Global Studies Major

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences - Department of Political Science, Law, and Global Studies

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Global Studies is an interdisciplinary baccalaureate program grounded in a strong liberal arts curriculum. This program is based on three important principles:

1. globalization affects us all, whether we remain local or look to other parts of the world;
2. the connections between the local and global are not limited to one domain of life, but involve equally identities, economies, politics, environments, societies and cultures; and
3. students gain from international, cross-cultural perspectives and experiences.

Students learn the historical causes and current process of globalization from an interdisciplinary foundation. They are given the tools to understand global relationships and learn about ways to introduce effective change in issues of global importance. The global studies major emphasizes a flexible structure, allowing students to share in the design of their major and to respond to emergent opportunities at the University and abroad. Experiential learning is stressed: students must study abroad for one semester and are encouraged to take internships and other service learning opportunities.

The General Education Requirement

All students must satisfy a general education requirement consisting of ten (10) courses outside of the major department. The General Education Domain III-C (Global Competency, Ethical reasoning, and/or Human Diversity) requirement is satisfied through the completion of the Global Studies major.

Course Prerequisites

Courses may have specified conditions for enrollment, such as prior completion of less advanced courses, permission of the instructor, or appropriate placement test scores. Students should refer to course descriptions in the department listings for prerequisite requirements.

Requirements for Major in Global Studies (UGSG)

Three (3) core Global Studies courses:

• GLST 101 Introduction to Global Studies
• GLST 201 Research Methods: Case Studies in Globalization
• GLST 401 Global Studies Seminar

 ^{Note: The core courses must be taken at Framingham State University.}

Three (3) of the following seven (7) interdisciplinary elective courses:

• ANTH 207 Global Issues in Anthropology
• ECON 200 Economics of Globalization
• ENGL 203 Contemporary Global Literature
• HSTY 102 Comparative World History Since 1500
• POSC 220 The Politics of Globalization
• SOCI 357 Sociological Perspectives on Globalization

Required international experience component (4):

• Students must take at least one (1) semester of study abroad. It is strongly recommended that the study abroad be taken during junior year. The study abroad program should align with the student’s concentration. Classes taken abroad can count as interdisciplinary electives or restricted electives with the program director’s approval. Under exceptional circumstances (to be determined by the Program Chair) a student may opt to conduct an intensive internship program abroad or within the US at an appropriate organization.

Language related requirement (2):

• At least two (2) 200-level or above language classes. This requirement is waived if the student completes a minor in Chinese, French, or Spanish.

Restricted electives (4):

• Students design their own area of focus upon acceptance into the major in consultation with the Program Chair who must approve all course selections. Students take four (4) courses from the following list of approved courses for the major. At least two (2) courses must be at the 300 level or above. The courses are grouped into suggested areas organized around themes or regions. Students are encouraged to combine thematic and regional areas.

Suggested Areas of Focus:

Students majoring in Global Studies may elect to follow an area of focus within the major. An area of focus is not the same as a concentration and will not be noted on a student's transcript or audit. A cohesive sequence of courses in a subfield of the discipline enables students to strengthen their knowledge for employment opportunities upon graduation and/or advanced post-graduate training. Students interested in pursuing an area of focus are encouraged to choose their major electives from the courses listed below:

Thematic focus

Global Identities

• ANTH 243 Native American Cultures
• ANTH 253 Gender Across Cultures
• ANTH 258 Critical Approaches to Men and Masculinities
• ANTH 360 Language and Culture
• ARTH 285 The Art of Asia
• ENGL 234 Global Cinema
• ENGL 277 Gender in Contemporary Global Literature
• ENGL 326 The Novel and the World
• ENGL 361 Postcolonial Literature
• ENGL 398 Studies in World Literature after 1900
• GEOG 211 Cultural geography
• HSTY 303 Native American History, 1500-1800
• HSTY 321 European and American Muslims: A History
• HSTY 359 Slavery and Abolition
• PSYC 259 Cultural Psychology
• SOCI 245 Race and Ethnic Relations

Global Development, Environment, and Sustainability

• ANTH 253 Gender Across Cultures
• BIOL 103 Biological Perspectives on Environmental Issues
• BIOL 200 Introduction to Environmental Science
• BIOL 203 Plants and Society
• ECON 333 Environmental Economics
• ENVS 101 Introduction to Environmental Science and Policy
• GEOG 135 Introduction to Environmental Studies
• GEOG 201 Economic Geography
• GEOG 206 Political Geography
• GEOG 212 Geographic Perspectives on the Global Environment
• GEOG 235 Environmental Law and Policy
• PHIL 234 Environmental Ethics