Global Studies: Politics, Culture and Society 30 credits

(30 credits plus 12 credits of experiential learning)

This major offers students the opportunity to study individuals, societies and systems globally—their historical development, cultural orientation, behavior and environment. Based on a foundation in political science, economics, sociology, geography and history, the interdisciplinary approach enables students to integrate theory and research to understand the complex nature of cultural and political global issues.

Coursework will include a focus on the following interdisciplinary issues:

• Globalization
• Social change regarding people, systems and the environment
• Social equity and human rights
• Global political economy
• Social justice and governance
• Historical and cultural transformation
• Policy and Advocacy

The major meets the Massachusetts teacher licensure requirements for certification in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education and Special Education, and in Middle School Education and Secondary School Education in "Political Science/Political Philosophy." This major is well suited to students wishing to pursue graduate studies, planning careers with an international and/or multicultural orientation, and for those interested in law, policy, and advocacy. Given the importance of speaking another language for those preparing to work internationally, students in Global Studies are strongly urged to take a foreign language as part of their program of study. We recommend all majors take two courses as part of their General Education requirements; these credits may be applied to either the Humanities or the Liberal Arts Electives categories in General Education.

The Global Studies Program offers two versions of the major:

1. General Global Studies major - for all Global Studies majors except dual Education majors. This is described directly below under "Global Studies Majors."
2. Dual Global Studies/Education majors seeking Massachusetts Teacher licensure in grades 5-8 or 8-12 in Political Science/Political Philosophy. These double majors should follow the alternate form of the major provided below and labeled "Dual Global Studies/ Education Majors seeking licensure in grades 5-8 or 8-12 in Political Science/Political Philosophy."

Global Studies Majors

I. REQUIRED CORE (9 Credits):

Choose ONE (3 Credits):

II. REQUIRED INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSES (9 Credits):

III. GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES (9 Credits):

Choose courses with at least TWO different prefixes, at least 6 credits must be taken at the 3000-level or above. Students may, if they wish, substitute the Global Environmental Track* below to satisfy this category.

*Optional Global Environmental Track:

The Global Environment track is an optional set of courses that may be used to fulfill the Global Perspectives in the Global Studies major. It provides students with an understanding of global environmental issues and of sustainable economic development practices and issues of environmental justice that emerge from a global environmental perspective.

Choose your three Global Perspectives courses from the category below for a total of 9 credits.

Choose THREE of the following (9 Credits):

At least one course must be taken at the 3000-level or above.

An appropriate global/travel course approved by the Global Studies Program Coordinator.

** Check course description for possible prerequisites.

IV. Professional/Experiential Component (12 Credits):

Students with a dual major in Education are exempted from this component of the major.

*** or any other 1000-level field-based course (e.g., CHMSR 1551; CSOCS 1441; CEDUC 1352; etc.)

Dual Global Studies/ Education Majors seeking licensure in grades 5-8 or 8-12 in "Political Science/Political Philosophy"

I. REQUIRED CORE (9 Credits):

Choose ONE (3 Credits):

II. REQUIRED INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSES (9 Credits):

III. REQUIRED GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES (12 Credits):

ASOSC 5017

World Geography Workshop

1-3 credit

This on line course presents concepts of geography study and activities designed to strengthen students' understanding and knowledge of geography.

It introduces various approaches to geography study: natural, ecological, economic, cultural, political and historical. Students then pursue one or more of these areas in depth. Students intending to become teachers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are encouraged to enroll in this workshop, which also covers areas of geography found in the Massachusetts Frameworks. Assessment is by portfolio review.

CECON 1101

Principles of Economics

3 credits

This course introduces students to basic economic principles and explores selected contemporary social and political issues in an economic framework. Basic micro-economic and macro-economic models and principles are explored, as well as topics such as income distribution, taxation, inflation, unemployment, environmentalism, and economic stagnation and growth.

CGEOG 1001

World Geography

3 credits

Geography is the study of the relationship between humans and the environment — addressing both the impact of the people on the earth, and the influence that the physical environment has had on the development of societies, political systems, and cultures. The course will focus on the human and natural composition of the world's great geographic realms, focusing on their location, their make-up, and their likely future in this changing world. Students will be introduced to the range of topical (systematic) fields of geography, including cultural geography, environmental geography, urban geography, economical geography, political geography, and historical geography. (Fulfills Global Perspectives requirement)

CGLST 2200

Introduction to Globalization

3 credits

This course presents the basic conceptual vocabularies that we use to study the perspectives, institutions, and ideas that are shaping the world around us. Students will deepen their understanding of how the social sciences and the humanities study and compare distinct cultures by examining the interrelationship between humans and their physical, political, cultural, and economic environments. The course stresses the overall importance of geographical and political literacy, and of the ongoing dialogues among the past, the present, and the future in the disciplines that shape cultural studies. Prerequisites: CPOLS 1101 or CGEOG 1001.

CGLST 4400

Global Social Change

3 credits

In this integrative seminar, students will read and analyze current scholarship in social science and history and, as appropriate, natural sciences and humanities, that focus on unfolding issues that will give shape to the new century. Each student will also develop and pursue an appropriate and original research, scholarly, or creative project. Prerequisite: CPOLS 3131 or permission of the instructor.

CPOLS 1101

Introduction to Political Science

3 credits

Politics determine who rules and who obeys, who eats and who starves, who lives and who dies. At the heart of politics is power. The first half of the course will focus on developing conceptual tools necessary for political analysis. The second half will concentrate on using those tools to analyze important political issues and problems. Along the way, students will be exposed to six major subfields in political science: political theory, comparative politics, U.S. politics, political behavior, public policy, and international relations. They will come out with deep understandings of the complexities of political concepts, systems, issues, policies and processes.

CPOLS 3131

Perspectives on International Relations

3 credits

This course focuses on both the theory and practice of international relations, using a multidisciplinary approach including international law and organization (with particular focus on the United Nations), international politics, social psychology, history, ethics, and international economics. Special attention will be given to current global issues including human rights and the environment, and to the shape and content of international relations in the twenty-first century. Prerequisite: CGLST 1200 or CGLST 2200 or CPOLS 2101 or CECON 1101. (Fulfills Global Perspectives requirement)

CSOCS 3444

Research Methods in the Social Sciences

3 credits

Study of the logic, rules, and techniques of social science research. Topics include relationship of theory and research; research design; measurement; and analysis of data, including elementary statistical analysis. Data collection methods such as experimentation, observation, interviews and questionnaires, and secondary analysis of available data are studied and utilized in research projects. Prerequisites: Fulfillment of Social Science general education requirement.