Global Studies

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Major and minor offered 

Visit the global studies department webpage at https://www.stlawu.edu/offices/global-studies. 

Major Requirements 

Take eight Global Studies core courses, do an off-campus study program, and explore your intellectual interests! We require 14-15 units towards the major, including off-campus courses, and courses outside the department, depending upon students' concentrations. Students are encouraged to take 101 and 102 in their first year and must complete all the core courses in the department. 

  1. Core Courses (8 units) 

101. Introduction to Global Studies: Political Economy. 

102. Introduction to Global Studies: Race, Culture and Identity. 

290. Research Methods in Global Studies. 

301. Theories of Global Political Economy. 

302. Theories of Global Cultural Studies. 

Two (2) Global Studies electives (GS designation), one at the 200 level and one at the 300 level and should normally fit in with the student’s choice of concentration (below). For example, GS264 and GS365 for Global Public Health. 

489 or 490. SYE: Senior Project. or 

498,499. SYE: Honors Project. 

  1. Choice of Concentrations (7 units, including study of a second language).  

Students have three tracks they can choose from to mold their concentration, which can be satisfied with department courses, other on-campus courses, general education requirements courses, and off-campus courses.  

These are: 

  1. Comparative area studies: complete three (3) courses in each of two geographic or cultural areas; and one semester of a second language; or 

  1. One-area intense study: complete four (4) courses in one geographic or cultural area and three semesters of a second language related to their area concentration; or 

  1. Area and thematic study: complete three (3) courses in one geographic or cultural area, and three (3) courses in one thematic area; and one semester of a second language. 

Programs available for students’ geographic or cultural area concentrations include: 

  • Arabic Studies 

  • African Studies 

  • African American Studies 

  • Asian Studies 

  • Canadian Studies 

  • Caribbean, Latin American, and Latino Studies 

  • European Studies 

  • Native American Studies 

  • Other areas (e.g., Middle Eastern or Islamic Studies) with approval of the department chair. 

Programs available for students’ thematic area concentrations include: 

  • Global Public Health 

  • Digital Media and Film 

  • Diasporas, Migration and Borders 

  • Global Development 

  • Environmental Studies 

  • Race, Gender and Sexuality 

  • Governance and Security 

  • Education and Critical Pedagogies 

  • Peace and Conflict 

  • Business and Finance 

  • Other areas with the approval of the department chair. 

All global studies majors are expected to spend at least a semester in off-campus study, gaining field experience and praxis. They are also required to study a second language. The courses taken off campus typically count toward the relevant area of concentration and often allow students to do research toward the senior project (SYE). Students are encouraged to meet early with a Global Studies faculty member to discuss off-campus study possibilities. 

Honors 

To be considered for honors in global studies, students must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.2 overall and submit for evaluation a one-year research project of substantial length and quality. Further details may be obtained in the department office. 

Minor Requirements 

The global studies minor consists of six courses: GS 101, 102, either 301 or 302, two (2) electives in global studies, normally one at the 200 level and one at the 300 level, and a semester of second language study. 

See Global Studies courses