Global Studies, B.A.
Students at the University of South Carolina are living in an increasingly globalized context in which economic, social, environmental, and cultural transformations in one part of the world can affect all others. The Global Studies major is a flexible, interdisciplinary degree program that familiarizes students with the complex historical and contemporary relationships and processes that link together people and places. By focusing on themes relating to globalization, the major also encourages students to recognize and to appreciate the world’s diversity. To achieve this end, the major requires students to focus on a particular world region and to attain proficiency in a modern foreign language. The overall aim of the program is to foster in students a critical, global outlook that will allow them to engage with pressing global questions and to thrive in an interconnected world.
Learning Outcomes
- Global Studies majors will employ a variety of disciplinary perspectives to demonstrate a critical understanding of global processes and the theories and concepts used to explain and interpret these processes.
- Global Studies majors will evaluate the interactions between global and local processes by selecting a world region for intensive study.
- Global Studies majors will demonstrate expertise in key global issues through courses in one of four thematic areas: Global Development and Sustainability; Global Health; Global Conflict and Security Studies; and Global Cultural Studies.
- Global Studies majors will demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language, allowing them to study, work, travel, and/or conduct research outside of the United States.
- Students will demonstrate their preparation for appropriate careers or graduate studies.
Admissions
Entrance Requirements
New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to degree programs offered by the college. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another UofSC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements:
- Be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
- Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.00 or higher on a UofSC campus.
Some programs in the College of Arts and Sciences have special admission requirements established by the department or committee that supervises the specific degree program, for example, Cardiovascular Technology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Economics, Environmental Science, the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. These requirements are listed in the sections of this bulletin that describe department and special degree programs.
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
Program of Study
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core | 32-44 |
| 2. College Requirements | 15-18 |
| 3. Program Requirements | 25-49 |
| 4. Major Requirements | 24-33 |
Founding Documents Requirement
All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers. This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective. Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.
1. Carolina Core Requirements (32-44 hours)
CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
- any CC-CMW courses
ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (6-8 hours)
- any CC-ARP courses
Note: Global Studies students pursuing the Leadership in the Global Economy concentration must select either MATH 122 or MATH 141 as one of their ARP-approved courses. Prerequisites may be applied to degree requirements, where appropriate.
SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)
Two 4-credit hour CC-SCI courses
GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-6 hours)
- Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.
- It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.
Note: Global Studies students must demonstrate proficiency in one modern foreign language, approved by the advisor, at the advanced level by completing 6 hours in language courses numbered 300 and above or the equivalent. Courses in that foreign language at the beginning or intermediate levels (100 or 200-levels), if needed as prerequisites, may be applied to Carolina Core or College requirements, where appropriate.
GHS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours)
- any CC-GHS course
GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)
Select one from:
AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)
- any CC-AIU course
CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course
INF – Information Literacy1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course
VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course
| 1 | Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements. |
2. College Requirements (15-18 hours)
Foreign Language (0-3 hours)
- only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency
Note: Global Studies students must demonstrate proficiency in one modern foreign language, approved by the advisor, at the advanced level by completing 6 hours in language courses numbered 300 and above or the equivalent. Courses in that foreign language at the beginning or intermediate levels (100 or 200-levels), if needed as prerequisites, may be applied to Carolina Core or College requirements, where appropriate.
History (3 hours)
The College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement. Accordingly, please select one of the following:
- One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on U.S. History: HIST 111, HIST 112, HIST 214, or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Science to fit this geographic category.
or - One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on non-U.S. History: HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 104, HIST 105, HIST 106, HIST 108, HIST 109, GERM 280, FAMS 300, or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Sciences to fit this geographic category.
Social Science and Fine Arts or Humanities (12 hours)
Courses Acceptable for Social Science and Fine Arts or Humanities Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences (9 hours of Fine Arts or Humanities)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following Social Science courses: 1 | 3 | |
| Understanding Other Cultures | ||
| Globalization and World Regions | ||
| Peoples, Places, and Environments | ||
| Linguistics 1: Introduction to Language | ||
| Introduction to Global Politics | ||
| Exploring Religion | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 3 | |
| 1 | Global Studies students pursing the Leadership in the Global Economy concentration must use ECON 224 to fulfill the Social Science requirement. |
3. Program Requirements (25-49 hours)
Cognate or Minor (12-18 hours)
Cognate (12 hours)
The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. The cognate may be taken in one or more departments or programs, depending on the interests of the student and the judgment of the advisor.
Courses offered by departments and programs that are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined in the section titled Courses Acceptable for Cognate Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences.
For cognate course offerings in other colleges, consult the appropriate sections of this bulletin. Some major programs have specific cognate requirements.
It should be emphasized that the cognate is not a second set of elective courses to be chosen at random by the student. The cognate must be approved by the major advisor as being related to the major field of study. Students are urged to consult their major advisors for specific requirements in their major.
Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the cognate.
For Bachelor of Arts degrees, all cognate courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
Recommended Cognates:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Diversity | ||
| AFAM 580 | Culture and Identity in the African Diaspora | 3 |
| PSYC 487 | Community Psychology | 3 |
| SOCY 308 | Community Organization | 3 |
| WGST 381 | Gender and Globalization | 3 |
| Sustainability | ||
| GEOG 321 | Sustainable Cities | 3 |
| ENVR 331 | Integrating Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVR 531 | Sustainability Management and Leadership Strategies | 3-4 |
| PHIL 322 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| Tourism and Management 1 | ||
| HRTM 483 | Tourism Economics | 3 |
| HRTM 537 | Multi-Cultural Dimensions of the Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| HRTM 565 | International Lodging Management | 3 |
| HRTM 597 | Global Travel and Tourism | 3 |
| 1 | Prerequisite: HRTM 280 |
Minor (18 hours)
In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. (Some minors in the sciences require a minimum of 16 hours.) The subject area of the minor may be related to the major. Students pursuing interdisciplinary minors who wish to use courses in their major department for minor credit must petition the College Committee on Scholastic Standards and Petitions for permission to do so.
The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must be concentrated in one area and must follow a structured sequence. Interdisciplinary minors can be designed with the approval of the assistant dean for academic affairs and advising.
Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University.
A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z.
Electives (7-37 hours)
No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.
4. Major Requirements (24-33 hours)
Selection of major courses must include at least one Carolina Core Integrative course: ANTH 355, ANTH 581, ENGL 437, ENGL 455, HRTM 482, LING 440, POLI 315, POLI 370, POLI 374, or a World Region course that is designated as Integrative.
Foreign Language (modern) (6 hours)
Two 300 or above level language courses
Global Theme or Concentration (6-19 hours)
Students must complete one theme or one concentration from the following lists. Special topics courses with appropriate content may be applied to the global theme or concentration requirement with approval of the advisor.
Global Themes (6 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses selected from one of the following theme groups: | 6 | |
Global Development and Sustainability Studies: | ||
| Anthropology of Globalization and Development | ||
| Gender and Globalization | ||
| Language and Globalization | ||
| International Development and the Environment | ||
| Globalization and Cultural Questions | ||
| Introduction to Economics | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Introduction to Sustainability Management and Leadership | ||
| Green Technology in Germany | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Integrating Sustainability | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Cultural Geography | ||
| Economic Geography | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Water as a Resource | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Migration and Globalization | ||
| Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change | ||
| International Development and the Environment | ||
| Globalization and Cultural Questions | ||
| Green Technology in Germany | ||
| Into the Wild: Global Conservation since 1800 | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| Foundations of Tourism | ||
| Ecotourism | ||
| Sustainable Tourism Planning and Policy | ||
| Global Travel and Tourism | ||
| Language and Globalization | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Comparative Politics of Developing Countries | ||
| Economic Aspects of International Politics | ||
| Multi-National Retailing | ||
| Retailing/Fashion Merchandising Field Study | ||
| Global Population Issues | ||
| Gender and Globalization | ||
Global Health Studies: | ||
| Medical Experimentation and the Black Body | ||
| Plagues Past and Present | ||
| Medical Experimentation and the Black Body | ||
| Cultures, Pregnancy, and Birth | ||
| Medical Anthropology: Fieldwork | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Health and Disease in the Past | ||
| Environmental Pollution and Health | ||
| Global Environmental Health | ||
| Environmental Pollution and Health | ||
| Global Environmental Health | ||
| Principles of Epidemiology | ||
| Principles of Global Health | ||
| Medical Anthropology: Field Work | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Maternal and Child Health | ||
| HIV/STI Prevention | ||
| Religions, Medicines, and Healing | ||
| Sociology of Medicine and Health | ||
| International Social Work and Social Justice | ||
| Women's Health | ||
| Cultures, Pregnancy, and Birth | ||
| Maternal and Child Health | ||
Global Conflict and Security Studies: | ||
| Anthropology of Law and Conflict | ||
| Conflict Archaeology | ||
| American Military Experience | ||
| The Geography of Disasters | ||
| Environmental Hazards | ||
| The History of Modern Russia and the Soviet Union | ||
| Modern Germany | ||
| The Middle East in Modern Times | ||
| Africa since 1800 | ||
| Modern East Asia | ||
| China Since 1949 | ||
| Japan since 1800 | ||
| Nationalism: Myth and Reality | ||
| War and European Society, 1914-1945 | ||
| Evolution of Warfare I | ||
| Evolution of Warfare II | ||
| The United States and a World at War, 1917-1945 | ||
| United States History Since 1945 | ||
| Modern Latin America | ||
| American Diplomatic History | ||
| American Diplomatic History | ||
| American Military Experience | ||
| Modern Latin America | ||
| Language Conflict and Language Rights | ||
| International Organization | ||
| The Conduct and Formulation of United States Foreign Policy | ||
| Contemporary United States Foreign Policy | ||
| National Security Policies of the United States | ||
| Genocide: A Comparative Perspective | ||
| Revolution and Political Violence | ||
| Theories of War in International Relations | ||
| International Law | ||
| Law and Contemporary International Problems | ||
| Nationalism and Ethnicity in World Politics | ||
| Globalization and Security | ||
Global Cultural Studies: | ||
| Introduction to African-American Studies | ||
| Language, Culture, and Society | ||
| Gender and Globalization | ||
| Anthropological Approaches to Narrative and Performance | ||
| Language and Globalization | ||
| Globalization and Cultural Questions | ||
| History of 20th Century Art | ||
| Women in China | ||
| World Literature | ||
| Great Books of the Western World I | ||
| Great Books of the Western World II | ||
| Great Books of the Eastern World | ||
| Global and Multicultural Perspectives on Education in International Settings | ||
| World Literature | ||
| Great Books of the Western World I | ||
| Great Books of the Western World II | ||
| Great Books of the Eastern World | ||
| Women Writers | ||
| Language in Society | ||
| Film and Media Analysis | ||
| Film and Media History | ||
| The French Film Experience | ||
| Cultural Geography | ||
| Globalization and Cultural Questions | ||
| German Culture and Civilization | ||
| German Sociolinguistics | ||
| Language, Culture, and Society | ||
| Language in Society | ||
| Anthropological Approaches to Narrative and Performance | ||
| German Sociolinguistics | ||
| Sex, Gender, and Religion | ||
| Interfaith Dialogues in the 21st Century | ||
| Gender and Globalization | ||
| Women Writers | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Global Concentrations (12-19 hours)
Courses selected to fulfill one of the following concentrations:
Leadership in the Global Economy (15-19 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite | ||
| Select one of the folloiwng: | 3-6 | |
| Survey of Accounting | ||
| Principles of Accounting I and Principles of Accounting II | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| Select one course from four of the following categories: | 12-13 | |
Environmental Studies: | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Sustainability Management and Leadership Strategies | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
Geography: | ||
| Cultural Geography | ||
| Geography and Global Geopolitics | ||
| Economic Geography | ||
| International Development and the Environment | ||
| Globalization and Cultural Questions | ||
Journalism: | ||
| International Mass Communications | ||
| Public Opinion and Persuasion | ||
Management: | ||
| Leadership in Organizations | ||
Music: | ||
| Music & Arts Entrepreneurship | ||
| Music and Money | ||
Philosophy: | ||
| Ethics | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Ethics of Science and Technology | ||
| Business Ethics | ||
Political Science: | ||
| International Relations | ||
| International Organization | ||
| Introduction to Public Administration | ||
| Politics of Taxing and Spending | ||
| Regulatory Policies | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| Economic Aspects of International Politics | ||
Library and Information Science: | ||
| Information Policy | ||
| Knowledge Management | ||
| Competitive Intelligence | ||
Social Work: | ||
| International Social Work and Social Justice | ||
Women’s and Gender Studies: | ||
| Gender and Politics | ||
| Gender and Globalization | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 15-19 | |
World Region (9 hours)
Three courses selected from one of the following area studies groups. See entries for minors in these areas in the undergraduate Bulletin for lists of approved courses. Special topics courses with appropriate content may be applied to the world region requirements with approval of the advisor.
- African Studies
- Asian Studies
- European Studies
- Middle East and North Africa (Islamic World Studies)
- Latin American Studies
- Russian and Eurasian Studies
Major Electives (0-3 hours)
One course from any of the approved global theme, global concentration, or world region courses. Students completing a concentration are exempt from this requirement.
Note: Students are strongly encouraged to spend a period of time overseas, preferably in a country where they can develop their language skills. Participating in a study abroad program or an overseas work experience are two ways to gain an international experience. A period of a semester or full year is most beneficial. Approved study abroad courses may apply to some Global Studies major requirements, with permission of the advisor and the College.
Major Map
A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.
Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.
Global Studies, B.A. No Concentration
Global Studies, B.A. Leadership in the Global Economy Concentration