Minor in Global Studies

A Global Studies minor is a flexible and valuable complement to any major, minor, or certificate across the University. Adding a Global Studies minor offers students the opportunity to develop linguistic expertise and a comprehensive understanding of global issues, while incorporating cultural competence into their undergraduate degree and professional skill set.

Students interested in the Global Studies major should contact the academic advisor, Dr. Cybele Arnaud (arnaud@cua.edu) to devise a study plan.

Curriculum

The Global Studies major consists of 6 courses:

    • The core course - GS 101: Introduction to Global Studies

      GS 101 introduces students to the field of Global Studies, an interdisciplinary approach to the study of global history, culture, politics, and society. The goal of the class is to learn how the world has changed both before and during the contemporary period of globalization (ca. 1970-present). Students examine and conduct research on topics such as: the history of globalization, global languages and cultures, global societies and politics, and contemporary global issues. Throughout the class, we will pay particular attention to the central role of the Catholic Church - a global institution since its inception - in both advancing globalization and responding to the most pressing global issues. 

    • 2 intermediate language courses (103 & 104)

      These classes can be taken in the following languages:
      • Arabic
      • Chinese
      • French
      • German
      • Italian
      • Spanish (either 103 & 104, 111, or 103HC & 104HC)

      These courses also count towards the Foundations in Language Requirement. 

      Students who place out of 103 will enroll in one elective course, while students who place out of 104 will enroll in two elective courses. Students may also opt to use their electives to learn another language.

    • 1 practical language skills/cultural competence course

      For Spanish:
      • SPAN 203 - Global Cultures and Communities in the Spanish-Speaking World
      • SPAN 207 - Advanced Spanish for HealthCare I
      • SPAN 208 - Advanced Spanish for HealthCare II
      • SPAN277 - Cultural Competence Awareness in Healthcare
      • SPAN 402 - Translation in International Affairs
      For all other languages:
      • ANTH 101 - Cultural Competency in a Global Society
      • CHN 240 - Global Business Communication & Cultures
      • GER 500 - Reading for Comprehension
      • GS200 Global Languages and Immigration
      • SSS 326 - Diversity in a Multicultural Society
      • This is just a sample of courses offered. Contact the undergraduate advisor for additional options that may better suit your interests.

    • 1 regional focus course

      Choose three classes in one of the following regions:

          • Africa

            • AFRI 101 - Introduction to Africana Studies
            • AFRI 203/HIST 203 - Food in the African Diaspora
            • AFRI231B/HIST231B - African Football
            • SPAN 228 - Afro-Latino Cultures of the Americas

          • Asia

            • CHN240 - Global Business Communication and Cultures
            • GS 202 - Global Asian Crime Fictions
            • GS 203 - Storytelling in Video Gaming: Language, Culture, and Identity
            • HIST 142 -  The Mongols: Fire and Silk Across Eurasia
            • HIST419 - Genghis Khan

          • Europe

            • ENG378 - Italy in American and British Literature
            • ENG 378 -  Italy in American and British Literature (Rome)
            • FREN/GER 230/ITAL 232 - Fairy Tales
            • GS201 - European Identities through Film
            • POL 202 - European Politics
            • POL 433 - Russian Foreign Policy

          • The Middle East

            • HIST 308 -  Napoleon to Bin Laden: History of the Modern Middle East
            • HIST 310 - The Ottoman Empire
            • SOC 319 - Modern Islamic Terrorism

          • The Americas

            • ANTH 324/HIST 324 - Cultural Heritage of Native America
            • HIST/ANTH 288; SOC 207 -  Bootleggers, Smugglers, Traffickers, and Cartels: The History of Crime and Justice on the Border
            • HIST 396A - Civility, Savagery, and Rebellion in the British Atlantic, 1600-1800 
            • POL 350 - Latin American Politics
            • SPAN 228 - Afro-Latino Cultures of the Americas
            • SPAN 209 - Latino American Migrant Narratives
            • TRS 328 - Makers of Hispanic Catholic History

    • 1 global issues course

      Issues will vary based each semester based on course offerings.

      Global issues can include but are not limited to:

          • AI & Technology

            • DA404 - Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
            • GS250 - The good, the bad and the algorithm
            • POL 300 - Ethics and AI Policy
            • PSY 272 - Psychology and Technology

          • Business, Economics, & Marketing

            • ECON574 - Environment and Economics
            • HSSS 102 - Economic Reasoning and Social Issues
            • MKT 359 - Fashion Marketing
            • MGT 390 -  International Business Strategy
            • MKT362 - International Marketing

          • Environment

            • ANTH218 - Anthropology of the environment
            • HSEV204 - Environmental Politics and Policy
            • HSEV 101 - Environmental Science and Sustainability
            • HSEV 102 - Religion, Ethics and Ecology
            • HSEV 203 -  The Economics of Energy and The Environment
            • POL478 - Environmental Politics and Policy

          • Healthcare & Medicine

            • BIOL109 - Medicine and society
            • PSY 261 - Psychology and the Media

          • Crime & Conflict

            • ANTH 288 - Bootleggers, Smugglers, Traffickers, and Cartels: The History of Crime and Justice on the Border
            • MDIA322 - Media and Crime
            • POL 460A - Grand Strategies of War and Peace
            • SOC 107 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
            • SOC205 - Sociology of Crime and Justice
            • SOC320 - Terrorism and Counter Terrorism
            • SOC 317 - Criminological Theory
            • SOC 310 - Police, Law and Society

          • Politics & Global Affairs

            • POL 112 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
            • POL 202 - European Politics
            • POL 212 - Introduction to International Relations
            • POL 307 - Global Issues
            • POL 340 - Intelligence Analysis Tradecraft
            • POL 341 - Intelligence Collection
            • POL431 - Classics of International Relations
            • POL452A - Comparative and Foreign Relations Law

          • Sports

            • AFRI231B/HIST231B - African Football
            • MGT 324 - Sports Management
            • MGT327 - Sportsmanship: Leadership and Ethics in Sport
            • MKT325 - Sports Marketing
            • PSY243 - Sport Psychology

          • Society & Culture

            • HIST 240 - Politics of the Past: An Introduction to Cultural Heritage Studies
            • SSS326 - Diversity in a Multicultural Society
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