Click below to see a pictorial representation of your pathway through the major.

CROSS-REGISTERED COURSE CAP

A cross-registered course is a course taken outside of Yale-NUS, such as at NUS or during study abroad. For the Class of 2021 onwards, up to 4 cross-registered courses can count toward the major.

LANGUAGE UNIT

A relevant foreign language course can count for 1 course (5 Units) toward the major. A foreign language is relevant when it is necessary to undertake research toward a student’s capstone, and is taken at either the intermediate or advanced level. Written approval from the Global Affairs Head of Studies is required for this to apply.