Global Studies Major
Global Studies is a rigorous but flexible interdisciplinary major that combines courses across departments and schools at the University of Richmond and at least a semester of study abroad. Students majoring in Global Studies select one of four concentrations, each coordinated by advisors with special expertise in the areas. The GS major and these concentrations provide a well-rounded liberal arts education, awareness of different nations, cultures, and global issues, and preliminary preparation for a variety of careers in the international arena.
The Global Studies major begins with the gateway course, Introduction to Global Studies and at least one of two other foundational courses, Geographic Dimensions of Global Development or Introduction to Comparative Politics. Students also reach advanced proficiency in a second language and experience living in another academic culture. During the final year, after study abroad, GS majors complete a capstone Senior Seminar by researching and writing an original scholarly paper on an important international issue. Successful completion of GS 290 is a prerequisite for GS400.
Students work with faculty advisors to choose additional electives, including courses taken abroad, within each concentration. Selections typically mix courses from anthropology, communications, economics, environmental studies, geography, history, literature, political science, religion, sociology, women’s studies, and the fine arts. Within each concentration, eight units must be taken from three or more departments (with no more than three units from a single department). While studying abroad students are encouraged to work with faculty advisors to identify courses not listed in the Richmond catalog that complement their academic program.
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Major
The Global Studies Major
Note: The grade point average of the coursework comprising the major must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade less than C- (1.7).
13 units, including:
FOUNDATIONAL STUDY IN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Students specializing in Global Studies should be competent in at least two languages. For students whose secondary education was in English this requirement can be met by completing two courses taught in a language other than English at the 300 or 400 level in the departments of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures or Latin American, Latino and Iberian Studies. Students whose secondary education was not in English may satisfy the requirement with two units of world literature at the 300 or 400 level in any language (beyond the concentration).
APPROVED EXPERIENCE ABROAD
All Global Studies students should experience significant cultural immersion via a study abroad program of at least one semester in length, related to the major concentration. Students requesting an exception to this requirement (usually two summers) may submit a written petition to the program coordinator for review by a committee of Global Studies faculty.
For one semester of study abroad, students can transfer back up to 3 units of credit toward the GS major. For a full-year overseas, they can transfer back no more than 5 units.
GLOBAL STUDIES FOUNDATIONAL COURSEWORK AND CAPSTONE
GLOBAL STUDIES CONCENTRATION
Eight units selected from three or more departments with no more than three units from a single department
Students are expected to fulfill all prerequisites necessary for courses within the major. Prerequisites do not count toward the major unless otherwise noted.
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Cultures & Communication
Global Studies: Cultures and Communication
The concentration consists of eight units in at least three different departments or disciplines, selected in consultation with an advisor, structured as follows:
Skills and Applied Courses
Analytic and applied understandings of intercultural communications. Two courses, chosen from:
Complex Problems
Explore challenges and stakes of efforts to communicate across borders, cultures, assumptions, and beliefs. Two courses, chosen from:
ANTH-300 Sexuality and Gender Across Cultures
ANTH-306 Tourism and Anthropology
ANTH-379 ST: Tech, Surveillance and The Media
ECON-210 Economics of the European Union
ENVR-322 The Global Impact of Climate Change
HIST-236 Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and After
HIST-240 Human Rights and Revolution in the Atlantic World (1750-1850)
HIST-270 Early Islamic World
HIST-329 Brexit: A History
HIST-390 Food and Power in Africa and Asia
LLC-260 Literature and Social Change in Eastern Europe
LLC-360 Representing the Holocaust
LLC-346 Insiders and Outsiders: Arabic Encounters with the West
PLSC-346 Politics of Cultural Pluralism
SOC-308 Sociology of War
WGSS-203 Human Rights and Revolution in the Atlantic World (1750-1850)
Regional Courses
Investigate cultural specificity. Two units chosen from regional courses:
Additional Concentration Electives
Two additional courses, chosen from those above.
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Development & Change
Global Studies: Development and Change
Note: Within the concentration, the eight units must be selected from three or more departments with no more than three units from a single department.
Eight units, including:
ECON-211 Economic Development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
Developmental Courses
At least three core unit courses, one from each of the following groups:
Group 1: Geographies
Group 2: Politics and Policies
Group 3: Human Experience
Regional Courses
Three elective units covering at least two different 'developing' regions, selected from the regional courses or comparable courses of study abroad.
Development Related Courses
Possible additional electives from courses listed above, selected topics, courses studied abroad, internships, independent study, or the following courses:
ANTH-300 Sexuality and Gender Across Culture
ANTH-303 Biopolitics in Medical Anthropology
ANTH-328 Anthropology of Human Rights
ECON-105 Introduction to Global Economics
ECON-310 International Trade: Causes, Consequences, and Controversies
ECON-360 International Macroeconomics
HIST-391 Transnational Social Reform
PLSC-359 Global Governance
SOC-306 Social Change in a Global Perspective
SOC-335 Feast and Famine: Inequalities in the Global Food System
All students concentrating in Development are encouraged, but not required, to conduct independent research, in consultation with their GS faculty advisor. Summer research may be eligible for University funding.
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International Economic Policy
Global Studies: International Economic Policy
Students are strongly encouraged to develop proficiency in economics with either a minor or double major (see Economics department listings for requirements).
Note: Within the concentration, the eight units selected from three or more departments.
Eight units, including:
International Economics or Finance
Three units, chosen from:
ECON210 The Economics of the European Union
ECON211 Economic Development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
ECON215 International Monetary Economics
ECON310 International Trade: Causes, Consequences, and Controversies
ECON315 International Macroeconomics
FIN462 International Financial Management
Or, another upper level courses in international economics with approval of GSIEP advisors
Global Power and Politics
Two units from two different departments, chosen from:
ANTH328 Anthropology of Human Rights
GEOG320 Power, Space, and Territory: Geographies of Political Change
GEOG345/SUST 345 Global Sustainability: Society, Economy, Nature
HIST236 Russian Empire, Soviet Union and After
HIST271 The Modern Middle East
HIST290 Britain and the World
HIST291 Histories of Public Health and Biomedicine in the Global South
HIST392 Humanitarianism and Development
PLSC250 Introduction to International Relations
PLSC350 American Foreign Policy
PLSC351 Globalization
PLSC353 International Security
PLSC356 International Political Economy
PLSC359 Global Governance
PLSC360 International Development Policy
SOC231 Across the Pond: Europe vs. USA
Regional Courses
These courses focus on a specific region or country in order to emphasize the importance of culture and historical and cultural context in global interactions, both economic and otherwise. Students must take two units, chosen from the list of Regional Courses.One additional unit chosen from courses above.
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Politics and Goverance
Global Studies: Politics and Governance
The concentration is comprised of eight units selected from at least three departments and in the following categories
Diplomacy and World Order
Two units, chosen from:
ANTH-328 Anthropology of Human Rights
ENVR-366 International Environmental Law
GEOG-320 Power, Space, and Territory: Geographies of Political Change
HIST-215 United States and the World Since 1945
HIST-249 Cold War Europe, 1945-1991
HIST-290 British Empire and the World
HIST-341 History and Memory: WWII in East Asia
PLSC-250 Intro to International Relations
PLSC-350 American Foreign Policy
PLSC-353 International Security
PLSC-359 Global Governance
RHCS-359 Media and War
Economic Integration or Interdependence
Two units, chosen from:
ECON-105 Introduction to Global Economics
ECON-210 The Economics of the European Union
ECON-211 Economic Development in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
ECON-310 International Trade and Finance
HIST-390 Food and Power in Africa and Asia
GEOG-345/ENVR-345 Global Sustainability: Society, Economy and Nature
GEOG-370 Geographies of Economic Development and Globalization
PLSC-351 Globalization
SOC-306 Social Change in a Global Perspective
SOC-335 Feast and Famine: Inequalities in the Global Food System
Regional Courses
Two units focused on the same world region selected from regional courses or study abroad.
Additional Concentration Electives
Two units chosen from the areas above.