SMC’s Global Studies Program (DRAFT: 3/25/09) 

 

 

Catalog Description: 

 

Global Studies is a multi- and interdisciplinary program designed to increase knowledge and 
understanding of the processes of globalization and their impacts on societies, cultures, and 
environments around the world. The Global Studies program provides the student with a 
knowledge of critical issues that affect their lives and community, as well as the affairs of other 
cultures, societies, and nations. An understanding of the world's social, political, economic, and 
natural systems and their increasing interdependence, along with an appreciation of the 
diversity of human culture, will supply the student with a strong background for working in a 
global economy, for living in a multicultural society, and for making intelligent decisions as 
global citizens. 

 

The goals of the program are to prepare students for further work in international studies and 
world affairs through the study of other cultures, world history, political and economic systems, 
world geography and environment, cross-cultural communication and conflict resolution, and 
modern languages. The Global Studies program is designed to encourage students to become 
"global thinkers." They learn how to relate their knowledge of a particular part of the world to 
the larger trends and issues that affect all societies: the transnational interactions of peoples, 
cultures, economies, and polities; the globalizing processes of the communications media; 
technological and environmental changes; law and human rights; the sometimes violent 
political, ethnic and religious responses to what is perceived as cultural and economic 
homogenization on a global scale; and the search for a just, sustainable and peaceful world. 

 

 

Student Learning Outcomes: 

 

Students completing the Global Studies program will possess an increased understanding of the 
world’s social, political, economic and natural systems and their increasing interdependence, as 
well as an appreciation of the diversity of human culture which in turn will enable them to better 
work in the global economy, live in a multicultural society, and make intelligent decision as 
global citizens. 

Through the subject matter and activities presented in each course in the Global Studies 
program, students will be able to: 

 

1. Analyze major global challenges from a multi- and interdisciplinary perspective. 
2. Identify varying worldviews on the same issues, events, and occurrences. 
3. Differentiate multiple perspectives on globalization and their effects on decision-
making and behavior (at the individual, community, institutional, and national levels). 
4. Explain how/why the environmental well-being of the world demands personal and 
collective responsibility at both the local and global levels. 
5. Describe core civic/citizenship values which generate socially responsible behavior 
at both local and global levels. 
6. Explain the interconnectedness of global decisions and events. 



7. Analyze the interdependence among people, groups, societies, governments, and 
nations in finding solutions to current global problems and conflicts. 





Student ability to analyze, synthesize and evaluate current world events, conditions and issues 
will be assessed through quizzes and exams, participation in discussions and activities, and 
term papers and/or projects. 

 

Highlights: (25-28 units) 

 

• Three Introductory (cross-listed) Global Studies Core Courses (9 units) 
.. Global Studies 11 / Geography 11: “Introduction to Global Studies: World 
Geography” or “World Geography: An Introduction to Global Studies” 
.. Global Studies 5 / Economics 5 / Political Science 5: “Introduction to Global Studies: 
International Political Economy” or “International Political Economy: An Introduction 
to Global Studies” 
.. Global Studies 3 / Sociology 3: “Global Social Issues: Perspectives and Solutions” 
(This course will involve a multidisciplinary approach and some degree of 
experiential learning.) 


• Field Studies/Applied Courses (2 units) 
.. “Global LA: Service-Learning Project” 
.. “Global Village: Study Abroad Program” 
.. “Global Internship: International Business Internship” (Business 95) 


• Modern Foreign Language Requirement (5 units) 
.. Consistent with the IGETC Requirements for UC 




• Arabic 1 


• German 1 


• Japanese 1 


• Russian 1 


• Chinese 1 


• Hebrew 1 


• Korean 1 


• Spanish 1 


• French 1 


• Italian 1 


• Persian 1 


• Spanish 11 


 

 

 

• ASL ???? 




 

• Complementary (Discipline-based) Electives organized by academic theme/area 
(9-12 units) 
.. Culture and Society 
.. Governance and Conflict 
.. Markets and Economies 
.. World History and Area Studies 







• Complementary (Discipline-based) Electives organized by academic theme/area 
(9-12 units) 
o Culture and Society 






 

Course Number 

Course Title 

units 

 

• Anthropology 02 


Cultural Anthropology 

3 

 

• Anthropology 03 


World Archaeology 

3 

 

• Anthropology 07 


Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology 

3 

 

• Environment Studies 07 (Geog 7) 


Introduction to Environmental Studies 

3 

 

• Fashion 15 


Ethnic Fashion 

3 

 

• Geography 02 


Introduction to Human Geography 

3 

? 

• Geography 05 


Physical Geography with Lab 

3 

 

• Geography 07 (Env Stds 07) 


Introduction to Environmental Studies 

3 

 

• Geography 08 (Urb Stds 08) 


Introduction to Urban Studies 

3 

 

• History 48 (Phil 48) 


Nonviolent Resistance 

3 

 

• Philosophy 48 (History 48) 


Nonviolent Resistance 

3 

 

• Political Science 22 


Environmental Politics and Policies 

3 

? 

• Psychology 5 


The Psychology of Communication 

3 

 

• Psychology 40 


Environmental Psychology 

3 

? 

• Sociology 01 


Introduction to Sociology 

3 

 

• Speech 07 


Intercultural Communication 

3 

 

• Urban Studies 08 (Geog 08) 


Introduction to Urban Studies 

3 

 

• Women’s Studies 20 


Women, Feminisms, and Social Movements: A 
Global Approach 

3 



 

o Governance and Conflict 


 

Course Number 

Course Title 

units 

 

• Philosophy 51 (Poli Sci 51) 


Political Philosophy 

3 

 

• Philosophy 52 (Poli Sci 52) 


Modern Political Thought 

3 

 

• Political Science 02 


Comparative Government and Politics 

3 

 

• Political Science 07 


International Politics 

3 

 

• Political Science 11 


World Affairs and the United Nations 

3 

 

• Political Science 12 


Model United Nations 

1 

 

• Political Science 47 


International Politics Seminar 

3 

 

• Political Science 51 (Phil 51) 


Political Philosophy 

3 

 

• Political Science 52 (Phil 52) 


Modern Political Thought 

3 



 

o Markets and Economies 


 

Course Number 

Course Title 

units 

 

• Business 50 


Introduction to International Business 

3 

 

• Business 52 


International Marketing 

3 

? 

• Business 53 


Importing and Exporting 

3 

 

• Business 54 


International Management 

3 

 

• Business 55 


Southern California’s International Connections 

3 

 

• Economics 01 


Principles of Microeconomics 

3 

 

• Economics 02 


Principles of Macroeconomics 

3 

? 

• Economics 06 


Contemporary Economic Problems 

3 



 


 

o World History and Area Studies 


 

Course Number 

Course Title 

units 

 

• Art 01 


Western Art History I 

3 

 

• Art 02 


Western Art History II 

3 

 

• Art 03 


Western Art History III 

3 

 

• Art 05 


Arts of Asia—Prehistory to 1900 

3 

 

• Art 08 


Western Art History IV 

3 

 

• Art 09 


Mexican Art History 

3 

 

• Dance 20 


Ethnic Dance 

2 

 

• Dance 21 


Asian Pacific Dance Survey 

2 

 

• Dance 22 


Mexican Dance 

2 

 

• Dance 23 


Intermediate Mexican Dance 

2 

 

• Dance 24 


Flamenco Dance 

2 

 

• Dance 25 


African Dance 

2 

 

• Dance 27 


Brazilian Dance 

2 

 

• English 32 (History 30) 


History and Literature of Contemporary Africa 

3 

 

• English 40 


Asian Literature 

3 

 

• English 45 


Asian Film, Literature, and Society 

3 

 

• English 56 


20th Century European Literature 

3 

 

• English 58 


Literature of Mexico 

3 

 

• History 01 


History of Western Civilization I 

3 

 

• History 02 


History of Western Civilization II 

3 

 

• History 03 


History of British Civilization I 

3 

 

• History 04 


History of British Civilization II 

3 

 

• History 05 


History of Latin America 1 

3 

 

• History 06 


History of Latin America 2 

3 

 

• History 19 


History of Mexico 

3 

 

• History 20 


History of California 

3 

 

• History 21 


History of Russia 

3 

 

• History 22 


History of the Middle East 

3 

 

• History 24 


History of East Asia to 1600 

3 

 

• History 25 


History of East Asia since 1600 

3 

 

• History 26 


South Asian Civilization 1 

3 

 

• History 29 


Jewish History 

3 

 

• History 30 (English 32) 


History and Literature of Contemporary Africa 

3 

 

• History 33 


World Civilizations I 

3 

 

• History 34 


World Civilizations II 

3 

 

• History 38 


African History I 

3 

 

• History 39 


African History II 

3 

 

• History 41 


Native American History 

3 

 

• History 53 


History of Religion 

3 

 

• Music 30 


Music History I 

3 

 

• Music 31 


Music History II 

3 

 

• Music 32 


Appreciation of Music 

3 

 

• Philosophy 03 


Early Philosophers 

3 

 

• Philosophy 04 


Modern Philosophers 

3 

 

• Philosophy 23 


Philosophy of Religion 

3 

 

• Humanities 28S 


Contemporary Life in China 

2 

 

• Philosophy 22 


Asian Philosophy 

3 

 

• Political Science 14 


Middle East Government and Politics 

3 

 

• Spanish 09 


The Civilization of Spain 

3 

 

• Spanish 20 


Latin American Civilization 

3