Major Requirements

Credits Required: 

Total semester credits: 120

Semester credits in the major: 54

Students begin work on the major by completing the prerequisite courses at the lower division: GS 206: Understanding Globalization and GS 214: Global History I: to 1500 or GS 215: Global History II: Since 1500.  Normally students enroll in GS 300: Major ProSeminar and GS 300L: Global Studies Lab during the fall semester of the junior year where you work with the instructor to create or revise your Individual Learning Plan. That ILP maps out how you will achieve each of the Major Learning Outcomes designated below by successfully completing the listed courses or alternative assessment options. You conclude the major by completing the year-long GS capstone series - the GS 400: Capstone Proposal Seminar  and GS 401: Capstone Seminar  which involves producing a publicly presented project that displays your cumulative learning in the major. [Learn more at http://CSUMB.EDU/capstone].

Major Requirements and Learning Outcomes are identified below. In order to graduate, students must also meet all general education and university requirements. 

MLO 1: Core Curriculum

Ability to comprehend and apply various concepts, sources of information and perspectives in the analysis and evaluation of the historical context, philosophical and epistemological dimensions, contemporary economic and political conditions of globalization. It will also address networks and skill-based service learning for effective global citizenship.

Required Courses

  • Lower division major requirement:
  • GS 206: Understanding Globalization (4 units)
  • GS 214: Global History I: to 1500 (3 to 4 units)
  • OR
  • GS 215: Global History II: Since 1500 (3 to 4 units)
  • Upper division requirements:
  • GS 300/L: Major ProSeminar (4 to 7 units)
  • GS 316: Historical Approaches (4 units)
  • GS 330: World Views (4 units)
  • GS 370: Global Political Economy (4 units)
  • GS 390: Global Politics (4 units)

MLO 2: Global Area Focus

Ability to understand and analyze global theory and relevant research methods through an Area of Focus. Suggested Areas of Focus include, but are not limited to, Global Culture and Ideology, Global Politics/Peace and Conflict, Global Political Economy, and International Development/Humanitarian Action.

To complete your area of focus, you may take three upper-division GS courses, or two upper-division GS courses and any approved third upper-division course. You must also take one SBS research methods course.
 

Required Courses

  • Take one of the following SBS Research Courses:
  • SBS 361/L: Introduction to GIS (4 to 6 units)
  • SBS 362/L: Rsrch Mthd for SBS: Qual Emph (4 to 5 units)
  • SBS 366/L: Rsrch Mthd for SBS:Quant Emph (4 to 5 units)
  • Take two to three courses in the following suggested Areas of Focus:
  • Global Culture and Ideology
  • GS 332: Religion/Post Secular World (4 units)
  • GS 340: Social Medial and Global Comm (4 units)
  • GS 349: The West/Arab/Muslim World (2 to 3 units)
  • Global Politics, Peace and Conflict
  • GS 311: US/Foreig/Poli/Pac/Rim/3rd/Wrl (2 to 4 units)
  • GS 322: Dilemmas in Humanitarianism (4 units)
  • GS 326: US Foreign Policy & Empire (4 units)
  • GS 335: Comparative/Gov'ts & Politics (4 units)
  • GS 345: Glob Politcal Theory/Philosphy (4 units)
  • GS 360: Religion/Violence/Peacemaking (4 units)
  • Global Political Economy
  • GS 375: Ecological Political Economy (2 to 4 units)
  • GS 376: Political Economy of the US (2 to 4 units)
  • GS 385: Global Ecology (2 to 6 units)
  • International Development/Humanitarian Action
  • GS 322: Dilemmas in Humanitarianism (4 units)
  • GS 325: International Development (4 units)
  • GS 349: The West/Arab/Muslim World (2 to 3 units)
  • GS 350: Gender/Violence in Global Life (4 units)
  • GS 385: Global Ecology (2 to 6 units)

MLO 3: Global Competence

Global competence is an “appreciation of other cultures and the ability to interact with people from foreign lands. It is the ability to become familiar with an environment, not causing a rift while experiencing something new, and reflection upon the experience at its completion.” A globally competent person understands the interconnectedness of today’s world and the importance of responsible decision making.

Students meet their upper division service learning requirement for this MLO through an approved Service Learning course (e.g., GS 380S: Int'l Organizations & SL). In addition to the required Service Learning course, students can acquire more global competency through travel seminars, a semester abroad or the courses below.

Recommended Courses

  • You may choose to take one of the following:
  • GS 349: The West/Arab/Muslim World (2 to 3 units)
  • GS 396: Field Studies (1 to 6 units)
  • GS 397: Independent Study (1 to 6 units)

MLO 4: Capstone

Students synthesize and evaluate their learning experiences associated with Global Studies and prepare a cumulative portfolio that demonstrates they have fulfilled their learning objectives. In addition, students synthesize, research and write a Capstone project that integrates experiential learning and knowledge of the theory, methods and philosophy of the major.

Required Courses

  • GS 400: Capstone Proposal Seminar (2 units)
  • GS 401: Capstone Seminar (2 units)

Concentrations