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Global Studies, B.A.

Preparing you for a career helping others adapt and thrive through a deeper understanding of today’s complex, interconnected global issues.

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The B.A. in Global Studies program will offer you a transdisciplinary exploration of global issues like climate change, systemic racism, regional conflict, migration and labor, and geopolitics, equipping you with a strong theoretical foundation that will empower you to succeed at a higher level in any number of professional fields.  

Empowering You to Excel in Your Chosen Profession

The program will position you to develop the skills to critically analyze complex and interdependent global systems in a way that will prepare you to become an engaged global citizen and contribute to solutions to our most pressing issues.

The program delivers ideal preparation to move ahead into a broad spectrum of career fields, including:

  • Art
  • Communication
  • Community Development
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Environmental and Labor Organizations
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Healthcare Administration
  • International Business
  • International Relations
  • International Trade Compliance
  • Journalism
  • Marketing
  • Policy Development
  • Politics
  • Public Service
  • Sales
  • Tourism

 

Many alums of the program have chosen to pursue advanced degrees and have been accepted at some of the country’s top graduate schools, some of which include:

  • American University
  • CSU East Bay
  • CU Denver
  • Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) at Monterey
  • San Jose State University
  • State University of New York
  • University of California – Berkeley
  • University of California – Davis
  • University of California – Los Angeles
  • University of California – San Diego
  • University of California – Santa Barbara
  • University of Denver
  • University of Edinburgh
  • University of Ireland
  • University of Massachusetts
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Oregon
  • University of San Francisco
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Public University Price, Private University Experience

A Lifetime of Value

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Quinn Tully

Global Studies

Your education and the community you find here go hand and hand. You're not just learning from your professors but from the community.

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Global Studies, B.A.

The Global Studies program will develop and strengthen your understanding of global systems and structures, critical thinking skills, and transdisciplinary methodologies as you prepare for a career as a responsible, creative leader in our increasingly globalized world.

 

Educational Objectives

Our interdisciplinary approach to global issues will heighten your preparation for critical and analytical thinking, positioning you as a more engaged and knowledgeable global citizen capable of developing solutions for today’s pressing issues.

Our emphasis on voices “from the margins” including Indigenous rights movements, workers rights’ movements, peasants’ rights movements, immigrants’ rights movements, environmental rights movements will deepen your understanding and broaden your perspective beyond how global issues affect powerful nation states and corporations.

Our legacy as the first Global Studies program in California means you’ll be part of a program that’s been a pioneer and served as the model for subsequent programs at other universities, including UC Santa Barbara. 

Our strong partnership with International Programs will open up life changing study abroad experiences in regions across the globe, including Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Australia.

For more information, please visit the Program Catalog

Complete all of the following courses:

  • GS 206 - Understanding Globalization Units: 3
  • GS 300 - Major ProSeminar Units: 3
  • GS 362 - Global Literatures Units: 3
  • EGS 475 - Senior Capstone Units: 4

Complete one of the following Service Learning course or course combinations:

  • GS 339S - Sweat/Service/Solidarity SL Units: 5
  • HCOM 340S - Topics in Social Movements Service Learning Units: 5
  • SL 490 - Community, Research and Social Action Units: 3   and
  • SL 492S - Participatory Action Research Practicum Units: 2

Complete one of the following upper-division Area 4 Social Sciences GE courses:

  • GS 327 - Politics of the Middle East Units: 3
  • GS 336 - Cultural Geography: Place, Power, and Positioning Units: 3
  • GS 342 - Economic Thought: History and Contemporary Interpretations Units: 3
  • GS 363 - Comparative Settler Colonialism: Land, the ‘Logic of Elimination,’ and Structures of Race Units: 3
  • SSCI 345 - Cultural Anthropology Units: 3

Complete one of the following upper-division Area 5  Science GE courses:

  • ENSTU 309 - Climate Change Science and Solutions Units: 3
  • GS 318 - Quantitative Reasoning in Global Perspectives Units: 3
  • SSCI 321 - Survey Research in the Social Sciences Units: 3
  • SSCI 361 - Introduction to GIS Units: 3

Complete one of the following global culture and representation courses not previously taken:

  • GS 336 - Cultural Geography: Place, Power, and Positioning Units: 3
  • GS 350 - Global Gender Issues Units: 4
  • GS 360 - Relig’n/Violence/Peacemaking Units: 4
  • GS 363 - Comparative Settler Colonialism: Land, the ‘Logic of Elimination,’ and Structures of Race Units: 3
  • HCOM 348 - Race, Colonialism, and Film Units: 4
  • JAPN 317 - Pacific Food Empires Units: 3

Complete one of the following global politics courses not previously taken:

  • GS 317 - Global Migrant Workers: Ethnic Experiences, Resistance, and Empowerment Units: 4
  • GS 327 - Politics of the Middle East Units: 3
  • GS 390 - Global Politics Units: 4
  • HCOM 443 - Black Feminist Theory & Praxis Units: 4
  • SOC 399 - Contemporary Immigration in Global Perspective Units: 3

Complete one of the following global political economy courses no previously taken:

  • GS 318 - Quantitative Reasoning in Global Perspectives Units: 3
  • GS 342 - Economic Thought: History and Contemporary Interpretations Units: 3
  • GS 351 - Global Econ: Theory & Ethics Units: 3
  • GS 370 - Global Political Economy Units: 4
  • GS 379 - Ethics of Corporate Social Responsibility Units: 3
  • HCOM 445 - Slavery & Race in the Americas Units: 4

Complete one of the following historical foundations courses not previously taken:

  • GS 316 - Approaches/ Global Histories Units: 4
  • GS 325 - Geography of International Development Units: 3
  • GS 331 - Global Social Protest Units: 4
  • GS 385 - Global Ecology Units: 4
  • HCOM 346 - African American Life/History Units: 4
  • JAPN 407 - The Making of Modern East Asia Units: 3

As a student in the program, you’ll take the courses Sweat/Service/Solidarity and Global Movements, which will engage you in meaningful service learning initiatives with organizations working in and around immigrant rights in the Monterey Bay Area.

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Questions? We’re Here to Help!

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you have about the Global Studies program.

Our experienced and supportive admissions staff is here to provide all the individualized guidance you need.

Study Global Studies in an inspiring coastal environment where we are truly committed to mentorship and an engaging student experience.

Find out more about the Global Studies program and other degrees offered in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.