The Global and International Studies Major prepares graduates to respond to our increasingly connected globe in a way that is deeply Christian and fundamentally oriented toward serving the church, community, and world. This interdisciplinary, secondary major must be combined with a student’s primary major, which maintains the student’s training in a discipline while adding a global focus. It is an ideal secondary major for students interested in business, government, healthcare, international development, ministry, missions, or social work. (Currently, majors in Business, Communication Arts, English, History, Music, Political Science, Social Work, and Spanish are approved to take this program as a secondary major. All other majors should contact the Coordinator of Global and International Studies to discuss how to add a Global and International Studies major.)

Students who complete the program will develop their ability to understand other cultures, gain a greater understanding of interdisciplinary global issues, understand the need for social justice and reconciliation between peoples globally, and initiate practices that challenge oppression. Completion of the program will challenge students to serve as agents of justice, reconciliation, peace, and truth who extend Christ’s kingdom in their churches, communities, and the world. Two tracks are available within this major.

Track A requires a semester of study abroad that includes language study in an approved BCA, CCCU, or other program.
Track B requires language study on campus with a semester of study abroad that does not include language instruction.

Regardless of track, this major entails meeting the following requirements:

• Completing the gateway course:
  POL 212
   
• Studying a foreign language (3-8 credit hours, depending on the setting)
• Completing an approved globally oriented course within the student’s primary major (3 hours)
• Completing a study abroad semester (13-18 hours, depending on foreign language study); prerequisite: POL 212
• Completing a theologically oriented course (3 hours) chosen from among EDMN 412; THEO 325, 340, 366, or 461
• Completing the capstone course:
  GISP/SWK 473
   

The total number of credit hours for this program is 28-37, three of which are already within the student’s primary major and counted toward both programs. Furthermore, study abroad courses count toward the student’s General Education requirements for Global Connections, Cross-Cultural Encounter, and (in some cases) Faith in the World Seminar (GEN 460 ).