Global Studies, major

Owned by Jenni Piper
Last updated: Apr 08, 2024 by Amber Tobey
3 min read

Contacts: Timothy Seidel, Jim Leaman, and Ji Eun Kim
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Semester Hours: 56-57
Core Intensives: Fulfills TI & CE. May fulfill 2 WI/CI.

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 intercultural 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 intercultural 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.

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 Curriculum requirements.

Foundation (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)
Identify a thematic focus in Global Sustainability, Global Justice and Peacebuilding, or Global Societies and Cultures, including a practicum related to the thematic focus.

  • Global Sustainability (e.g. courses in environmental sustainability, economics, peacebuilding and development, sociology)

  • Global Justice and Peacebuilding (e.g. courses in peacebuilding and development, politics, sociology, economics, and theology)

  • Global Societies and Cultures (e.g. courses in art, history, literature, music, Spanish and Hispanic studies, theology, and ethics)

Regional Focus (12 SH)
Identify a regional focus in Latin American, Middle East, Africa, or Asia studies that corresponds to the semester-long international intercultural, including one required course on campus as well as coursework during the intercultural.  On-campus regional studies courses include:

  • Latin America: *SPAN 335 Spanish of the United States (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)
Complete foreign language coursework in Spanish, Arabic, Swahili, or Mandarin that corresponds to the regional focus and semester-long international intercultural, including one required course on campus as well as coursework during the intercultural. 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 and a placement assessment. Please see Spanish faculty for more information on placement.

  • Arabic: *LANG 110 Elementary Arabic I (3) 

  • Swahili: *LANG 115 Elementary Swahili I (3) 

  • Mandarin: *LANG 140 Elementary Mandarin Chinese I (3) 

* indicates the course is offered in alternate years