Bachelor of Arts in Global and International Studies
Why choose a Global and International Studies degree?
A degree in Global and International Studies will give you the tools to understand the rapid changes occurring internationally and transnationally throughout the world. In our interdisciplinary program, faculty and students think critically about some of the most fundamental global and regional issues facing societies today such as:
- population growth,
- politics and governance,
- migration,
- the global economy,
- poverty and inequality,
- religion, race and ethnicity,
- gender and sexuality,
- peace and conflict, and
- climate change.
Besides access to quality instruction and content, our students have access to the amazing international resources that put KU on the top shelf for international education--a nationally-ranked Study Abroad Program, instruction in 40 foreign languages, and local, national, and international internship opportunities.
Students are able to choose from 4 different concentrations within the program. These paths include:
- Global & International Concentration
- European Concentration
- Latin American & Caribbean Concentration
- Middle East Concentration
After graduation, a degree in GIST is helpful for careers in journalism, Foreign Service, business and industry, education, law, politics and government, and social service agencies.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
Requirements for the B.A. Major
Global and International Concentration
Global & International Core Knowledge and Skills (6 hours/2 units). Satisfied by the following courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Students must take: | ||
GIST 220 | Introduction to Global and International Studies | 3 |
Students must also select one course from the following list: | ||
ANTH 100 | General Anthropology | 3 |
ANTH 160 | The Varieties of Human Experience | 3 |
or ANTH 162 | The Varieties of Human Experience, Honors | |
or ANTH 360 | The Varieties of Human Experience | |
ECON 104 | Introductory Economics | 4 |
or ECON 105 | Introductory Economics, Honors | |
ECON 144 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
or ECON 145 | Principles of Macroeconomics, Honors | |
GEOG 100 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
GEOG 102 | People, Place, and Society | 3 |
or GEOG 103 | People, Place, and Society, Honors | |
GIST 210 | Culture and Health | 3 |
or GIST 211 | Culture and Health, Honors | |
HIST/EVRN 103 | Environment and History | 3 |
EVRN/GEOG/HIST 140 | Global Environment I: The Discovery of Environmental Change | 3 |
EVRN/GEOG/HIST 142 | Global Environment II: The Ecology of Human Civilization | 3 |
POLS 150 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
or POLS 151 | Introduction to Comparative Politics Honors | |
POLS 170 | Introduction to International Politics | 3 |
or POLS 171 | Introduction to International Politics Honors | |
REL 104 | Introduction to Religious Studies | 3 |
SOC 130 | Comparative Societies | 3 |
or SOC 131 | Comparative Societies, Honors |
Additional Language (3-5 hours/1 unit). Satisfied by:
Completion of one additional foreign language course (3 hours) beyond the 4th semester proficiency language requirement (300 level or above) or any available additional language course (3-5 hours).
The Capstone Research Coursework (6 hours/2 units). Satisfied by the completion of the following two courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
GIST 610 | Interdisciplinary Methods for Global Contexts | 3 |
Students must complete the prerequisite GIST 220 before GIST 610 | ||
GIST 698 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
or GIST 699 | Capstone Seminar, Honors | |
Students must complete GIST 610 before GIST 698 or GIST 699 |
Issues in Global Studies (9 hours/3 units). Majors must take three courses from an approved list of GIST courses focusing on contemporary global themes on subjects such as human trafficking, the global environment, terrorism, transnational migration and borders, global issues in gender, citizenship, indigenous peoples, the global economic system, and globalization at the 300-level or above. Courses offered as: GIST 550: Issues in Global Studies:__________ are always approved to fulfill this requirement.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Issues in Global Studies (9 hours/3 units) | 9 | |
World Indigenous Literatures | ||
Global Environmental Literature | ||
Key Themes in Modern Global History | ||
Globalization: History and Theory | ||
Globalization: A Geographic Approach | ||
Environmental Geopolitics | ||
Analyzing Contemporary Global Issues | ||
Genocide and Ethnocide | ||
Transnational Terrorism | ||
International Human Rights | ||
Global Internship | ||
Globalization | ||
Issues in Global Studies: _____ | ||
The Literature of Human Rights | ||
Anthropology of Violence | ||
Human Dimensions of Global Change | ||
Geopolitics and Genocide | ||
Indigenous Peoples of the World | ||
Islam and Politics | ||
Wealth, Power, and Inequality | ||
Sociology of Global Health | ||
Global Ethnic and Racial Relations | ||
Violence and Society | ||
Sociology of Sport |
International Electives (9 hours/3 units). Majors must take three courses from the list of approved international elective courses at the 300-level or above. Students are strongly encouraged to strategically select a cluster of three courses that would help them to fulfill KU Core requirements, or maximize a double-major with another program. For example, students double-majoring in geography or history should select their international electives from the list of approved GEOG or HIST courses. Students may, however, select from any of the approved courses available.
The following list shows examples of commonly taught approved international electives. To see a full list of approved courses for the international elective, consult our website. Other courses may also be approved in consultation with the department.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Modern Africa | ||
Religion, Power, and Sexuality in Arab Societies | ||
The United States in Global Context | ||
Indigenous Traditions of Latin America | ||
Introduction to Intercultural Communication | ||
Eastern Civilizations | ||
International Trade | ||
The European Union | ||
Environmental Policy Analysis | ||
History of the International Sound Film Post 1950 | ||
Introduction to Cultural Geography | ||
Geography of African Development | ||
Geography of Latin America | ||
Social Movements in the Middle East | ||
The Modern Middle East | ||
Introduction to History of Japan: Anime to Zen | ||
Introduction to International Business | ||
International Management | ||
Latin American Culture and Society | ||
Politics of the Middle East | ||
United States Foreign Policy | ||
Chinese Foreign Policy | ||
Understanding Russia and Eastern Europe | ||
Societies and Cultures of Eurasia | ||
Islam | ||
Religion in India | ||
Population and Society | ||
Wealth, Power, and Inequality | ||
From Mystics to Feminists: Women's History in Europe 1600 to the Present |
European Concentration
European Concentration Core Knowledge and Skills (9 hours/3 units). Satisfied by taking each of the following courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
European Concentration Core Knowledge and Skills | ||
GIST 220 | Introduction to Global and International Studies | 3 |
HIST 115 | French Revolution to the Present: Europe 1789-Present | 3 |
or HUM 205 | Western Civilization II | |
EURS 500 | Seminar in European Studies | 3 |
Additional Language (3-5 hours/1 unit). Satisfied by:
Completion of one additional foreign language course (3 hours) beyond the 4th semester proficiency language requirement (300 level or above) or any available additional language course (3-5 hours). All language study must be in modern western European languages (e.g. French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Spanish).
The Capstone Research Coursework (6 hours/2 units). Satisfied by the completion of the following two courses, with a senior project specifically focused on a European topic:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
GIST 610 | Interdisciplinary Methods for Global Contexts | 3 |
Students must complete the prerequisite GIST 220 before GIST 610 | ||
GIST 698 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
or GIST 699 | Capstone Seminar, Honors | |
Students must complete GIST 610 before GIST 698 or GIST 699 |
Upper-Division General European Electives (6 hours/2 units). Satisfied by two courses focused on Europe in general at the 300-level or above. The following list shows examples of commonly taught approved electives; speak with the Undergraduate Advisor for GIST for a complete list of approved courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ECON 535 | Economic History of Europe | 3 |
ECON 536 | Economic Issues of the European Union | 3 |
EURS 302 | European Culture and Society 1945 to Present | 3 |
EURS 511 | Topics in European Studies: _____ | 3 |
EURS 604 | The European Union | 3 |
HA 564 | European Art, 1900-1945 | 3 |
HIST 527 | Recent European History, 1870 to the Present | 3 |
HIST 528 | Economic History of Europe | 3 |
PHIL 592 | Contemporary Continental Philosophy | 3 |
POLS 452 | Politics in Europe | 3 |
POLS 469 | Topics in Comparative Politics: _____ (when covering Europe) | 1-3 |
POLS 489 | Topics in International Relations: _____ (when covering Europe) | 1-3 |
Upper-Division National or Regional Electives (9 hours/3 units). Satisfied by three courses focused on a region or country within Europe at the 300-level or above. The following list shows examples of commonly taught approved electives; speak with the Undergraduate Advisor for GIST for a complete list of approved courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ECON 563 | Current Economic Issues of East Europe | 3 |
ENGL 309 | The British Novel | 3 |
ENGL 314 | Major British Writers after 1800 | 3 |
ENGL 315 | Studies in British Literature | 3 |
ENGL 530 | Irish Literature and Culture: _____ | 3 |
FREN 152 | France and the French | 3 |
FREN 326 | Introduction to French Literature | 3 |
GERM 315 | Magic, Murder, Monsters: German Literature and the Modern Era | 3 |
GERM 320 | Border Crossings in German Culture | 3 |
GERM 328 | The Arts in German-Speaking Europe | 3 |
HIST 341 | Hitler and Nazi Germany | 3 |
HIST 525 | France and Its Empire: From Acadia to Zidane | 3 |
HIST 548 | Rise of Modern Britain | 3 |
ITAL 301 | Introduction to Italian Literature and Textual Analysis | 3 |
ITAL 336 | Italy and the Italians | 3 |
POLS 355 | Politics of East-Central Europe | 3 |
SPAN 453 | Twentieth Century Spanish Studies: _____ | 3 |
SPAN 470 | Studies in Spanish Culture and Civilization: _____ | 1-3 |
Latin American and Caribbean CONCENTRATION
Latin American and Caribbean Concentration Core Knowledge and Skills (9 hours/3 units). Satisfied by taking each of the following courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
LAC Concentration Core Knowledge and Skills | ||
GIST 220 | Introduction to Global and International Studies | 3 |
LAC 100 | Latin American Culture and Society | 3 |
LAC 300 | Interdisciplinary Themes in Latin American Studies | 3 |
or LAC 310 | Topics in LAC - Anthropology: _____ | |
or LAC 332 | Language and Society in Latin America | |
or LAC 334 | Indigenous Traditions of Latin America |
Additional Language (3-5 hours/1 unit). Satisfied by:
Completion of one additional foreign language course (3 hours) beyond the 4th semester proficiency language requirement (300 level or above) or any available additional language course (3-5 hours). All language study must be in Latin American Caribbean languages (e.g. Spanish, Portuguese, or Indigenous Latin American Languages).
The Capstone Research Coursework (6 hours/2 units). Satisfied by the completion of the following two courses, with a senior project specifically focused on a Latin American and Caribbean topic:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
GIST 610 | Interdisciplinary Methods for Global Contexts | 3 |
Students must complete the prerequisite GIST 220 before GIST 610 | ||
GIST 698 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
or GIST 699 | Capstone Seminar, Honors | |
Students must complete GIST 610 before GIST 698 or GIST 699 |
Upper-Division Latin American and Caribbean Electives (9 hours/3 units). Satisfied by taking three LAC (or crosslisted) courses at the 300-level or above (this can include LAC 300, 310, 332, or 334).
Upper-Division Interdisciplinary Electives (6 hours/2 units). Satisfied by taking two courses focusing on the Latin American and Caribbean region from related departments at the 300-level or above. The following list shows examples of commonly taught approved electives; speak with the Undergraduate Advisor for GIST for a complete list of approved courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
AAAS 301 | Haiti: Culture and Identity | 3 |
AAAS 333 | Introduction to Caribbean Literature | 3 |
AAAS 574 | Slavery in the New World | 3 |
ANTH 379 | Indigenous Traditions of Latin America | 3 |
ANTH 380 | Peoples of South America | 3 |
ANTH 382 | People and the Rain Forest | 3 |
ENGL 339 | Introduction to Caribbean Literature | 3 |
FMS 316 | Cinemas of the Southern Cone: Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay | 3 |
GEOG 591 | Geography of Latin America | 3 |
HIST 365 | Invention of the Tropics | 3 |
HIST 368 | A History of Afro-Latin America | 3 |
PORT 300 | Brazilian Culture | 3 |
PORT 471 | Studies in Brazilian Culture and Civilization: _____ | 1-3 |
PORT 565 | Studies in Brazilian Film: _____ | 3 |
SPAN 346 | Transatlantic Hispanic Cultures | 3 |
SPAN 447 | Latin American Cultures: _____ | 3 |
SPAN 475 | Studies in Latin-American Literature and Culture: _____ | 1-3 |
SPAN 560 | Colloquium on Latin American Film | 3 |
Middle East CONCENTRATION
Middle East Concentration Core Knowledge and Skills (6 hours/2 units). Satisfied by taking each of the following courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Middle East Concentration Core Knowledge and Skills | ||
GIST 220 | Introduction to Global and International Studies | 3 |
AAAS 102 | Arabic and Islamic Studies | 3 |
Additional Language (3-5 hours/1 unit). Satisfied by:
Completion of one additional foreign language course (3 hours) beyond the 4th semester proficiency language requirement (300 level or above) or any available additional language course (3-5 hours). All language study must be in Middle East languages (e.g. Arabic, Turkish, Persian, or Hebrew).
The Capstone Research Coursework (6 hours/2 units). Satisfied by the completion of the following two courses, with a senior project specifically focused on a Middle East topic:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
GIST 610 | Interdisciplinary Methods for Global Contexts | 3 |
Students must complete the prerequisite GIST 220 before GIST 610 | ||
GIST 698 | Capstone Seminar | 3 |
or GIST 699 | Capstone Seminar, Honors | |
Students must complete GIST 610 before GIST 698 or GIST 699 |
Upper-Division Concentration Electives (9 hours/3 units). Satisfied by taking three of the following courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
AAAS 349/REL 350 | Islam | 3 |
ANTH 303 | Peoples and Cultures of North Africa and the Middle East | 3 |
GIST 535 | Literature and Society in the Contemporary Middle East | 3 |
HIST 328 | The Modern Middle East | 3 |
POLS 361 | Politics of the Middle East | 3 |
POLS 667 | Islam and Politics | 3 |
Upper-Division Interdisciplinary Electives (9 hours/3 units). Satisfied by taking three Middle East electives at the 300-level or above. The following list shows examples of commonly taught approved electives; speak with the Undergraduate Advisor for GIST for a complete list of approved courses:
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
AAAS 415 | Women and Islam | 3 |
AAAS 433 | Islamic Literature | 3 |
AAAS 543 | Language and Culture in Arabic-Speaking Communities | 3 |
ANTH 372 | Religion, Power, and Sexuality in Arab Societies | 3 |
GIST 433 | Iran, Turkey, and the Kurds | 3 |
GIST 624 | Social Movements in the Middle East | 3 |
HIST 327 | The Premodern Middle East | 3 |
HIST 328 | The Modern Middle East | 3 |
HIST 570 | The Middle East After World War II | 3 |
JWSH 330 | Mystical Tradition in Judaism | 3 |
JWSH 410 | Israel: From Idea to State | 3 |
JWSH 414 | Israel/Palestine: The War of 1948 | 3 |
JWSH 426 | Polls and Public Opinion in Israel | 3 |
JWSH 681 | Regimes in the Middle-East and North Africa | 3 |
REL 355 | Muslim Societies | 3 |
SOC 532 | Sociology of the Middle East | 3 |
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 11 units (minimum of 33 credit hours) of major courses.
Overlapping Courses
Students in the GIST major can overlap relevant coursework with other programs; however, in order to ensure interdisciplinary breadth, they can only take up to 5 courses offered or cross-listed by any single other academic program.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 21 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Sample 4-year plans for the BA degree in Global and International Studies with the following concentrations can be found here: Global and International, European, Latin American & Caribbean, Middle East, or by using the left-side navigation.
Departmental Honors
To graduate with departmental honors in Global and International Studies, students must complete all requirements for the major plus GIST 699 (Honors Capstone) with a 3.5 grade-point average in the major. The honors seminar allows students to receive research assistance from three-member faculty committee while writing their theses.
To enroll in the program, students must have a 3.5 grade-point average in the courses making up the Global and International Studies major. Students must obtain approval of their research topic by the instructor with advice from committee members. Each student will defend their honor's thesis in an oral examination before their thesis committee. The student's committee includes the GIST 699 instructor and two university faculty members the student chooses with the assistance of the instructor.