Global Cultures

Global Cultures is an innovative undergraduate major in the School of Humanities with an exciting mission: to explore the problems and processes of globalization from a humanistic perspective. The major provides students with 21st century analytical skills and knowledge that is critical to understanding the complexities of the diverse world in which we live. In the process, Global Cultures equips students with the knowledge and tools that lead to successful careers in a wide range of professions and fields.

Global Cultures faculty offer high-quality lectures and, in advanced courses, interactive small group seminars. The major favors a multidisciplinary approach that draws on multiple departments and programs, housed in both the Humanities (including Art History, English, Film and Media Studies, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Latin American and Iberian Cultures, and many more) and the Social Sciences (Anthropology, Chicano/Latino Studies, Political Science, Sociology, among others).

Up-to-date examples of the highly diverse courses taught in the major may be found at the Global Cultures website. The curricular offerings of Global Cultures are extraordinarily broad. With this intellectually stimulating learning environment, the major attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds. Global Cultures faculty provide these students with a critical understanding and a strong foundation for practice in a variety of occupations, both domestic and international.

Students majoring in Global Cultures must choose a primary emphasis and a secondary emphasis from the list that can be found by clicking the major tab. Each emphasis essentially consists of a geographic focus. Students may also design their own emphasis in consultation with a program advisor and with the approval of the Global Cultures Committee. All emphases are chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor and/or the approval of the Global Cultures Committee. Examples of how current students are combining their primary and secondary emphases are available at the Global Cultures website.

Requirements

The major requires a total of 14 courses. Six of these courses are specific, and eight are electives (see below). Students are encouraged to augment their foreign language competence beyond the School minimum. Participation in the UC Education Abroad Program is strongly recommended for all Global Cultures majors.

All students must meet the University Requirements.

All students must meet the School Requirements.

Requirements for the Major

14 courses (56 units) are required for the major.

1. Five of the courses must focus on one emphasis and two on a second emphasis. Quarterly consultation with a faculty advisor is also required.
2. The selected course must focus on the primary or secondary emphasis.

Students are encouraged to augment their language other than English competence beyond the School minimum. Participation in the UC Education Abroad Program is strongly recommended for all Global Cultures majors.

Residence Requirement for the Major: At least five upper-division courses required for the major must be completed successfully at UCI. By petition, two of the five may be taken through the UC Education Abroad Program, provided that course content is approved—usually in advance—by the Director of the Global Cultures Program.

Emphases

Hispanic, U.S. Latino/Latina, and Luso-Brazilian Cultures

Examines the historical, political, and cultural formations of regions where Spanish and Portuguese are spoken, including Spain, Portugal, Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries in the Western Hemisphere, and the Latino/Latina population in the United States.

Africa (Nation, Culture) and Its Diaspora

Examines Africa as a diverse geographical and political expression, including its historical, political, and cultural formation locally, regionally, and globally.

Asia (Nation, Culture) and Its Diaspora

Examines Asia as a diverse geographical and political expression, including its historical and cultural formation locally, regionally, and globally.

Europe and Its Former Colonies

Examines Europe and its former colonies as a diverse geographical and political expression, including its historical and cultural formation locally, regionally, and globally.

Global Middle East

Examines the people and cultures of North Africa and the Arab world, Turkey and Iran, as well as their relationship with other regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the broader Muslim diaspora in Europe and the Americas.

Atlantic Rim

Explores the movement of people and cultures in relationship to the historical and contemporary experience of societies that are adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean, including, among others, west Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, and western and northern Europe, as well as the British archipelago.

Pacific Rim

Explores the movement of people and cultures in relationship to the historical and contemporary experience of societies that are adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, including, among others, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, the United States, Central and South America, and Malaysia.

Inter-Area Studies

Includes comparative studies of the geographical regions outlined in the above six emphases, for instance, the analysis of Africans in Asia, or the cultural, historical, and political connections between the Atlantic and the Pacific Rim.

Students may also design their own emphasis by combining two or more regional emphases in a non-traditional fashion. For instance, a student may wish to study what is known as “Creole” (oral) literatures, found in multiple locations in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to study abroad, and may be able to satisfy a significant portion of their major requirements abroad. For the maximum number of courses allowed and other pertinent details, visit the Global Cultures website.

All courses taken abroad must be approved. Course approval typically involves the following: (1) presentation of syllabi and other pertinent course materials (term papers, exams, etc.) from the foreign host university, and (2) submission of a UCI Humanities study abroad petition form (available online, and to be completed after student’s return to UCI) to the Director of the Global Cultures program, and to the Office of Undergraduate Study. Students are advised to consult with the Humanities Office of Undergraduate Study (HIB 143) and the Director of the Global Cultures program both before and after their stay abroad. NOTE: See also the residence requirement in the major and minor.

Career Opportunities

The major prepares students particularly well for careers in all fields in which analysis, judgment, argument, and a wide (global) rather than narrow perspective are important. The Global Cultures major equips students with a knowledge that is critical to understanding the complexities of the diverse world in which we live.

The following careers are especially well-suited for Global Cultures majors: business (national as well as international), law, management, education (primary and secondary teaching), politics, public policy, academia, print media, television, foreign service, tourism, travel industry, and graduate studies in a wide variety of fields (business, law, education, public policy, and others). More information on career opportunities can be found at the Global Cultures website.

The UCI Division of Career Pathways provides services to students and alumni including career counseling, information about job opportunities, a career library, and workshops on résumé preparation, job search, and interview techniques.