Program of Study
The Global Studies Program provides students with the opportunity to study international affairs from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Whether pursuing the major or the minor, students can choose from an approved list of courses from Anthropology, Communication, Economics, History, Liberal Studies, Literature and Writing, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Modern Language Studies, Visual and Performing Arts, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. The program allows students to specialize in one of four geographic regions: the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, or Sub-Saharan Africa, and in two of four global issue areas: Foreign Policy, Global Conflict, and Global Cooperation; International Law and Human Rights; Global Political Economy and Development; and Gender in Global Perspective.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Students who graduate with a B.A. in Global Studies will be able to:
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the political, economic and cultural aspects of globalization and its impacts.
- Evaluate and communicate the complexity of global issues from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
- Demonstrate undergraduate-level mastery of a specialized geographic area of global studies.
- Evaluate and communicate the ways in which local issues and circumstances are involved with and influence global issues (and vice-versa).
Career Opportunities
The Global Studies Degree will be useful to students pursuing careers in international development, international organizations (e.g., United Nations), law, non-governmental organizations focusing on international affairs (e.g., Amnesty International), government, graduate study in History, Political Science, and International Affairs, and education.
Preparation
Prior to taking any upper-division coursework for the major, students are encouraged to complete, or be in the final semester of completing, all lower-division General Education requirements.
Special Conditions for the Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies
All courses counted toward the major, including “Preparation for the Major” courses, must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better. A minimum of eighteen (18) units counted toward the major must be earned in residence at Cal State San Marcos. No more than six (6) units of internship, GBST 495, and/or independent study, GBST 498, credit may be counted toward the major. In order to graduate, all Global Studies majors must successfully complete GBST 400 - Senior Seminar in Global Studies during their senior year.
All Global Studies majors must meet a second-language competency requirement. This requirement can be met by completing an approved third semester language course with a grade of C (2.0) or higher or by successfully passing a third-semester-level language competency exam. International students may satisfy this requirement by meeting the university’s TOEFL requirement for admission. A partial list of CSUSM courses that can be used to meet the second-language competency requirement are listed below:
Language Proficiency (9 Units)
All Global Studies majors must meet a third semester second-language proficiency requirement. This requirement can be met by completing a third semester language course (i.e., 201 or above) with a grade of C (2.0) or higher or by successfully passing a third semester-level language competency exam. International students may satisfy this requirement by meeting the university’s TOEFL requirement for admission. For details on how to satisfy this requirement, please refer to Language Proficiency Requirement .
Note:
Language courses may not be “double-counted” to meet the Global Culture, Geographic Areas, and the third semester second-language competency requirements of the Global Studies major. Second language competency may not be satisfied with computer languages or American Sign Language.
Interdisciplinary Social Science Requirement (3 Units)
All Global Studies majors must meet an Interdisciplinary Social Science (IDSS) requirement. This is satisfied with an approved lower-division interdisciplinary social science course from one of the following departments or programs: American Indian Studies, Anthropology, Border Studies, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, Geography, Linguistics, Social Sciences, and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. The course taken to satisfy IDSS cannot double count with other major requirements and must be outside the student’s major discipline.
Check the Class Schedule or Degree Planner for the most up-to-date list of courses satisfying this requirement.
Preparation for the Major (9 Units)
Complete the following nine (9) units of preparatory coursework with a grade of C (2.0) or better:
Upper-Division Requirements (39-45 Units)
Upper-Division Electives
For the latest list of upper-division electives that count for the major and minor, see “Requirements and Important Documents” at http://www.csusm.edu/globalstudies/.
Geographic Areas
At least five units (5) in one geographic area. Students are strongly encouraged to take courses from two different disciplines; please see “Requirements and Important Documents” at www.csusm.edu/globalstudies/ for a list of approved courses in these areas:
The Americas
Asia
Europe
Middle East and North Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Global Culture
Students must complete two courses (5-6 units) and are strongly recommended to choose courses from different disciplines; please see “Requirements and Important Documents” at www.csusm.edu/globalstudies/ for a list of approved courses in these areas.
Global Issues
Students must complete three courses in each of two of the following global issues areas listed below, for a total of at least seventeen (17) units. Students are strongly encouraged to choose courses from a variety of different disciplines. Please see “Requirements and Important Documents” at www.csusm.edu/globalstudies/ for a list of approved courses in these areas:
- Foreign Policy, Global Conflict, and Global Cooperation
- International Law and Human Rights
- Global Political Economy and Development
- Gender in Global Perspective
Breadth Requirement (3 Units)
Additional course in Upper Division Social Sciences (DD designated) outside the major. This requirement can also count as the DD requirement in Upper Division General Education, but it must be taken in a Social Science or Interdisciplinary program other than Global Studies. Any course carrying the DD designation outside of Global Studies can be used to fulfill this requirement. If students choose to satisfy their UDGE DD with a course outside the major, the breadth requirement will become 3 free elective units.
Minimum Total (120 Units)
Students must take a sufficient number of elective units to bring the total number of units to a minimum of 120
*At least six (6) units of General Education Requirements in Areas C (Arts and Humanities) and D (Social Sciences) are automatically satisfied by courses taken in Preparation for the Major.
