For the resource specialization, students can choose to narrow their focus to one specific topic or broaden their focus to encompass a combination of resources. Resource specialization can be developed by taking relevant courses at UBC or partner universities, as well as international or local volunteer placements.

Options include, but are not limited to: Global Health, Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security, Development, Food Resource Economics, Planning, Environment, Climate Change, and First Nations and Indigenous studies.

For their regional specialization, students can choose to focus their degree on a smaller scale such as a province, or expand their focus to larger-scale regions such as a country or continent. Regional specializations are further developed through relevant courses at UBC or partner universities, as well as international or local volunteer and study abroad placements.

Region options include, but are not limited to: Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Canada and the United States, the Middle East, and North Africa.

For the language requirement, students can choose to focus on whatever language they are interested in. Most students take a language relevant to their region of specialization. However, UBC does not offer all languages. If the language you are interested in is not offered at UBC, you can choose to take language classes during your global experience.

Options offered at UBC include: French, Spanish, Italian, German, Persian, Chinese, Cantonese, Portuguese, Arabic, Danish, Japanese, Hebrew, Korean, Persian, Polish, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Swedish, Salish, and Tibetan.

All GRS students are required to have a global experience throughout their degrees. This can be a study abroad exchange term, a global seminar, directed studies, international or local volunteer and work experiences, amongst other. Travelling and developing a cross-cultural sensitivity is one of the main goals of the Global Resource Systems program.

Students are not limited to one global experience. Any combination of the above is highly encouraged.