Global & Cultural Studies

Global and Cultural Studies

The Department of Global and Cultural Studies is a dynamic curricular hub for global education made up of the following programs: Chinese and Chinese Studies, French and Francophone Studies, Global Studies, and Hispanic and Latino Studies.

Aligned with PLU’s commitment to global education broadly speaking, both on campus and through study away, our courses promote global awareness and cultural competency through various types of cultural studies and interdisciplinary issue-centered courses, including:

• Immersive learning in world languages, literatures, film, and other forms of cultural expression
• Interdisciplinary analysis of contemporary global problems and possible solutions
• Exploration of past and present struggles for social justice, translational movements of people and ideas, and international affairs

The department offers majors and minor Chinese Studies, French & Francophone Studies, Global Studies, and Hispanic Studies and minors in Chinese and Latino Studies. The department also contributes to Native American and Indigenous Studies by offering introductory level courses in Southern Lushootseed.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Chinese and Chinese Studies

PLU’s Chinese and Chinese Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program which is designed to provide students interested in China a broad foundation in Chinese language, culture, and history and an opportunity to focus on the religious-philosophical world view and economic structure of China. A specific Chinese language minor is also provided.

Major in Chinese Studies
32 semester hours

Required Courses
24 semester hours

• CHIN 201: Intermediate Chinese (4)
• CHIN 202: Intermediate Chinese (4)
• HIST 109: East Asian Societies (4)
• HIST 338: Modern China (4)
• RELI 233: Religions of China (4)
• CHSP 499: Capstone: Senior Project (4)

Electives
8 semester hours

• CHIN 301: Composition and Conversation (4)
• CHIN 302: Composition and Conversation (4)
• CHIN 371: Chinese Literature in Translation (4)

French & Francophone Studies

The French & Francophone Studies program offers courses in the French language and in the literature, film, history, and cultures of French-speaking societies in Europe, Africa, North America, and the Caribbean. All French & Francophone Studies courses meet the Global Engagement (GE) Gen Ed requirement. French & Francophone Studies literature and film courses meet the Interpreting Text (IT) Gen Ed requirement. 200- and 300-level French history and language courses meet the Values and Worldviews (VW) Gen Ed requirement. Several French & Francophone Studies courses count towards other majors and minors including Global Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Race Studies.

Major in French & Francophone Studies
36 semester hours, from PLU courses, equivalent transfer courses, or approved study away programs, depending on placement.

Students placing into FREN 201 or 202 will have 4 semester hours waived, achieving the major in 32 semester hours. Students placing into FREN 301 will have 8 semester hours waived, achieving the major in 28 semester hours. If you have previously studied French, please refer to the Language Placement Guide to determine the appropriate level at which to start.

At least 12 semester hours must be taken in FREN-prefixed courses at PLU.

French Language
4-20 semester hours, based on placement

• May include:
  • FREN 101: Beginning French (4)
  • FREN 102: Beginning French (4)
  • FREN 201: Intermediate French (4)
  • FREN 202: Intermediate French (4)
• Must include:
  • FREN 301: Advanced French (4)

French & Francophone literature, film, history, culture
12-20 semester hours, selected from the following:

• FREN 310: French History, Culture, Society (4)
• FREN 311: Francophone Africa in Global Context (4)
• FREN 403: Topics in French Literature (4)
• FREN 404: Postcolonial Francophone Fictions and Criticism (4)
• FREN 405: French/Francophone Film (4)
• FREN 406: French/Francophone Feminisms (4)

Only one course in French & Francophone literature, film, history, culture in English translation (FREN 203, 204, 205, 206, 210, or 211) may be used toward the major.

• FREN 499: Capstone: Senior Project (4)

French & Francophone Studies majors are strongly encouraged to study in a French-speaking country on a semester program approved by French & Francophone Studies faculty and to explore residence options in the French Wing of the Hong Global Community.

Global Studies

The Global Studies Program educates students to engage critically and actively with contending perspectives on global issues, their origins, and possible solutions to global problems, drawing on methods and perspectives from multiple disciplines. To this end, the program offers courses and experiences designed to equip students with the skills and analytical methods needed to comprehend and engage with contemporary global problems and possible solutions, particularly those related to development and social justice, transnational movements of people and ideas, and international affairs.

Course of Study
Students electing the Global Studies major are required to declare a major or minor in another discipline. In addition, students may not apply more than two courses (8 semester hours) from all other majors or minors.

Major in Global Studies
36 semester hours

Global Studies Core
16 semester hours

• GLST/HIST 210: Contemporary Global Issues: Migration, Poverty, and Conflict (4)
• Select two courses from the following:
  • ANTH 102: Introduction to Human Cultural Diversity (4)
  • ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics (4)
  • HIST 103: Conflicts and Convergences in the Modern World (4)
• GLST 499: Capstone: Research Seminar (4)

Issue Area Concentrations
20 semester hours

Five courses must be taken from one of the three concentrations outlined below. At least three of the five courses counted toward a concentration must be at the 300 level or higher. There is a required course for each concentration as noted for each concentration below. Students may not include more than 8 semester hours from any one discipline to fulfill concentration requirements.

Option for second concentration

Students may select a second concentration, requiring 20 semester hours. This includes the required course and four additional courses. At least three of the courses must be at the 300 level or higher. Students do not need to complete study away for the second concentration. Up to 8 of the 20 semester hours for the second concentration may be counted toward other majors or minors over and above the 8 semester hours allowed for the rest of the major requirements.

Language

Students must take through the 202-level of college coursework in a world language or demonstrate equivalent proficiency.

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 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. GLST 210, 499, and required concentration courses must be taken on campus.

Concentration: Development and Social Justice

Standards of living have increased dramatically worldwide over the past 100 years, yet poverty and inequality remain features of our world. Continued improvement in human well-being for all involves economic growth, reducing poverty, and addressing inequities and issues of social justice, for example in wealth, political freedom, education, and health care. Given the complexity of development processes and of the diverse array of responses to poverty and social justice concerns, the concentration incorporates the approaches of multiple disciplines such as anthropology, economics, literature, history, and religion.

• Required of all students in this concentration:
  • GLST 357: Global Development (4)
• Other Offerings
  • ECON 313: Environmental Economics (4)
  • ECON 333: Economic Development (4)
  • ENGL 216: Topics in Literature: Emphasis on Cross-Cultural Perspectives (4)
    (When approved by GLST chair)
  • FREN 211/311: Francophone Africa in Global Context (4)
  • FREN 204/404: Postcolonial Francophone Fictions and Criticism (4)
  • FREN 206/406: French/Francophone Feminisms (4)
    (when the topic is African Woman Writers)
  • HISP 301: Hispanic Voices for Social Change (4)
    (when taught by PLU faculty on campus)
  • HISP 351: Hispanic Voices for Social Change for Heritage Speakers (4)
  • HISP 322: Latin American Cultural Studies (4)
  • HIST 218: Women and Gender in World History (4)
  • HIST 305: Slavery in the Americas (4)
  • HIST 333: Colonization and Genocide in Native North America (4)
  • HIST 335: Slavery, Pirates, and Dictatorship: History of the Caribbean (4)
  • NAIS 244: Environmental Justice and Indigenous People (4)
  • NAIS 321: Visual Sovereignty and Indigenous Film (4)
  • NAIS 363: Race and Indigeneity (4)
  • RELI 245: Global Christian Theologies (4)
  • SOCW 325: Social, Educational and Health Services in Tobago (4)
    (This is a study away course)

Concentration: Transnationalism and Its Consequences

Migration, colonial occupation, refugee flows, global travel—the movement of people and ideas across national borders both historically and in the present has political, economic, social and cultural impacts for the destination and also for the place of origin. Using multiple disciplinary perspectives, this concentration investigates the issues arising from the transnational movement of people and ideas such as those related to religious and cultural diversity and political and economic reaction and adjustment.

• Required of all students in this concentration:
  • LTST 342: U.S. Latino/a/x Literary and Cultural Studies (4)
• Other Offerings:
  • COMA 304: Intercultural Communication (4)
  • ENGL 216: Topics in Literature: Emphasis on Cross-Cultural Perspectives (4)
    (When approved by GLST chair)
  • ENGL 380: Studies in Global Anglophone Literature (4)
  • FREN 211/311: Francophone Africa in Global Context (4)
  • FREN 206/406: French/Francophone Feminisms (4)
    (when the topic is African Woman Writers)
  • HISP 301: Hispanic Voices for Social Change (4)
    (when taught by PLU faculty on campus)
  • HISP 351: Hispanic Voices for Social Change for Heritage Speakers (4)
  • HISP 321: Iberian Cultural Studies (4)
  • HISP 322: Latin American Cultural Studies (4)
  • HIST 305: Slavery in the Americas (4)
  • HIST 335: Slavery, Pirates, and Dictatorship: History of the Caribbean (4)
  • HIST 337: The History of Mexico (4)
  • RELI 245: Global Christian Theologies (4)
  • RELI 390/393: Topics in Comparative Religions (4)
    (When approved by GLST chair)

Concentration: International Affairs

Interaction on an international scale raises complex issues that are best analyzed from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Diplomacy and political relations require understanding not just of political relationships, but also of economic interactions. Conflict resolution at both domestic (such as in Rwanda) and international (such as between Israel and Palestine) levels requires diplomacy, but also deep cultural understandings. This concentration is designed to provide students with the foundations to build a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of international affairs.

• Required of all students in this concentration:
  • GLST 331: International Relations (4)
• Other Offerings
  • BUSA 337: International Finance and Risk Management (4)
  • BUSA 460: International Marketing (4)
  • COMA 304: Intercultural Communication (4)
  • COMA 340: Conflict and Communication (4)
  • ECON 331: International Trade and Commercial Policy (4)
  • ECON 333: Economic Development (4)
  • ECON 337: International Macroeconomics (4)
  • GLST 325: Global Political Thought (4)
  • GLST 332: American Foreign Policy (4)
  • GLST 357: Global Development (4)
  • GLST 431: Advanced International Relations (4)

Hispanic & Latino Studies

The Hispanic and Latino Studies Program offers a major and minor in Hispanic Studies and a minor in Latino Studies.

The major and minor in Hispanic Studies combine the study of the Spanish language with courses in Latin American, Latino, and Iberian literatures, linguistics, and cultural studies. Primarily taught in Spanish, courses that count towards the major and minor include the study of advanced Spanish language and composition for heritage and second language learners, and engage topics that include, but are not limited to, social justice struggles present and past, migration, race, gender, sexuality, memory, trauma, and the politics of language.

The Latino Studies minor engages many of the same topics, but with a special focus on the experiences of Latino/a/x communities in the United States and its transnational and cultural borderlands. The minor includes a Spanish language requirement, but its core and elective courses are primarily taught in English.

Courses marked with the HISP designation are taught in Spanish. Courses marked with the LTST designation are taught in English.

Major in Hispanic Studies
A minimum of 36 semester hours beyond HISP 103, including:

Foundational Courses
4-20 semester hours, depending on entry level

• HISP 201: Intermediate Spanish (4)
• HISP 202: Intermediate Spanish (4)
• HISP 252: Spanish for Heritage Speakers (4)
• HISP 300: Spanish Conversation (4)
• HISP 301 or 351: Hispanic Voices for Social Change/Hispanic Voices for Heritage Speakers (4)
• HISP 331: Intensive Spanish Language and Culture (Study Away) (4)

Exploring Literary, Linguistic, and Cultural Studies
12-28 semester hours, selected from the following:

Latino Studies courses are taught in English. No more than one course taught in English may count towards the major.

• HISP 321: Iberian Cultural Studies (4)
• HISP 322: Latin American Cultural Studies (4)
• HISP 325: Introduction to Hispanic Literary Studies (4)
• LTST 341: Latino/a/x Experiences in the U.S. (4)
• LTST 342: U.S. Latino/a/x Literary and Cultural Studies (4)
• HISP 401: Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics (4)
• HISP 403: Advanced Spanish (Study Away) (4)
• HISP 423: Special Topics in Iberian Literatures & Cultures (4)
• HISP 433: Special Topics in Latin American Literatures & Cultures (4)

Culminating Experience
4 semester hours

• HISP 499: Culminating Experience (4)

In consultation with their advisor, students may select from the following culminating experiences:

• Research project on a HISP & LTST topic of their choice*
• Experiential learning or internship in the Latinx community
• A combined project with a complementary major with an approved HISP & LTST focus

*Students choosing option 1 should complete at least one advanced HISP & LTST seminar prior to the culminating experience (HISP 401, 423, 433, or LTST 342).

Majors are strongly encouraged to pursue at least one semester of study in a Spanish-speaking country on a program approved by the Hispanic Studies faculty.

Continuation Policy

To remain in the Hispanic Studies major, students must maintain a 2.50 overall grade point average (GPA) and maintain a 2.50 GPA in all Hispanic and Latino Studies courses required for the major or the minor.

Minors

Minor in Chinese
20 semester hours

Language
16 semester hours

• CHIN 101: Elementary Chinese (4)
• CHIN 102: Elementary Chinese (4)
• CHIN 201: Intermediate Chinese (4)
• CHIN 202: Intermediate Chinese (4)

Elective
4 semester hours

May be in additional CHIN course(s) or any CHSP course(s).

Minor in Chinese Studies
20 semester hours

Required Courses
8 semester hours in Chinese language

• CHIN 101: Elementary Chinese (4)
• CHIN 102: Elementary Chinese (4) OR one equivalent year of university-level Chinese with approval of the program chair

8 semester hours of non-language courses

• CHIN 371: Chinese Literature in Translation (4)
• RELI 233: Religions of China (4)

Electives
4 semester hours

May be any additional CHIN course(s) or any CHSP course(s).

Minor in French & Francophone Studies
20 semester hours from PLU courses, equivalent transfer courses, or approved study away programs, depending on placement.

Students placing into FREN 301 may have 4 semester hours waived to achieve the French & Francophone Studies minor in 16 credits. If you have previously studied French, please refer to the Language Placement Guide to determine the appropriate level at which to start.

At least 8 semester hours must be taken in FREN-prefixed courses at PLU.

French Language
4-20 semester hours, based on placement

• May include:
  • FREN 101: Beginning French (4)
  • FREN 102: Beginning French (4)
  • FREN 201: Intermediate French (4)
  • FREN 301: Advanced French (4)
• Must include:
  • FREN 202: Intermediate French (4)

French & Francophone literature, film, history, culture
0-16 semester hours selected from the following:

• FREN 310: French History, Culture, Society (4)
• FREN 311: Francophone Africa in Global Context (4)
• FREN 403: Topics in French Literature (4)
• FREN 404: Postcolonial Francophone Fictions and Criticism (4)
• FREN 405: French/Francophone Film (4)
• FREN 406: French/Francophone Feminisms (4)

Only one course in French & Francophone literature, film, culture in English translation (FREN 203, 204, 205, 206, 210, or 211) may be used toward the minor.

French & Francophone Studies minors are strongly encouraged to study in a French-speaking country on a semester program approved by French & Francophone Studies faculty and to explore residence options in the French Wing of the Hong Global Community.

Minor in Global Studies
20 semester hours

• GLST/HIST 210: Contemporary Global Issues: Migration, Poverty, and Conflict (4)
• Select one course from the following:
  • ANTH 102: Intro to Human Cultural Diversity (4)
  • ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics (4)
  • HIST 103: Conflicts & Convergences in the Modern World (4)
• Three courses in one concentration, including the required course for that concentration, and 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 four semester hours of study away course work related to the student’s concentration. For example, one appropriate January Term (J-Term) course that would apply toward the student’s concentration. Pre-approval is recommended.

Minor in Hispanic Studies
20 semester hours beyond HISP 103, including:

Foundational Courses
4-20 semester hours, depending on entry level

• HISP 201: Intermediate Spanish (4)
• HISP 202: Intermediate Spanish (4)
• HISP 252: Spanish for Heritage Speakers (4)
• HISP 300: Spanish Conversation (4)
• HISP 301 or 351: Hispanic Voices for Social Change/Hispanic Voices for Heritage Speakers (4)
• HISP 331: Intensive Language and Culture (Study Away) (4)

Exploring Literary, Linguistic, and Cultural Studies
0-16 semester hours, selected from the following:

Latino Studies courses are taught in English. No more than one course taught in English may count towards the minor.

• HISP 321: Iberian Cultural Studies (4)
• HISP 322: Latin American Cultural Studies (4)
• HISP 325: Introduction to Hispanic Literary Studies (4)
• LTST 341: Latino/a/x Experiences in the U.S. (4)
• LTST 342: U.S. Latino/a/x Literary and Cultural Studies (4)
• HISP 401: Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics (4)
• HISP 403: Advanced Spanish (Study Away) (4)
• HISP 423: Special Topics in Iberian Literatures & Cultural (4)
• HISP 433: Special Topics in Latin American Literatures & Cultures (4)

Minor in Latino Studies
20 semester hours, including:

Language
4 semester hours of Spanish language for second language or heritage learners. Students with prior background in Spanish should consult the Language Placement Guide for a recommendation on which course to enroll in.

• HISP 103, 201, 202, 252, 300, 301 or 351, 331 (4)

Latino/a/x Literary, Cultural, and Political Studies
16 semester hours, 4 of which may be substituted with one of the “Alternative Areas of Inquiry” listed below:

• LTST 241: Introduction to Latino Studies (4)
• LTST 341: Latino/a/x Experiences in the U.S. (4)
• LTST 342: U.S. Latino/a/x Literary and Cultural Studies (4)
• POLS 265: Latino Politics (4)

Alternative Areas of Inquiry

Students who would like to pursue alternative areas of inquiry related to Latino Studies may substitute a core course with the approval of the Director of Hispanic and Latino Studies. Alternative options may include:

• An additional semester of Spanish language study or an upper division Hispanic Studies course focused on Latin America;
• An internship or experiential learning placement with an organization that serves the Latinx community;
• Comparative study of the experiences of other minoritized communities in the U.S. fulfilled through completion of GSRS 201, NAIS 230, NAIS 250, or any course from the approved list of electives for the Minor in Critical Race Studies