Bachelor of Arts Degree in Global Studies
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The Global Studies major is a B.A. degree offered by the College of Social Sciences at SJSU.
You can download the application form and the graduation form.
The Mission Our mission is to provide an academic home and advisement for Global Studies majors, so they may discover and understand their place and future in today's interconnected world.
The Program The interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree program in Global Studies offers an exciting opportunity for SJSU students to develop in-depth understanding of international flows of information, business, technologies ideologies, people, values and materials, and how these flows affect cultures, economies, politics and environment for individuals, communities, and nations. Students who major in this field will acquire:
- Understanding of things that are universal
- Appreciation of the distinction between the local, regional, national and global
- Knowledge of how different professions operate on a world scale
- Intermediate abilities in a second language
- Capacity to work abroad for an extended time and intercultural communication.
The Bachelor of Arts degree program in Global Studies strives to equip its graduates with global competencies that will prepare them for work in, for example, national diplomatic service, international development, management of non-governmental organizations, business and commerce, environmental preservation, cultural pursuits and performing arts.
Admission to the Major
Students applying to major in Global Studies should demonstrate a strong commitment to international affairs, world geography, foreign languages and intercultural relations. Prior study of foreign languages and travel abroad will increase students' chances for success. These aptitudes will be assessed by means of letters, transcripts, faculty sponsors, interviews and essays about personal experience and career goals that applicants submit when declaring the major. There are no special prerequisites for admission to the major, however, other than the general SJSU requirements.
Degree Requirements
The major in Global Studies will require 48 semester hours of course work, which includes: Two core courses and two capstone courses, breadth courses and an area of regional emphasis, plus 16 units. of electives. Some courses that satisfy General Education (GE) requirements may be used for the major and GE. Required courses are offered at least once each year by SJSU faculty.
| Preparation for the Major . | 3 units |
You are advised to take culture courses from the Foreign Language Department corresponding to your chosen second language (for example, for Spanish the courses SPAN 102 - Spanish Culture and SPAN 140 - Spanish American Lit.), when they are available.
| CORE COURSES (To be taken in the first year) |
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| GLST 1A | Introduction to Global Studies A | 3 units | ||||||||||||||||
| GLST 1B | Introduction to Global Studies B | 3 units |
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| GLST 179 | Capstone Seminar (to be taken in final year) | 3 units |
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| GLST 189 | Global Experience (to be taken in final year) | 3 units |
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| GLST 187 |
Special Topics |
3 units |
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ACADEMIC BREADTH COURSES (At least two courses from each of the following four groups and offered by different academic departments. Courses cross-listed with any of these are eligible.) |
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| Group I: Global Geography and Environment | 6 units | |||||||||||||||||
| This group of courses provides you with a better understanding of the physical world and human interactions with it. They show the interconnectedness of all regions, through vast forces of nature, below the earth's surface, in its lands and oceans and in its atmosphere. Changes in these intricate and balanced systems have far-reaching consequences for the future of people on the planet. Global citizenship requires a grasp of these processes. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Biol 110 | Biodiversity and Biopolitics | |||||||||||||||||
| EnvS 159 | Nature and World Cultures | |||||||||||||||||
| Geol 111 | Geology and Environment (GE-R) | |||||||||||||||||
| Geog 107 |
Mapping the World |
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| Metr 112 | Global Climate Change (GE-R) | |||||||||||||||||
| NuFS 139 | Science and Hunger (GE-R) | |||||||||||||||||
| Phil 126 | Environmental Ethics and Philosophy | |||||||||||||||||
| Geol 105 |
Oceanography |
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| Group II: Global Business and Economics | 6 units | |||||||||||||||||
| Globalization arose out of a growing awareness of the international expansion of enterprises, the multinational corporations and their influence. Today the field of global studies embraces international financial institutions, international corporate law, intellectual property rights and other areas vital to the economic well-being of the world. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Bus 145 | Global Operations Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Bus 156 | International Issues in Human Resource Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Bus 162 | International and Comparative Management | |||||||||||||||||
| Bus 187 | Global Dimensions of Business | |||||||||||||||||
| Econ 117 | National Economies, Policies and Performance | |||||||||||||||||
| Geog 115 | Geography of the Global Economy | |||||||||||||||||
| Group III: Global History and Politics | 6 units. | |||||||||||||||||
| Many argue that globalization has been going on for centuries and that today's global phenomena are merely occurring faster and more powerfully than in previous eras. The 20th century witnessed extraordinary efforts to manage supra-national affairs, giving rise to new disciplines to study them. Any attempt to understand today's globalization must begin with its deep as well as recent history. | ||||||||||||||||||
| PolS 147 | Third World Politics | |||||||||||||||||
| PolS 150 | War and Peace (GE-V) | |||||||||||||||||
| PolS 152A | International Organizations | |||||||||||||||||
| PolS 152B |
Model United Nations |
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| Geog 112 | Nations, Cultures and Territorial Conflicts (GE-V) | |||||||||||||||||
| Hist 132 | World War II | |||||||||||||||||
| Hist 130 |
AB Millitary History |
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| Hist 145 | Europe and the World Since 1945 | |||||||||||||||||
| Hist 155 | An Introduction to World Civilization (GE-V) | |||||||||||||||||
| Hist 172B |
History of American Foreign Relations from 1913 |
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| Comm 115 |
Communication and Conflict |
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| Pols 148 |
Nationalism and Comparative Political Cultures |
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| Group IV: Global Cultures and Society | 6 units. | |||||||||||||||||
| Anth 102 | Silicon Valley Connections | |||||||||||||||||
| Anth 115 | The Emerging Global Culture (GE-V) | |||||||||||||||||
| Anth 166 | Wealth and Power | |||||||||||||||||
| ArtH 193A | Worlds of Art and Culture (GE-V) | |||||||||||||||||
| Art H 193B | East Meets West in Art (GE-V) | |||||||||||||||||
| Comm 152 | Communication in World Cultures | |||||||||||||||||
| Comm 173 | Intercultural Communication (GE-S) | |||||||||||||||||
| MCom 106 | Global Mass Communications | |||||||||||||||||
| LLD 122 | English as a World Language | |||||||||||||||||
| Soci 116 | Global Society (GE-D3) | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech 198 | Technology and Civilization (GE-V) | |||||||||||||||||
| Soci 169 |
Political Sociology |
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| Soc 160 |
Immigration and Identity |
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| Phil 120 |
Eastern and Western Philosophy |
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| PROGRAM EMPHASIS COURSES: Area of emphasis: | 12 units. | |||||||||||||||||
| You must choose an area of special scholastic emphasis that looks at global regions such as Latin America, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa etc. for imparting expertise in areas of the world where language, culture, natural environment and history are more alike. Typically a student will elect a region where his/her second language is spoken for satisfying the global experience requirement. The regional emphasis must be defined in consultation with the Global Studies program adviser, who must also approve courses selected. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ELECTIVE COURSES | 16 units. | |||||||||||||||||
| You must take an additional 16 units of credit in elective courses of your choosing. | ||||||||||||||||||
Language Requirement
In order to graduate, candidates for the B.A. in Global Studies must demonstrate college-level, intermediate speaking, reading and writing ability in a language other than English. The language must be one taught at SJSU: currently Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Punjabi. Usually, two years of college-level language study would satisfy this requirement. Assessment of language ability will be done by the Foreign Languages Department. You will take the Placement Exam and also participate in an oral interview with a qualified instructor to evaluate language skills to verify that the you have achieved the intermediate level of competency. The standard will be similar to the ACTFL evaluations.
You are encouraged to take a minor in the foreign language for which you are testing. For further information on the requirements for a minor, please visit the Foreign Languages Department website.
Global Experience
Majors must complete a 3 credit-hour course (GLST 189—Global Experience). This may be accomplished by enrolling in an approved study abroad program, conducting an individual learning project under the supervision of a professor in the GS faculty, participating in a credit-bearing service learning program, working in a formal internship placement or taking part in a student exchange program. This experience must be a serious academic/professional project approved by the Global Studies advisor beforehand. You are encouraged to petition for transfer to your degree program of formal study you undertake while abroad, over and above the credits for GLST 189.
For more information on Study Abroad, please visit the SJSU Study Abroad Program page.
Program Benefits
Marketplace Demand: A survey of potential employers in the Silicon Valley provided a highly supportive response to the marketplace need of a Global Studies major. The business world is turning global, and so should education, as there is a need for academically prepared graduates equipped to plan, manage and implement international projects like:
- Placement in NAFTA-type international trade zones
- Acquisition of skills--negotiation, language, business and leadership
- Internships and study abroad/international experience
Capstone Seminar in Global Studies
Designed for seniors in global studies to gain coherence in their theoretical knowledge, factual grounding, international living, personal aptitudes and career aspirations. It is designed to refine discussion skills, develop research methods, bring international and linguistic experience to bear and consolidate students' grasp of interdisciplinary study.
Opportunity for International Experience
All majors will have the opportunity for international experience through Study Abroad, specially designed projects, internships and the like.
Minor in Global Studies
You may complete a minor in Global Studies by completing 15 units, including either GLST 1A or 1B and GLST 179 and 189, plus two courses chosen from the four breadth areas that do not count for the major. You must also demonstrate intermediate level speaking and writing ability in a language other than English, as measured by the SJSU Department of Foreign Languages.
Program Advisement
For information, academic planning, advisement, please contact:
Michael Conniff
Director, Global Studies
210 N. Fourth Street
408-924-7196
michael.conniff@sjsu.edu