Mar 28, 2024  
College Catalog 2020-2021 
    
College Catalog 2020-2021 ARCHIVED CATALOG

Global and Cultural Studies, B.A.


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Requirements


The Global and Cultural Studies major requires a maximum of 39 credits leaving opportunity for a complementary second major. Many of the courses within the GCS major also meet the requirements of a second major a well as satisfy requirements of the Liberal Education Program.

Methods Course


Methods course determined with advisor and chosen as appropriate to the area of concentration, select at least 3 credits from among:

Electives in area of concentration


Electives in area of concentration (12 credits total; 6 credits may be taken when studying abroad; and at least 9 credits must be at the 300-level). The four areas of concentrations are:

1. National/Transnational Institutions:


Examines the role and function of powerful global organizations and institutions. In this concentration students could focus of any of the following: nation states, corporations, NGOs, international organizations, or other non-state actors as well as major international organizations such as the UN and economic institutions such as the World Bank and IMF.

  • 3 credits
  • Three courses chosen from among the following departments: business, economics, political science, religion, or history. No more than two should be taken in any one department.

2. Culture:


Enables students to explore the changing face of cultural and social institutions in the 21st century. It could include a focus on gender, kinship, marriage, demographics, or other cultural patterning.

Electives:

Three courses from among: the arts, philosophy, religion, politics, economics, and comparative studies. No more than two should be taken from any one department.

3. Geographical Area:


Allows students to explore the impact of multiple forces of globalization within a specific geographical region: Latin America, Asia, Africa, or Europe. The focus of this concentration is to allow for in-depth study of particular topics within a regional context. Students will study abroad in that geographical area and also take three electives courses pertaining to the region chosen from different disciplinary perspectives: history, political science, philosophy, or the arts.

4. Issues:


Encourages students to pursue in-depth exploration of a particular global issue. Examples include: human rights, terrorism, AIDS/health, environment, population, refugees, sustainability, genocide, etc. Students should take four classes relevant to their particular interest, no more than two in any given department.

Cultural Immersion, 6 to 12 credits


Cultural immersion (6 to 12 credits). This may be study abroad, an internship in a community or a combination of both, developed in conjunction with an advisor. Ideally students in the major will study off-campus during the junior year, either abroad in their region of concentration or in some other location, foreign or domestic, that would allow them to develop their area of concentration more deeply. GCS majors are encouraged to study an appropriate language through the intermediate level (221 or above). Coursework in a language not taught at Whittier College should be approved by the GCS Faculty Council in consultation with the Chair of the Department of Modern Languages.

Global & Cultural Studies Senior Seminar, 3 credits


Senior capstone course during which students complete a major research paper in the area of concentration and do an oral presentation.

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