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.
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.
Public University Price, Private University Experience
A Lifetime of Value
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.
Complete all of the following courses:
- GS 206 - Understanding Globalization Units: 3
- GS 300 - Major ProSeminar Units: 3
- GS 362 - Global Literatures Units: 3
- GS 403 - Capstone Proposal Units: 3
- GS 445 - Capstone Seminar Units: 3
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 - Participatory Action Research Methods Units: 3 and
- SL 492S - Participatory Action Research Practicum Units: 2
Complete one of the following UDD Integrated 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
- SBS 345 - Cultural Anthropology Units: 3
Complete one of the following UDB Integrated Scientific Inquiry & Quantitative Reasoning GE courses:
- ENSTU 309 - Climate Change Science and Solutions Units: 3
- GS 318 - Quantitative Reasoning in Global Perspectives Units: 3
- SBS 321 - Survey Research in the Social Sciences Units: 3
- SBS 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
Complete one of the following global politics courses not previously taken:
- GS 317 - Global Migrant Workers: Ethnic Experiences, Resistance, and Empowerment Units: 4
- GS 323 - International Law Units: 4
- GS 327 - Politics of the Middle East Units: 3
- GS 335 - Comparative Governments and Politics Units: 4
- GS 390 - Global Politics Units: 4
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
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 451 - Transnational Migrations Units: 4
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.
Faculty & Staff
Our faculty have initiated and advised programs like the OtterPod social science and public humanities podcast, the Global Otters Club, and a wide range of research activities as a way to provide individualized mentorship and support for their students.
Sara Salazar Hughes
Special Consultant
Sara Salazar Hughes
Special Consultant
Angie Tran
Professor
Here's a short recap of the year's highlights.
CSUMB is meeting or exceeding all six goals, including increasing graduation rates, decreasing time to graduation, and closing equity gaps.
Topics included the university’s continuing rise in national college rankings, student graduation and success, and new Otter traditions like The Plunge.
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.