Wittenberg University

Academic Catalog

Associate Professor Christine McIntyre, (Spanish), Director

The Global Studies program is designed to enhance the international dimension of the curriculum, primarily through the provision of a minor in Global Studies. The Global Studies program focuses on three major areas: the study of non-Western cultures, an understanding of comparative socio-cultural analysis, and a concern with globally relevant issues and themes, especially as understood within an analysis of the global system. The student is expected to seek a significant cross-culture experience, normally through participation in a study-abroad program.

A student of any academic major can profit from the international dimension provided by the Global Studies minor. It can thus strengthen preparation for the international aspects of business, social and religious service, politics and policy formation, and education. It also provides an interdisciplinary foundation for specialized graduate study.

Requirements for Minor
Twenty-four semester hours are required for the Global Studies minor, in accordance with the following:

1. Foundation Courses
   (16 semester hours total)
   1. Understanding Global Systems
      1. Theoretical Foundation: Sociology 290C/S: Social Change. This course is normally taken after a student has completed one or two other Global Studies courses.
      2. Global Issues: at least four semester hours from courses with a focus on a theme of global significance. See courses listed below.
         • Economics 220: Economics of Developing Area.
         • Economics 330: International Trade and Finance.
         • Economics 350: Environmental and Natural Resource Economics.
         • Environmental Studies 101B/L: Assessing Human Impacts on the Environment.
         • Geography 120S: Human Ecology.
         • Geography 240S: Economic Geography.
         • Geography 292S: Population Geography (same as Sociology 292S).
         • Management 250: International Business.
         • Political Science 251S: International Relations.
         • Political Science 252S: International Organizations.
         • Political Science 303: Politics in Developing Nations.
         • Sociology 292S: Population Problems (same as Geography 292S).
   2. Understanding Cultural Diversity
      1. Comparative Perspective: One of the following:
         • Economics 231: European Economic History.
         • French 390: Contemporary Theory (same as German 390 and Spanish 390).
         • Geography 101S: Cultural Geography.
         • Music 116C: Music in Contemporary Cultures.
         • Music 216A/C: Musics of the World.
         • Political Science 102S: Introduction to Comparative Politics.
         • Religion 342R: Comparative Religious Ethics.
         • Sociology 110C/S: Cultural Anthropology.
         • Sociology 211C/S: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Kinship.
      2. Non-Western Culture: at least four semester hours from courses that have been approved to meet the non-Western cultures general education learning goal. These courses are designated with a “C” in the course number.
2. Focus Courses (eight additional semester hours)
   Each student prepares a proposal identifying a focus for the student’s Global Studies minor and the two additional courses that provide such a focus. Focus Courses can, but need not, come from the list of courses already identified as Foundation Courses. This proposal must be signed by the respective faculty teaching these courses (to indicate that each course relates to the specified focus) and then forwarded for approval to the Global Studies Advisory Committee.

   Examples:

   • International Relations: History 324: American Foreign Relations and Political Science 350: American Foreign Policy
   • Third World Development: Geography 250C: Regional Geography (when course is taught with a Third World focus) and Economics 220: Economics of Developing Areas
   • Global Environmental Issues: Biology 346: Ecology, Geography 292S: Population Geography
   • Comparative Literature: English 190: Topics in Non-Western Culture and Japanese 150A/C: Survey of Japanese Literature
   • Music and Dance in Cross-Cultural Perspective: Theatre and Dance 210C: Dance Ethnology, Music 116C: Music in Contemporary Cultures

   In completing these 24 semester hours, the student must adhere to the following regulations:

   1. maximum of eight semester hours can be at the 100 level,
   2. a minimum of three departments must be represented, and
   3. a maximum of 12 semester hours may come from any one department
3. Cross-Cultural Experience
   The student is expected to have experience of a culture other than the student’s own, normally through participation in a study-abroad program. The student may explore other possibilities with the Global Studies adviser.

Course Listings

490. Independent Study in Global Studies. 2-6 semester hours.

Individual research elected by a student in consultation with the Director of Global Studies. Every semester.

491. Internship. 1-4 semester hours.

Experiential learning in a work-study environment where the student engages with international issues and themes. Permission and approval must be granted by the Director of Global Studies. This course may be repeated for credit.