Comparative studies play an important role in current efforts to create a worldwide field of curriculum studies. A comparative perspective draws on empirical and theoretical research to expand curriculum studies beyond the traditional settings of the region and nation. As one approach in international education, comparative research aims to understand broadly educational practices and processes in a global context rather than promote a uniform or universal notion of the field. This entry explores the varied purposes of comparative studies within curriculum studies, the primary theoretical and methodological trends, and the existing infrastructure for future comparative studies.