The twenty-first century has transformed how people live, work, and think. More than ever before, interactions between cultures transform our ideas, our values, our technology, and our way of life. Global Studies courses focus on the cultural, political, environmental, scientific, and economic issues of modern times and prepare students to become citizens of the world who can imagine creative solutions to today’s challenges.

GLST 101 & 102: The American Experience
GLST 200: Studies in American Life
GLST 201: Global Awareness and Cultural Diversity
GLST 275: Convocation Lectures and Events
GLST 301: Global Futures
GLST 321: Field Experience in Global Studies
GLST 374: Diversity in the Creative Arts
GLST 375: Convocation Lectures and Events
GLST 381: Cultures of the Hispanic World
GLST 426: Travel Journal: Mediterranean Cultures
GLST 456: Culture and Place: The Greek Legacy

GLST 101 & 102: The American Experience. 6 hours.

This yearlong course explores the roots of American traditions and contemporary expressions of those traditions, with special emphasis on the experiences of minorities. Through readings, films and other media, classroom lectures and discussions explore questions of the value and meaning of life and work in the United States . This course is process-oriented, focusing upon the development of writing, speaking and critical thinking abilities. Particular emphasis is given to the need for students to take responsibility for their own learning.

GLST 200: Studies in American Life. 3 hours.

This course provides an overview of the ideas, values, and conflicts that have shaped American life and explores contemporary issues facing American society. This course is writing-intensive and provides instruction in critical thinking. Some transfer students also may need to complete: ENGL 150: Composition.

GLST 201: Global Awareness and Cultural Diversity. 3 hours.

Students develop cultural analysis skills by examining representative examples of the world’s cultures. Students become familiar with specific cultures by examining: (a) nonmaterial culture (religious beliefs, social values and norms); (b) material cultures (arts, way of life, technology, etc.); and (c) specific cultural and social issues. This examination helps students cultivate an empathetic and thoughtful understand ing of other cultures and peoples and develop active methods of promoting human equality at a personal and societal level. This course is required of all students and provides a framework for understanding cultures and peoples that will be further developed by in-depth studies under the category of “Minorities and Indigenous Cultures.” Prerequisite: Completion of either GLST 102 or GLST 200.

GLST 275, 375: Convocation Lectures and Events. 1 hour.

Participation in the convocation lectures and events with follow-up summaries, analyses and evaluation.
Convocations foster a campus-wide examination of disciplinary and interdisciplinary issues. This course is not required, but may be taken repeatedly since the content changes every semester.

GLST 301: Global Futures. 3 hours.

The course is designed to introduce students to the scenarios for a sustainable global future and is divided into four sections:

1. Imagining the good future.

2. Exploring the concepts of Utopia and Dystopia in readings such as Plato’s Republic, Moore’s “Utopia,” Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels,” Marx’s “The Communist Manifesto,” Skinner’s “Walden Two”.

3. Envisioning our future on the basis of current realities.
a) Wagar’s “A Short History of the Future” projects likely scenarios from events of the latter part of the 20th century.
b) Students in the course will map 20th century trends related to politics, culture, and the environment.

4. Imagining the good community.
a) Course concludes with strategies to build good community on the local, national and international levels.

It is essential that students complete Global Awareness and Cultural Diversity, Values Inquiry and Science and Inquiry before taking Global Futures. Prerequisite: Completion of GLST 201 and Values Inquiry course.

GLST 321: Field Experience in Global Studies. 3 hours.

Students engage in a firsthand, in-depth experience with Global Studies in order to foster the integration of theoretical and applied knowledge in a global studies setting. Students will participate in an off-campus field study, the exact nature of which will vary depending on the interests of the instructor and students. (Meets Minorities and Indigenous Cultures)

GLST 374: Diversity in the Creative Arts. 3 hours.

This course provides methods for recognizing, addressing and attaining skills to perform in a culturally diverse global community. (Meets Minorities and Indigenous Cultures)

GLST 381: Cultures of the Hispanic World. 3 hours.

This course gives students a direct experience with an individual Hispanic culture as part of a study abroad experience. This course examines how Spanish, African and Indigenous cultures have blended and shaped the history, art, politics, education and family life, and ecology of the country. The country varies depending on the location of the study abroad trip. Offered infrequently.(Meets Minorities and Indigenous Cultures)

GLST 426: Travel Journal: Mediterranean Cultures. 3 hours.

Students will apply cultural theories from GLST 201: Global Awareness and Cultural Diversity to disciplined observation of the diversity of practices, rituals, habits and artistic productions of the peoples of the Mediterranean as the crossroads between Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Offered only at The Drury Center in Volos, Greece.

GLST 456: Culture and Place: The Greek Legacy. 3 hours.

This course examines Greece as a place of major significance in the consciousness of Western Civilization and the social cultural forces that have shaped its artistic, intellectual and spiritual traditions in the ancient, medieval and modern eras. Offered only at The Drury Center in Volos, Greece.