Global Studies Major
Focus your experience by selecting one of three global studies concentrations.
The global studies major at Cedar Crest is designed with an interdisciplinary approach, providing multiple concentrations that will allow you to specialize in a specific area within the field of global studies. Here, you will also have the flexibility to add another major or minor that will complement your global studies coursework and further prepare you for your chosen career.

Focusing Your Studies
In your first semesters here, you will take global studies courses that provide a broad view of globalization: the process by which the world has become increasingly connected in an economic, political, cultural and environmental sense. After you have completed these introductory courses, you will be required to focus your studies by choosing one of the three concentrations described below.
Religion, Culture and Society Concentration
This concentration will provide greater insight into the ways that religion interacts with culture in the global arena. Students will explore transnational forms of religion and the mechanisms that help them become established in the United States. If you choose this concentration you may also want to minor in religious studies or anthropology, since many of the courses in these two programs overlap.
International Business and Economics Concentration
In a time when businesses are becoming increasingly intercontinental, corporations are seeking employees with an understanding of business practices and theories, both domestic and abroad. This concentration combines courses in international business and international economics. The business courses cover global business structure, theories of trade and investment, and international marketing strategies and policies. The economics courses explore the theory, policies and markets for international trade and finance.
Global Stewardship Concentration
This concentration focuses on environment issues, ecology and conservation from a global perspective. You will participate in courses in a number of academic disciplines including biology, sociology, English and many others. You will also have the option of exploring marine ecology, biodiversity, and environmental science, as well as nature writing and the role of disease in human communities.
The Benefits of a Global Studies Major
Students who complete the global studies major, via one of the offered concentrations, will:
- Develop increased global awareness
- Gain knowledge of the implications of political and economic policies on social, political and ecological issues
- Understand the relationship between anthropogenic causes, policies and agreements on climate change
- Learn more about international agencies and their policies regarding human rights, the environment, currency, tariffs, exchange rates, loans for development and more
- Gain knowledge of strategies used in international business
- Explore the continuing debates about globalization and climate change
- Gain increased understanding of cultural differences and the process of acculturation, assimilation and the development of transnational patterns of religion
- Understand the complex patterns of immigration and transnationalism
- Acquire language proficiency and understanding of the role of language differences in a globalized environment
Global Studies Core Curriculum & Requirements
The major requires a minimum of 45 credits along with possible additional study abroad credits ranging from 1-12. This puts the total likely credits at 46+.
Required Core Courses (27 credits)
- GST 100 The Globalizing World 3 credits
- ECO 222 Economic Geography 3 credits
- REL 100 Intro to Religion & Culture 3 credits
- ANT 100 Cultural Anthropology 3 credits
- HIS 224 America as World Power 3 credits
- PSC 211 Globalization & International Law 3 credits
- GST 333 Capstone thesis 3 credits
- Language - 6 credits of same language
Students must choose one area of concentration in addition to the core courses. They must take a minimum of 6 courses (18 credits) from one of the three concentrations below:
- Religion, Culture and Society
- International Business and Economics
- Global Stewardship
Religion, Culture, and Society Concentration
These courses largely stress the cultural, social, and religious aspects of globalization.
Examples of course options. Minimum of 6 courses, 18 credits
Religious Studies
- REL 101 Ancient Egyptian Religion
- REL 120 Religions of South & East Asia
- REL 220 Death and Dying
- REL 225 Buddhism in America
- REL 226 Hinduism in America
- REL 227 Islam in America
Anthropology
- ANT 210 Intro to Archeology
- ANT 215 World Music
- ANT 225 Tourism and Pilgrimage
- ANT 230 Cultures of Caribbean
- ANT 310 Women in Developing World
Social Work/ Sociology/ Psychology
- SWK 300 Community Organizing
- SOC 222 Social Justice: A Global Perspective
- SOC 245 Intro to Peace Studies
- PSY 335 Cross-cultural psychology
English/ Philosophy/ Spanish
- ENG 303 Linguistics and the Development of the English Language
- ENG 345 Topics in World Literature
- PHI 105 World Philosophies
- SPA 315 Topics in Hispanic Culture
International Business and Economics Concentration
The courses of this area combine international business and international economics. The business courses cover global business structure, theories of trade and investment, international marketing strategies and policies. The economics courses explore the theory, policy, and markets for international trade and finance.
Examples of course options. Minimum of 6 courses, 18 credits
- BUA 240 International Business
- MRK 336 Global Marketing
- ECO 102 Principles of Economics: Micro
- ECO 101 Principle of Economics: Macro
- ECO 315 International Economics
- ECO 333 Economic Sociology
Global Stewardship Concentration
This includes courses in biology and other disciplines that address environmental issues, ecology, and conservation. Students can explore marine ecology, biodiversity, environmental science, as well as the role of disease in human communities and nature writing in this area.
Examples of course options. Minimum of 6 courses, 18 credits
- SOC/SWK 270 Contemporary Environmental Issues
- BIO 111 Concepts in Ecology and Environmental Issues
- BIO/Hon 214 Bioterrorism and Emerging Infectious Diseases
- BIO 307 Biodiversity & Conservation Biology
- BIO 328 Marine Ecology & Conservation
- GSC 102 Weather & Climate
- CHE 320 Environmental Chemistry
- LLC 202-203 Environmental stewardship seminar
Study Abroad/Internship
(1 to 12 credits)
Students are strongly encouraged to do a study abroad semester or experience. Credits vary according to kind of study abroad, from a short trip to a semester-long experience. Alternatively, for those students who can’t finance a study abroad experience, they might do an internship with an international corporation or a distance-learning internship with an international NGO or non-profit.
These are some of the courses/experiences that have run recently:
- Study Tours to Egypt and India
- Marine Ecology in the Caribbean
- Study Tour to the Galapagos Islands
- Belize trip run by Nursing Department
- The England Tour
- The college is an affiliate of the School for Field Studies and has a collaborative relationship with Asian University for Women in Bangladesh

