Undergraduate Minor

The Minor in Global Studies in Social Science, which is administered by the College of Social Science, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University.  The minor should be attractive to students who plan careers with a global focus and who, therefore, wish to add a strong global dimension to their disciplinary majors.  With the approval of the department and college that administer the student's degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor's degree.

The Minor in Global Studies in Social Science is designed for students who wish to increase their understanding of the processes of continuity and change in various regions of the world, particularly Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.  The minor provides an opportunity for students to learn how contemporary global systems influence global relations and national trends, as well as how culture shapes processes of continuity and change in one of the major world regions.  Multidisciplinary in theory and practice, the minor is based on the methodologies, theories, and literatures of the social sciences and liberal arts and involves faculty from the social sciences, languages, and applied professional fields.

The College of Social Science academic advisor for Global Studies in Social Science assists the student in planning a program of study that is tailored to the student's interests, disciplinary major, and career objectives.  The student's program of study for the minor must be approved in advance and in writing by the advisor for global studies in social science.

Requirements for the Minor in Global Studies in Social Science

The student must meet the requirements specified below:

1.			Complete a minimum of 15 credits in courses at the 200 level or above excluding any credits in courses that are used to satisfy the Foreign Language Proficiency requirement referenced in item 2. below.  Not more than 4 of the 15 credits may be in 200–level courses.
2.			Foreign Language Proficiency:   Demonstrate proficiency in a modern foreign language equivalent to four semesters of study at the university level.  The results of the Michigan State University foreign language placement test will be considered in determining whether or not the student has fulfilled this requirement.  The student is encouraged to complete a fifth semester of study in the language that focuses on the culture, history, and literature of a developing region of the world.
3.			Conceptual Courses:  Complete at least two of the following courses that are in a field other than the student's major (6 credits):
			ABM	427	Global Agri-Food Industries and Markets						3
			ANP	321	Anthropology of Social Movements						3
			ANP	370	Culture, Health, and Illness						3
			ANP	431	Gender, Environment and Development						3
			ANP	436	Globalization and Justice: Issues in Political and Legal Anthropology						3
			ANR	250	Global Issues in Agriculture and Natural Resources						3
			ANR	475	International Studies in Agriculture and Natural Resources						2 to 6
			ANS	480	Animal Systems in International Development						3
			EC	410	Issues in the Economics of Developing Countries (W)						3
			EEP	260	World Food, Population and Poverty						3
			GEO	435	Geography of Health and Disease						3
			GEO	454	Geography of Environment and Development						3
			MC	320	Politics, Society and Economy in the Third World						4
			PLS	342	Comparative Political Economy						3
			PLS	344	Politics of Developing Countries						3
			PLS	347	Democratic Regimes						3
			PLS	363	International and Domestic Political Conflict						3
			SOC	310	Global Migration						3
			SOC	362	Developing Societies						3
			SOC	416	Global Regions						3
			SOC	451	Dynamics of Population						3
			SOC	452	Environment and Society						3
			WS	403	Women and Change in Developing Countries						3
4.			Regional Courses:  Complete at least one course in any one of the following four geographic areas (3 or 4 credits):
			Africa and the Middle East
			ANP	416	Anthropology of Southern Africa						3
			ANP	419	Anthropology of the Middle East						3
			EC	414	Economic Analysis of Sub–Saharan Africa (W)						3
			GEO	338	Geography of Africa						3
			GEO	339	Geography of the Middle East and North Africa						3
			HST	208	Introduction to African History, Culture and Society						4
			HST	361	African History since 1800						3
			HST	364	South Africa: From Shaka Zulu to Mandela						3
			HST	373	The Modern Middle East: From Empires to Nation States						3
			HST	450	Special Topics in African History						3
			HST	484	Seminar in African History (W)						3
			MC	324A	Regional Politics, Cooperation, and Conflict in the Middle East						4
			MC	324B	Regional Politics, Cooperation, and Conflict in Sub–Saharan Africa						4
			PLS	346	Middle East Politics						3
			PLS	351	African Politics						3
			Asia
			ANP	414	Anthropology of South Asia						3
			ANP	415	China:  Culture and Society						3
			ANP	437	Asian Emigrant Communities: A Global Perspective						3
			EC	413	Economic Analysis of Asia (W)						3
			GEO	337	Geography of Asia-Pacific						3
			HST	210	Modern East Asia						4
			HST	367	Imperial China						3
			HST	368	China since 1900						3
			HST	369	Japan to 1800						3
			HST	370	Japan Since 1800						3
			HST	451	Special Topics in Asian History						3
			HST	485	Seminar in Asian History (W)						3
			MC	323	Japanese Foreign Policy						4
			MC	324D	Regional Politics, Cooperation and Conflict in Asia						4
			PLS	354	Politics of Asia						3
			Europe
			EC	406	Economic Analysis of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (W)						3
			GEO	336	Geography of Europe						3
			GEO	340	Geography of Eurasia						3
			HST	336	Contemporary Europe, 1870 to Present						3
			HST	342	Modern East-Central Europe						3
			HST	344	Russia in the Twentieth Century						3
			HST	348	Modern Germany						3
			HST	452	Special Topics in European History						3
			MC	328	Russian Foreign Policy						4
			PLS	356	Politics of Europe and the European Union						3
			PLS	358	Politics of the U.S.S.R. and Its Successor States						3
			Latin America and the Caribbean
			ANP	410	Anthropology of Latin America						3
			EC	412	Economic Analysis of Latin America (W)						3
			GEO	335	Geography of Latin America						3
			HST	212	National Latin America						4
			HST	382	Modern Brazil						3
			HST	383	The Caribbean						3
			HST	384	Modern Mexico						3
			HST	453	Special Topics in Latin American History						3
			HST	486	Seminar in Latin American History (W)						3
			MC	324C	Regional Politics, Cooperation, and Conflict in Latin America and the Caribbean						4
5.			Field Experience, Internship, Thesis, or Independent Study
			(3 or 4 credits):  Complete one of the following three options:
			a.	An overseas field experience or internship in one of the four geographic areas listed in item 4. above.
			b.	A domestic internship that involves working on global issues.
			c.	A thesis or independent study under the direction of a faculty member.
6.			Senior–level Seminar Course (3 or 4 credits).
			Complete one course with significant global content, approved by the College of Social Science academic advisor for the Global Studies in Social Science minor.