Global Studies
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Highlights
Interdisciplinary Major
Based in four disciplines - economics, history, political science and sociology.
International Experience
Students are required to participate in one of the following: the Study Abroad program, an international service experience or an internationally related internship.
Senior Seminar & Thesis
In the spring of their senior year, students take the integrative global studies capstone seminar and work with their thesis director, the instructor and fellow students to bring their topical senior theses to completion.
Program Description
Global Studies is an exciting new interdisciplinary major that is based in four disciplines: economics, history, political science and sociology. Global studies majors learn about the great diversity of human life on the planet. Students study a wide range of cultures and all world regions, and they learn about globalizing processes that are simultaneously drawing people closer and causing many to seek protection behind nationalist, ethnic and religious boundaries.
Global issues such as terrorism, immigration and disease pandemics do not fall neatly within any single academic discipline; thus, the program exposes students to economic, historical, political and sociological perspectives and analytical skills.
Curriculum
The major has five main components: foundational, analytical, topical, an international experience, and a capstone senior seminar. The foundational component introduces the four global studies disciplines — economics, history, political science, and sociology — and the methods of statistical analysis. The analytical component consists of four more advanced courses in the global studies disciplines. The topical component consists of four upper-division courses from at least two of the disciplines, in which students investigate in depth a particular global topic of their own choosing and begin working on their senior theses. The capstone senior seminar involves integrative lectures by global studies faculty and guest lecturers, and discussion, writing and oral presentation of students’ senior theses, which reflect upon their topical investigations.
The program progresses from introductory to advanced levels of learning. Students come to appreciate the similarities and differences in the approaches to global issues taken by economists, historians, political scientists and sociologists. As a result, they gain a more comprehensive perspective than could be achieved by majoring in a single discipline.
Senior Thesis
Topics for a senior thesis are selected in close consultation with a global studies advisor and approved by the Global Studies Committee. The final senior thesis is presented in the “Senior Seminar.” Examples of general topic areas include world poverty, the AIDS pandemic, the politics of international trade, Western/Middle Eastern relations, comparative gender relations, religious fundamentalism and anti-globalization movements.
Senior Seminar in Global Studies
The course is intended as an opportunity for integrating students’ experience of the global studies program. It consists of discussion, writing and oral presentation of students’ senior theses on their topical investigations; guest lectures by global studies faculty and visiting lecturers and other integrative work selected by the instructor and the Global Studies Committee.
International Experience
Global studies majors are required to participate in at least one of the following: the Study Abroad program, an international service experience or an internationally related internship.
Potential for Fascinating Combinations
The major requires a total of 15 courses, but five of these simultaneously meet the Core requirements. It is therefore possible to combine global studies with another major, with minors or with courses in various fields. Such combinations may be designed to deepen understanding of the topic the student has chosen to write about in the senior thesis.
Placement
The major provides a solid foundation for graduate study in international studies, the social sciences, law, business, public health, environmental studies, peace studies and a number of other interdisciplinary fields. It also offers excellent preparation for entry-level employment with multinational corporations, government agencies, international organizations like the United Nations and the World Trade Organization and a vast array of international nongovernmental organizations.
Course Sequence
1st year
Microeconomic Principles
Macroeconomic Principles
History of Modern Western Civilization
Societies and Institutions
Introduction to Statistical Methods and Data Analysis or Business Statistics
Core Courses and Electives (5)
2nd year
Development Economics
Introduction to Comparative Politics
International Politics I
Non-western history course
Core courses and electives (6)
3rd year
Social Inequality or Population Studies or Social Change or Political Sociology or Global
Sociology Seminar
Global Studies Topical
Component Courses (3)
Core courses and electives (6)
4th year
Global Studies Topical
Component course
Seminar in Global Studies
Core course and electives (8)