How to Apply for a Major in Globalization Studies

The Globalization Studies major is unique in allowing students more flexibility in course selection and curricular direction than traditional majors.  Because of this, however, students must demonstrate greater intentionality of course selection by explaining their choices clearly in the statement of course rationale. The following directions review the requirements for the Globalization Studies program and give specific instructions for completing the application form. 

• 1. Before you fill out this application you should familiarize yourself with the requirements for the major; these which listed on the program website. If you are considering submitting an application, we encourage you first to contact a member of the Globalization Studies Advisory Committee (GSAC) to discuss your decision and for assistance in shaping a major plan and completing this application. A list of GSAC members appears on the program website.
  
• 2. Fill out the application form. This consists of some summary information (Part A), a course plan (Parts B - E), and a course rationale (Part F). You must state your intended regional and thematic tracks and then, in the course plan, list the courses you intend to satisfy the major requirements and the location of your proposed off-campus study. The course rationale should explain clearly your goals for the major, reason for choosing your tracks, and justify the course selection for each track in the context of your curricular goals.
  
• 3. Submit your completed application (course listing and rationale) via e-mail to the Globalization Studies coordinator, Caroline Hartzell (chartzel@gettysburg.edu).
  
• 4. Applications are due by the first of each month. Your application will then be reviewed by the GSAC during meetings in the following month. The last date to submit your application if you wish it to be considered in the current academic year is April 1: submissions after April 1 will be considered by the committee in the following fall.
  
• 5. If the committee has questions or concerns about your application you may be asked to revise and resubmit your application. To be accepted to the GS major, the GSAC must be convinced that your major plan meets the following criteria:
  
• a. Your rationale for choosing a GS major and choice of regional and thematic tracks is clear and appropriate
• b. Your proposed course plan is logistically feasible
• c. Your proposed course plan is well thought out and explained, appropriate to your goals, and consistent with your stated regional and thematic tracks
  
• 6. Once your program has been approved, major changes must be approved by both your advisor and the GS subcommittee. "Change of Proposed Course" forms are available on-line on the GS website. 
  
  INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE APPLICATION FORM

Part A.    Summary Information

This section of the application simply requests some basic information about you and your intended major plan.  In addition to your name, class year and contact information, you should give the following information:

Information about you:

• Additional majors, if Globalization Studies is not your only major. Students who declare a major in addition to the Globalization Studies major may count up to three (3) courses from their other major toward the GS major requirements. Also list any minors you may have.
• The names of any faculty you worked with in preparing this application. While it is not a requirement, the GSAC strongly encourages you to contact and work with members of the faculty committee (a list of these is available on the Globalization Studies program website) for guidance in preparing this application. These faculty members can also help answer questions the committee may have about your application when it is being considered.

Information about the major:

• List the name of your intended thematic track. The purpose of the thematic track is to give you depth in a particular disciplinary area of interest. The name should make clear the concepts, ideas and methods relevant to globalization that you wish to pursue. See "Requirements" on the Globalization Studies website for examples of thematic tracks.
  
• List the name of your intended regional or comparative track. The purpose of the regional track is to ground students in the realities of a geographic region outside the United States. Students are expected to focus on a traditionally defined geographical region (e.g. Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe, etc.), although non-traditional regional definitions are permissible. (Note: A single country is not a region!)
  
• List the foreign language used to satisfy the College language requirement. Globalization Studies majors should complete this college requirement in a language appropriate to the regional track which they have chosen.
  
• Students are required to spend one semester of study off-campus, preferably in a program related to the region on which you focus. List the location and semester in which you intend to satisfy the off-campus studies requirement for the major. (If you plan to study off-campus more than one semester, or in two different locations, please note that in the additional space provided). Early consultation with your advisor and with the Off-Campus Studies Office is encouraged to find the most appropriate program to meet your needs.

Courses taken off-campus may be counted towards the Globalization Studies major with the following conditions:

• o A maximum of two (2) courses taken off-campus can be used in the regional track and not more than two (2) courses can be used in the thematic track.
  
• o A maximum of three (3) courses taken off-campus can be used towards the major (4 courses may be counted if the student is spending two semesters abroad)
  
• o No core courses (foundation and methods courses) should be taken off-campus. Exceptions may be made for transfer students who wish to receive credit for one of these courses from another institution. These students should submit a petition along with a copy of the syllabus for the course in question to the GSAC. Course credit received from another department does not automatically guarantee transfer credit towards the GS major. The latter can only be approved by the GSAC.

Part B.    Foundation Courses

The following four courses are required for the inter-disciplinary Globalization Studies major in order to give students the breadth of understanding and experience in the methodologies employed across several fields.  Because these serve as necessary pre-requisites for higher-level courses, they should be taken as early as possible (preferably before the end of the sophomore year). 

• POL 103 (Introduction to International Relations) or POL 104  (Introduction to Comparative Politics).  Indicate which one was taken on the application form.
• ECON 101 (Introductory Economics)
• ANTH 103 (Introduction to Cultural Anthropology)
• HIST 110 (20^th Century World)

Part C.    Methods Course

In addition to having breadth of understanding of the tools employed in several disciplines, Globalization Studies majors must also demonstrate depth of understanding in a specific field, including the ability to conduct research using the methods of a specific discipline.  Based on your thematic interests, choose one of the methods courses listed below.

• ANTH 323
• ECON 241
• ES 230 or ES 196
• HIST 300
• POL 215
• SOC 302
• VAH 120. 

Note: Most of these courses have prerequisites that must be taken prior to enrolling!   Students wishing to take an alternative methods course from another discipline must obtain approval from the GSAC. 

Part D.  Regional and Comparative Track

Students must choose three courses (and propose one or two alternate courses) that examine some combination of the history, politics, economics, cultures, literatures, fine arts or environmental issues of their chosen region.

Students are expected to focus on a traditionally defined geographical region such as Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, Latin America, or the Middle East and North Africa.  Students wishing to use a more non-traditional regional definition should explain and justify their choice clearly in their rationale.  (Note: A single country is not a region!)

The courses chosen for the regional track must satisfy the following criteria:

• The courses that make up the regional track must draw from at least two disciplines.
• These courses must be taken at the 200 level and above, with at least one course at the 300 level or higher.
• Not more than two of these courses can be taken off-campus
• At least one of the courses should focus on some historical aspect of the region in question and one course on some aspect of society and culture in the region.

Part E.    Thematic Track

Students must also choose three courses (and propose one or two alternate courses) with a thematic focus.  The purpose of these three courses is for students to gain in-depth knowledge of some substantive area of globalization studies that combines different disciplines. 

• The courses that make up the thematic track must draw from at least two disciplines.

• These courses must be taken at the 200 level or above, with at least one course at the 300 level or higher.
  
• Not more than two of these courses can be taken off-campus

Part F.    Course Rationale

Students must provide a brief rationale for their proposed choice of coursework.  In particular, in four brief essays please explain and justify the following questions:

• 1. Your choice of regional track in the context of your academic goals, and how the course plan you propose will help you to meet your goals.
  
• 2. Your choice of thematic track in the context of your academic goals, and how the course plan
  you propose (including the choice of methods course) will help you to meet your goals.
  
• 3. Your choice of language and study abroad program in the context of your regional track and your academic goals.
  
• 4. Your choice to major in Globalization Studies (as opposed to some other field). If you are a double major with another field, explain what you hope to gain through Globalization Studies as a second major.

Each of the four rationale statements should be roughly one paragraph in length, although you are free to write whatever you feel is appropriate to express your intentions.  You may use the space provided or you may print your essays on a separate piece of paper and attach it to the application.

In your essays, you are encouraged to comment on the ways in which your proposed course of study addresses goals of local and global citizenship, integrates service to the communities of which you are a part, or otherwise contributes to your personal/ professional goals.

Download the Application for a Major in Globalization Studies Form:
MS Word Document (49.0 kb)