2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Global Affairs Major

CIP Code

30.2001

The major in Global Affairs responds to the demands of the twenty-first century by preparing students for an interdependent world. Globalization has accelerated the forces of economic, social, and political integration presenting both opportunities and challenges. It is designed for students who have strong international interests and wish to pursue those interests in a degree-length program of study that will prepare them for engagement in a globalized world with the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to confront the most pressing international issues.

Major Requirements 

At least 39 credits will be required for the major to be distributed in the following way:

Students must complete a common core of seven courses and six elective courses to be chosen from among five areas: Asian Area Studies, European Area Studies, International Systems, Latin American Area Studies, or Middle Eastern Studies and African Studies. Students must equally distribute the six elective courses among two concentrations, half of which must be upper-division courses. Additionally, students are required to complete two semesters of a foreign language and apply and expand their knowledge in a study abroad experience.

Coursework & Groups

The following courses have been preapproved. New electives in these fields must be approved by the director of the Global Affairs major. Approval will be based on the centrality of the course topic with respect to issues of global relevance.

Program Core Courses

Take the following:

EC 202Principles of Microeconomics

3

GS 101Introduction to Global Studies

3

PO 200Research Design

3

PO 203Writing in Political Science

3

PO 332International Political Economy

3

 

GS 301Seminar in Global Studies

3

or

GS 302Senior Thesis

3

Elective Courses

Asian Area Studies

HI 281Introduction to the Civilization of East Asia

3

HI 283Law in Late Imperial China

3

PH 129Eastern Philosophy

3

PO 310Contemporary Chinese Politics

3

PO 316South Asian Politics

3

TRS 160Eastern Religions

3

European Studies

AN 204Introduction to Irish Archaeology

3

AN 299Special Topics in Anthropology

3

ENG 226Romantic Period in British Literature

3

ENG 299Special Topics in Literature

3

FR 203Advanced Conversation & Contemporary Issues

3

FR 251Early French Writers

3

FR 252French & Francophone Writers Then & Now

3

FR 281Francophone Civilization & Culture

3

FR 282Business French

3

FR 283Franco-Italian Connections

3

FR 315Paris

3

FR 316Quebec

3

FR 371Literary Travelers, Exiles, & Expatriates

3

FR 372Women Writers

3

HI 216Princes to Peasants

3

HI 218Modern France

3

HI 246Roman History: The Republic

3

HI 255Celtic & Irish History

3

HI 257History & Memory in Modern Ireland

3

IT 203Advanced Conversation & Contemporary Issues

3

IT 251Early Italian Writers

3

IT 252Italian Writers Then & Now

3

IT 280Italian Civilization & Culture

3

IT 283Franco-Italian Connections

3-4 CR each

IT 290The Italian Short Story

3

IT 371Literary Travelers, Exiles, & Expatriates

3-4 CR each

IT 372Women Writers

3-4 CR each

IT 380Dante & the Italian Literary Tradition

3

PO 318European Politics

3

SP 280Hispanic Civilization & Culture: Spain

3

 

International Systems

EC 302Global Financial Markets & Institutions

3

EC 316International Economics

3

GS 270Global Health Systems

3

GS 275Culture & Global Health

3

MGT 203Cross-Cultural Relations

3

MGT 278Principles of International Business

3

MGT 299Special Topics in Management

3

PO 123Human Rights & Social Justice

3

or

SO 123Human Rights & Social Justice

3

PO 230Migration and Membership

3

PO 242International Organizations

3

PO 243Terrorism and Political Violence

3

PO 244American Foreign Policy

3

PO 341International Law

3

SO 254Society & Economic Change

3

TRS 167Introduction to World Religions

3

TRS 253Religion, War, & Peace

3

TRS 255Human Rights

3

 

Latin American Studies

ENG 244Studies in World Literature

3

HI 207Colonial Treasures: Unveiling Latin America's Material Legacy

3

HI 208History of Latin America Since 1826

3

HI 212Contemporary Latin America

3

PO 230Migration and Membership

3

PO 315Latin American Politics

3

Middle Eastern & African Studies

AN 201World Cultures

3

HI 236History of the Arab World I: From Muhammad to the Ottoman Empire

3

HI 238The Modern Middle East

3

HI 239Women in the Middle East

3

HI 299Special Topics in History

3

PO 314Middle East Politics

3

PO 317African Politics

3

PO 324Islamic Political Movements

TRS 161Islam

3

TRS 174Women in World Religions

3