Apr 19, 2025  
DRAFT 2025-2026 Academic Catalog 
    
DRAFT 2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Global Studies, BA


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Global Studies, offered by the School of Planning, Policy and Environmental Studies , 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 make 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 using 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.

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements


Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements: 

  1. Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)

  2. General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)

  3. American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3A, 3B, 4, UD 3, or UD 4)

  4. Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) 3 units (see Writing in the Disciplines

  5. Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)

  6. Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)

  7. Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)

  8. Undergraduate Policies & Procedures

Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Summary of Degree Units


Core Lower Division General Education: 25 (3 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

American Institutions/ US123 Requirements: 6 (Note: may be satisfied by GE coursework)

Upper Division General Education: 0 (9 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

Physical Education: 2

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR): 3 

Major Preparation: 6 

Major Requirements: 60

University Electives: 18

Total: 120

2. Major Preparation (6 units)


3. Major Requirements (60 units)


Complete one course from:


Major Breadth Courses (24-28 units)


Complete the Global Studies course and one additional course in different departments in these four areas. 

Area 1: Global Sustainability (6-7 units)


Complete one course from:

Area 2: Global Development, Population, Human Rights (6-7 units)


Area 3: Global Security and Technology (6-7 units)


Area 4: Global Cultures and Society (6-7 units)


Complete one course from:

Minor Requirement (12-16 units)


Global Studies majors are required to select a minor field in consultation with the Global Studies advisor.

Major Upper Division Electives (11 units)


Students may take GLST 162  or GLST 192   or electives in GLST, ENVS, GEOG, GISC, or URBP to fulfill this requirement. See a Global Studies Advisor for additional approved Upper Division Electives.

4. University Electives (18 units)


Total Units Required (120 units)


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