Global Studies
Department Office
Modern Languages and Literatures
Stevenson Hall 3016
707 664-2351
Major Coordinator
Philip Beard (Fall) 707 664-2170
Tony White (Spring) 707 664-2463
Administrative Coordinator
Dolores Bainter
Programs offered Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies
The Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students for international or intercultural service through the study of other cultures, world history, political and economic systems, world geography and environment, cross-cultural communication and conflict resolution, and a modern language. Recognizing the increasing interdependence of the world and the global nature of contemporary issues, the major is designed to increase awareness and understanding of other cultures and systems as well as global issues, while developing the skills needed to work effectively in a global or multicultural context.
The major requirements include core courses, basic areas, an integrative seminar, a field of concentration, a capstone seminar project, intermediate (or better) proficiency in a second language, a cross-cultural living or work experience, and a service internship. Since the core and basic area requirements include general education courses, students may meet 18 units of GE while completing major requirements. The approved concentrations include Central Europe, Latin America, International Economic Development, and Asian Studies. In preparation is a concentration in Environmental Studies. In exceptional cases, with the approval of the Global Studies Steering Committee, students may also develop individual concentrations in other disciplines or regions.
All Global Studies majors are expected to participate in an intensive cross-cultural experience of at least three months? duration, during which they speak primarily a language other than their mother tongue. Students normally will meet this expectation by studying or working abroad. When travel abroad is impossible, students may arrange an extended cross-cultural experience closer to home ? e.g., living and working for a summer in an immigrant community. (Students who have spent extended time in other than mainstream U.S.-American circumstances, speaking a language other than English, may already have met this expectation.)
Applicants to the program must have a GPA of 2.50 or better in at least one semester of college study, and must submit a two-page statement of interests, background, goals and values to the program coordinator.
Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies
| Degree Requirements | units |
| General education | 51 |
| Core requirements | 19 |
| Language study | 5 |
| Basic Areas | 22-25 |
| Concentration | 20 |
| Total units needed for graduation | 120-124 |
Students must complete all core courses and one course from each of seven basic areas.
I. Core Requirements
| ECON 201A Introduction to Macroeconomics | 4 |
| GLBL 200 Written and Oral Analysis (Global Studies section) | 3 |
| GEOG 302 World Regional Geography | 3-4 |
| GLBL 350 Integrative Seminar | 1 |
| GLBL 498 Service Internship | 3 |
| GLBL 499 Capstone Seminar | 3 |
II. Basic Areas
Complete at least one course from each of the following seven areas:1. Culture
ANTH 203 Cultural Anthropology (3)
ANTH 340 Living in a Pluralistic World (3)
ANTH 389 Language and Communication (3)
ANTH 352 Topics in Cultural Change (3)
GEOG 203 Cultural Geography (3)
GEOG 338 Social Geography (3)
2. Global Environment
ENSP 200 Global Environment Issues (3)
ENSP 304 World Food and Population Crisis (3)
ENSP 334 Energy, Technology, and Society (3)
GEOG 372 Global Change: Past, Present, and Future (3)
GEOG 396 Conservation of Natural Resources (3)
3. Historical Perspectives
HIST 202 Development of the Modern World (3)
HIST 380 20th Century World (3)
4. Political Ideas and Institutions
POLS 342 International Politics and Foreign Policy (4)
POLS 349 Introduction to Comparative Government (4)
POLS 345 Model United Nations (4)
POLS 315 Democracy, Capitalism, Socialism (3-4)
POLS 390 The Politics of Asia (4)
POLS 452 Third World Political Systems (4)
POLS 453 Political Systems of Latin America (4)
5. Context, Communication and Negotiation
ANTH 360 Topics in Developmental Anthropology (4)
BUS 391 Cross-Cultural Communication (3)
COMS 320 International Communication (3)
LING 432* Language in Sociopolitical Context (3)
PSY 490 Conflict Resolution Courses in Extended Education (2-3)
WGS 311 Global Perspectives on Feminism (3)
*Prerequisite ? see major program for details.
6. Global Economy and Business
ECON 303 International Economics (4)
ECON 403 Seminar in International Economic Development (4)
BUS 393 Introduction to International Business (4)
7. Religious and Ethical Perspectives
PHIL 302 Ethics and Human Value Theory (3)
SOCI 431 Sociology of Religion (4)
PSY 485 Ecopsychology (4)
ENSP 306 Environmental Ethics (3)
HIST 482 Judaism and Christianity in the Hellenistic and Roman World (4)
UNIV 301 War and Peace Lecture Series (3)
* Prerequisite ? see respective major program for details.
III. Concentrations
No courses used to satisfy Basic Area requirements may be used to satisfy the concentration requirements.
The combination of courses chosen to meet concentration requirements must be approved by the student?s Global Studies advisor.
Central Europe: 20 units
Take 6 units from Group I and choose 14 from Group II:Group I
GER 301 Advanced Composition and Conversation (3)
GER 302 Advanced Composition and Conversation (3)
Group II
HIST 411 The Enlightenment to WWI (4)
HIST 412 Europe Since 1914 (4)
HIST 417 Origins of Modern Russia (4)
HIST 418 Revolutionary Russia (4)
HIST 419 Modern Russia and the Soviet Union (4)
POLS 350 European Parliamentary Democracies (4)
POLS 352 Politics of Eastern Europe (4)
POLS 353 European Social Democracies (4)
POLS 354 Comparative Political Parties (4)
ArtH 454 Nineteenth Century Art (3-4)
ArtH 464 Modern Art from 1850 to 1945 (3-4)
UNIV 301 War and Peace Lecture Series (3)
SSCI 305 Perspectives on the Holocaust and Genocide (3)
Central Europe students must also attain the Zertifikat Deutsch, the internationally recognized Goethe Institute proficiency certificate. The certification exam is offered at Sonoma State every year in May.
Latin America: 20 units
Choose at least one course from Group I, and not more than three courses in any one discipline:Group I
GEOG 392 Latin American Culture and Environment (4)
HIST 339 Ancient and Colonial Latin America (4)
HIST 342 Modern Latin America (4)
POLS 453 Political Systems of Latin America
SPAN 307 Introduction to Latin America (3)
Group II
ANTH 392 Communities in Mexico (4)
GEOG 318 Baja California (3)
ECON 403 Seminar in International Economic Development (4)
HIST 431 History of Cuba (3-4)
HIST 433 History of Mexico (4)
HIST 434 The United States and Latin America (4)
SPAN 497 Seminar in Latin American Literature (3)
Language: At least two years of college Spanish or Portuguese, or the equivalent.
International Economic Development: 20 units
Take both courses in Group I, and 12 units from at least three of the five categories in Group II:Group I
ECON 403 Seminar in Economic Development (4)
BUS 393 Introduction to International Business (4)
Group II
BUS 394 International Business Strategy (4)
BUS 473 International Finance (3)
GEOG 372 Global Change: Past, Present, and Future (3)
ENSP 334 Energy, Technology, and Society (3)
ENSP 356 Environmental Politics and Economics (3)
POLS 345 Model United Nations (4)
POLS 452 Third World Political Systems (4)
POLS 486 Selected Issues in International Politics (4)
ANTH 352 Special Topics in Culture Change (3)
BUS 391 Cross-Cultural Communication (3)
PSY 303 The Person in Society (3)
Asian Studies: 20 units
Pursuant to consultation with a Global Studies advisor, a student will take one course from Group I, one course from Group II, and courses from among the subgroups in Group III to total 20 units.
Students are strongly encouraged to take an Asian language course: Japanese, Chinese, or Hindi offered at SSU and/or SRJC or another institution to insure language proficiency in their area of study.
Group I
ANTH 365* Ethnographies of Regional Cultures (3)
HIST 435 Modern China (4)
HIST 438 Modern Japan (4)
POLS 390 The Politics of Asia (4)
Group II
ArtH 470A Survey of South and Southeast Asian Art (3-4)
ArtH 470B Survey of Chinese and Japanese Art (3-4)
PHIL 390 Asian Philosophy (3)
Group III
Sociology and EthnographyAMCS 360* Ethnic Literature (South Asia) (3)
AMCS 467* Selected Topics in Asian American Studies (3-4)
AMCS 377* Asian American Experience (3)
ANTH 340* Living in a Pluralistic World (Asia) (3)
ANTH 365* Ethnographies of Regional Cultures (3)
HIST 498+ Class and Gender in East Asia (4)
Fine Arts
ArtH 363 Asian Cinema (3)
ArtH 470A Survey of South and Southeast Asian Art (3-4)
ArtH 470B Survey of Chinese and Japanese Art (3-4)
ArtH 474 Islamic Art (3-4)
ArtH 480 Selected Topics: Buddhist Art; Zen; Hindu Art; Japanese Prints (1-4)
ENGL 314* Modern World Literature in English (3)
ENGL 436* Studies in Postcolonial Literature (Asia) (3)
FL 314* Foreign Literature in English Translation (3)
MUS 321 Advanced Music Practicum: Indian Singing (1)
MUS 351 Sacred Traditions of South Asia (3)
MUS 352 History, Music and Secular Traditions of South Asia (3)
MUS 370* Music and Dance in the World?s Religions (3)
History and Politics
HIST 336 Early China to 1500 (3)
HIST 337 Early Japan to 1650 (4)
HIST 435 Modern China (4)
HIST 438 Modern Japan (4)
HIST 475 Pacific Region (4)
POLS 390 The Politics of Asia (4)
Philosophy and Religion
PHIL 390 Asian Philosophy (3)
PSY 342 Psychology of Meditation (3-4)
PSY 352 Psychology of Yoga (3-4 )
SOCI 431* Sociology of Religion (3)
* these courses will be approved for the concentration ONLY when the course focus is predominantly on Asia AND with the written consent of the student?s Global Studies advisor.
+ approval of instructor required.