Generally infused into the social studies curriculum at the elementary or secondary level. The assumption is that studying these conditions, and knowing about other people and their cultures will contribute to international understanding, appreciation, and peace. An interdisciplinary approach is used including history, economics, political science, sociology, and the language of the are studied. Found in some elementary and secondary schools, but primarily in colleges. A number of federal laws such as the Fulbright Act of 1946, provide funds for student and scholar exchange programs.
Many colleges also offer a junior year abroad programs.
Global education emphasizes a systems-centered approach. This reduced illiteracy and created greater demands for education. However, because of sluggish economies, educated people in Third World countries were unable to find suitable jobs. The result was to weaken the creditability of education as the path to economic security and social status. As the population increased, developing countries also found themselves unable to provide educations for all, so their emphasis shifted from quantitative expansion to issues of quality.