Global Studies Major

Owned by Laura Lehman (Deactivated)
Last updated: Sept 09, 2020 by Barbara Byer (Deactivated)
3 min read

Timothy Seidel, Jim Leaman, and Ji Eun Kim, advisors

Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Semester Hours: 56-57

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 peacebuilding 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.

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
  • ECON 201 Survey of Economics - 3 OR HIST 122 Global Past II - 2 OR HIST 123-126 Global Past III - 2
  • PXD 375 Globalization and Justice - 3
  • REL 223 World Religions - 3
  • SOC 334 Cultural Anthropology - 3
  • SOC 336 Methods of Social Research - 3 
  • SSC 490 Social Sciences Capstone - 2
  • STAT 120 Descriptive Statistics - 2

Thematic focus (18 SH)

Students will identify a thematic focus (Global Sustainability, Global Justice and Peacebuilding, or Global Societies and Cultures) that includes a range of course options students can choose from, in consultation 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 (Latin American, Middle East, Africa, or Asia) that corresponds to their semester-long international cross-cultural. These 12 SH will be fulfilled with one required course on campus (3 SH) as well as coursework during their cross-cultural (9 SH).  On-campus regional studies courses include:

Latin America

  • *SPAN 420 Narratives of Trauma and Resilience - 3 OR another approved Hispanic studies course

Middle East

  • *HIST 432 History of the Middle East - 3

Africa 

  • *HIST 251 History of Africa - 3

Asia

  • *PPX 371 Peace and Security in East Asia - 3

Foreign language (6 SH)

Students will complete foreign language coursework (Spanish, Arabic, Swahili, or Mandarin) that corresponds to their regional focus and semester-long international cross-cultural, including one required course on campus (3 SH) as well as coursework during their 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 language of the region of study. On-campus foreign language courses include:

Spanish

Students will place into a course based on years' experience with the language and a placement assessment conducted the first day of class. 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