Global Studies

253.535.7633
www.plu.edu/global-studies
glst@plu.edu

The Global Studies Program aims to encourage and enable students to achieve global literacy defined as a multidisciplinary approach to contending perspectives on global problems, their historical origins, and their possible solutions. To this end, the Global Studies program offers courses and experiences designed to equip students with the factual knowledge and analytical skills necessary to comprehend, and engage with, foundational questions of global analysis (e.g., the commonalities and variations between human cultures), identifiable global themes (e.g., war and peace, economic development, globalization and trade, environmental sustainability), and the specifics of particular contemporary global problems (e.g., regional conflicts, weapons proliferation, environmental degradation, movement for political integration and autonomy, the AIDS crisis).

COURSE OF STUDY

Students electing the Global Studies major are required to declare a primary major before they declare a Global Studies major. No more than two courses (8 semester hours) can be taken in any one discipline to fulfill the requirements for the issue concentration for the Global Studies major. In addition, students may not apply more than two courses (8 semester hours) from all other major or minors.

BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE
Major in Global Studies
32 semester hours

Global Studies Core
16 semester hours

• ANTH/HIST/POLS 210: Global Perspectives: The World in Change (4)
• Select two courses from the following:
  • ANTH 102: Intro to Human Cultural Diversity (4)
  • ECON 111: Principles of Microeconomics: Global and Environmental (4)
  • HIST 215: Modern World History (4)
• GLST 499: Capstone: Research Seminar (4)

Issue Area Concentrations
16 semester hours

• Four courses must be taken from one of the five concentrations outlined below. At least three of the four courses counted toward a concentration must be at the 300 level or higher.

Language

• Students must demonstrate proficiency in a language relevant to their coursework and at a level consistent with Option 1 of the College of Arts and Sciences foreign language requirement. This may be accomplished through a proficiency examination or through the equivalent of 16 semester hours of coursework.

Off-Campus Study Component

• Majors are required to participate in an off-campus study program. While off campus, students must earn eight semester hours of credit related to the global studies core or the student’s global studies concentration. At least four credits must be related directly to the student’s global studies concentration. For example, this study away requirement could be met by taking two appropriate J-term courses, or by eight semester hours of appropriate coursework taken during a semester away. Language study coursework does not necessarily count for this requirement; coursework must deal with the contemporary world and its issues. Obtaining pre-approval for credit is encouraged. Local internships related to an area concentration and involving a cross-cultural setting may be allowed. The Global Studies chair must approve exceptions.

Senior Research Project

• The senior project is a general university requirement in all programs and majors. Students satisfy this requirement by completing a research project or paper in GLST 499.

CONCENTRATIONS*

Development and Social Justice

• ECON 333: Economic Development: Comparative Third World Strategies (4)
• ENGL 216: Topics in Literature: Emphasis on Cross-Cultural Perspectives (4)
• ENGL 233: Post-Colonial Literature (4)
• HISP 301: Hispanic Voices for Social Change (when approved by the GLST chair) (4)
• HISP 322: Latin American Culture and Civilization (4)
• HIST 335: History of the Caribbean (4)
• HIST 340: Modern Japan (4)
• POLS 380: Politics of Global Development (4)
• RELI 227: Christian Theology (When topic is: Theology of Liberation and Democracy)
• SOCW 325: Social, Educational and Health Services in Tobago

Responses to International Violence and Conflict

• ANTH 376: Nation, State, and Citizen (4)
• COMA 304: Intercultural Communication (4)
• COMA 340: Conflict and Communication (4)
• ENGL 216: Topics in Literature: Emphasis on Cross-Cultural Perspectives (4)
• POLS 331: International Relations (4)
• POLS 332: International Conflict Resolution (4)
• POLS 431: Advanced International Relations (4)

World Health

• ANTH 380: Sickness, Madness, and Health (4)
• ECON 323: Health Economics (4)
• PHED 362: Healing Arts of the Mind and Body (4)
• PSYC 335: Cultural Psychology (4)
• RELI 230: Religion and Culture (When the topic is “Religion, Healing, and the Body”) (4)
• SOCW 325: Social, Educational and Health Services in Tobago (4)

Globalization and Trade

• BUSA 201: Intro to Business in the Global Environment (4)
• BUSA 352: Global Management (3)
• BUSA 460: International Marketing (4)
• COMA 393: Communication Abroad (4)
• ECON 331: International Economics (4)
• POLS 347: Political Economy (4)
• POLS 381: Comparative Legal Systems (4)
• POLS 383: Modern European Politics (4)

Transnational Movements and Cultural Diversity

• ANTH 330: Native North Americans (4)
• ANTH 340: The Anthropology of Africa (4)
• ANTH 342: Pacific Island Cultures (4)
• ANTH 343: East Asian Cultures
• ANTH 360: Ethnic Groups (4)
• ANTH 387: Special Topics in Anthropology (When the topic is “First Nations”) (4)
• COMA 304: Intercultural Communication (4)
• ENGL 216: Topics in Literature: Emphasis on Cross-Cultural Perspectives (4)
• ENGL 232: Women’s Literature (4)
• ENGL 343: Post-Colonial Literature and Theory (4)
• FREN 301: Composition and Conversation (When approved by GLST chair) (4)
• GERM 301: Composition and Conversation (When approved by GLST chair) (4)
• HISP 341: The Latino Experiences in the U.S. (4)
• HIST 344: The Andes in Latin American History (4)
• NORW 301: Conversation and Composition (4)
• PSYC 335: Cultural Psychology (4)
• RELI 227: Christian Theology (When the topic is “Theologies of Liberation and Democracy”) (4)
• RELI 236: Native American Religious Traditions (4)
• SOCW 325: Social, Educational and Health Services in Tobago (4)

*Students may petition the chair of Global Studies for the inclusion of courses that meet issue concentration requirements but that are not taught regularly enough to be listed here.

MINOR
20 semester hours

• ANTH/HIST/POLS 210: Global Perspectives – The World in Change (4)
• Select one course from the following:
  • ANTH 102: Intro to Human Cultural Diversity (4)
  • ECON 111: Principles of Microeconomics: Global and Environmental (4)
  • HIST 215: Modern World History (4)
• Three courses in one concentration, at least two must be at the 300 level or higher.

Students must take one semester of 200-level college coursework in a foreign language or demonstrate equivalent proficiency.

Students must take at least 4 semester hours of study away course work related to the contemporary world and its issues. For example, one appropriate January Term (J-Term) course that would apply toward the student’s concentration.