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GLOBAL STUDIES

Minne Hall, Room 122 (507-457-5415)

Director: Yogesh Grover, Ph.D. Political Science

Council Members

Dr .Linda D’Amico    Study Abroad

Dr. Ruth Forsythe       English

Dr. Drake Hokanson   Mass Communication

Dr. Gabriel Manrique Economics & Finance

Dr. Cathy Summa       Geoscience

Dr .Pat Tolmie            Education

Dr .Alex Yard             History

GLOBAL STUDIES: DEFINITION AND RATIONALE

The Global Studies Major takes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the growing interconnectedness between people of, and interdependence among, the countries of the world. Courses in this major explore the causes and consequences of this multi-faceted phenomenon and examine the various responses to it. Global Studies examines change at the global and local level. In this program, humanities, social and natural science courses provide a foundation for the understanding of global change, the varied human reactions to this change, and the possibility that this change can have a positive impact on humanity as a whole. Global Studies thus covers a field of study that cannot be adequately captured by one discipline or field of knowledge. Students majoring in Global Studies gain a sound understanding of the forces shaping our world and lives so that students are prepared to participate effectively in the world they encounter after graduation, whether they decide to work in the US or abroad.

Because this program contains many courses that are drawn from different disciplines, students will find that it is a major that can be taken either independently, or combined fairly conveniently with another major or minor. Several University Studies Program (General Education) courses also fulfill the requirements of this major, thus enabling the students to complement it with another major or minor of their interest. Alternatively, students with a strong preference for other majors will find it useful to have Global Studies as a minor that can provide a global context for the area of knowledge they have acquired.

This major has two parts. Part I provides the students with a general framework that organizes the different aspects of globalization. Part II offers the students an opportunity to gain an in-depth knowledge about a region of the world, North America or Asia. The expectation is that they will examine the impact of global changes on the region they choose to study, and conversely, the impact of regions in influencing the global forces. The emphasis upon global –regional interaction is the distinguishing feature of this program.    

Program Requirements

Students intending to major in Global Studies must complete all the university graduation requirements. Courses fulfilling the major requirements must be taken for credit only. At least 21 of the 58 Major credit requirements must be met with 300-400 level courses.

58 credits No Minor Required

Part I- Global Perspectives       18  credits

Part II- Regional Perspectives  40 credits

PART I- GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

Required Courses (6 credits)           

GS 200             Intro to Global Studies                                      

GS 400             Seminar in Global Studies

Major Electives (12 credits) 

The electives for the Major are organized in the following four categories. Students may not count more than 9 credits from any one of the following categories toward this major.                           

Global Environment

Courses in this section consider the wholeness of the physical environment of the globe, the potential of its resources to meet human needs, the effects of human activity on the global environment, and the ways in which its conservation can occur.

BIOL 104         Environment, Society and Conservation {USP course}   

CHEM 320       Environmental Chemistry (prereq one year of general chemistry or     
                        instructor’s consent {USP})                                                           

GEOG 370        The Geography of Tourism- Advanced Study

GEOS 102        Resources of the Earth (USP course)

GEOS 103        Natural Disasters (USP course)

GEOS 325        Environmental Geoscience (prereq GEOS 120 –Dynamic Earth or 
                        Instructor’s consent {USP course})

GEOS 370        GIS and Imaging Techniques (Oral Flag)
PER    302        Adventure Travel and Tourism Development

Global Governance

Courses in this section examine the inadequacy of current international organizations to cope with contemporary problems brought about by globalization, and examine the efforts of various groups and countries to develop rules, norms and institutions that can respond to these problems in ways that are consistent with universal standards of human dignity.

POLS 130         Introduction to International Relations * (USP course)

POLS 205         United Nations in World Affairs (USP course)

POLS 225         Ethnic Conflict and Nationalism (USP course)

POLS 343         Human Rights in Theory & Practice (USP course)

POLS 346         International Law (prereq PS 130-USP course)

POLS 347         International Organization   (prereq POLS 130-USP 
                         course)                             

POLS 475          Democratization & Its Challenges (prereq PS 135- USP course) 
                        {Writing Flag}

Global Society & Culture

Courses in this section explore the emergence of common norms, values and behavior around the world as a result of globalization and spread of modern technology.  They also examine expression of thought and culture in different parts of the world and the dynamic of conflict and cooperation between local and global cultures.

CMST 381        Cross Cultural and International Communication (prereq CMST 
                         281)

EDUC 450        Comparative Education (no prerequisite)

ENG 221           Topics in World Literature (USP course) {only sections with 
                         following topics}World Mythology; Families Across Cultures; 
                         Beyond Europe & America; Postcolonial Literature}

ENG 225           Topics in Literature: Meeting of East and West in Literature

ENG 327           Genres in Literature- Reading Sacred Texts

MCOM 450      International Broadcasting (prereq MCOM 100 Mass Media & 
                        Society-USP course)

MUS 114          World Music

PER 265           Leisure in Different Cultures

PHIL 330          Biomedical Ethics

SOC 340           Social- Cultural Anthropology (prerequisite SOC 150 Intro to 
                        Sociology {USP course})

SOC 421           Urban Sociology (Prerequisite SOC 150-USP course)

Global Economy

Courses in this section deal with the emergence of the global market economy, the way in which it operates and how governments and non-governmental groups react to it.

ACCT 424        International Taxation (prereq ECON 202- USP course)

BUSA 411        International Business Law (prereq BUSA 291 or 301)

ECON 404        International Economics (prerequisite ECON 201 and 202 -USP 
                         courses)

ECON 415        International Economic Development (prereq ECON 201 and 
                         202 -USP courses)

FIN 440            International Finance (prerequisite FIN 360 –Corporate Finance)

GEOG211         Economic Geography

MGMT 447       International Labor Relations (prereq ACCT 211-USP course, 
                         ECON 201 & 202 -USP courses, MGMT 315 & 317 or 
                        Instructor’s consent)

MGMT 455       International Business (MGMT 315 or instructor’s consent)

MGMT 475       Seminar In International Management (prereq MGMT 315 or 
                         instructor’s consent)

MGMT 477       International Human Resource Management (prerequisite 
                         MGMT 315 or 325, and 317, or  instructor’s consent)
POLS 342         International Political Economy   (prerequisite POLS 130- USP 
                         course)  

General Electives     

GS 205            Cultural Encounters 

GS 350            Cross-Cultural Field Experience (1-9 s.h.)

GS 460            Independent Study (1-9 s.h.)          

PART II- REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES

Students must choose one: North American Studies or Asian Studies (40 credits)

North American Studies                                                     

Required course (3 credits)

GS 210 Introduction to North America                          

Foreign Language  & Cultural Immersion  (16 credits)                                          

Intermediate proficiency (FLAN 202 or equivalent) in one of the following

 Spanish, French   

Students choosing to test out of lower-division language courses must complete remaining credits in one or more of the following ways.

• Spanish or French or English as Second Language (ESL)
• Cultural Encounters (GS 205)
• Approved programs (Study Abroad, Internships, etc.)
• Regional Perspectives Electives beyond the requirements
• Cross Cultural Field Experience (GS 350)

Foreign Language requirements can be waived for students if English is their second language, provided they take an equivalent number of credits from the following with the approval of program director: 

Regional Perspectives (RP) Electives (21 credits) 

Elective courses in the Regional Perspectives part are classified in the following three categories. Students must take at least three courses from one of the following and at least one course from each of the remaining. Courses listed in more than one category can satisfy the requirements of only one category.

Societies in Transition

Courses in this section relate to the geography of the region, the history of its peoples, and its evolving societies in various aspects.

   CMST 281     Intercultural Communication (USP course)

   GEOG 320     Geography of the United States

   GEOG 332     Geography of Canada

   GEOG 270     Introduction to the Geography of Tourism

   HIST 150       United States History to 1865    * (USP course)

   HIST 151       United States History Since 1865-  *(USP course)

   HIST 233       History of Mexico

   HIST 315       Women in US History (prereq 150 or 151 and ENG 111-USP 
                         courses)

   HIST 336       History of North American Sports

   HIST 365       American Legal History (prereq HIST 150 &151 {USP 
                        courses} or instructor’s consent

   HIST 485      Contemporary America 1945-Present (prereq HIST 151 {USP 
                        course})

   HIST 486       American Intellectual and Cultural History

   HIST 488       American Constitutional History

   MCOM 100    Mass Media and Society (USP course)

   MUS 110       History of American Jazz     * (USP Course)

   MUS 122       History of Rock Music * (USP course)

   PHIL 335      Constitutional Philosophy

   RESC 233      Interdisciplinary Approach to Latin American and Caribbean 
                         Immigrants in US Society (USP course)

   RESC 235      Women and Social Justice Issues in Latin America (North  
                        American focus) (USP course)

   SOC 440        Sociology of Dying and Death (prereq SOC 150-USP course)

   SOC 450        Sociology of Aging (prereq SOC 150- USP course)

 Power, Wealth and the Environment            

Courses in this section pertain to the general political and economic institutions, policies and processes in North America. They also relate to the impact of economic development on the physical environment, and the policies adopted or suggested to deal with this phenomenon.                                            

BUSA451     Environmental Law (prereq BUSA 301)

ECON 304    Money and Banking (prereq 201 and 202-USP courses) Writing 
                    Flag Course          

ECON 315    Environmental and National Resources Economics (prereq ECON 
                    201-USP course)

ECON 320    Business-Government Relations {USP course} (prereq ECON 
                    201- USP course)

ECON 435   Economies of North America (prereq 201 & 202 USP courses)

GEOS 130    Earth and Life Through Time (North American Focus) *

GEOS 385    Geology of North America (prereq GEOS 220)

POLS  120   Introduction to American Politics   * (USP course)

POLS 315    American Political Thought (prereq POLS 120 –USP course, or 
                    instructor’s consent)

POLS 320    Constitutional Law (prereq POLS 120- USP course)

POLS  321   The American Presidency (prereq POLS 120 -USP course)

POLS 340    Environmental Policy (USP course)

POLS  360   The American Congress (prereq POLS 120 -USP course)

POLS 422    American Foreign Policy (prerequisite POLS 130- USP course)

POLS 460    North American Relations (prereq PS 130- USP course)

  Cultural Identity and Expression    

Courses in this section pertain to the heterogeneity of North American society, the richness of its social and cultural group life including the pursuit by these groups to express themselves in different ways.

 ART 224         American Art   * (USP course)           

 ART 252         Survey of Women Artists

 CMST 285       Native American Rhetoric and Culture (USP course)

 CMST 286       African-American Rhetoric and Culture (USP course)

 CMST 289       Gender and Communication  

 ENG 220         Multicultural American Literatures (USP course)

 HIST 220         Introduction to African American History (USP course)

 HIST 235         History of the American Indian (USP course) (prereq ENG 
                        111-USP course)

 HIST 315         Women in US History (prereq 150 or 151 and ENG 111-USP 
                        courses)

 HIST 320         North American Indian Civilization (prereq HIST 235-USP 
                        course)

 MUS 440         American Art Music (prereq MUS 109 -USP course)

 POLS 330        Race and American Politics (prereq POLS 120 -USP course)

 SOC 412          Sexuality in American Society (prereq SOC 150)

 SOC 423          Race Relations and Minority Groups (prereq SOC 150-USP 
                        course)

Asian Studies

Required Course (3 credits)

GS 250 Introduction to Asia

Foreign Language and Cultural Immersion (16 credits)

Chinese or Japanese

Chinese

CHIN 101        Beginning Chinese I

CHIN102         Beginning Chinese II

CHIN 201        Advanced Beginning Chinese I

CHIN 202        Advanced Beginning Chinese II

Japanese

JPN 101           Beginning Japanese I

JPN 102           Beginning Japanese II

JPN 201           Advanced Beginning Japanese I

JPN 202           Advanced Beginning Japanese II

Minimum of 12 credits in Chinese or Japanese required.  The remaining 4 credits can be fulfilled by taking additional courses in these languages or by taking equivalent number of credits in one or more of the following ways:

• Cultural Encounters (GS 205)
• Cross Cultural Field Experience (GS 350)
• Approved programs (Study Abroad, Internships, etc.)
• Regional Perspectives Electives beyond the requirements

Students choosing to test out of lower-division language courses must complete remaining credits in one or more of the ways listed above

.

Foreign Language requirements can be waived for students if an Asian language is their first language,  provided they take an equivalent number of credits from the ways listed above and the permission of the program director. 

Regional Perspectives (RP) Electives  (21 credits)

Elective courses in the Regional Perspectives part are classified in the following three categories. Students must take at least three courses from one of the following and at least one course from each of the remaining. Courses listed in more than one category can satisfy the requirements of only one category.

Some courses for this requirement will be available at Akita International University (AIU) in Japan and the Hebei University of Technology in China.  

Societies in Transition

Courses in this section relate to the geography of the region, the history of its peoples, and its evolving societies in various aspects.

ENG 225       Topics in Literature- Changing Role of Women in Asian Literature

GEOG 223    Geography of the Orient
GS 360          Contemporary Asian Issues

HIST 123      East Asian Civilization (USP course)

HIST 341      Modern Japan (prereq HIST 123 Eng 111-USP courses)

HIST 343      Modern China

HIST 447      America in the Vietnam War Era (prereq HIST 151- USP course- 
                    or instructor’s consent)

        Power, Wealth and the Environment

Courses in this section pertain to the general political and economic institutions, policies and processes in Asia. They also relate to the impact of economic development on the physical environment, and the policies adopted or suggested to deal with this phenomenon.                                             

  ECON 430     Asian Economies in Transition  (prereq 201 & 202 USP courses) 
                       USP course                         

  GS 355          Asian International Relations

  POLS 337     Asian Political Systems (prereq PS 135-USP course)

Cultural Identity and Expression

Courses in this section pertain to the heterogeneity of Asian societies, the richness of its social and cultural group life including the pursuit by these groups to express themselves in different ways

ENG 221      Topics in World Literature- Women in Chinese Literature

ENG 327      Genres in Literature- Modern Japanese Novel        

GS   255       Peoples and Cultures of South and Southeast Asia

MUS 115      Music of the East and Southeast Asia (USP course)

THAD 315   Japanese Classical  Theatre