The Global Studies Minor (GSM) is an innovative, multi-disciplinary program in which students use experiential and cross-cultural learning to achieve understanding of international, regional and global issues. The GSM is open to all undergraduate students who wish to increase their knowledge and competencies by adding a formally recognized global dimension to their program of study. Students can participate in the GSM in one of two ways:
- By going on a credit-bearing education-abroad program* (Note: Due to lingering challenges resulting from the pandemic and the uneven reopening of education-abroad programs, students may still be able to participate in the GSM without going abroad. Contact the Global Studies rogram Coordinator for more information.)
- By being an international student at °®¶¹´«Ã½
Knowledge and experience gained through a global studies minor is relevant to a wide range of fields and can enhance one's future prospects in academia, the corporate sector, government, healthcare, foreign or public service, law, tech or the arts and entertainment industry. While global studies contributes to a diverse array of professional opportunities, here are some of the fields our alumni have pursued:
- Law
- International education
- Academia
- Financial technology
- Software engineering
- Medicine and healthcare
- Journalism
- Library administration
- Mortgage brokering
- Business consulting
- Diplomacy
- Biomedical engineering
- Environmental engineering
Students may take the GSM to enhance their major with a global component, add purpose to help steer their choice of electives and expand their future options on the basis of acquired international knowledge, intercultural proficiency and global awareness. GSM courses promote students' critical and reflective thinking to better understand their own cultural values and behaviors in order to become capable independent learners and competent world citizens. Specifically, GSM coursework helps students connect their globally-informed experience to their areas of academic training, and prompts an investigation into the ways that multidisciplinary scholarship and cultural insights can lead to deeper understandings of local, international, regional and global issues.
Global Studies Minor Guidelines
The GSM requires 24 credits beyond those needed to meet General Education Global Interdependencies, Pluralism and Foreign Language requirements. Because it builds upon the University's General Education category, Creating a Global Vision, the GSM only requires four credits of GLST coursework. All other credits are met through multidisciplinary courses based on students' majors and their specific interests. Test credit (AP, IB, etc.) may not be used to meet the minor's requirements.
Requirement A: World Language: Three credits
- A World Language course at the intermediate level (200+) beyond the Gen Ed requirement, OR
- A second World Language at the 100+ level, OR
- An ELI course (only for international students who have the Gen Ed World Language requirement waived), OR
- LxC (Languages Across the Curriculum) courses
Requirement B: Global, International and Cross-Cultural Content
Eight credits beyond the eight-credit General Education Creating a Global Vision requirement (which includes four credits of Global Interdependencies "G" and four credits of Pluralism in the U.S. "P" courses).
- Courses focusing either on a specific culture, society, nation-state or region other than the student's home country, OR
- Courses on issues which crosscut international borders (e.g. pandemics, imperialism, etc.)
These credits come from a wide variety of disciplines including, but not limited to, the area studies programs, anthropology, film studies, history, sociology, geography, comparative literature, political science, theatre, management, public affairs, etc.
Requirement C: Additional global/international/intercultural or world language coursework
Any combination of six to eight credits that deepen a student's understanding of global areas/issues or knowledge of a world language.
These credits must be at the 200-level or above. Intercultural health and wellness courses (e.g. Yoga, Tai Chi, etc.) may count toward this requirement.
Global Studies Minor Sequence
These courses need to be taken sequentially and consecutively.
Requirement D1: GLST 390 Introduction to Global Studies (one credit)
This course introduces the Global Studies program within the framework of relevant anthropological and social scientific perspectives. Students must declare the GSM in order to take GLST 390 and 392.
- Online asynchronous course
- Offered inter-semester only (Summer/Winter Sessions)
Requirement D2: GLST 392 Cross-Cultural Research Methods (one credit)
This course introduces students to a variety of relevant research methods and to the importance of intercultural competence. Because this is an interdisciplinary program, students will combine methodological approaches relevant to their major(s) to aid in developing a capstone project.
- Online asynchronous course
- Offered in spring, summer and fall
Requirement D3: Globally-Connected/Capstone-Related Focus course
- Students who are able to go on an education-abroad program must enroll in a program with a minimum duration of four weeks, and while abroad, must complete at least one 3- or 4-credit course. Students may use other courses taken abroad to fulfill a portion of requirements A, B or C above. No more than nine credits taken abroad may be applied toward the minimum of 24 credits required for the Global Studies minor.
- International students will use an applicable course from their studies at °®¶¹´«Ã½ University to fulfill this requirement.
- Students who are not able to go abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic may complete a 3- or 4-credit course at °®¶¹´«Ã½ focused on a host country they would have liked to have studied abroad in. A course focusing on global aspects connected to a student's existing major or to their potential GLST Capstone Project may also qualify.
Requirement D4: GLST 490A Global Studies Capstone Seminar (two credits)
Taken the semester following GLST 392. In this seminar, students develop a robust interdisciplinary project using nuanced anthropological approaches. The resulting signature capstone project will take the form of a multimodal online publication that students will be able to include in their professional portfolio.
The total number of credits for requirements A-D must equal a minimum of 24. Students who wish to pursue a minor in global studies should consult, as early as possible, with the global studies director or program coordinator. For more information, visit the or email us.
*Due to lingering challenges resulting from the pandemic and uneven reopening of education-abroad programs, students may still be able to participate in the GSM without going abroad. Contact the Global Studies program Coordinator for more information.
Note: Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that this may impede their ability to study abroad. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the Office of International Education and Global Initiatives.