Tim Seidel, Jim Leaman, and Ji Eun Kim, advisors
Global studies equips students to think critically, clearly, and creatively about the most pressing global challenges. This program of study provides opportunities for students to explore their passions, discover their vocation, and serve effectively in roles that bridge communication and understanding across countries, cultures, and languages. Coursework prepares students to take a global view of contemporary issues across states, societies, and cultures. As an interdisciplinary major, significant attention is given to peace-building and to social, political, economic, and ecological justice explored within the larger context of globalization. Global studies also provides focused attention and reflection on intercultural communication, developing regional language skills and the role of faith in global studies as well as an exploration of global political and economic actors beyond the state (for example, civil society).
In addition to completing a foundational core curriculum, the major offers students an opportunity to choose a thematic concentration in global sustainability, global justice and peacebuilding, or global societies and cultures. Students will also choose a regional focus that will coincide with their cross-cultural and language requirements (e.g. Latin America and Spanish, Middle East and Arabic, Central/East Africa and Swahili, Asia and Mandarin). Students will work closely with a faculty advisor to plan appropriate coursework, a local practicum, and a cross-cultural experience with integrated foreign language embedded in the regional focus of the major.
Graduates will be equipped with solid knowledge and relevant skills related to particular themes and regions. Global studies prepares students to become practitioners of global peace and justice, particularly responding to global violence, development and poverty, global health issues, environmental degradation, and injustice. In addition to faith-based careers, majors will be equipped for postgraduate study and for professional opportunities in the private or public sector, or in nonprofits or nongovernmental organizations.
The major consists of the following 56-57 SH.
Note: Completing the requirements for the global studies major also covers a number of EMU Core requirements. About 21 out of 56 SH global studies major requirements also fulfill Core requirements.
Global studies core (20-21 SH)
- GS 101 Introduction to Global Studies - 2
- SOC 334 Cultural Anthropology - 3
- ECON 201 Survey of Economics - 3 OR HIST 122 Global Past II - 2 OR HIST 123 Global Past III - 2
- PXD 375 Globalization and Justice - 3
- REL 223 World Religions - 3
- SOC 336 Methods of Social Research - 3
- STAT 120 Descriptive Statistics - 2
- SSC 490 Social Sciences Capstone - 2
Thematic focus (18 SH)
Students will identify a thematic focus for their global studies to focus their core coursework in pursuit of a vocation. Students will choose one of these three themes or concentrations, which would serve as "containers" including a range of course options that students could choose from, in conversation with their advisor. These 18 semester hours will also include a one- to three-credit practicum opportunity related to the student's thematic focus.
- Global Sustainability (e.g. courses in environmental sustainability, engineering, economics, peacebuilding and development, sociology)
- Global Justice and Peacebuilding (e.g. courses in peacebuilding and development, politics, sociology, economics, theology, ethics)
- Global Societies and Cultures (e.g. courses in arts, history, literature, Spanish and Hispanic studies, philosophy, theology, ethics)
Regional focus (12 SH)
Students will identify a regional focus for their global studies to refine the major, equip them with a geographical area and language of expertise, and prepare them for cross-cultural engagement. As part of the general education curriculum, all EMU students complete nine semester hours of cross-cultural engagement. Students pursuing the global studies major will tailor the general EMU Core Curriculum requirements to the major and will be required to select the semester-long international cross-cultural experience relevant to their declared regional focus for a total of 12 semester hours of regional focus and cross-cultural study (and that may also relate to the thematic focus). Students will be required to take one regional studies course on campus before their international cross-cultural.
Latin America
- *SPAN 301 The Art of Storytelling - 3
- *SPAN 302 Flavors of Hispanic Culture - 3
- *SPAN 303 Dictators and Social Movements - 3
- *SPAN 330 Immigration Issues - 3
- *SPAN 411 Globalization in Latin American Cinema - 3
- *SPAN 420 Narratives of Trauma and Resilience - 3
- *SPAN 425 Indigenous People and Conquest - 3
- *SPAN 430 Marginalized Voices in Hispanic America - 3
- *SPAN 335 Spanish of the U.S. - 3
- *SPAN 360 Spanish for Healthcare Professionals - 3
Middle East
- *HIST 432 History of the Middle East - 3
Africa (Central and Eastern)
- *HIST 251 History of Africa - 3
Asia
- *PPX 371 Peace and Security in East Asia - 3
Foreign language (6 SH)
The language requirement, which will be a minimum of six credits for global studies majors, will be fulfilled by completing foreign language coursework on campus (3 SH) and on site during their international cross-cultural (3 SH). In order to be competitive on the job market and well-rounded, majors are encouraged to develop their fluency to the intermediate high or advanced levels in the regional language of the region of study.
Spanish
Students will place into 100-, 200-, or 300-level courses based on years' experience with the language and a placement assessment conducted the first day of class. Note that heritage or native speakers or students that have lived in a Spanish speaking country, scored a 4 or a 5 on the AP Spanish Exam, a 5, 6, or 7 on the higher-level IB Spanish Exam (A1 or A2), a 7 on the IB Exam (Spanish B), must enroll in a 300-level course and will not receive credit for 100-or 200- level courses. Please see Spanish faculty for more information on placement into Spanish courses.
Arabic
- LANG 110 Elementary Arabic I - 3
Swahili
- LANG 115 Elementary Swahili I - 3
Mandarin
- LANG 140 Elementary Mandarin Chinese I - 3