Global Studies

Bachelor of Arts 

Students interested in worldwide societies and cultures, international markets, and governments will find in the global studies major leading to a bachelor of arts degree an inspiring course of study for exploring and understanding our multifaceted and rapidly changing world.

The global studies major offers students an interdisciplinary global perspective on social, economic, and political issues, and prepares them to become responsible citizens, critical thinkers, and creative individuals with an ability to resist social prejudice and act in an interdependent world.

The global studies major draws on concepts from disciplines across the humanities, political science, and economics to allow students to learn more about how societies around the world are converging and challenging geographic and political frontiers, while at the same time celebrating individuality. The program examines the interconnectedness among individuals, communities, governments, and organizations across the world, and offers students theoretical and applied frameworks to understand the pillars of a globalized planet.

The global studies curriculum requires initiative on the part of each major to think carefully about what they want from their college experience and then to develop a plan for achieving it. The culmination of this thinking will be codified in a Learning Plan created by each major, which serves to integrate the various components of global studies into a whole tailored to each individual student.

Required Courses

Academic programs vary in their requirements. Students should consult with their faculty advisor and the Academic Guidebook to review the Academic Planning Form pertinent to their program of study. In addition, students should review course descriptions regarding any prerequisites for required courses. Graduation requirements include a minimum of 120 credit hours, although some academic programs may require additional credits. Please refer to the Academic Resources section of the catalog for more information. Information regarding the new Core Curriculum, which takes effect with the Class of 2016, is available at http://www.providence.edu/academic-affairs/core-curriculum.

Introductory Courses:

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Foundation Courses:
Students will be required to take four foundation courses providing them with a basic understanding of global religions, business, and politics as well as the responsibilities of leadership in a global community.

The four courses required of all majors are:

1. PSC Approved Elective (International Focus)
2. ECN 102 - Principles of Economics: Macro
     or
   GST 325 - The Global Economy
    
3. PHL 301 - Ethics, Moral Leadership, and the Common Good
     (preferred for Ethics Core)
4. THL 354 - Church in Today’s World
    
   OR
   
   THL 358 - The Church and the Major World Religions
    
   OR
   
   THL 376 - Catholic Social Thought
    

Advanced Courses

Thematic Concentration:
Four (4) courses focused on global topics, region, language, and/or culture tailored around individual student interests and approved by student advisor and director. These should be additional courses beyond other global studies major requirements with at least one being an upper-level course.

Language Component:
Living in a global community calls for an appreciation and understanding of foreign languages and cultures.

1. Students will demonstrate language proficiency by successful completion of two courses at the advanced level (200 level or above) in same language. Students may have to take more courses if their proficiency in arriving at the College does not permit them to take advanced courses immediately. An early determination of proficiency is thus vital to the major.
    
2. Language study includes the study of related cultures. Therefore, the language component of the Global Studies Program is a vital link to the study of culture, which in turn is emphasized in all concentrations.

International Experience:

It is critical for global studies students to deepen their understanding of cultural and global issues by participating in an international immersion experience.  Majors are thus required to study abroad for a semester or full-academic year with an approved program through the Center for International Studies.  Because of our commitment to engaged learning, an internship, service-learning course, and/or community-based action research project is an integral component of each of the more than 125 approved Global Studies Recognized Study Abroad Programs located in 45 countries around the world. Some students may apply to fulfill this requirement over the summer at an approved study abroad program.

Upper-Level Global Studies Courses:
Two (2) Global Studies courses at the 300-level or above.

Capstone Seminar and Senior Thesis:

  and   is an interdisciplinary, two-semester course for global studies majors focused on synthesizing and deepening learning about global citizenship and globalization over the past three years. In the first semester, students will synthesize the work of earlier courses and develop an engaged research proposal, including a literature review. The second semester will be devoted to writing a senior thesis with real-world implications.