Global Studies at SJSU is an interdisciplinary program that encourages students to look at the world holistically. The tremendous international migrations of people, movements of goods, technology transfers, and mixing of cultures makes it important to study the world as a human community in ways we haven’t considered in the past. The program is designed to train future leaders to grapple with some of the most pressing issues of our time, from a global perspective. The focus of our program on studying global issues from multiple perspectives provides students the intellectual foundation and the analytical and communication skills to prepare for careers in government, education, NGOs, international development agencies, international philanthropic organizations, law, consulting, global health organizations, writing, and graduate study. We are the only Global Studies program in the San Francisco Bay Area and one of the few in the CSU system that offers an interdisciplinary program that includes a suite of core courses in Global Studies. Global Studies is a relatively new field and our program is at the leading edge of shaping this field for the future.

Global Citizenship is an interdisciplinary certificate program, offered by the Department of Environmental Studies , intended to assist students and members of the non-student community in understanding the interconnectedness of peoples, genders, cultures, and societies and celebrating the richness of human diversity in a global context. The program complements SJSU’s goals of globalizing the campus and graduating students who are globally responsible citizens. Students will examine questions of meaning and value associated with citizenship in today’s increasingly connected world. Students will also develop their own understanding of personal, social, and corporate responsibility to the global community. In a rapidly changing world, it is necessary for college students to acquire the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to adapt and thrive in the enlarged and evolving global context.

University Basic Certificate Requirements

Basic certificate programs provide opportunities for students to pursue specialized, often pre-professional, focused educational objectives that may be separate from a degree program. At least 6 units must be completed at SJSU. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in basic certificate coursework in order to be awarded a certificate. Generally, a maximum of 33% of basic certificate units (e.g., 3 units for a 9-unit certificate) can be completed in non-matriculated status at SJSU with approval from the department or school. In some cases, a basic certificate may be completed entirely through Open University if the student has completed a Bachelor’s degree and received approval from the department or school (University Policy S16-17 A). If a student has completed a Bachelor’s degree and received approval from the department or school, a basic certificate may be completed entirely through Open University.

The advisor/director of the program is responsible for verifying a student’s satisfactory completion of the academic requirements established for the program and for forwarding a copy of the certificate completion form to the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar records the completion of the program on the student’s transcript.