Global Studies, B.A.

Douglas Heffington, Director

Global studies provides an understanding of the world around us by looking at it from multidisciplinary perspectives. Drawing heavily upon the social sciences and humanities, students in Global Studies experience, examine, analyze, and understand the connection between people and places, and trends and events that shape their everyday lives. A Global Studies student is concerned with global linkages, themes, and issues. With a broad-based educational background, education abroad, and language skills, the Global Studies student is empowered with the tools to pursue graduate work, professional service, and careers in public and private sectors—at home 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. The Global Studies major will select one of the following fields of study and one world region to study:

Fields of Study

Global Human Diversity and Multiculturalism
Global Governance and Commerce
Global Gender

Region

Africa
Asia
Europe
Middle East
Latin America

Major Program Requirements

The Global Studies major requires a total of 33 hours. These include the four required Global Studies courses listed below for 12 hours credit. The remaining 21 hours are selected from the student’s field of study (12 hours) and selected region (9 hours). The primary goal of the field of study and region class selection is to better prepare the Global Studies student with a specific emphasis coupled with a more focused world regional perspective. This approach better prepares the Global Studies major to enter the global community and world marketplace.

Required General Education Courses (41 hours)

Students select courses in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences. (See General Education .)

Required Courses (12 hours)

GS 2010 - Introduction to Cross-Cultural Experiences 3 credit hours
GS 2990 - Introduction to Globalization 3 credit hours
GS 3010 - Field Experience and Study Abroad 1 to 12 credit hours (3 credit hours)
GS 4990 - Senior Seminar 3 credit hours

Field of Study (12 hours)

The student will select one of the following fields of study: Global Human Diversity and Multiculturalism (for those students interested in aspects of culture), Global Governance and Commerce (for those students interested in government, global affairs, and commerce), and Global Gender (for those students with interest in gender from a global perspective). The student will select 12 upper-division hours (3000- and 4000-level) of electives to meet the field of study requirement. No more than nine (9) hours can be selected from a specific or single discipline. Courses selected for each field of study will be global, multicultural, or transnational in nature and reflect the interest and career goals of the student. The student will select these 12 hours with the approval and guidance of the Global Studies advisor. Courses that may be used for fields of study are provided below. Each contains a global, international, or multicultural component. Note: Other courses may be used that are not on the list only with the approval of the program director. Courses for each field of study will be selected from the following colleges:

Global Human Diversity and Multiculturalism: Courses will be selected from the College of Liberal Arts, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, and the College of Mass Communication.
Global Governance and Commerce: Courses will be selected from the College of Liberal Arts and the Jones College of Business.
Global Gender: Courses will be selected from the College of Liberal Arts, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, and the College of Mass Communication.

Region (9 hours)

Students will select one of the following world regions for further study: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Classes that can be used for the region focus are provided at the end of this section. Note: Other courses may be used that are not on the list only with the approval of the program director.

Foreign Language (12 hours)

Global Studies majors will successfully complete 12 hours in a single foreign language that best suits their academic and career needs. This includes 1010, 1020, 2010, and 2020 courses for whichever language is selected.

Minor (15-18 hours)

Global Studies majors (in conjunction with the Global Studies advisor) will select a minor(s) that reflects their academic and professional goals, academic interests, plus enhance their degree and field of study. For example, a minor for Global Studies may be topical such as History, Women’s and Gender Studies, or Religious Studies; regional such as Middle East Studies, Latin American Studies, or Russian Studies; skill driven such as Organizational Communication, Entrepreneurship, or Political and Civic Engagement; or focused on language such as Spanish, French, or Japanese.

Electives (16-19 hours)

These electives will reflect the student’s academic and career interests and will be selected with the advisement of the Global Studies advisor.

Total hours in program: 120

Courses for Field of Study

Courses for Region of Study

Africa

ANTH 3514 - Peoples and Cultures of Africa 3 credit hours
ART 4870 - African Art 3 credit hours
GEOG 3470 - Geography of Africa 3 credit hours
GEOG 4280 - Special Problems and Topics in Geography 1 to 6 credit hours
HIST 4430 - Sub-Saharan Africa 3 credit hours
HUM 3400 - Contemporary African Literature and Film 3 credit hours
PS 4180 - African Politics 3 credit hours

Asia

ANTH 3509 - Peoples and Cultures of China and Japan 3 credit hours
ANTH 3510 - Peoples and Cultures of Southeast Asia 3 credit hours
GEOG 3440 - Geography of Asia 3 credit hours
GEOG 4280 - Special Problems and Topics in Geography 1 to 6 credit hours
HIST 3130 - The Vietnam War 3 credit hours
HIST 4450 - Japan 3 credit hours
HIST 4460 - China 3 credit hours
PHIL 3200 - Asian Thought 3 credit hours
PS 4310 - Comparative Asian Government 3 credit hours

Europe

ANTH 3516 - Peoples and Cultures of Europe 3 credit hours
ENGL 3430 - Modern European Literature 3 credit hours
GEOG 3430 - Geography of Europe 3 credit hours
GEOG 4280 - Special Problems and Topics in Geography 1 to 6 credit hours
HIST 3090 - Topics in European History 1 to 3 credit hours
HIST 4270 - Europe 1815-1900 3 credit hours
HIST 4290 - Europe Since 1945 3 credit hours
HIST 4790 - Women in Europe Since 1700 3 credit hours
PS 4300 - Comparative European Government 3 credit hours

Middle East

GEOG 4280 - Special Problems and Topics in Geography 1 to 6 credit hours
GEOG 4500 - Geography of the Middle East 3 credit hours
HIST 3080 - Topics in Modern Middle East History 3 credit hours
HIST 4440 - The Middle East 3 credit hours
HUM 4000 - Women of the Middle East: Representations and Perceptions 3 credit hours
MES 3100 - Special Topics in Middle East Studies 3 credit hours
MUHL 4140 - Music of the Middle East 3 credit hours
PS 4190 - Middle East Politics 3 credit hours
PS 4690 - Comparative Foreign Policies and International Relations of the Middle East 3 credit hours
UH 4600 - Senior Interdisciplinary Seminar 3 credit hours

Latin America

ANTH 3518 - Peoples and Cultures of Latin America 3 credit hours
ART 3880 - Latin American Art 3 credit hours
GEOG 3420 - Geography of Latin America 3 credit hours
GEOG 4280 - Special Problems and Topics in Geography 1 to 6 credit hours
HIST 3140 - Latin American History 3 credit hours
HIST 4480 - South America 3 credit hours
HIST 4490 - Mexico and the Caribbean 3 credit hours
HIST 4530 - Latin American-United States Relations 3 credit hours
HUM 3500 - Latino Images in U.S. Film 3 credit hours
PS 4900 - Latin American Politics 3 credit hours