Is this major offered as both a B.A. and B.S.

The Major in Global Studies is offered only as a B.A. degree and students must, therefore, fulfill the general requirements of such a degree (see below).

Is this a comprehensive Major?

No, it is not and requires a minor either within the program or in another program.

Can I double major?

Yes, that is possible, but given the length of the Global Studies Major (45-51 hours), it may be difficult to complete two majors within four years.

What classes do I need to take to fulfill the B.A. requirement?

Students pursuing any B.A. degree must take 12 hours in a foreign language, HST 103 and 104, a philosophy course, and 6 hours of fine arts.

Do I need a minor?

Yes, a minor is required, and you can use up to 9 hours to count towards both the Major and the minor. For example, the Major could be combined with a minor in Asian Studies and 6 hours of Chinese or Japanese and another 3 hours could count for both degrees; or a minor in a foreign language can be combined with the Major by counting 101- and 102-level plus 12 additional language courses towards the Major and taking another 6 hours of language courses to obtain 18 hours for the minor.

Can I have several minors?

Yes, the Major could be combined with more than one minor, but as with a double major this may extend the length of your undergraduate program beyond four years.

Can I enroll as a freshman?

Yes, you can start taking courses towards the Major during your first year in college, provided that you have fulfilled any prerequisite requirements for these courses.

Which courses should I take first?

The best strategy would be to start with GBL 250, one of the core classes that do not have any prerequisites, and a foreign language class.

When is GBL 250 offered?

Beginning with the spring 2008 semester, GBL 250 will be offered every semester, and eventually also during the summer.

Do I have to decide as a freshman if that's the major I want?

No, some of the courses in the Major are also General Education courses, and together with other General Education courses you will be exposed to a variety of fields and disciplines that will make your decision easier. You can declare a major at any time, but should be admitted into a program before you reach 60 hours of course work.

How do I decide which region I should focus on?

Every student pursuing a Global Studies Major will have to take one course each on five regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East). If you are not familiar with or interested in a particular region, these courses will make your selection easier if, for example, you want to pursue a minor in a particular region. Currently, area studies minors exist for Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

What jobs can I get with the major?

For students with a thorough knowledge of global affairs, combined with their language skills, have a number of job opportunities, including finding employment with

• The federal government (CIA, FBI, State Department)
• International Governmental Organizations (United Nations, International Monetary Foundation, World Bank, etc.)
• Multinational businesses
• International Non-Governmental Organizations (Red Cross, Amnesty International, environmental organizations, humanitarian organizations)
• the Peace Corps
• International media organizations
• Interpreting and translation services/schools

Students can also increase their marketability by continuing their studies and pursue a Master's or Doctor's degree which will open up career paths in teaching, either at the grade school, high school, or college levels.

Can I do an internship or Independent Studies class and have it counted towards the Major?

Yes, suitable internships (with the Red Cross or Habitat for Humanities, for example) can be used to earn credit towards the Major if approved by a student's advisory committee. The same is true for Independent Studies courses that are completed under the supervision of a faculty member and entail independent research on a topic relevant to the Major.

Can I get into a graduate program with a Global Studies Major?

Yes, students with a Global Studies degree can get into various graduate programs, provided that their GPA fulfills the requirements of graduate schools. Logical graduate programs would be in the disciplines of political science, international relations, comparative politics, foreign languages, history, journalism, geography, or business.

Can courses in the Major count towards both the degree and General Education at Missouri State University?

Yes, the courses that are listed for both programs (for example ECO 165) can count towards the Major and the Global Studies requirement.