Global Studies BA

The Global Studies major is a designated capstone major. As students progress through the major, they move from a set of broad themes, theories, and perspectives to a more specialized focus about which they develop a specific research expertise and write a thesis. In completing the capstone, students should demonstrate an appropriate mastery of a specialized area of global studies and a critical understanding of current scholarly concerns, literatures, and debates. They should also be able to identify and analyze primary sources and use those sources and appropriate scholarly literature to design and carry out a research project.

Learning Outcomes

Critical thinking about basic political processes, institutions, and concepts as they operate in different national and cultural contexts

Impartial evaluation of arguments

Application of mathematical and logical reasoning to political processes

Use and evaluation of statistical and other types of evidence in arguments

Recognition of limits of quantitative and non-quantitative analysis

Knowledge of diverse theories of politics acquired through critical engagement with texts, media, and contexts

Location, evaluation, and use of information and scholarship to place political events in broader historical, cross-national, and theoretical contexts

Employment of cultural, hermeneutical, normative, and historical approaches

Written and oral arguments using appropriate evidence, with sensitivity to opposing perspectives, about significant political processes, events, and concepts

Requirements

Admission

Admission to the Global Studies major is by application only and is highly competitive, with only a limited number of students admitted each year. To be eligible to apply, UCLA students must have completed all nonlanguage preparation for the major courses and one modern foreign language equivalent to level 3 by the end of the term in which they are applying. Any remaining language courses may be completed after students have been accepted to the major. Each preparation for the major course must be taken for a letter grade, and the UC grade-point average for all preparation courses must be a minimum of 3.25. In addition, students must have earned a grade of B or better in Global Studies 1.

The application period is once per year, and students must apply no later than the end of fall quarter of their junior year.

Meeting the above minimums does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission is on a competitive basis, using the above qualifications as minimum standards for consideration.

Premajor

Preparation for the Major

Required: Global Studies 1 with a grade of B or better; one methods course selected from Political Science 6, 6R, 30, Statistics 10, 12, or 13; demonstrated proficiency equivalent to level 6 at UCLA in one modern foreign language; and five additional courses as follows: (1) one culture and society course selected from Anthropology 3, 4, Comparative Literature 1C or 2CW, 1D or 2DW, 4CW or 4DW, Ethnomusicology M25, Gender Studies 10, Geography 3, 6, History 2B, World Arts and Cultures 20, or 33, (2) one governance and conflict course selected from History 10B, 22, Political Science 10, 20, 50, 50R, or Sociology 1, and (3) one markets and resources course selected from Economics 1, 2, Environment 12, Clusters M1A, or Sociology 51. The remaining two courses, taken from two separate categories, may be selected from the three lists above. One course from the following list may be applied toward the culture and society category: Asian 70C, Asian American Studies 10, Chicana/o and Central American Studies 10B, French 14, 14W, History 8A, 9E, International and Area Studies 31, 33, 50, Italian 42A, 42B, 46, Middle Eastern Studies M50CW, Russian 90A, 90B, 90BW, Spanish 42, or 44.

Preparation for the Major Policies

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants to the Global Studies pre-major with 90 or more units must complete as many of the following introductory courses as possible prior to admission to UCLA: one modern world history course, one major world region languages and cultures course, one international politics course, one macroeconomics or microeconomics course, one statistics course, and demonstrated proficiency equivalent to level 3 at UCLA in one modern foreign language. Transfer students must apply for the major by the end of fall quarter of their junior year.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

The Major

Required: Global Studies 102, 103, 104, and six elective courses, two from each of the following categories:

Culture and Society—Anthropology 146, M148, Asian American Studies M130C, 170, M172A, M172C, Chicana/o and Central American Studies 120, 143, CM147, Comparative Literature 100, M148, English 130, 131, 133, 134, Film and Television 106C, 112, French 121, 142, Gender Studies 102, M147C, M162, Geography 141, 151, 175A, Political Science M184A, Religion M107, Southeast Asian 157, Society and Genetics 134, Sociology 151, 152, 154, M162, 191F

Governance and Conflict—Asian American Studies 171A, M171D, 171E, Chicana/o and Central American Studies 151, Environment M125, Geography M131, 148, History 121E, 121F, 144, M186A, Honors Collegium 125, Political Science 120A, 120B, 121A, 122A, M122B, 123A, 123B, 125A, 126, 128A, 132A, M132B, 135, 137A, 138B, 169, Sociology 182

Markets and Resources—Anthropology 143, Chicana/o and Central American Studies M125, 176, Economics 121, 122, Environment 134, Geography M127, 150, History 131A, 134C, International Development Studies M120, Political Science 124A, 151B, M167C, 167D, Spanish 135, Sociology 183.

Required Summer Global Learning Institute: After successful completion of two courses from Global Studies 102, 103, 104, students are expected to attend a summer Global Learning Institute at one of several locations around the world in which they enroll in Global Studies 110A and 110B.

Required Capstone: During their senior year, students must also take four capstone courses—Global Studies 191 and 194 in fall quarter, followed by 199A and 199B. Courses 199A and 199B culminate in a capstone senior thesis of 35 to 50 pages.

Honors Program

To qualify for departmental honors, students must (1) have a grade-point average of 3.5 or better in upper-division courses in the major, (2) have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better, and (3) complete Global Studies 199B with a grade of A- or better. Honors or highest honors may be granted at the discretion of the faculty sponsor and the faculty committee to students demonstrating exceptional ability on the senior thesis.