Globalization is a complex web of interwoven processes that affect virtually all facets of our daily lives, from pop culture to economics, politics to climate and everything in between. Many of the pressing problems of the 21st Century – climate change, environmental sustainability, terrorism, pandemics, etc. – transcend national boundaries and will need to be solved as a global community. The Global Studies minor explores the challenges and opportunities that arise from living in an increasingly inter-connected world and also cultivates cross-cultural awareness by encouraging students to view issues from different cultural perspectives.
The Global Studies minor has four thematic pillars: culture & society, governance & conflict, economics & interdependence, and environment & health.
Governance & Conflict: explores the challenges of global governance in an increasingly inter-connected world of societies with different political and economic systems; analyzes the causes and effects of conflict and examines techniques for conflict resolution
Culture & Society: explores the values, norms, art and literature of different cultures around the world and throughout history, and their inter-relatedness
Environment & Health: explores human security issues, such as food security, health and disease, environmental sustainability and climate change
Economics & Interdependence: explores the politics, policies and practices of international trade and finance, and the development and effects of economic interdependence

