Overview

Now more than ever, global knowledge, language abilities and international experience are crucial for students preparing to enter a global workforce. The Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies, which is administered by the Global Studies Program, prepares students for just that by combining bedrock instruction in multiple disciplines with foreign language instruction, regional enrichment and specialization in one of four thematic areas: culture, economy, security, and Latin America. The Global Studies major goes beyond work done in other majors by exposing students to interdisciplinary perspectives on the world. Students gain advanced knowledge about international cultures, societies, and economies as well as essential skills like critical thinking and effective communication that are prized by every profession.

A BA in Global Studies prepares students to

• Understand complex global problems using tools from over a dozen fields of study in the humanities and social sciences across the College of Liberal Arts;
• Communicate ideas about global issues effectively through written work, presentation, and digital communication tools;
• Look beyond local and national boundaries to see themselves as part of a global society;
• Experience other cultures by studying a world language, studying abroad, and taking regional enrichment courses; and
• Thrive professionally in a variety of careers in an increasingly global marketplace.

Curriculum

The Global Studies curriculum offers a foundation through a set of five introductory courses, as well as specialization in one of four concentrations. Students must select one of the following concentrations:

• Global Culture
• Global Economy
• Global Security
• Latin American Studies

The introductory courses prepare students for the concentrations through immersive coursework using interdisciplinary and problem-based approaches to global studies. Within this general framework, the four concentrations allow students to identify a specialized program of study drawing from a structured set of concentration-specific requirements and electives, culminating in a research-based and writing-intensive capstone seminar. Each concentration offers many elective options and new courses are added each semester. Students are encouraged to work with their advisor to select the best options for their intended career path.

To develop an international perspective, students in Global Studies attain forth semester proficiency in a world language and either participate in an approved study abroad program or take additional area studies courses. Students work with their advisor, faculty in Global Studies, and the Education Abroad office to develop pragmatic study abroad programs.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: LA-GBST-BA

Distinction in Major

Global Studies majors will receive Distinction in the Major if they have earned an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher and a GPA of at least 3.5 in the courses required for the major (excluding the language requirement).

Career Potential

Global Studies is a major with a wide array of career possibilities. Today, a large and growing number of careers can and do feature international or global components. Global Studies graduates have developed successful careers in academia, advocacy, business, education, government, non-government organizations, nonprofits, research, and more.

Contact Information

Sanjoy Chakravorty, Program Director
662 Gladfelter Hall
sanjoy.chakravorty@temple.edu

Danielle Scherer, Assistant Director and Faculty Advisor
663 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-4283
danielle.scherer@temple.edu

Jessica Brennan, Administrator
208 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-7577
jessica.brennan@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements

• MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
• All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. The specific courses required for this major are GBST 2197 and GBST 4096.
• Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

College of Liberal Arts Requirements

• Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
  • 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
  • 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
    • For Social Science majors, 6 upper level credits (numbered 2000-4999) must be taken in Humanities Subject Areas: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts, Art History in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
  • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
  • Professional Development Requirement
    • All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors is the appropriate course option for this major. Other courses that fulfill this requirement are listed on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
  • Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements
    • Global Studies majors are required to complete the fourth level of a foreign language, which exceeds the CLA minimum requirement. No additional coursework is required. The fourth level of language is numbered 2001 in French, Spanish, and Portuguese and in all other foreign language subjects, it is numbered 2002.
    • Notes on Foreign Language Study
      • The third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
      • See the College of Liberal Arts Policies section of this Bulletin for more information on the Foreign Language Placement, Regression in Coursework, and guidelines for students' other experiences with language.

General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.

Major Requirements (36-58 credits - varies according to foreign language placement and regional enrichment options)

Global Security Concentration (6 courses)

The quest for security, and the seemingly endless recurrence of interstate war are fundamental features of an anarchical world of sovereign states. Historically, this led students of security to focus on state power, military strategy, geopolitics, diplomacy and conflict in the international arena. In the 21st century, interstate wars have been joined by both increasingly destructive civil wars within countries, and by international and global terrorism perpetrated by non-state actors. In this concentration, students will draw on disciplines as diverse as history, political science, anthropology, geography and criminal justice to understand the causes of war, the security strategies of states, and the rise of new and challenging security threats in the 21st century.

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These courses require prerequisites beyond those covered in the Global Studies Foundation courses; students wishing to take these courses should plan accordingly.

Global Economy Concentration (6 courses)

Economic globalization is one of the defining features of the contemporary world. This concentration introduces students to fundamental features of the global economy from multiple disciplinary perspectives, including in the areas of trade, finance, and development. It studies the origins and consequences of globalization for development and growth, income and poverty, literacy and health, as well as political, demographic, environmental, and cultural changes. Students examine the evolution of cooperation among states in managing the global economy, and the role of history, politics, and technology in shaping international, national, and local relations.

Global Cultures Concentration (6 courses)

The Global Cultures concentration studies cultural formation, cultural change, and cultural interaction among peoples across the world. "Culture" is defined as learned systems of values, beliefs, and practices that bind a group of people together and give common meaning to their lived experiences. These groups can be local, regional, national or international; they are shaped by various structures of power and are continuously migrating. Students in the Global Cultures concentration will examine the interaction of global and local cultures and study aspects of cultural circulation, transaction, and mobility through courses in Literature, Film, Religion, History, Anthropology, and Sociology.

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These courses require prerequisites beyond those covered in the Global Studies Foundation courses; students wishing to take these courses should plan accordingly.

Latin American Studies Concentration (6 courses)

The Latin American Studies (LAS) concentration offers an interdisciplinary approach to learning about the politics, economics, cultures and societies of Latin America and the Caribbean within the larger framework of the Global Studies major.  Students who major in Global Studies with the LAS concentration focus on Latin America as a framework for exploring thematic issues in such disciplines as anthropology, art, history, political science, Spanish and Portuguese, and communication studies. Courses are offered in a variety of disciplines. Students who complete this program can speak to a wide range of issues confronting Latin America; experts who can contribute proactively to development and cooperation, as well as to business and political analysis in a way that their peers with a more traditional disciplinary focus cannot.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

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Students are encouraged to study abroad, but if not possible, can replace with the area studies requirements as noted in this grid.