Nov 21, 2024

Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Global and International Studies Major (GBLJ)

Global and International Studies Program

Main Office, 2047 Moore Hall
(269) 387-5653
wmich.edu/globalstudies

One of the three pillars of our university’s vision seeks to be “globally engaged”. Global and International Studies major and minor offers a broad, integrative approach to the study of global and international issues. The program is supported by the methods and theories of different disciplines, by language study, and through regional area expertise. It houses a family of interdisciplinary focus fields devoted to the study of global and international issues and major regions and cultures of the world, offering one undergraduate major and four minors. Course offerings for these programs are primarily in the College of Arts and Sciences, although other colleges may provide appropriate courses.

The Global and International Studies major is also designed to maximize opportunities for international study abroad and academic experiences outside of the United States. Extensive world language study is required in the major; and, although the minors can be completed without world language courses, most students include some in their programs, as appropriate. With advisor approval, courses taken at colleges and universities through study abroad, either in English or in other languages, may be integrated into the program requirements.

Students completing this major often seek employment in international business, government service or work with international organizations. Many students seek a second major with a world language.

Advising
Given the interdisciplinary nature of the program, it is very important that students work regularly with program advisors. Information about career choices, internships, graduate programs and second majors is also available from our office.

Academic Standards
Students must earn at least a grade of “C” in all courses counted for their major/minor.

Baccalaureate Writing Requirement
Students who have chosen a global and international studies major will satisfy the Baccalaureate Writing Requirement by successfully completing GIST 4900 - Senior Capstone Seminar in Global and International Studies.

Global and International Studies Major (39 hours)

Required core courses (15-18 hours):

GIST 2000 - Introduction to Global and International Studies Credits: 3 hours
GIST 4900 - Senior Capstone Seminar in Global and International Studies Credits: 3 hours
Note: The Senior Capstone Seminar in Global and International Studies (GIST 4900) will also be used to satisfy the University’s baccalaureate-level writing requirement.

Three courses chosen from:

ANTH 2400 - Principles of Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3 hours
ECON 2020 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 2050 - Human Geography Credits: 3 hours
HIST 2030 - World History since 1500 Credits: 3 hours
PSCI 2400 - Comparative Politics Credits: 3 hours
REL 2000 - Thinking About Religion Credits: 4 hours
SOC 3040 - Nonwestern World Credits: 4 hours

Focus field (12-16 hours)

Students will take four courses in a single focus field. Courses listed in each focus field represent only a sample of courses available. Courses other than those listed for the focus fields can be selected with advisor approval.

GIST 3500 - Topics in Global Studies Credits: 1 to 4 hours
This course varies and may serve as one required course within the chosen focus field.

Identities and cultures in a globalized world

Explores issues of race, religion, nationality, ethnicity and gender. Considers the role identities play in shaping national and international ideas, actions, conflicts and policies. The following courses should be considered as options for discussion with an advisor.

GWS 3480 - Gender and Plastic Bodies Credits: 3 hours
COM 4740 - Intercultural Communication Credits: 3 hours
ENGL 2110 - Folklore and Mythology Credits: 4 hours
ENVS 3600 - Environment and Culture Credits: 3 hours
FCS 3150 - Global Ecology of the Family Credits: 3 hours
MUS 3120 - Explorations in World Music Credits: 3 hours
PHIL 3500 - Foundations of the Modern Worldview Credits: 4 hours
REL 3145 - Cults, Sects, and New Religions Credits: 3 hours
SOC 3140 - Race in America Credits: 3 hours

States, security, and transnational governance

Explores the ways that the international states system, international non-governmental organizations, and other transnational organizations address the intersection between local and global issues. The following courses should be considered as options for discussion with an advisor.

ECON 3800 - International Economics Credits: 3 hours
ENVS 3400 - Environmental Policy Credits: 4 hours
GEOG 2440 - Economic Geography Credits: 3 hours
HIST 3790 - World War II in American and Japanese History Credits: 3 hours
PADM 2000 - Introduction to Public and Nonprofit Service Credits: 3 hours
PSCI 2500 - International Relations Credits: 4 hours

Inequality and social responsibility

Explores the origins and impact of economic and social disparities and the influences of race, gender and socioeconomic class on resource distributions. It seeks to understand the legal and ethical responses to these social differences, and the challenges it presents for peoples and governments. The following courses should be considered as options for discussion with an advisor.

ANTH 2600 - Sex, Gender, Culture Credits: 3 hours
ECON 3840 - Economic Development Credits: 3 hours
ENVS 4150 - Environmental Law Credits: 3 hours
GWS 3200 - Women, Globalization and Social Change Credits: 3 hours
PHIL 3150 - Race and Gender Issues Credits: 3 hours
SOC 3140 - Race in America Credits: 3 hours

Global health and environment

Focuses on the linkages between health and the environment and studies the challenges, opportunities and responsibility of sustaining healthy bodies, communities and environments. The following courses should be considered as options for discussion with an advisor.

ANTH 3560 - Food and Culture Credits: 3 hours
BIOS 1050 - Environmental Biology Credits: 3 hours
ECON 3180 - The Economics of Medical Care Credits: 3 hours
ECON 3190 - Environmental Economics Credits: 3 hours
ENVS 2050 - Nature, Society, and Sustainability Credits: 4 hours
GEOG 1000 - Global Environmental Issues Credits: 3 hours
GEOS 3220 - Ocean Systems Credits: 3 hours
HOL 2000 - Choices in Global Living Credits: 3 hours
PHIL 3340 - Biomedical Ethics Credits: 4 hours
PSCI 3060 - Environmental Politics Credits: 4 hours
REL 3190 - Religion and Health Credits: 4 hours

Migration and population dynamics

Examines the movements of people and explores the economic, social, cultural, ethical, security, and policy ramifications of this mobility. The following courses should be considered as options for discussion with an advisor.

ANTH 3470 - Ethnicity/Multiculturalism Credits: 3 hours
ECON 3190 - Environmental Economics Credits: 3 hours
HIST 3611 - The Crusades: West Meets East Credits: 3 hours
LWIR 3000 - Immigration, Race and Ethnicity in the U.S. Credits: 3 hours
PHIL 3150 - Race and Gender Issues Credits: 3 hours
SOC 3140 - Race in America Credits: 3 hours
HISP 2650 - Hispanic Culture in the U.S. Credits: 3 hours

Global communication, expression and information systems

Studies the forms of expression and production and circulation of ideas, images and information from comparative and global perspectives. It explores the role of technology, communication modes and the arts in defining global issues. The following courses should be considered as options for discussion with an advisor.

ANTH 2800 - Language in a Global World Credits: 4 hours
ART 2220 - Art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas Credits: 3 hours
COM 3400 - Global Media Literacy Credits: 3 hours
ENGL 3160 - Storytellers Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 1020 - World Geography through Media and Maps Credits: 3 hours
GWS 1000 - Media and the Sexes Credits: 3 hours
HIST 3060 - Technology and Culture Credits: 3 hours
LANG 3750 - Global Issues through Literature and Film Credits: 3 hours
MUS 3520 - World Music in Theory and Practice Credits: 4 hours

Self-Designed Focus Field

Offers students the option of arranging a set of courses to develop a thematic focus field. Students must petition the global and international studies program for approval of a self-designated focus field.

Study Abroad, Service Learning or Internship Cognate (3-4 hours)

Students must select an approved experiential learning opportunity, which may include an internship with a global focus or a study abroad program. The following courses may also be used to satisfy this requirement. The advisor may approve an appropriate substitute.

ANTH 4900 - Archaeological Field School Credits: 6 hours
GIST 4980 - Directed Research and Field Projects Credits: 1 to 6 hours
HIST 4950 - Internship Credits: 3 to 9 hours
PSCI 3900 - Field Work in Political Science Credits: 1 to 12 hours
SPAN 4400 - Internship or Service with Spanish Credits: 2 to 3 hours

For study abroad programs visit:

broncosabroad.international.wmich.edu

World Language Cognate (6-8 hours)

The program requires at least two courses beyond the 2010-level in a single language other than the student’s native language and appropriate to the chosen focus field. Courses taught in English cannot satisfy this requirement. Students whose native language is not English should consult the program advisor on fulfillment of the language requirement.

Area Studies Requirement (3-4 hours)

The program also requires one area studies course in the region in which the student’s language choice is spoken. A study abroad program in a region corresponding to the student’s language choice can be used to satisfy this requirement.

The following courses should be considered as options for discussion with an advisor.