FAQs

There is no limit on double counting of major and Core courses.

As many as three courses may be counted simultaneously toward the global studies major and another major or minor in the College of Arts and Sciences. A student with a major in Political Science may count PLSC 102 and three additional Political Science courses toward the global studies major. 

The Global Studies Program requires demonstrated proficiency in a modern language rather than a particular number of courses. Please note that American Sign Language, computer languages, and ancient languages (such as Latin, Ancient Greek, or Sanskrit) do not count as modern foreign languages for purposes of our program.

For global studies majors, proficiency is required through the 104 level (i.e., four courses for a student with no background in the language). Students may complete this requirement by taking modern foreign language courses at Loyola University Chicago (or, if Loyola grants a student advance permission, at another university) up through the 104 level of that language.  Students who enter Loyola having already completed some modern foreign language study may choose to continue with the same language through the 104 level. Such students should complete a foreign language placement examination to determine where to start their college foreign language studies. Students who believe they already have 104-level language proficiency should instead complete a proficiency examination administered by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.

Many Loyola students are native speakers of languages other than English. These students are assessed in the same way as students who have learned a language through classroom instruction. It is important to note that, for purposes of the Global Studies Program, proficiency requires an ability not only to speak but also to read and write a language.

Global Studies minors must demonstrate proficiency only through the 103 level.

Tagged courses are courses that are scheduled and taught by a traditional academic department but that also offer credit to global studies majors and minors. Permanently tagged courses from other departments are listed in the global studies section of the course catalog and the global studies website, but detailed descriptions are provided only in the section of the primary listing department. Each semester a number of "topics" courses offered by various departments are included among the global studies offerings. Topics courses are generally one-time offerings and thus do not appear in printed material describing the Global Studies Program's permanent course offerings.

The Global Studies Program does support an internship through the course Global Studies 370. This course may be taken for either 3 or 6 credit hours, but only 3 credits total may be applied to the global studies major. When the internship is taken for 3 credit hours, students are expected to work 8–10 hours per week in their placements; when it is taken for 6 credit hours, students are expected to work 16–20 hours in their placements. The internship is open to students with grade point averages of 2.50 or above. Global Studies interns are placed in a wide variety of agencies, including government offices, non-profit organizations, private businesses, and foreign consulates. Grades are based on a research paper and a written evaluation from a student's host agency.

A number of career paths draw especially heavily on a background in global studies. Global Studies majors might, for example, seek employment in international governmental or non-governmental organizations, ranging from the United Nations to one of the more than 40 specialized agencies that deal with everything from development aid to health care. A valuable opportunity for Loyola students interested in careers with international organizations is the Model United Nations, which each year sends a group of students to UN headquarters in New York to participate in a week-long simulation of the General Assembly. Diplomacy is a second important career path for global studies majors. The most prestigious diplomatic career for US citizens is that of Foreign Service Officer in the Department of State, which has recently substantially increased its hiring. Several Loyola graduates have served or are serving as Foreign Service Officers. Finally, private companies are the largest source of employment opportunities for students with training in global studies. A growing number of firms are interested in hiring students with a background in international relations or knowledge of other languages and cultures. The Chicago metropolitan area, whose economy is highly internationalized, is an especially good location for finding a job with an international company. Many global studies students also pursue graduate degrees in area studies, international economics, politics, or culture, with specialized training in a particular country or region. Other global studies students pursue careers in law or business, often receiving advanced degrees in those fields.

If a student entered Loyola as a global studies major, he or she need not formally declare. Other students should use LOCUS to declare a major or minor. You are highly encouraged to meet with the director of the Global Studies Program to discuss program requirements, career goals, and internship options.