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Major in Global Studies

Urban Center in South Korea

All Global Studies Majors take the same core curriculum, which establishes a strong foundation in a language other than English, and exposes students to a broad range of cultural, historical, political and regional perspectives on global issues. 

Students then choose a concentration that aligns with their specific interests:

  • The Area Studies through Study Abroad Concentration develops students' expertise in a specific region of the world, such as Europe, Latin America or East Asia. Students spend a semester or year studying abroad in their region of focus, immerse themselves in the culture, strengthen their language skills, and take advantage of the local university's expertise.
  • The Development Concentration deepens students' understanding of the many different economic, political, cultural, demographic and environmental challenges that are shared everywhere, but with a particular focus on the less-wealthy regions of the world. While not required, many students in this concentration study abroad as well, typically attending a high-caliber university in countries such as Mexico, Chile, Ghana, South Africa, or China.

FOUNDATION COURSES (~23 Units)

Language Requirement

Cultural Perspectives (choose one)

  • GLBL 150b: Global Societies through Film (GE, 3)
  • GEP 206: Society, Environment & Development (GE, 3)
  • ANTH 203: Cultural Anthropology (GE, 3)
  • ANTH 240: Living in a Pluralistic World (GE, 3)

Political Perspectives (choose one)

  • POLS 303: Comparative Political Analysis (4)
  • POLS 304: Theory and Analysis of International Relations (4)
  • POLS 315: Modern Political Ideologies (3)

Historical Perspectives (choose one)

  • HIST 202: Development of the Modern World (3)
  • HIST 380: 20th Century World (3)

Holistic Perspectives (take all)

  • SSCI 299: How to Think Like a Social Scientist (3)
  • GEP 305: World Regions in Global Context: Europe, Russia, Africa and Latin America (3)
  • GEP 306: World Regions in Global Context: South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia (3)

CAPSTONE COURSES (11 units)

ELECTIVE COURSES for the Development Concentration(24 units)

NOTE: If choosing a region-based course (e.g. Politics of Latin America), that course must align with your career focus (and preferably your second language)

  • ANT 345: Nature and Society (4)
  • ANT 352: Global Issues (4)
  • ANTH 380 Language, Culture and Society (4)
  • ANTH 383 Language in Sociopolitical Context (4)
  • BUS 393: Introduction to International Business (4)
  • CALS 314: Literature in Translation
  • CALS 351 Latina/o Humanisms (3)
  • CALS 410 Latinx Feminisms (4)
  • CALS 432 Latinas/os and Globalization (4)
  • CALS 442 Race, Class and Gender among Latinos (4)
  • COMS 321: International Communications (4)
  • ENG 304: War and Peace Lecture Series (3)
  • FR 314: Race & Identity in Haiti & the Haitian Diaspora (4)
  • GEP 321: Parks & Protected Areas
  • GEP 323: Natural Resources & Development
  • GEP 324: Climate Change and Society (4)
  • GEP 325: Global Food Systems (3-4)
  • GEP 370: Globalization and the City (4)
  • GEP 373: Energy, Technology and Society (4)
  • HIST 342 - Modern Latin America Unit(s): 4
  • HIST 381 The Black Sea World (4)
  • HIST 384: Empires and Colonies (4)
  • PHIL 376: Gender and Social Justice (4)
  • POLS 303: Comparative Political Analysis (4)
  • POLS 304: Theory & Analysis of International Relations (4)
  • POLS 307: Perspectives on the Holocaust and Genocide (3)
  • POLS 345: Model UN, when developing world (4)
  • POLS 351 - Politics of Russia Unit(s): 4
  • POLS 352 - Politics of Eastern Europe Unit(s): 4
  • POLS 447: Non-violent Strategies in International Relations (4)
  • POLS 448: Political Violence, Terrorism and Law (4)
  • POLS 450 - Politics of Asia Unit(s): 4
  • POLS 452: Third World Political Systems (4)
  • POLS 453 - Politics of Latin America (4)
  • POLS 486: Special Topics: International Political Economy (4)
  • SOCI 380: Political Sociology (4)
  • SOCI 431: Sociology of Globalization (4)
  • SOCI 431 Sociology of Religion (GE, 3)
  • SPAN 307: Cultures of Latin America (4)
  • WGS 385: Transnational Feminisms (4)

ELECTIVE COURSES for the Area Studies Concentration (24 units)

NOTE: Two courses may be in Arts and Humanities; the rest in Social Sciences

Group I: Thematic Courses (take one)

  • ANTH 352: Global Issues (4)
  • GEP 322: Globalization and Environments (4)
  • GEP 324: Climate Change and Society (4)
  • GEP 325: Global Food Systems (3-4)
  • GEP 370: Globalization and the City (4)
  • GEP 373: Energy, Technology and Society (4)
  • POLS 304: Theory & Analysis of International Relations (4)
  • POLS 345: Model UN
  • POLS 447: Non-violent Strategies in International Relations (4)
  • POLS 448: Political Violence, Terrorism and Law (4)
  • POLS 452: Third World Political Systems (4)
  • WGS 385: Transnational Feminisims (4)

Group II: Regional-level Courses (take 2 or more)

NOTE: These courses cover the broad region in which your study-abroad country lies (e.g. Western Europe; Asia; Africa; Latin America). Courses should be chosen in consultation with the Global Studies Coordinator.

Course available at SSU include:

Latin America

  • HIST 342 - Modern Latin America Unit(s): 4
  • POLS 453 - Politics of Latin America (4)
  • SPAN 307: Cultures of Latin America (4)

Europe:

  • HIST 381 The Black Sea World (4)
  • POLS 351 - Politics of Russia Unit(s): 4
  • POLS 352 - Politics of Eastern Europe Unit(s): 4

Asia

  • POLS 450 - Politics of Asia Unit(s): 4

Group III: Country-specific Courses

  • Courses focusing on the specific country in which your are studying (e.g. Spain, South Korea; South Africa or Chile)
  • Courses chosen in consultation with the Global Studies Coordinator

NOTE: Courses required for the major must be taken for a traditional letter grade, except for courses that are offered CR/NC only. Students must earn a C- or better in any course applied to the major. Breadth courses are not double-counted in the electives