Major in Global Studies

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.

Degree Plan

Degree Plan / Development Concentration (PDF)

Degree Plan / Area Studies Concentration (PDF)

FOUNDATION COURSES (~23 Units)

Language Requirement

Intermediate-level (or higher) proficiency in a modern language other than English.
More info: Language Proficiency 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)

GLBL 310: Professional Preparation (2)
GLBL 497: Internship (3)
- More Info: Internship Requirement
Cross Cultural Experience (0)
- More Info: Cross Cultural Experience Requirement
GEP 422: Political Ecology (4)

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