Global Studies and Cultural Geography Program

Douglas Heffington, Director

The Global Studies and Cultural Geography Program at MTSU provides a critical, in-depth understanding of the world around us through a multidisciplinary perspective. Drawing heavily upon the social sciences and humanities, Global Studies and Cultural Geography students examine, analyze, and experience firsthand the various connections between different people(s) and places in order to understand the events, trends, and phenomena shaping everyday human life in the rapidly changing world of the 21st century. Two concentrations are available–Global Studies and Cultural Geography. A certificate in United States Culture and Education is also offered as well as minors in Global Studies and Cultural Geography. (A teaching track concentration is also available. Contact Global Studies and Cultural Geography Program for more information).

The Global Studies concentration provides students with a systematic awareness of the global forces and processes directly transforming contemporary societies and individuals. Students achieve a thorough understanding of globalization through a course of study that combines study abroad and language skills with a broad-based educational background. This approach empowers Global Studies students with the tools to pursue graduate work, professional service, and careers in public and private sectors-here and abroad. Where there is the need-national, international, or intercultural-Global Studies students have the education and expertise to meet ever-changing global demands. Majors will select one of the following fields of study and one world region to study:

The Cultural Geography concentration offers a comprehensive, applicable skill set designed to understand the diversity of cultures and socio-geographic complexities found in human societies. Cultural geographers seek to understand how humans uniquely create, manipulate, and adapt to the places they inhabit by examining natural environments, cultural practices, and economic and political systems. Knowledge gained from the Cultural Geography concentration is valuable as contemporary societies are interacting globally with one another as never before. Cultural geographers identify and comprehend these changes and find solutions to a variety of sociocultural problems taking place. This marketable skill set is attractive to a wide range of employers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.