Global Studies
Global Interconnection
Interested in finding how you fit into the global equation? Global Studies delve into the complexities and commonalities of the human experience all around the world.
What is Global Studies?
Global Studies is an interdisciplinary inquiry into the developments which have in the past and will continue to shape the interconnectedness of people and places around the world. It employs critical analyses of the processes which have contributed to both the complexity and variety of our world societies and to the common features of the changing human and natural environments.
It begins with basic questions, such as how does people's struggle to survive connect them across time and space, or what common features are there in the dynamics of conflict for people in different regions with similar experiences, and, how do apparently local issues or developments in one region of the world have profound impacts on people across the globe?
Global studies is much more than just the tracking of elements of "globalization," a process which has been going on since human communities first began migrating beyond the confines of their geographic origins. It is about the ways we both see and affect each other, and how people, states, societies, and the global community struggle to reconcile common individual and local interests with broader world-wide interests. Global Studies is, therefore, the study of us, and the world we share from a variety of perspectives.
program
Program of Study
Global Studies empowers us to see beyond our experiences, to understand the holistic nature of human interconnections. It utilizes a wide range of intellectual disciplines to broaden our understanding of our world and our place in it. These may include history, political science, science and medicine, philosophy and religious studies, and geography and environmental sciences as well as economics. It seeks to illuminate our understanding of such transnational and global phenomenon as environmental degradation, epidemic disease, mass migration, human rights issues, peace, conflict, global trade and economic linkages, and even spirituality.
At its heart, Global Studies is about you as an individual and your global citizenship; it is about your identity within, experience of, and impact upon the world you live in. As a discipline, Global Studies prepares you to be better able to shape and improve your world.
Information
Career Choices for Global Studies Majors
Students graduating with a Global Studies major will be well suited for a variety of careers including:
- Lobbyist, Government Work, Policy Analyst, and Politician
- Environmental Organizations, Peace Corp Volunteer, Advocacy Groups, Translator, Researcher, and Author
- International Education and High School Teacher
- International Business, Journalist, Citizen-Based Organizations, and Artist
Additionally, because of the rigorous nature of the program, graduates will be well prepared for graduate or law school.
Requirements
The Global Studies major is unique. Instead of taking all courses for the major in one area discipline, History for example, Global Studies is interdisciplinary and thus students can choose from a wide variety of courses.
Students choose one of the following academic tracks to follow:
- Social Studies/ Humanities
- Area Studies, ex. Africa, Latin America, etc.
- Sciences
- Interdisciplinary themes, ex. Indigenous peoples, Women and Development, etc.
The B.A. in Global Studies requires 33 hours in the major.
Nine of those hours must be experiential learning either through a study abroad experience or an internship. A three hour Capstone course is also required.
- Prerequisite: XIDS 2301 Introduction to Global Studies. All Global Studies majors must take the Introduction to Global Studies course.
- Global Studies students must minor in a foreign language.
- Experiential Learning: Global studies students will also complete 9 hours of either study abroad or internship.
- GLOB 4000 Capstone Seminar: Graduating seniors will also take the Global Studies Senior Seminar.
Study Abroad/Experiential Learning
Central to the Global Studies major is the concept of experiential learning. As a result, all Global Studies majors must complete 9 hours of experiential learning. Students can chose from the options below.
Options:
- Traditional study abroad program.
- Study with a subculture of the U.S., ex. Native American
- Internship with internationally focused NGO, ex. CARE
Information about study abroad options can be found at:
- The University System of Georgia's Office of International Education
- University of West Georgia's Office of International Programs
- University of West Georgia's International Languages and Cultures' Program
Mission Statement
The educational mission of the Global Studies program is to promote an understanding of global awareness by focusing on the interconnectedness of local and global events. This focus enables students to examine and explain global issues in an analytical framework that emphasizes the role of individuals in local communities and their relationship to the global society. The program is designed to train future leaders to grapple with some of the most pressing issues of our time. The program cuts across traditional boundaries of disciplines and is transnational in its approach. This interdisciplinary program allows students maximum freedom of choice in assisting with designing their own course of study.
XIDS 2301 Introduction to Global Studies 3 hrs.
Examination of global issues, the individual’s role in the global society and the events that shape our world. Topics and themes include global issues such as food and population, the spread of disease, human rights, sustainable development, empowerment of women, indigenous peoples, causes of poverty, ecological degradation, and migration. The course may include a field trip. Satisfies Area E of the core.
GLOB 4000 Capstone Seminar 3hrs.
Prerequisite: XIDS 2301, senior status, and consent of instructor.
This capstone seminar is designed to integrate the various experiences of students in their interdisciplinary endeavors. Depending on the particular academic tracks students have chosen as part of their program of study and relevant study abroad experiences, both of which will be represented in the portfolios students will bring to this class, specific aspects of globalization will be examined at an advanced level. Themes include population, health and food production; sustainable social and economic development; the global environment and natural resources utilization; human rights; work with displaced populations; empowerment of women, indigenous people, and children; education; culture; as well as aspects of the development of moral judgment and social consciousness as they pertain to globalization processes.
GLOB 4186 Internship in Global Studies var. 1-9
Prerequisite: XIDS 2301 and instructor’s approval.
Students may receive academic credit for personal experience in the field of global studies. Credit hours apply toward the major.
GLOB 4981 Directed Readings in Global Studies var. 1-3
Prerequisite: XIDS 2301, junior or senior standing, and instructor’s permission.
In-depth, individualized research on specific global problems and issues.
GLOB 4985 Problems in Global Studies 3/0/3
Prerequisite: XIDS 2301
Specialized areas of analysis in a sub-field of global studies with the specific titles announced in the class schedule and entered in the students’ transcripts. Students may repeat the course for credit as topics change.
For Tracks 1-2: Social Sciences
- ANTH 3105 General Archaeology
- ANTH 3106 Physical Anthropology
- ANTH 3150 Indians of South America
- ANTH 3151 Seminar on Warfare
- ANTH 3156 Archaeology of Political Organizations
- ANTH 3157 Applied Anthropology
- ANTH 3158 Economic Anthropology
- ANTH 3180 Environmental Anthropology
- ANTH 3184 Mesoamerican Archaeology
- ANTH 3186 Anthropology of Gender
- ANTH 4106 North American Indians
- ANTH 4115 North American Archaeology
- ANTH 4120 Indians of the Southeastern United States
- ANTH 4132 Human Life Cycle in Cross-Cultural Perspective
- ANTH 4134 Animals and Culture
- ANTH 4144 Peoples and Cultures of Latin America
- ANTH 4150 Human Evolution
- ANTH 4155 Peoples and Cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa
- ANTH 4170 Myth, Magic, and Religion
- ANTH 4173 Language and Culture
- ANTH 4175 Ethnohistory
- ANTH 4177 Social Organization
- XIDS 3300 Africana Studies
- HIST 3311 Ancient Near East and Classical World
- HIST 3312 Near East in Middle Ages
- HIST 3313 Near East in Modern Times
- HIST 3315 Civilization of India
- HIST 3318 African Society: The Precolonial Era
- HIST 3321 Western Europe in the Middle Ages
- HIST 3323 17th and 18th Century Europe
- HIST 3324 Nineteenth-Century Europe, 1815-1919
- HIST 3326 Colonial Latin America
- HIST 3327 Latin America Since Independence
- HIST 3341 The British Isles to 1603
- HIST 3342 The British Isles Since 1603
- HIST 3351 Imperial Russia
- HIST 3361 American Diplomacy
- HIST 3362 African-American History to 1865
- HIST 3363 African-American History since 1865
- HIST 4401 Theory and Practice of Oral History
- HIST 4411 European Renaissance in Global Perspective
- HIST 4412 The Reformation
- HIST 4418 20th Century Europe
- HIST 4419 The Cold War
- HIST 4420 The Holocaust
- HIST 4421 Mexico Since Independence
- HIST 4424 Conflict and Interdependence
- HIST 4430 The Vietnam War
- HIST 4433 Introduction to Modern China
- HIST 4436 French Revolution-Napoleon
- HIST 4437 France since 1815
- HIST 4440 Modern Germany
- HIST 4443 Introduction to Modern Japan
- HIST 4446 Soviet Russia
- HIST 4461 Environmental History
- PLAN 3703 Small Town and Rural Planning
- POLS 3102 Women and Politics
- POLS 3401 Comparative Politics
- POLS 3501 International Relations
- POLS 4209 Environmental Policy
- POLS 4401 African Politics
- POLS 4402 Russian Politics
- POLS 4403 Latin American Politics
- POLS 4501 International Law
- POLS 4502 Gender and Ethnicity in International Politics
- POLS 4503 International Organization
- POLS 4601 Ancient and Medieval Political Thought
- POLS 4602 Modern Political Thought
- POLS 4603 American Political Thought
- PSYC 3010 Human Growth and Development
- PSCY 3110 Human Sexuality
- PSYC 3470 Existential Psychology
- PSYC 3580 Holistic Health Psychology
- PSYC 3730 Social Psychology
- PSYC 3743 Collective Behavior/Social Movements
- PSYC 4040 Psychology of Dreams
- PSYC 4130 Eastern and Transpersonal Psychologies
- PSYC 4140 Psychology of Gender
- PSYC 4290 Moral and Social Development
- PSYC 4350 Culture and Psychology
- PSYC 4650 Transpersonal Development
- SOCI 3100 Sociology of Humor
- SOCI 3263 Social Inequality
- SOCI 3273 Managing Cultural Differences
- SOCI 3603 Sociology of Gender
- SOCI 3733 Social Psychology
- SOCI 3743 Collective Behavior/Social Movements
- SOCI 4103 Women and Work
- SOCI 4323 Cultural and Racial Minorities
- SOCI 4513 Comparative Social Psychology
- SOCI 4623 Art, Media, Cultural Politics
- SOCI 4803 Environmental Sociology
- ECON 3410 Macroeconomic Policy
- ECON 3425 Economic Geography
- ECON 3430 World Economic History
- ECON 3440 History of Economic Thought
- ECON 4420 Labor Relations
- ECON 4450 International Trade
- ECON 4455 International Financial Economics
- ECON 4470 Comparative Economic Systems
The Humanities
- ART 4200 The Art of Greece and Rome
- ART 4201 History of Non-Western Art
- ART 4202 Early Christian, Byzantine, and Medieval Art
- ART 4204 Art of the Renaissance
- ART 4206 Art of Early Modern Europe: 1600-1850
- ART 4208 Modern and Contemporary Art
- COMM 3356 Film & Culture
- ENGL 3300 Studies in American Culture
- ENGL 4100 British Literature by Genre
- ENGL 4105 American Literature by Genre
- ENGL 4106 Studies by Genre
- ENGL 4109 Film as Literature
- ENGL 4110 Medieval Literature
- ENGL 4115 Renaissance Literature
- ENGL 4120 Seventeenth-Century British Literature
- ENGL 4125 Colonial and Early American Literature
- ENGL 4130 Eighteenth-Century British Literature
- ENGL 4135 British Romanticism
- ENGL 4140 American Romanticism
- ENGL 4145 Victorian Literature
- ENGL 4150 American Realism and Naturalism
- ENGL 4155 Twentieth-Century British Literature
- ENGL 4160 Twentieth-Century American Literature
- ENGL 4165 Contemporary British & American Literature
- ENGL 4170 African-American Literature
- ENGL 4175 Studies in World Literature
- ENGL 4185 Studies in Literature by Women
- FORL 4300 Seminar in Global Studies
- MUSC 4300 Jazz History and Styles
- PHIL 2160 Philosophy and Literature
- PHIL 3100 Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
- PHIL 3110 Modern Philosophy
- PHIL 3130 Analytic Philosophy
- PHIL 3150 Existentialism
- PHIL 3200 Biblical Studies
- PHIL 3210 Christian Theology
- PHIL 3230 Philosophy of Religion
- PHIL 3240 World Religions
- PHIL 4115 Political Philosophy
- PHIL 4120 Professional Ethics
- THEA 3357 Theatre History I
- THEA 4457 Theatre History II
For Track 3: The Sciences
- BIOL 3621 Genetics & Medical Genetics
- BIOL 4241 Entomology
- BIOL 4445 Marine Biology
- BIOL 4450 Terrestrial Ecology
- BIOL 4541 Plant Physiology
- BIOL 4727 Essentials of Immunology
- CHEM 4003 History and Philosophy of Science
- ENVS 3180 Environmental Anthropology
- ENVS 4803 Environmental Sociology
- GEOG 3253 Economic Geography
- GEOG 3563 Remote Sensing of the Environment
- GEOG 3713 Weather and Climate
- GEOL 3603 Environmental Geology
- GEOL 4024 Paleontology
- PHYS 3703 Physics, Energy, and the Environment
- XIDS 3200 History and Philosophy of Science
*Other special topics courses may be added with the permission of the Global Studies Committee.
Sample Program for the Humanities/Social Sciences Track
- ENGL 4109 Film as Literature
- ENGL 4175 Studies in World Literature
- SOCI 3603 Sociology of Gender
- SOCI 3273 Managing Cultural Differences
- PSYC 4350 Cultural Psychology
- PHIL 3240 World Religions
- POLS 4503 International Organization
Sample Program for the Sciences Track
- BIOL 4450 Terrestrial Ecology
- BIOL 4727 Essentials of Immunology
- CHEM 4003 History and Philosophy of Science
- ENVS 3180 Environmental Anthropology: Global Connections
- ENVS 4702 Ethics in Land Use Policy and Planning
- ENVS 4803 Environmental Sociology
- GEOG 3253 Economic Geography
Sample Program for the Area Studies Track-Africa
- POLS 4401 African Politics
- HIST 3318 African Society: The Pre-colonial Era
- XIDS 3300 African Studies
- ENGL 4175 Studies in World Literature
- ANTH 4175 Peoples and Cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa
- HIST 4424 Conflict and Interdependence in South Africa
- ANTH 4175 Ethnohistory
Sample Program for the Special Topics Track-Indigenous Peoples
- ANTH 4144 Peoples and Cultures of Latin America
- ANTH 4155 peoples and Cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa
- ANTH 4106 North American Indians
- ANTH 3186 Mesoamerican Archeology
- HIST 3318 African Society: The Pre-colonial Era
- HIST 3326 Latin America in the Age of Conquest
- ANTH 3150 Indians of South America
Resources
- African Union
- Amnesty International
- Center for World Indigenous Studies
- Christian Science Monitor
- CIA World Factbook
- Eldis Gateway to Development Information
- Heidelberg Institute On International Conflict Research
- id21: International Development Institute
- The United Nations
- World Health Organization
UWG Participating Departments
Contact
Contact Us
Coordinator: Dr. Neema Noori
Phone: (678) 839-6329
Email: nnoori@westga.edu