Program Overview
Global Studies Program
The Global Studies program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the interactions and inter-relations among countries and peoples across the globe. The program examines particular regions and cultures in a comparative and interactive way, considering issues affecting more than one country.
Departmental Goals and Objectives
The world of the twenty-first century is one of both great promise and great danger; one in which technological changes promise to bring us closer together, but ideological, cultural, and religious diversity threaten to pull us apart. The task of a university in this complex era must be to produce students, who, as citizens and community leaders, can provide an informed public that can make the difficult policy choices future generations will face.
The Bachelor's Degree
The Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies degree uses an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes political science, history, economics, sociology/anthropology, communications, gender studies, and environmental studies. Within these disciplines, as well as across them, students learn a variety of theoretical approaches for understanding global issues such as war and peace, globalization, and development.
Concentrations
The program offers three concentrations:
- Globalization Concentration
- Politics and Diplomacy Concentration
- Self-Designed or Topical Concentration
Advising
Majors in Global Studies are advised by faculty appointed to the program. However, majors are welcome to seek the advice of associated faculty who teach courses in the program as well. Particular care is required in choosing courses in the upper division concentrations, and one of the tracks (the self-designed concentration) requires the written approval of an advisor.
Grading Policy
Global Studies majors must receive a grade of C (2.0) or better in GBL 301 and in GBL 491.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Increased knowledge of:
- Other cultures
- Student's culture within a global and comparative context
- Global issues, processes, trends, and systems - topics within the student's concentration area
- Increased skills in:
- Effective independent research and writing to communicate clear, logical, and substantive ideas
- Intercultural competence
- Integrating knowledge, diverse cultural frames of reference, and alternative perspectives to think critically and solve problems
- Using knowledge of other cultures and other relevant skills to extend access to information, experiences, and understanding
- Developed attitudes in:
- Intellectual curiosity
- Personal flexibility
- Appreciation of the language, art, religion, philosophy, and traditions of different cultures
- Acceptance of cultural differences and toleration of cultural ambiguity
- An ongoing willingness to seek out international or intercultural opportunities
Requirements
Core Courses:
- ECO 201: Introduction to Microeconomics (3 hours)
- ECO 202: Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 hours)
- GBL 301: Introduction to Global Studies (3 hours)
- GBL 491: Global Studies Capstone (2 hours)
- PSC 371: ECCE: Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 hours)
- PSC 373: Introduction to International Relations (3 hours)
- Select one of the following Regional History courses (3 hours)
- HIS 118: Making of the West
- HIS 160: Topics in Middle Eastern History
- HIS 161: Introduction to the Modern Middle East
- HIS 176: History of Premodern East Asia
- HIS 177: History of Modern East Asia
- HIS 202: European History
- Select one of the following Culture courses (3-4 hours)
- ENG 152: Introduction to World Literature
- GBL 331: ECCE: Cultural Geography
- SOA 302: Understanding Cultures
- Select a Research Methods Course (PSC 451, SOA 411, or other with advisor approval), or fulfill foreign Language requirement (0-16 hours) Total Core: 23-40 hours Electives: 12-16 hours (four courses) Total Hours: 35-56 hours
Global Studies Minor
The Global Studies minor is also available.
Courses
- GBL 101: Global Culture and College-age Youth (3 hours)
- GBL 301: Introduction to Global Studies (3 hours)
- GBL 325: ECCE: Latina/o USA (4 hours)
- GBL 331: ECCE: Cultural Geography (3 hours)
- GBL 371: ECCE: Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 hours)
- GBL 373: Introduction to International Relations (3 hours)
- GBL 442: Mexican Migration to the U.S. (4 hours)
- GBL 455: Global Masculinities (4 hours)
- GBL 464: Introduction to Human Rights (3-4 hours)
- GBL 467: US-Mexico Border Politics (3-4 hours)
- GBL 491: Global Studies Capstone (2 hours)
- GBL 499: Tutorial (1-4 hours)