Global Affairs (B.A.)

Dr. Allen Pietrobon, Assistant Professor of Global Affairs (program chair)
Dr. Mercedez Callenes, Assistant Professor of Global Affairs
Dr. Erin Carriere-Kretschmer, Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science
Dr. Kimberly Monroe, Assistant Professor of Global Affairs
Dr. James Stocker, Associate Professor of Global Affairs
Dr. Joshua Wright, Associate Professor of Global Affairs

Faculty representing diverse disciplines in the College of Arts and Sciences collaborate with and contribute to the Global Affairs Program.

Description

Trinity’s Global Affairs major equips students with the skill set to navigate, serve, and lead on a global scale. The Global Affairs major integrates and builds on Trinity’s outstanding programs in history, political science and international affairs, while also including courses from sociology, languages, business, economics and other programs to teach students how to interpret and understand the world through an interdisciplinary lens.

The Trinity Global Affairs program is distinguished by four areas of concentration that focus on several of the most career-relevant fields in today’s global society. Students select one of these concentrations:

Africana Studies
Foreign Policy, Diplomacy and Security
Global Economics and Business
Latin American Studies

Global Affairs majors take foundational and methodology courses, language and cultural studies classes and a senior seminar. The foundational courses lay the groundwork essential to understanding the contemporary world and students are introduced to a wide range of topics including economics and trade, political organizations, and social justice issues.

Two career-focused mentorship courses provide Global Affairs majors engaging opportunities to explore career paths, connect with mentors and develop professional skills for successful careers both in the U.S. and internationally.

Trinity’s Global Affairs major prepares graduates for a variety of careers including journalists, policy analysts, legislative assistants, diplomats and researchers. This major also provides an excellent foundation for law school or graduate school in international affairs, political science, history, and public policy.

The major in Global Affairs is offered to students in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Global Affairs program also offers a major in History and minors in Global Affairs, Africana Studies and Environmental Justice. The three minors are available to students in all major program of study in the College of Arts and Sciences. [catalog-courses]

Major Requirements (44 credits total)

Foundational Courses (15 credits)

GLBL 201
GLBL 250
ECON 102
POLS 231 or POLS 241
*Any 3-credit 200-level or above, non-U.S. focused history class not being used to fulfill a concentration elective

Methodology Course (3 credits)

SSC 350

Language and Culture Studies Courses (6 credits beyond the General Education Curriculum)

Trinity’s Global Affairs major recognizes the importance of the ability to communicate effectively in more than one language and across cultural divides. Students will take courses that demonstrate their ability to do so, selecting from the following three options:

Option 1: The completion of two semesters of language instruction at the 200-level or above (e.g., SPAN 201 and SPAN 202) or their equivalent through language placement testing or an alternate demonstration of language competency.

Option 2: The completion of one semester of language instruction at the 200-level or above, followed by another course that deepens knowledge of the importance of language and culture. For example, after completing a 200-level course in a second language, students might elect a course in intercultural communication or a literature, cultural studies, or history course concentrating on the region(s) in which this language is prominent.

Option 3: The completion of two courses that deepen students’ knowledge of culture, as well as the general education requirement for language.

Mentorship Courses (2 credits)

GLBL 221 – Ideally taken in the second semester of sophomore year or first semester of junior year
GLBL 222 – Ideally taken in the second semester of junior year or first semester of senior year

Senior Seminar (3 credits)

In Senior Seminar, students receive guidance on their capstone project which must be substantially completed during the course. Presenting the capstone is a graduation requirement.

GLBL 499

Capstone Project Presentation

The capstone project requirement is fulfilled by presenting a revised version of the project in the subsequent semester to Senior Seminar as scheduled by the program chair and faculty. (If a student takes Senior Seminar in their final graduating semester, they must present it before the end of the semester to meet gradation requirements.)

Areas of Concentration (15 credits)

Global Affairs majors must select five courses in one of four areas of concentration, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy and Security, Global Economics and Business, Africana Studies, and Latin American Studies. Courses counted toward an area of concentration must be in addition to foundational courses (i.e., the same course may not fulfill multiple areas of the major).

Three credits must be fulfilled through experiential learning, either in the form of an internship or study abroad.

Foreign Policy, Diplomacy and Security (FPDS) Concentration

Required Course (3 credits)

POLS 343

Electives (9 credits)

CJUS 388
GLBL 322
GLBL 331
GLBL 382
GLBL 411
HIS 314
HIS 317
HIS 358
HIS 371
POLS 244
POLS 303

Experiential Learning Requirement (3 credits)

GLBL 491

The experiential learning requirement may also be met through participating in a Fellowship program or Study Abroad.

Global Business and Economics Concentration

Economics Courses (3 credits)
Choose one of the following:

ECON 241
ECON 252
ECON 253
ECON 351
ECON 353

Business Courses (6 credits)
Choose two of the following:

BADM 210
BADM 221
BADM 223
BADM 307
BADM 320
BADM 330
BADM 350

One additional course (3 credits) either from the two previous lists or from the following:

BADM 325
BADM 352
BADM 423
ECON 321
ECON 322
GLBL 382
ITEC 100
PHIL 353
SOCY 321
SOCY 333

Experiential Learning Requirement (3 credits)

GLBL 491

The experiential learning requirement may also be met through participating in a Fellowship program or Study Abroad.

Africana Studies Concentration

Foundational Course (3 credits)

AFST 200

Elective Courses (9 credits)
Choose three of the following:

ENGL 271
ENGL 475
GLBL 310
HIS 314
HIS 339
HIS 343
HIS 344A
HIS 345
HIS 349
HIS 371
POLS 337

Experiential Learning Requirement (3 credits)

GLBL 491

The experiential learning requirement may also be met through participating in a Fellowship program or Study Abroad.

Latin American Studies Concentration

Elective Courses (12 credits)
Choose four of the following:

ENGL 475
GLBL 411
HIS 314
HIS 317
HIS 349
POLS 230
SOCY 231

Experiential Learning Requirement (3 credits)

GLBL 491

The experiential learning requirement may also be met through participating in a Fellowship program or Study Abroad.

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Minor Requirements

The Global Affairs minor requires 18 credits

Required Courses

GLBL 201
GLBL 250
ECON 102
HIS 211
POLS 231 or POLS 241

One 300-level course from GLBL, HIS, or POLS with an international focus
(This course cannot be counted twice for another major or minor. It may include the GLBL 491 internship.)

The Global Affairs program also offers a minor in Africana Studies and Environmental Justice.

Program Policies

Advanced Placement Policy:
As an interdisciplinary program, the Global Affairs major follows the policies of its disciplinary components on issues applicable to this major. Please refer to the statements of the appropriate program for policies on credits earned through advanced placement examinations.

CLEP Policy:
The Global Affairs Program follows the program policies of its component disciplines for credits earned through CLEP examinations.

Grades in Major Courses:
Students are required to maintain an average of “C” (2.0) or better in the major and minor. All courses for the major or minor require a “C-“ or better.

Pass/No Pass:
With the exception of internships, courses fulfilling a major or minor requirement may not be taken pass/no pass.

Senior Seminar:

The Global Affairs senior seminar is an interdisciplinary course designed to support students in the process of completing their senior capstone project, a research paper of 25-30 pages. A successful defense of the capstone research project fulfills the comprehensive exam requirement for the major. Students are encouraged to pursue a project that relates to their plans for after graduation, whether attending graduate school or entering the workforce. Students are also required to present the results in a public forum, such as Spring Research Day.

Capstone Project:

To complete their comprehensive examination requirement, students will present their senior project (written during the Senior Seminar) before two professors. Generally, the student will briefly present their research question, arguments, evidence, and conclusions, then will respond to questions from the professors and other students present. In addition, students are highly encouraged to present their research at Research Day and in other public forums, including conferences on undergraduate research. With guidance from Global Affairs faculty, they may also wish to submit their work to undergraduate research journals.

Transfer Credits:

Transfer credits may be used to fulfill major requirements, as long as they are from courses that are substantially similar in rigor and content to relevant Trinity courses. At least 18 credits in the major must be taken at Trinity, including GLBL 499.

Course Descriptions

GLBL 201
GLBL 210
GLBL 221
GLBL 222
GLBL 250
GLBL 310
GLBL 322
GLBL 331
GLBL 371
GLBL 372
GLBL 381
GLBL 382
GLBL 383
GLBL 385
GLBL 411
GLBL 491
GLBL 495
GLBL 498
GLBL 499