Program: Global Studies (GLST) - Minor - Winona State University

Apr 02, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Global Studies Minor Image

21-23 credits

2.0 GPA required.

Letter grade required in all minor courses unless otherwise noted.

At least 12 credits of 300/400-level courses required.

Overview

Global Studies is a multidisciplinary study of the changes taking place around the world. These changes have the effect of increasing and intensifying connections between countries, their peoples, and nature. Globalization is a common term used to describe this phenomenon, which is the focus of this minor. The GS minor is organized in two parts. In the first part, students take courses that are global in scope. In the second part, students take courses in the category of Cultural Literacy, World Languages and World Regions. The objective of the global studies program is to enable students to integrate their knowledge of the globe with specific global areas/regions to foster a comprehensive understanding of glocalization.

Program Summary

3 Global Anchor Courses (9 credits)
2 Global Supporting Theme Courses (6 credits)
Electives: Cultural Literacy, World Languages, & World Regions (6-8 credits)

Global Anchor Courses (9 credits)

GS 200 - Introduction to Global Studies (3 credits)
△ GS 400 - Global Studies Seminar (3 credits)

Choose one

◎ GS 330 - Selected Topics in Global Studies (3 credits)
GS 368 - Migration, Refugees and Globalization (3 credits)
SOC 340 - Social-Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)

Global Supporting Themes Electives (6 credits)

Global supporting electives are organized in four themes. Students may select any two courses from any theme.

Global Environment

Courses in this category consider the wholeness of the physical environment of the globe, the potential of its resources to meet human needs, the effects of human activity on the global environment, and the ways in which its resources can be managed responsibly.

BIOL 104 - The Environment, Society, and Conservation (3 credits)
GEOG 110 - World Regional Geography (3 credits)
GEOG 370 - The Geography of Tourism (3 credits)
GEOS 102 - Resources of the Earth (3 credits)
GEOS 103 - Natural Disasters (3 credits)
GEOS 104 - Climate, Catastrophes and Extinctions (3 credits)
GEOS 113 - Natural Disasters with Laboratory (4 credits)
GEOS 114 - Climate, Catastrophes and Extinctions with Laboratory (4 credits)
GEOS 316 - Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
GEOS 325 - Environmental Geoscience (3 credits)
GEOS 335 - Global Climate Change (3 credits)
◎ GEOS 443 - Global Water Resources (4 credits)
◆ GS 433 - Global Societies and Climate Change (3 credits)
PHIL 232 - Environmental Ethics (3 credits)
POLS 240 - Global Environmental Problems and Policy (3 credits)
RTTR 302 - Adventure Travel and Tourism Development (3 credits)

Global Governance

Courses in this category examine whether current international organizations can adequately cope with contemporary problems caused by globalization. These courses also examine efforts by various groups and countries to develop rules, norms, and institutions that can respond consistent with universal standards of human dignity and responsibility.

PHIL 140 - Introduction to War, Peace, and Terrorism (3 credits)
PHIL 341 - Just War Tradition (3 credits)
POLS 130 - Introduction to International Relations (3 credits)
POLS 135 - Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 credits)
POLS 205 - The United Nations in World Affairs (3 credits)
POLS 225 - Ethnic Conflict and Nationalism (3 credits)
POLS 343 - Human Rights in Theory and Practice (3 credits)
◎ POLS 346 - International Law (3 credits)
△ POLS 347 - International Organizations (3 credits)
POLS 390 - Comparing Politics in Developing Countries (3 credits)
△ POLS 475 - Challenges of Democracy (3 credits)
POLS 488 - Issues in International Politics (3 credits)

Global Society & Culture

Courses in this category explore the emergence of common norms, values, and behavior around the world because of globalization and the spread of technology. They also examine expression and culture in different parts of the world and the dynamic of conflict and cooperation between local and global cultures.

CS 110 - Computers in a Global Society (3 credits)
EDFD 450 - Comparative Education (3 credits)
ENG 221 - Topics in World Literature (3 credits) (select topics: World Mythology, Families Across Cultures, Beyond Europe & America, Post-Colonial Literature)
△ ENG 432 - Literature in a Global Context (3 credits)
FILM 221 - World Cinema (3 credits)
GEOG 213 - Cultural Geography (3 credits)
MCOM 356 - Media and Society International (3 credits)
△ MCOM 450 - Global Media and Communication (3 credits)
MUS 114 - Global Music Cultures (3 credits)
RTTR 265 - Leisure in Different Cultures (3 credits)
RTTR 390 - Tourism Planning (3 credits)
SOC 340 - Social-Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)
SOCW 445 - Globalization of Social Welfare (3 credits)

Global Economy

Courses in this category deal with the emergence of the global market economy, the way in which it operates, and the reaction of governments and non-governmental groups.

BUSA 411 - International Business Law (3 credits)
ECON 404 - International Economics (3 credits)
ECON 415 - International Economic Development (3 credits)
FIN 440 - International Finance (3 credits)
GEOG 211 - Economic Geography (3 credits)
◆ GS 335 - Global Poverty and Sustainable Development (3 credits)
MGMT 345 - International Business (3 credits)
MGMT 475 - International Management (3 credits)
MGMT 477 - International Human Resources Management (3 credits)
MKTG 105 - Global Business: Marketing and Sustainability (3 credits)
MKTG 331 - International Marketing (3 credits)
POLS 342 - International Political Economy (3 credits)

Cultural Literacy, World Language, & World Regions Electives (6-8 credits)

Study Abroad experience may apply with departmental approval via course substitution.

Cultural Literacy

GS 205 - Cultural Encounters (3 credits)
GS 350 - Cross-Cultural Field Experience (1-9 credits)
GS 450 - Global Studies Internship (1-21 credits)
GS 451 - Global Studies Internship (3 credits)

World Languages

Students seeking to test out of a language or earn credits by examination must follow the WSU language program policy.

World Regions

Asia (Chinese & Japanese learners)

CHIN 301 - Advanced Chinese (4 credits)
CHIN 302 - Advanced Chinese II (4 credits)
ECON 430 - Asian Economies in Transition (3 credits)
ENG 221 - Topics in World Literature (3 credits) (Women in Chinese Literature)
GEOG 223 - Geography of Asia (3 credits)
GS 215 - Introduction to Japanese Culture (4 credits)
GS 255 - Cultures of South and Southeast Asia (3 credits)
GS 300 - Contemporary China (3-4 credits)
GS 315 - Special Topics in Japanese Studies (1-12 credits)
GS 345 - Media, Popular Culture, and Changing Chinese Society (3-4 credits)
△ GS 355 - Asian International Relations (3 credits)
HIST 123 - East Asian Civilization (3 credits)
HIST 341 - Modern Japan (3 credits)
HIST 343 - Modern China (3 credits)
JPN 301 - Advanced Japanese (4 credits)
JPN 302 - Advanced Japanese II (4 credits)

Europe (French, German, & Spanish learners)

ART 222 - Survey of Modern Art (3 credits)
ART 313 - Western Art and Culture (3 credits)
GEOG 326 - Geography of Europe (3 credits)
GS 218 - The New Europeans: Understanding the EU (3 credits)
HIST 122 - Western Civilization 1815 to Present (3 credits)
HIST 335 - The Holocaust (3 credits)
HIST 355 - European Intellectual and Cultural History (3 credits)
HIST 397 - Topics in History (3 credits) (program consent required)
◎ HIST 398 - Topics in History with Oral Communication Emphasis (3 credits) (program consent required)
△ HIST 403 - Middle Ages (3 credits)
HIST 408 - Renaissance (3 credits)
HIST 409 - Reformation (3 credits)
HIST 417 - Hitler and Nazi Germany (3 credits)
HIST 421 - Tudor and Stuart England (3 credits)
HIST 423 - Modern England (3 credits)
△ HIST 434 - Modern Russia and the USSR since 1905 (3 credits)
HIST 440 - World War II (3 credits)
POLS 332 - European Political Systems (3 credits)
△ SPAN 301 - Spanish Composition and Conversation (4 credits)
◎ SPAN 302 - The Culture of Spain (4 credits)
SPAN 305 - Practical Phonetics (3 credits)
SPAN 306 - The Spanish Eye: The Contribution of Hispanic Masters to World Art (4 credits)
SPAN 395 - Spanish Linguistics (4 credits)
◆ SPAN 402 - Spanish Peninsular Literature (4 credits)

Latin America

GEOG 225 - Geography of Latin America (3 credits)
GS 234 - Gender and Society in Latin American/Latino Literature (3 credits)
GS 235 - Gender and Social Justice Issues in Latin America (3 credits)
HIST 165 - Latin American History (3 credits)
HIST 461 - Latin American Social Revolution (3 credits)
△ HIST 463 - History of Mexico (3 credits)
HIST 469 - History of Brazil (3 credits)
POLS 335 - Politics in Latin America (3 credits)
◎ SPAN 303 - The Cultures of Latin America (4 credits)
SPAN 304 - Special Topics in Hispanic Literature and Culture (4 credits)
◆ SPAN 403 - Latin American Literature (4 credits)
△ SPAN 410 - Latino/a/x Experiences in the United States (3 credits)

Course(s) Unique to Minor

WSU policy requires a minor contain at least one course unique to the minor and not used in major or additional requirements. See Degree Audit for details.

Legend

◎ = Oral Intensive

◆ = Math/Critical Analysis Intensive

△ = Writing Intensive

✽ = Physical Development and Wellness Graduation Requirement