World Studies
These subject guidelines should be read in conjunction with the “Introduction”, “Outline” and
“Details—all essays” sections of this guide. Additional guidance on supervising, planning and writing
a world studies essay and marked samples of past essays is given in the World studies teacher support
material—available on the online curriculum centre.
Overview
An extended essay in world studies provides students with an opportunity to undertake an in-depth,
interdisciplinary study of an issue of contemporary global significance. World studies extended essays
may examine issues such as the global food crisis, climate change, terrorism, energy security,
migration, and global health, technology and cultural exchange. Global issues of this nature play out in
local contexts—a zero-carbon-footprint city policy in Denmark; a new clean energy technology used
by a village in India; the education of migrant children in two contrasting frontier towns. An in-depth
examination of local instances of globally significant phenomena provides opportunities for a well-
grounded appreciation and understanding of the issue under study.
Complex issues such as these can rarely be adequately understood if only approached from the
perspective of a single subject. It is better to approach such issues through interdisciplinary research.
The world studies extended essay requires students to identify an issue of global importance and
develop a clear rationale for taking an interdisciplinary approach. It provides an opportunity for
students to conduct independent interdisciplinary research—research that draws on theories, findings
and methods from two or more IB Diploma Programme subjects and integrates them to produce a
coherent and insightful analysis of an issue they choose to investigate.
The aims of this interdisciplinary extended essay, while similar to those for single-subject essays, are
distinct in important ways. The interdisciplinary essay is designed to provide students with the
opportunity to:
• engage in, and pursue, a systematic process of research appropriate to the topic—a process
that is informed by knowledge, concepts, theories, perspectives and methods from at least two
chosen subjects
• develop research and communication skills—including the ability to communicate with
readers who have a background in more than one subject/discipline
• develop the skills of creative and critical thinking—particularly those skills involved in
integrating concepts, theories, perspectives, findings, or examples from different subjects to
develop new insights or understandings
• experience the excitement of intellectual discovery—including insights into how different
subjects complement and/or challenge one another when used to address the same topic or
issue.
Furthermore, in line with the IB’s mission, the world studies extended essay seeks to advance students’
global consciousness. Global consciousness encompasses:
• global sensitivity—a sensitivity to local phenomena and experiences as manifestations of
broader developments on the planet
• global understanding—the capacity to think in flexible and informed ways about issues of
global significance
• global self—a developing perception of self as a global actor and member of humanity,
capable of making a positive contribution to the world.
In the world studies extended essay, global consciousness can be seen as “the capacity and the
inclination to place people, objects, situations with which we come into contact, (including the self)
within the broader matrix of our contemporary world. An individual exhibits global consciousness
when she is attuned to daily encounters with world cultures, landscapes and products; can place such
encounters in a broader narrative or explanatory framework of contemporary global processes; and
perceives herself as an actor in such a global context”. [1] [1] Boix Mansilla, V, and Gardner, H. (2007).
From teaching globalization to nurturing global consciousness. In MM. Suárez-Orozco (Ed.), Learning
in the Global Era: International Perspectives on Globalization and Education. Berkeley, USA.
University of California Press.
Choice of topic
Many topics are potentially suitable for a world studies extended essay. The chosen topic must address
both an issue of global significance, and invite an interdisciplinary approach. The most successful
topics reveal connections between specific and/or local places, people, phenomena or experiences, and
the larger global framework in which they take place. Topics must invite a critical examination of the
