Global Studies BA

Capstone Major

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

Entry to the Major

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.

Pre-Major

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.

Major Requirements

Preparation for the Major

Complete Global Studies 1 with a grade of B or better, one methods course, demonstrated proficiency equivalent to level 6 at UCLA in one modern foreign language, and five additional courses as follows:

Methods

Foreign Language

Additional Courses

Select five courses; one course from each category and the remaining two courses, taken from two separate categories, may be selected from any list.

Culture and Society

Only one course from each pair of Comparative Literature 1C or 2CW, 1D or 2DW, and 4CW or 4DW may be applied.

Additional Culture and Society Courses

One course from the following list may be applied toward the culture and society category:

Governance and Conflict

Markets and Resources

The Major

Complete nine courses, the summer Global Learning Institute, and the capstone requirement as follows:

Electives

Select six elective courses, two from each of the following categories:

Culture and Society

Governance and Conflict

Markets and Resources

Required Summer Global Learning Institute

Required Capstone

Honors Program

Policies

Preparation for the Major Policies

Honors Program

Majors who have completed Global Studies 102, 103, 104, 191, and who have a 3.5 grade-point average (GPA) in all courses offered for the major are eligible to formally apply for the honors program.

To receive honors at graduation, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA in courses applied toward the major (including 199A and 199B) and an overall GPA of 3.25. 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.