Program Overview

Global Studies, BA

The Global Studies program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers students a unique blend of courses across disciplines and colleges, preparing them for careers abroad or in the US that involve cross-border and cross-cultural matters. The program focuses on developing global knowledge, skills, and perspectives, including the ability to analyze problems from multiple viewpoints and incorporate solutions that are inclusive of different cultures.

Program Requirements

To earn the Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies, students must complete 120 credits, including a minimum of 36 credits in upper-division courses (numbered 300 or above). The program requires a GPA of at least 2.000 overall and 2.500 in the selected track.

Core Requirements

• GLOBAL 101: Introduction to Global Studies I: People and Politics (SS)
• GLOBAL 201: Introduction to Global Studies II: Economics and the Environment (SS)
• GLOBAL 202: Introduction to Global Studies III: Globalization and Technology (SS)
• GLOBAL 550: Advanced Seminar in Global Studies (required for all tracks except Global Management)
• World Regions: Select one of the following courses:
  • GEOG 110: The World: Peoples and Regions (SS)
  • HIST 132: World History Since 1500 (HU)
  • POL SCI 106: Politics of the World's Nations (SS)
• Foreign Language: Six semesters (or equivalent) of a single foreign language with passing grades
• International Experience: Students must complete two of the following options:
  • Option 1: 3-9 credits of study abroad
  • Option 2: 1-6 credits of an international internship
  • Option 3: 1-6 credits of a domestic internship with a global organization or clear international focus

Tracks

The Global Studies program offers five tracks:

Global Communications Track

• ECON 103: Principles of Microeconomics
• ECON 104: Principles of Macroeconomics
• GLOBAL 351: Language, Media, and Social Practice in Global Communications
• GLOBAL 451: Access, Security, and Intercultural Contexts in Global Communications
• Select two of the following courses:
  • BUS ADM 230: Introduction to Information Technology Management
  • COMMUN 103: Public Speaking
  • COMMUN 105: Business and Professional Communication
  • ENGLISH 205: Business Writing 1
  • ENGLISH 206: Technical Writing 1
  • ENGLISH 214: Writing in the Professions: (with appropriate subtitle)
  • ENGLISH 431: Topics in Advanced Communications: (with appropriate subtitle)
  • ENGLISH 435: Rhetoric and Professional Writing
  • ENGLISH 436: Technical Documentation
  • ENGLISH 449: Internship in the Humanities
  • JAMS 201: Media Writing
  • INFOST 110: Introduction to Information Science and Technology
  • INFOST 250: Introduction to Network and Systems Administration
• Global Communications Track Electives: Select 27 credits from the following lists

Global Health Track

• NURS 301: Introduction to Global Health
• PH 101: Introduction to Public Health
• BMS 232: Introduction to Nutrition
• NURS 401: Global Patterns of Disease
• NURS 575: Global Health: Ethics and Human Rights
• GLOBAL/ANTHRO 439: Culture and Global Health
• Select one of the following courses:
  • ANTHRO 560: Introduction to Research Methods in Anthropology
  • SOCIOL 361: Research Methods in Sociology
• Select three of the following courses:
  • HCA 502: Healthcare Delivery Systems: National and International Perspectives
  • NURS 204: Global Maternal and Child Health: From Evidence to Action
  • NURS 620: Global Food Security and Systems
  • PH 303: Climate Change, the Environment and Human Health
  • PH 319: Introduction to Health Disparities
• Global Health Track Electives: Select 18 credits from the following courses

Global Management Track

• BUS ADM 201: Introduction to Financial Accounting
• BUS ADM 210: Statistical Modeling in Business Analytics
• BUS ADM 230: Introduction to Information Technology Management
• BUS ADM 330: Organizations
• BUS ADM 350: Principles of Finance
• BUS ADM 360: Principles of Marketing
• BUS ADM 465: International Marketing
• BUS ADM 496: International Business (capstone)
• ECON 103: Principles of Microeconomics
• ECON 104: Principles of Macroeconomics
• ECON 351: Introduction to International Economic Relations
• ENGLISH 205: Business Writing
• GLOBAL 541: Cross-Cultural Management
• MATH 211: Survey in Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
• Select one of the following courses:
  • COMMUN 350: Intercultural Communication
  • COMMUN 450: Cross-Cultural Communication
  • COMMUN 550: International and Global Communication
• Global Management Track Electives: Select 9 credits from the following courses

Global Security Track

• ECON 103: Principles of Microeconomics
• ECON 104: Principles of Macroeconomics
• ECON 210: Economic Statistics
• GLOBAL 371: Rethinking Global Security
• Select one of the following courses:
  • GLOBAL/ANTHRO 442: Humanitarianism in Global Perspective
  • GLOBAL 447: The Global Politics of Human Rights
  • GLOBAL 471: Strategies for Realizing Security in Global Contexts
• Select one of the following courses:
  • ANTHRO 540: Applications of Anthropology
  • ANTHRO 560: Introduction to Research Methods in Anthropology
  • ANTHRO 561: Techniques and Problems in Ethnography
  • GEOG 215: Introduction to Geographic Information Science
  • GEOG 525: Geographic Information Science
  • POL SCI 390: Political Data Analysis
  • WGS 411: Feminist Research and Practice
• Global Security Track Electives: Select 24 credits from the following lists

Global Sustainability Track

• CES 210: Introduction to Conservation and Environmental Science
• ECON 103: Principles of Microeconomics
• ECON 104: Principles of Macroeconomics
• GLOBAL 361: Environment and Sustainability
• GLOBAL 461: The Politics and Policy of Sustainability
• Select one of the following courses:
  • ANTHRO 568: Introduction to Anthropological Statistics
  • BUS ADM 210: Statistical Modeling in Business Analytics
  • CHEM 221: Elementary Quantitative Analysis
  • ECON 210: Economic Statistics
  • GEOG 247: Quantitative Analysis in Geography
  • MTHSTAT 215: Elementary Statistical Analysis
• Select two of the following courses:
  • BIO SCI 150: Foundations of Biological Sciences I
  • BIO SCI 152: Foundations of Biological Sciences II
  • BIO SCI 310: General Ecology
  • CHEM 102: General Chemistry
  • CHEM 104: General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis
  • GEOG 105: Introduction to Human Geography
  • GEOG 120: Our Physical Environment
  • GEOG 125: Introduction to Environmental Geography
  • GEOG 140: Our Urban Environment: Introduction to Urban Geography
  • GEO SCI 100: Introduction to the Earth
  • GEO SCI 102: Evolution of the Earth
  • GEO SCI 105: Earth, Air, Fire and Water
  • GEO SCI 106: The Earth Environment
  • GEO SCI 150: Introduction to Ocean Sciences
• Global Sustainability Track Electives: Select 18 credits from the following courses

Advising

The Global Studies Undergraduate Advisor works closely with students to develop an individual course of study that fulfills program requirements and prepares them for their professional and educational goals. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor at least once each semester.

Career Resources and Job Outcomes

With a BA in Global Studies, students can pursue careers in numerous areas, including international business, global trade, transportation, hospitality and tourism, marketing and market research, politics and government services, community development, health services, NGOs, journalism, social media and technology, e-commerce, and lobbying. The program encourages students to explore career options and gain hands-on experience through internships, research projects, and part-time jobs.