BA in Global Studies
Please note: consultation with this website is not an adequate substitute for consultation with the program director and your college advisor when it comes to completion of the major requirements. Please make sure you consult with these individuals if you are or intend to be a global studies major. Please also seek preapproval for courses taken abroad if you when to count for the global studies major; courses that are not preapproved might not count. The global studies program is not responsible for errors that students might make if they do not consult with the proper offices at Loyola.
The BA in global studies gives students the opportunity to examine global issues from the perspective of a number of academic disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. The program allows students the flexibility to pursue a general curriculum or to emphasize cultural and literary perspectives, or political, historical and economic perspectives. While developing an individual program, a global studies student may choose from a wide range of courses examining both global issues and major regions of the world.
The College of Arts and Sciences requires that a minimum of 21 credit hours (7 courses) of any major, including the GLST major, be unique to that major and hence may not count toward any other major or minor. GLST allows up to 9 credit hours (3 courses) to fulfill the requirements of the GLST major and any other individual major or minor, but at least 21 credit hours must remain unique to the GLST major. Therefore, students can count no more than FOUR classes total toward the GLST BA and all other declared majors/minors.
Upon completion of the program, global studies majors will be able to do the following:
- Demonstrate an ability to describe and/or analyze two or more important contemporary global concerns (e.g., the environment, violence, human trafficking, poverty, child labor)
- Demonstrate geographical, cultural, and/or historical knowledge of at least two different world regions (Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, and the Middle East) at a level expected of a global studies major
- Demonstrate an ability to describe and/or analyze the modern political system of at least two countries outside of North America
- Demonstrate an ability to describe and/or analyze the significance and activities of two or more international/global organizations
Apply Now
How do I declare a global studies major?
- If a student entered Loyola as a global studies major, he or she need not formally declare.
- All other students: please use LOCUS to change or declare a major. We strongly encourage you to meet with the director of the Global Studies Program after you declare the GLST major to discuss program requirements, career goals, and internship options.
Degree Requirements
The curriculum leading to a BA in global studies consists of 33 semester hours of coursework (11 courses) and the fulfillment of a language proficiency requirement. Courses completed to satisfy the language requirement do not count toward the 33 semester hours of coursework.
The major in global studies requires students to complete the following global studies core courses in addition to their GLST elective courses:
- GLST 101 Introduction to Global Studies
- ANTH 100 Globalization and Local Cultures
- PLSC 102 International Relations in an Age of Globalization (Note: you can take PLSC 102 AND 3 PLSC Electives)
- For students who declare the major on or after August 1, 2021: TWO of the following GLST 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 398, 370 (Internship: note that only 3 credits of GIST 370 can count towards the GLST major). For students who declared the major before August 1, 2021: ONE of the following: GIST 301, GLST 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 398, or GLST 370 (Internship: note that only 3 credits of 370 can count towards the global studies major).
If a student enters Loyola as a global studies major, he or she need not formally declare.
Global Studies elective courses must be tagged with the GLST program and must include at least two courses that focus on specific world areas (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East). However, students may not take their electives in the same world area. Courses taken abroad may be substituted for LUC GLST courses only if they are pre-approved by the director of the GLST program. In addition, for students who declare the major starting Fall 2015, elective coursework must be from at least three departments. No more than three courses taken from any single department can count for the GLST major.
If a student wishes to concentrate on a particular region (e.g., Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, or the Middle East) within the global studies major, he or she may choose to take up to six GLST electives that focus on the chosen world area. It is not required, however, that students do this.
Portfolio Requirement
All graduating global studies majors must submit during their final semester a portfolio, which should be emailed directly to chasselmann@luc.edu. These portfolios are not graded at the level of the individual student but are used instead as part of an annual assessment of the program itself. The precise prompts will vary from year to year; however, students are required to submit the following:
- a 300–500-word response to an essay prompt related to the Program Learning Outcome (PLO) under assessment that year (i.e., a global issue; two non-US political systems; at least two international organizations...)
- a personal statement describing the most important knowledge and skills gained as a global studies major as well as the courses and experiences you have found most helpful.
- the inclusion of a statement on the strengths and weaknesses of the Global Studies Program itself as you see it as well as any recommendations you would like to see made to the program.
December graduates must submit their portfolios by November 1st of their final semester; May graduates must submit their portfolios by April 1st of their final semester. Please note that portfolio submission prior to graduation is a requirement that is separate from all other global studies major requirements.
Language Requirement
The language requirement for the major in global studies may be satisfied in any of the following ways:
- Successful completion with a grade of "C" or better of a 104-level or higher course in one of the modern, foreign languages offered by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.
- Completion of a language proficiency examination or the equivalent, administered by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, demonstrating proficiency at the 104 level or higher of a modern, foreign language (one that is native to a country or region other than the United States). Please email CASLanguageTesting@luc.edu for information about Language proficiency.
- Determination by the director of the Global Studies Program, in consultation with appropriate specialists, that a student has at least a 104-level reading and writing proficiency in a language that is not taught or tested at Loyola.
Please note that English, American Sign Language, computer languages, and other US-based languages do not satisfy this requirement.
Please note: consultation with this website is not an adequate substitute for consultation with the program director and your college advisor when it comes to completion of the major requirements. Please make sure you consult with these individuals if you are or intend to be a global studies major. Please also seek preapproval for courses taken abroad if you when to count for the global studies major; courses that are not preapproved might not count. The global studies program is not responsible for errors that students might make if they do not consult with the proper offices at Loyola.
The BA in global studies gives students the opportunity to examine global issues from the perspective of a number of academic disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. The program allows students the flexibility to pursue a general curriculum or to emphasize cultural and literary perspectives, or political, historical and economic perspectives. While developing an individual program, a global studies student may choose from a wide range of courses examining both global issues and major regions of the world.
The College of Arts and Sciences requires that a minimum of 21 credit hours (7 courses) of any major, including the GLST major, be unique to that major and hence may not count toward any other major or minor. GLST allows up to 9 credit hours (3 courses) to fulfill the requirements of the GLST major and any other individual major or minor, but at least 21 credit hours must remain unique to the GLST major. Therefore, students can count no more than FOUR classes total toward the GLST BA and all other declared majors/minors.
Upon completion of the program, global studies majors will be able to do the following:
- Demonstrate an ability to describe and/or analyze two or more important contemporary global concerns (e.g., the environment, violence, human trafficking, poverty, child labor)
- Demonstrate geographical, cultural, and/or historical knowledge of at least two different world regions (Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, and the Middle East) at a level expected of a global studies major
- Demonstrate an ability to describe and/or analyze the modern political system of at least two countries outside of North America
- Demonstrate an ability to describe and/or analyze the significance and activities of two or more international/global organizations
Apply Now
How do I declare a global studies major?
- If a student entered Loyola as a global studies major, he or she need not formally declare.
- All other students: please use LOCUS to change or declare a major. We strongly encourage you to meet with the director of the Global Studies Program after you declare the GLST major to discuss program requirements, career goals, and internship options.
Degree Requirements
The curriculum leading to a BA in global studies consists of 33 semester hours of coursework (11 courses) and the fulfillment of a language proficiency requirement. Courses completed to satisfy the language requirement do not count toward the 33 semester hours of coursework.
The major in global studies requires students to complete the following global studies core courses in addition to their GLST elective courses:
- GLST 101 Introduction to Global Studies
- ANTH 100 Globalization and Local Cultures
- PLSC 102 International Relations in an Age of Globalization (Note: you can take PLSC 102 AND 3 PLSC Electives)
- For students who declare the major on or after August 1, 2021: TWO of the following GLST 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 398, 370 (Internship: note that only 3 credits of GIST 370 can count towards the GLST major). For students who declared the major before August 1, 2021: ONE of the following: GIST 301, GLST 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 398, or GLST 370 (Internship: note that only 3 credits of 370 can count towards the global studies major).
If a student enters Loyola as a global studies major, he or she need not formally declare.
Global Studies elective courses must be tagged with the GLST program and must include at least two courses that focus on specific world areas (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East). However, students may not take their electives in the same world area. Courses taken abroad may be substituted for LUC GLST courses only if they are pre-approved by the director of the GLST program. In addition, for students who declare the major starting Fall 2015, elective coursework must be from at least three departments. No more than three courses taken from any single department can count for the GLST major.
If a student wishes to concentrate on a particular region (e.g., Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, or the Middle East) within the global studies major, he or she may choose to take up to six GLST electives that focus on the chosen world area. It is not required, however, that students do this.
Portfolio Requirement
All graduating global studies majors must submit during their final semester a portfolio, which should be emailed directly to chasselmann@luc.edu. These portfolios are not graded at the level of the individual student but are used instead as part of an annual assessment of the program itself. The precise prompts will vary from year to year; however, students are required to submit the following:
- a 300–500-word response to an essay prompt related to the Program Learning Outcome (PLO) under assessment that year (i.e., a global issue; two non-US political systems; at least two international organizations...)
- a personal statement describing the most important knowledge and skills gained as a global studies major as well as the courses and experiences you have found most helpful.
- the inclusion of a statement on the strengths and weaknesses of the Global Studies Program itself as you see it as well as any recommendations you would like to see made to the program.
December graduates must submit their portfolios by November 1st of their final semester; May graduates must submit their portfolios by April 1st of their final semester. Please note that portfolio submission prior to graduation is a requirement that is separate from all other global studies major requirements.
Language Requirement
The language requirement for the major in global studies may be satisfied in any of the following ways:
- Successful completion with a grade of "C" or better of a 104-level or higher course in one of the modern, foreign languages offered by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.
- Completion of a language proficiency examination or the equivalent, administered by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, demonstrating proficiency at the 104 level or higher of a modern, foreign language (one that is native to a country or region other than the United States). Please email CASLanguageTesting@luc.edu for information about Language proficiency.
- Determination by the director of the Global Studies Program, in consultation with appropriate specialists, that a student has at least a 104-level reading and writing proficiency in a language that is not taught or tested at Loyola.
Please note that English, American Sign Language, computer languages, and other US-based languages do not satisfy this requirement.