Global Studies, B.I.S.

Return to: 3030.30 Interdisciplinary Studies

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) with a concentration in Global Studies. The degree prepares students to be globally aware in their chosen careers. Students develop a broad set of perspectives and skills. Our aim is to equip students with the knowledge and abilities needed to be successful in today’s fast-moving and inter-connected world. We encourage students to explore critical issues like conflict, terrorism, peace building, human rights, immigration and global inequality. In addition to focusing on global issues, students develop deep regional knowledge of the world. Students are encouraged to pursue world language study at an advanced level.

Program Admission

Students may enroll in a concentration upon admission to Georgia State University. Students who wish to change their major to this degree program should select a concentration in consultation with their academic advisor and the faculty coordinator. A 2.0 Georgia State University GPA is required.

Students who enroll in a concentration will submit a course plan checklist to demonstrate their understanding of the degree requirements. It is highly recommended that students develop a course of study with their specific faculty coordinator before taking coursework in the degree program to avoid taking courses that will not count towards graduation. We recommend that students decide to become global studies majors early in their sophomore year to maximize the opportunities for experiential learning and study abroad.

Degree Requirements (120 Hours)

Please refer to the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies College Degree Requirements of this catalog for academic regulations for this program.

Students must complete coursework in at least three disciplines (defined by course prefixes) in the Major Area and in at least two disciplines in the Allied Studies Area. Each area should be constructed so that students take courses in distinct disciplines in each area (with some overlap expected); that is, the same prefix should not predominate in both areas.

In addition to the Program Degree Requirements, students must fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements (see College Degree Requirements ) and the University Degree Requirements (see 1400 University Degree Requirements and Graduation ).

In selecting courses for this program, students are responsible for completing any required prerequisites. Courses below marked with an asterisk (*) have prerequisites. Students should ensure that they include prerequisites for selected courses elsewhere in their degree program.

Internship experiences may be undertaken only after completing at least 21 hours of credit in the concentration area.

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in the Major and Allied Studies areas to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See GPA Requirement for additional information.)

Field of Study Area (18 Hours)

Intermediate World Language (3-9 Hours)

Students must complete a world language 2001 or higher course, or demonstrate intermediate proficiency through a CLEP, SAT, or other exam approved by the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Field Electives

Select additional elective courses from the following to complete 18 hours in the Field of Study Area. Pay close attention to prerequisites for courses planned for the Major and Allied Studies areas. No more than two courses (6-8 credit hours) may be completed from the same department without advisor’s authorization.

AAS 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
or
HIST 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
AAS 2010 - Introduction to Africana Studies 3 Credit Hours
ACCT 2101 - Principles of Accounting I 3 Credit Hours
AH 1750 - Western Art from the Renaissance to the Present 3 Credit Hours
AL 2101 - Exploring Language 3 Credit Hours
AL 2102 - Languages of the World 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 1102 - Introduction to Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 2020 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 2010 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 2030 - Archaeology and Prehistory 3 Credit Hours
ECON 2100 - Global Economics 3 Credit Hours
ECON 2105 - Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Credit Hours
ECON 2106 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2110 - World Literature 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 2120 - British Literature 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 1112 - Introduction to Weather and Climate 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 1112L - Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
GEOG 1113 - Introduction to Landforms 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 1113L - Introduction to Landforms Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
GEOG 2200 - Mapping Our World: Introduction to Geospatial Technologies 3 Credit Hours
GLOS 2030 - Introduction to Asian Studies 3 Credit Hours
or
HIST 2030 - Introduction to Asian Studies 3 Credit Hours
GLOS 2401 - Global Issues 3 Credit Hours
or
POLS 2401 - Global Issues 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1111 - Survey of World History to 1500 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1112 - Survey of World History since 1500 3 Credit Hours
JOUR 2500 - Foundations of Media Research 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 1101 - Introduction to General Psychology 3 Credit Hours
RELS 2001 - Introduction to World Religions 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1160 - Introduction to Social Problems 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 1000 - Human Communication 2 Credit Hours
WGSS 2010 - Introduction to Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies 3 Credit Hours
World language at the 1001 or 1002 level that is different from the language taken above

Major Area (27 Hours)

Students must complete coursework in at least three disciplines (defined by course prefixes) in the Major Area.

All Global Studies students must combine courses from the following categories to achieve a minimum of 27 hours. A grade of C or higher is required in all major courses.

Review the course description to determine if courses have prerequisites.

Research/Analytic/Writing Skills (6 hours)

Required Course (3 Hours)

Students must take the following:

GLOS 3000 - Interdisciplinary Approaches to Global Research 3 Credit Hours

Additional Course (3 Hours)

Select one additional course from the following. Another relevant course may be approved by your advisor.

AAS 3980 - Research Methods in Africana Studies-CTW 3 Credit Hours
AL 4151 - Communication Across Cultures-CTW 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 4340 - Applied Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 4480 - Ethnography in the 21st Century 4 Credit Hours
ANTH 4670 - Research Methods in Sociocultural Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
CRJU 3020 - Research Methods in Criminal Justice 3 Credit Hours
ECON 3900 - Macroeconomics-CTW 3 Credit Hours
ECON 4230 - Experimental Economics 3 Credit Hours
ECON 4950 - Econometrics and Applications 3 Credit Hours
ENGL 4521 - Archival Research Methods 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4515 - Qualitative Methods in Geography 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4520 - Quantitative Spatial Analysis 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4518 - Digital Cartography 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4532 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4764 - Urban Geography CTW 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4784 - Global Climate Change 3 Credit Hours
HIST 3000 - Introduction to Historical Studies-CTW 4 Credit Hours
HIST 4330 - Oral History 4 Credit Hours
HIST 4990 - Historical Research-CTW 4 Credit Hours
MATH 4547 - Introduction to Statistical Methods 3 Credit Hours
MATH 4548 - Methods of Regression and Analysis of Variance 3 Credit Hours
POLS 3800 - Introduction to Political Research-CTW 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 3510 - Introduction to Research Design and Analysis 4 Credit Hours
PSYC 3530 - Advanced Research Design/Data Analysis CTW 4 Credit Hours
SCOM 3050 - Speech Communication Research Methods 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3010 - Social Statistics 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3020 - Social Research Methods-CTW 3 Credit Hours

Global Understanding (9 Hours)

Select courses from at least two departments from the following suggested offerings. Other relevant courses may be approved by your advisor. Courses not used to satisfy Area G may count towards Area H requirements.

AL 3021 - Introduction to Linguistics 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 4490 - Anthropology of Globalization 3 Credit Hours
or
HIST 3100 - Introduction to Global History 3 Credit Hours
IB 3090 - International Business Operations 3 Credit Hours
POLS 3200 - Comparative Politics 3 Credit Hours
POLS 3400 - International Politics 3 Credit Hours
RELS 3270 - Religious Traditions of the World 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3201 - Wealth, Power, and Inequality 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3212 - Race and Ethnic Relations 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3213 - Immigration 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3040 - Cognition and Society 3 Credit Hours

Regional Understanding (6 Hours)

Advanced world language courses at or beyond the 2002 level. If the language is not offered at Georgia State, speak to your advisor about agreements with other USG institutions.
Select courses that address a region of the world other than the United States, such as the following:

AAS 3120 - African Diaspora 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 3120 - African Diaspora 3 Credit Hours
CHIN 3081 - Cultural Dimensions of Language Learning 3 Credit Hours
HIST 3625 - War in Europe and America Since 1500 4 Credit Hours
HIST 3645 - Contemporary Africa 3 Credit Hours
HIST 3730 - Latin America since 1810 4 Credit Hours
POLS 4423 - Middle East in World Affairs 3 Credit Hours
POLS 4255 - Politics and Political Economy of East Asia 3 Credit Hours

Experiential Learning (6 Hours)

A minimum of 3 credit hours of designated experiential learning courses must be completed as part of the degree program. Additional credit hours of experiential learning may be counted in other relevant areas of the degree program pending approval by your academic advisor.

Study Abroad

Credit hours from any GSU-sponsored study abroad program.
Non-GSU study abroad programs may also count with preapproval from your academic advisor.

Honors Thesis Research and Writing

Select from Global Studies or any other Arts and Sciences discipline

GLOS 4870 - Honors Thesis I 1 to 6 Credit Hours
GLOS 4880 - Honors Thesis II 1 to 6 Credit Hours
Honors Thesis I (4870) in another discipline 3 Hours
Honors Thesis II (4880) in another discipline 3 Hours

Other Arts and Sciences Courses

AL 4161 - Teaching English as a Second Language II: Practicum and Classroom Practices 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 4550 - Field School in Anthropology 4 to 8 Credit Hours
ANTH 4830 - Anthropology Internship 1 to 9 Credit Hours
ANTH 4850 - GSU Exchange and Non-GSU Study Abroad 3 to 9 Credit Hours
HIST 3900 - Human Rights in Historical Perspective 3 Credit Hours
GLOS 4550 - Domestic Field School 1 to 3 Credit Hours
GLOS 4760 - Research Practicum 1 to 6 Credit Hours
GLOS 4761 - Directed Study in Global Studies 1 to 6 Credit Hours
GLOS 4910 - Internship in Global Studies 3 Credit Hours
GLOS 4996 - Study Abroad: European Studies in Strasbourg, France 3 Credit Hours
HIST 4990 - Historical Research-CTW 4 Credit Hours
JOUR 4980 - Internship 1 to 6 Credit Hours
POLS 4424 - Regional Organization Simulation 3 Credit Hours
POLS 4426 - International Organization Simulation 3 Credit Hours
POLS 4930 - Legislative Internships 3 to 9 Credit Hours
POLS 4940 - Internships 1 to 6 Credit Hours
POLS 4945 - Experiential Learning 3 Credit Hours
POLS 4951 - Model United Nations 3 Credit Hours
RELS 4400 - Internship in Religious Studies 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4980 - Internship 3 Credit Hours
SPAN 3395 - Study Abroad 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 4980 - Internship 1 to 6 Credit Hours
THEA 4980 - Internship 1 Credit Hours
WGSS 4760 - Activism: History and Theory 3 Credit Hours
WLC 4001 - Global Career Pathways 3 Credit Hours

Allied Studies Area (15-21 Hours)

Students are encouraged to identify a thematic area or topic and choose courses in consultation with the Global Studies program coordinator. Suggested themes are: Conflict, Violence & Peace-Building; Globalization, Power & Culture; International Development, Trade, & Urbanization; Global Information & Media; Global Health & Environment; Migration Issues; Human Rights & Democracy; or International Business.

Students must complete coursework at the 3000- or 4000-level in at least three disciplines (defined by course prefixes). Students should consult with the program coordinator for current course offerings and explore the following departments to find coursework that addresses their thematic area: AAS, AL, ANTH, ECON, ENGL, FLME, GEOG, GLOS, HIST, IB, MUS, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, RELS, SOCI, and WGGS.

Graduation with Distinction in the Major

This unit offers undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn the designation of graduation with distinction in the major. Please contact the undergraduate director for the specific criteria for this honor.