Global Studies
Think Globally.
It is an undeniable fact that we live in a globalized world, whether that is in the clothes we buy, the food we eat, the technology that we engage, the jobs that we seek or the conflicts in which we see our country embroiled. In Shenandoah’s multi-disciplinary global studies program, students have the opportunity to study different cultures, societies and global issues, and to reflect on the role that they play in a globalized community.
I believe that having a global perspective is really important because we are all connected. Our world is so interdependent, and interdisciplinary; we all depend on each other. One of the best ways I’ve heard it explained is thinking of the world as one vast web. When you tug at one end of the web it sends a vibration to the other side of the world, that tug affects every nation and every people in some way or another. Global studies is a new field of study which means that it is always developing and changing! There are always going to be new things to discover, think about, and explore. The challenge of this field inspires and creates such a fire in my bones that I can’t contain.
Elora Smith ’23 | Global Studies & Biology double major
During my first two years of undergrad studying Political Science and Spanish, I was always drawn to global-oriented topics and questions so when Global Studies was introduced as a major, my advisor and I looked at the possibility of adding Global Studies as a third major. It took some meticulous organization, but we were able to map out a way for me to complete all three majors in four years. There are many memorable moments from my time in the Global Studies and Political Science programs, including touring the Capitol Building for the first time, completing research on the political and economic crisis in Venezuela, ethnic cleansing in Myanmar, and the Freedom of Movement and Syrian Refugee Crisis across Europe.
Karen Cornejo Guillen ’18 | Global Studies, Political Science, and Spanish triple major with a Geography minor
Shenandoah University’s College of Arts & Sciences is your direct connection to a classic, broad-based education to satisfy both your intellectual curiosity and career goals. With a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, small classes and individualized learning opportunities, we put students at the center of all our decisions and events.
We blend the liberal arts with pre-professional courses and hands-on learning to prepare you for careers in the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. You’ll learn through small, engaging classes and relationships with faculty mentors; hone your skills to solve problems; and learn to use creativity and critical thinking to make informed decisions.
Courses Required for the Global Studies Minor
The Global Studies minor provides students with an enhanced understanding of our increasingly interdependent world. The curriculum provides students with the opportunity to study different cultures, societies and international issues. Therefore, the Global Studies minor complements a variety of degrees by preparing students to operate successfully in our globalized community.
Course Title Credit Hours
| GLS 101 | Introduction to Global Studies | 3 |
| FR 301 | French Conversation | 3 |
| or | ||
| SPAN 301 | Spanish Conversation | |
| or Third-year competency in another Modern Foreign Language | ||
| Complete four of the following courses from two separate disciplines. Two of the courses must be at the 300-level or above | ||
| BA 455 | International Business | 3 |
| EC 450 | International Economics | 3 |
| FR 316 | French/Francophone CulturalVoices | 3 |
| GWST 420 | Women and the Holocaust | 3 |
| GEO 202 | Human Geography | 3 |
| HIST 102 | World Civilizations II | 3 |
| HIST/ SPAN 312 | Latin American Civilization and Culture | 3 |
| HIST 362 | Modern Middle East | 3 |
| HIST 371 | Modern European History | 3 |
| HIST 381 | British History | 3 |
| HIST 391 | Asian History | 3 |
| PH 202 | Global Health | 3 |
| PSCI 204 | Introduction to International Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 209 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 403 | Global Governance and International Organization | 3 |
| PSCI 404 | Global Human Rights | 3 |
| REL 202 | World Religions | 3 |
| REL 311 | Asian Religion and Philosophy | 3 |
| REL 340 | Religion and Ecology | 3 |
| REL/ GWST 341 | Sex, Gender and Religion | 3 |
| 182 SPAN | Spanish Civilization and Culture | 3 |
| SPAN 315 | Reading in U.S. Latino Literature and Culture: Chicano/a Narrative | 3 |
| SPAN 316 | The Southern Cone | 3 |
| SPAN 320 | Survey of Peninsular Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 325 | Survey of Latin American Literature | 3 |
| Total 18 | ||
Study Abroad is highly encouraged but not required for the minor. Courses taken during the study abroad program may be substituted for core and/or elective courses. Students planning to study abroad should meet with the program director prior to their trip.
Declaring A Minor
Shenandoah students work with their Academic Advisor to declare a minor. Academic Advisors will continue to work with students to ensure that they fulfill all of the requirements to complete the minor.
Incoming students should not indicate their intended minor on their Shenandoah application. Applications are for intended majors only.
I completed an internship with Latin American News Digest in the Spring of 2017. I worked remotely, translating news articles from Latin American sources to be published for readers in English-speaking countries. Even though this internship was more communications-oriented, I loved that I had the opportunity to learn more about news reporting in Latin American countries. I chose to focus on politics pieces, so it was a great opportunity to work on improving my writing skills and keep up with current events from that region.”
Karen Cornejo Guillen ’18 | Global Studies, Political Science, and Spanish triple major with a Geography minor
The Career & Professional Development staff helps Shenandoah students search and apply for internships related to their major and career goals. Internships differentiate you as an applicant in your future job searches, provide hands on experience in your field, allow you to sample different career paths for your major, and help you find a specific position that fits your passion before graduation.
Courses Required for the Global Studies Major
| Course | Title | Credit Hours |
| Core Courses (21 credits) | ||
| GLS 101 | Introduction to Global Studies | 3 |
| GEO 202 | Human Geography | 3 |
| HIST 102 | World Civilizations II | 3 |
| PSCI 204 | Introduction to International Politics | 3 |
| or | ||
| PSCI 209 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| REL 202 | World Religions | 3 |
| FR 301 | French Conversation | 3 |
| or | ||
| SPAN 301 | Spanish Conversation | 3 |
| or | ||
| Third-year Competency in another Modern Foreign Language | ||
| GLS 475 | Senior Capstone in Global Studies | 3 |
Electives (18 credits) Complete six of the following courses from at least three separate disciplines. Four of the six courses must come from a prefix other than the student’s double major or minor. Five of the six courses must be at the 300-level or above. | ||
| BA 455 | International Business | 3 |
| EC 450 | International Economics | 3 |
| FR 315 | French/Francophone Literature | 3 |
| GWST 420 | Women and the Holocaust | 3 |
| HIST 101 | World Civilizations I | 3 |
| HIST 362 | Modern Middle East | 3 |
| HIST 371 | Modern European History | 3 |
| HIST 38 | British History | 3 |
| HIST 391 | Asian History | 3 |
| PH 202 | Global Health | 3 |
| PSCI 204 | Introduction to International Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 209 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 403 | Global Governance and International Organizations | 3 |
| PSCI 404 | Global Human Rights | 3 |
| REL 311 | Asian Religion and Philosophy | 3 |
| REL 312 | Islam | |
| REL 340 | Religion and Ecology | |
| REL/ GWST 341 | Sex, Gender and Religion | |
| SPAN 311 | Spanish Civilization and Culture | |
| SPAN 315 | Reading in U.S. Latino Literature and Culture: Chicano/a Narrative | |
| SPAN 316 | The Southern Cone | |
| SPAN 320 | Survey of Peninsular Literature | |
| SPAN 325 | Survey of Latin American Literature | |
| Total 39 | ||
I really love everything this program has to offer, especially at Shenandoah, because we have a global perspective on things, and that is not only important, but beautifully unique. Shenandoah does a really good job at opening the doors to the world. Showing students that there is so much more out there that we don’t see or understand. Through majoring in Global Studies students are given the opportunity to completely immerse themselves in every field of study. In religion, history, human geography (sciences), languages, and research. You are given the classes and tools to understand the world. Through my experience in these classes I’ve found myself having more and more questions about it, but that just fuels my constant curiosity to learn more and dive deeper.
Elora Smith ’23 | Global Studies & Biology double major
I was fortunate enough to have more than one favorite class in my time at SU. Some of them include Survey of Latin American Literature, The Southern Cone, Spanish Cinema, an Independent Study of Pedro Almodóvar films, Global Human Rights, and so many others. However, the class that sparked my interest in what I now consider my future career, international humanitarian law, was International Criminal Justice. Out of all 12 wonderful courses I took with Dr. Eric Leonard, this one is especially memorable. I took it during my sophomore year and it definitely challenged me intellectually, it pushed me to become a better writer and overall, it introduced me to a field about which I am now so passionate.”
Karen Cornejo Guillen ’18 | Global Studies, Political Science, and Spanish triple major with a Geography minor
Use Your Passport Requirement
Travel abroad is also required for the Global Studies major. This may take any form currently offered by the university (GCP, GEL, Mission Trip, Study Abroad) or any other form approved by the program director. Courses taken during study abroad may be substituted for core and/or elective courses. Students planning to study abroad should meet with the Global Studies program director prior to their trip.
Learning support services are available to all students in every course at Shenandoah. Free peer tutoring with a student who has previously succeeded in the course is available for any course across the university. The Writing Center is available for every stage of the writing process from thesis development to proofreading and bibliography assistance. The Math Enrichment Center is available for math and science assistance. Professors and Academic Advisors across the university also have office hours and open door policies to ensure Shenandoah students succeed academically.
The Honors Program is a multidisciplinary Honors Program for students who are curious, creative, self-motivated, and eager to engage in their education and community.
Not only do Honors Program students partake in honors courses that emphasize collaboration, service, and communication, but they will also have the opportunity to develop aspects of the program based on their own interests and goals. By participating in the Honors Program you will acquire the tools, knowledge and experiences necessary to make meaningful contributions to your community – whether it be globally, locally, or specific to your life’s work. You will have access to unique courses, exciting experiences and a community of peers and faculty who never stop asking questions and striving for excellence.
Imagine participating in interesting conversations led by engaging professors who’ve already done what you dream of doing. You’ll be in a small class — the average class size is approximately 12 students — with professors who know your name, care about your success and provide advice as you pursue your academic and career goals.
Students interested in this program should also look into these other majors, graduate degrees, minors, and certificates.
All majors within the College of Arts & Sciences require students to complete a minor in the program of their choice at Shenandoah.
These minors complement this program well:
- Political Science
- Geography
- Sociology
- Global Studies
- Mass Communications
- Religion
- Gender & Women’s Studies
You may want to think about enhancing your degree with these certificates that pair well with this program:
My advice to any prospective students considering Global Studies as a major would be to try to focus energy on developing a skill-set that will be applicable to any job and/or further studies after undergrad. Unfortunately, too many people discount this area of study because it is so broad and does not necessarily teach a trade. In my time at SU, I have learned that refining written and oral communication skills, expanding research abilities, obtaining proficiency or fluency in an additional language and more can also be beneficial because those are skills that are applicable to more than just one career path—it makes you more marketable. I would also advise students to explore courses that they may not have considered taking before—take responsibility for your college experience by looking at the course catalog and seeing what courses are available. If you have an idea for an independent study, seek out a way to make it happen. Some of the most rewarding courses I took as an upperclassman were independent studies where I examined a topic or question a little closer, with guidance from my professors.
Karen Cornejo Guillen ’18 | Global Studies, Political Science, and Spanish triple major with a Geography minor
Shenandoah University works on rolling admissions and accepts applications throughout the year. Applications are reviewed individually and holistically.
Submit your application, review required admission materials, and find our admissions standards.
Imagine participating in interesting conversations led by engaging professors who’ve already done what you dream of doing. You’ll be in a small class — the average class size is approximately 12 students — with professors who know your name, care about your success and provide advice as you pursue your academic and career goals.
Meet Eric Leonard | Henkel Family Chair in International Affairs
Make studying abroad the highlight of your college experience! Whether you go for a year, a semester, or just a few weeks. You will never forget learning in another culture! The Center for International Programs is here to help you plan your study abroad experience. Start your planning early to ensure the courses you complete abroad count toward your degree and you graduate on time.
Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program
The Global Experiential Learning (GEL) Program offers Shenandoah students a short-term, faculty-led, study-abroad experience for academic credit. These short-term, credit-bearing, faculty-led programs are offered winter break, spring break, and during the summer. If a course is not within your major, it might be used as an elective.
Study Abroad
Shenandoah University is a member of the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), a global network of 300 universities. This partnership allows students to study for a full semester or year at other member campuses abroad. By working closely with their academic advisors and the study abroad advisor, students can take classes taught in English abroad while receiving Shenandoah credit.
Shenandoah University also maintains direct partnerships with several universities around the world. These relationships allow students from SU to study abroad as exchange students and students from these universities to study at SU. All partner universities offer courses taught in English.